Paradigm Shock

Anjon Roy welcomes AI Governance expert Andrew Harrison to Paradigm Shock to discuss the complex challenges of AI Safety and Governance. Harrison shares insights from his multidisciplinary educational and professional journey, emphasizing the importance of synthesizing perspectives from psychology, data science, technology and international relations. The discussion spans emerging risks associated with the wide distribution of agent deployment, model scheming, technical solutions like mechanistic interpretability, the pivotal role of constitutional AI frameworks, and cyber risks from potential uplift scenarios. The episode underscores the transformative potential and risks of AI and the necessity of understanding its impacts on economic systems, international relations, and organizational dynamics. Harrison calls for a nuanced understanding of emergent risks, advocating for a balanced approach that draws from both technical and policy-driven perspectives to address AI's potential and perils.

Links

Andrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipharrison/

BlueDot Impact AGI Course: https://bluedot.org/courses/agi-strategy

Contact Show

New Substack- https://aiuncertainty.substack.com/

[email protected]

In the Paradigm Shock podcast, Anjon Roy and guest David Timis delve into the complex dynamics of AI's impact on the labor market. As a leading advocate in workforce development, Timis shares insights from his roles across various global organizations. They tackle critical questions about AI's potential to either diminish or redistribute employment opportunities. Highlighting both theoretical debates and on-ground realities, the discussion focuses on the current and future effects of AI on job availability, particularly for vulnerable communities and younger workers entering the job market. They also discuss potential catastrophic risk scenarios, such as the extreme power concentration that could result from mass labor displacement, and the potential limits of Jevons Paradox.

Show Notes

David’s website: https://www.davidtimis.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtimis/

David’s WEF Page: https://www.weforum.org/stories/authors/david-timis/

Concepts discussed:

https://davidoks.blog/p/why-the-atm-didnt-kill-bank-teller

https://stayathomemacro.substack.com/p/a-year-with-no-jobsbut-no-recession

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VhTO6HGkS-k

Contact Show

New Substack- https://aiuncertainty.substack.com/

[email protected]

In this episode of Paradigm Shock, host Anjon Roy welcomes Notre Dame Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Bergstrand, a leading figure in international trade economics. Bergstrand shares his journey from aspiring disc jockey to renowned economist, highlighting his influential Gravity Equation model, which transformed the study of international trade by explaining trade flows through economic mass and distance. He also reflects on the evolving views of globalization, examines modern disruptions such as tariffs, trade wars and the current oil price shock and discusses artificial intelligence's impact on the labor market. They also share thoughts about the new nominee for US Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh.

Show Links

Jeffrey Bergstrand University Website

Google Scholar Page

Book: Understanding Globalization Through the Lens of Gravity

Contact Show

New Substack- The Age of Uncertainty

[email protected]

In a fascinating discussion on Paradigm Shock, legendary computational social science Professor Sandy Pentland joins the show to unpack the geopolitical and social implications of advanced AI. Fresh off his discussions on AI Sovereignty, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's ground breaking speech, and open source initiatives such as the India Citizen Stack at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Sandy finds mid-sized nations seeking to reclaim digital sovereignty from American and Chinese tech giants.

We also dive into the core thesis of his latest book, Shared Wisdom, exploring how humanity's true superpower lies in our collective cultural intelligence rather than individual intellect. Building on this, we discuss the urgent need to design AI systems that augment human deliberation, autonomy, and contextual specificity —acting as a vital countermeasure to over-centralized, Soviet-style tech monopolies and extractive platforms. The discussion concludes with a brief discussion on actionable governance approaches and understudied risks.

Show links

Sandy Pentland’s MIT Page: https://www.media.mit.edu/people/sandy/overview/

Shared Wisdom Book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262050999/shared-wisdom/

Article on 2026 Davos Meetings: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/big-changes-in-the-world-davos-2026/

Sandy Pentland’s Stanford HAI Page: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/person/sandy-pentland/

LinkedIn page

Contact Show

New Substack- The Age of Uncertainty

[email protected]

Evan Kaldelis, Global Deputy CEO of Fintech firm 3S Money, discusses his approach to integrating AI and human interaction within the fintech sector on Paradigm Shock. Emphasizing a personalized strategy for SMEs, Evan elaborates on why human-led processes are essential in specific areas of fintech, such as customer service, while AI is embraced for operational tasks. He argues for a human-centered model in regulated financial environments where determinism and risk minimization are crucial. This podcast episode is an insightful look into how fintech can leverage technology while still prioritizing the quality of human connection. This episode concludes with a brief discussion on the complexities of global payment systems.

Show links

Evan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evangelos-kaldelis/

Company Website: https://3s.money/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

[email protected]

Nicholas Arcolano, Head of Research at Jellyfish joins Paradigm Shock to discuss the intersection of AI and software engineering, highlighting findings from recent research on AI-enabled coding assistants. The episode provides a unique look at how he leverages comprehensive data analysis to derive meaningful insights about AI’s impact on software engineering. Arcolano's reflections illuminate the necessity of simplifying complex models to understand multifaceted human and technological interactions. The insights shared extend beyond software engineering, offering a broader perspective on AI governance, adoption, and transformation within organizations, setting a path for future advancements in managing AI systems.

Show links

Nicholas LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arcolano/

Articles and Papers Mentioned:

Paper - AI In The Firm: https://jellyfish.co/blog/harvard-jellyfish-ai-is-making-developers-faster/

Bloomberg Odd Lots podcast on Claude Code: https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/why-the-tech-world-is-going-crazy-for-claude-code/id1056200096?i=1000745716909

The Atlantic: Move Over Chat GPT: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-ai-hype/685617/

Mckinsey Paper: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/unlocking-the-value-of-ai-in-software-development

METR Paper: https://metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

[email protected]

Dr. Vasant Dhar joins Paradigm Shock to discuss pivotal shifts in artificial intelligence. Known for bridging academia and practice, Dhar outlines AI's journey from expert systems, reliant on human-specified knowledge, to the advent of machine learning, deep learning and general intelligence, driven by data availability. He shares personal anecdotes, including early successes in uncovering data patterns that reshaped trading strategies on Wall Street. His narrative emphasizes AI's trend towards predictive modeling and its transformative role across sectors. Dhar's book, 'Thinking with Machines,' serves as a guide to understanding these developments, urging readers to navigate AI's opportunities and challenges thoughtfully.

This episode is part of a series of episodes on Artificial Intelligence planned over the next several months. Please subscribe to stay updated. 

Show Links

Book: Thinking With Machines

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasant_Dhar

Brave New World Podcast: https://bravenewpodcast.com/

NYU Page: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/vasant-dhar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasant-dhar-931175/

Contact Paradigm Shock: 

[email protected]

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, a neuroscientist with the firm Final Spark, features on the Paradigm Shock podcast. We discuss her transition from academia to commercialization of revolutionary biocomputing technology, where living neurons function as processors. Emphasizing the energy efficiency of neurons over traditional silicon chips, Dr. Curtis explains the process and potential of programming neurons for computation. By encompassing various disciplines like biotechnology, neuroscience, and AI, this episode explores the potential benefits and future applications of this emerging field, along with risks and ethical considerations.

Show Notes:

Final Spark Website: https://finalspark.com/

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys Website:

Dr. Kurtys LinkedIn

Contact Paradigm Shock: 

Paradigm Shock Podcast LinkedIn

The latest episode of Paradigm Shock features Dr. Paul Sheard, former Vice Chairman and Chief Economist at Standard and Poor's, a former advisor to two Japanese prime ministers, a senior official at multiple global institutions, and the author of numerous papers and books, including his latest "The Power of Money", a WSJ Best Seller. Listeners delve into why popular economic narratives, especially regarding monetary policy, have often missed the mark post-2008 global financial crisis. Sheard's varied experiences, from studying Japanese industrial systems to navigating global economics at S&P, allow him to address complex topics with depth. His analysis of monetary systems, particularly his work on quantitative easing, reveals misunderstandings about inflation post-2008. Dr. Sheard advocates for examining the finer details and institutional mechanics that traditional economic models often ignore, offering listeners a richer perspective on global financial challenges and the potential future disruptions to global economic architectures.

Show Links

Paul’s Wall Street Journal Bestseller: The Power of Money

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Sheard

His famous paper discussed: Repeat After Me: Banks Cannot And Do Not “Lend Out” Reserves

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sheard-060988264/

Contact Paradigm Shock: 

[email protected]

Catherine Bracy, author of 'World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy,' discusses her journey from civic tech to challenging the current venture capital system. Arguing that VC investment models impose a narrow business monoculture and problematic uniformity, Bracy highlights the risks of current funding models to innovation and the broader economy. She suggests that a diverse range of business models and funding mechanisms is crucial for sustaining growth and innovation in the tech sector, advocating for venture capital to revert to its original supportive, innovation-friendly role in fostering more varied types of business success. They also discuss this pattern potentially repeating itself in the current AI investment boom with potentially grave consequences to AI Safety.

Show Links

Her book: World Eaters: How Venture Capital Is Cannibalizing the Economy

Tech Equity: https://techequity.us/

Catherine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinebracy/

Contact Paradigm Shock: 

[email protected]