Possible with Reid Hoffman

After last week’s wide-ranging discussion with Bill Gates, Aria asks Reid for his take on the work of this philanthropic luminary. Plus, Reid gives a three-part answer to the technology developments he thinks are going to have broad and beneficial applications across many fields.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

In this episode of Remarkable People, join host Guy Kawasaki for an illuminating conversation with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and partner at Greylock. Together, they explore entrepreneurship, politics, and artificial intelligence, offering unique insights into blitzscaling, the future of democracy, and how games shaped his strategic thinking. Hoffman shares candid views on Silicon Valley dynamics, the impact of extreme wealth, and his optimistic vision for AI's role in society. Discover how this tech pioneer navigates the intersection of technology, business, and civic responsibility.

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, we’re bringing you a bonus episode from Reid's Masters of Scale podcast. A few weeks ago, Reid sat down with former President Bill Clinton at the Masters of Scale Summit to talk about the current state of American democracy, polarization, and what’s at stake in this election. Their full, unedited stage conversation is presented in this episode. To hear more conversations like these from Reid Hoffman, subscribe to Masters of Scale wherever you get your podcasts: https://mastersofscale.com/follow 

How many lives will be saved with the help of AI over the next decade?

Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective on how far humanity has come and what our potential—and timelines—for meaningful change really look like. He gets granular on everything from cows (5% of global emissions) to disease reduction and eradication (Guinea worm disease). At each turn, he has data at his fingertips to ground his beliefs. So, what current set of innovations is Bill most excited about? And what is realistically on the horizon for AI, climate change, energy, global health, and education?

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:18 - Hellos and intros

03:24 - Projects Bill is most excited about

05:46 - Bill’s recent Netflix series

08:14 - Technology that will change what’s possible

10:41 - Solutions for malnutrition

12:09 - Cow-based solutions for climate change and nutrition

17:06 - What Bill is working toward for climate change

19:19 - Viable alternative energy sources

23:80 - What will make solar work?

26:47 - Nuclear fission and fusion

29:30 - How AI will help mitigate climate change

32:38 - What to focus on in global health

37:24 - AI and drug discovery

39:52 - What else will AI unlock in public health?

42:28 - Personalized medicine: is it worth it?

44:02 - Conditions on the ground in the poorest countries

47:29 - AI in education

51:24 - Khanmigo and early GPT-4

54:59 - Non-tech levers for change in education

56:34 - What would Bill ask someone from 2100?

58:25 - AI in 3-5 years, and what comes next for work

01:03:05 - Rapid-fire Questions

Select mentions: 

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Nature 

What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxhYr4gbQE 

Bill Gates Visits First Avenue School: Commends Innovative Use of Technology

https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/first-avenue-school/bill-gates-visits-first-avenue-school-commends-innovative-use-of-technology/ 

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

What does productive collaboration between big tech developers and the rest of the world actually look like? This week, Reid gets into the value of competition, iterative development, learning mindsets, and red teaming in tech and business—in the United States and globally.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How can people in all corners of the world participate in the AI revolution and unlock benefits in their own lives? James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Technology & Society at Google, joins the show to discuss global access to AI and the impact on capitalism, the economy, science, and the workforce. He speaks to Google’s latest AI developments, including tools to warn people about natural disasters like floods and wildfires, along with the virtual research assistant NotebookLM.

Read the transcript of this episode here: www.possible.fm/podcasts/manyika

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

01:18 - Hellos and intros

02:36 - James’s career and path into AI

03:59 - UN involvement and diversity of perspectives in global AI 

08:04 - Learnings from UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI

10:01 - NotebookLM demo

12:06 - Specific uses of the virtual research assistant NotebookLM 

15:03 - Global positive impacts of AI

18:38 - AI and capitalism, the economy 

24:10 - AI and climate change 

29:17 - Humanity and AI development 

32:14 - How to mitigate risks 

35:02 - The rising importance of humanist disciplines 

36:50 - NotebookLM rollout 

39:31 - Truth and bias in the age of AI

40:58 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

NotebookLM - https://notebooklm.google.com/ 

Governing AI for Humanity, from the UN's High-level Advisory Body on AI - https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/governing_ai_for_humanity_final_report_en.pdf

Project Green Light - https://sites.research.google/greenlight/ 

“Applying AI to Rebuild Middle Class Jobs” by David Autor - https://www.nber.org/papers/w32140 

“Accelerating Climate Action with AI” from BCG – https://web-assets.bcg.com/72/cf/b609ac3d4ac6829bae6fa88b8329/bcg-accelerating-climate-action-with-ai-nov-2023-rev.pdf 

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Reid unpacks the decision to appoint Sean White as the leader of Inflection and outlines what makes him uniquely poised to take on this exciting challenge. Plus, Aria asks Reid about the future landscape of LLMs. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

How will an empathetic AI interact with humans? What if we used AI not just for its IQ, but its EQ? How do we build the trust to enable it to take agency on our behalf?

This week, Reid and Aria sit down with an expert and friend, Sean White to start answering those questions. Sean White is currently the CEO of Inflection AI and is working on expanding the relationship of what AI can do for humans. Sean takes a humanist approach to new technology, and is interested in AI that can go beyond intelligence to learn empathy and take action. Sean's background is as wide-ranging as the conversation, where we discuss the influence of AI in everything from neuroscience to understanding animal languages. Plus, listen to a live test with Pi to demonstrate Pi's ability to handle a tough situation at work, with empathy. 

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

01:22 - Hellos and intros

3:20 - Microsoft and Inflection 

6:27 - The capabilities and influence of Inflection’s Pi 

11:02 - Pi in the workplace 

12:10 - Pi in action 

15:38 - AI isn’t a human; it is a tool 

16:11 - Pi’s IQ vs EQ 

17:46 - Pi’s AQ, or our ability to take action via AI 

18:51 - How our lives might change in the near future with Pi 

21:36 - How our skill sets will elevate 

22:28 - Neuroscience and AI 

25:22 - Owning your intelligence 

30:14 - The wonders of Earth Species Project 

34:05 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

Inflection: https://inflection.ai/ 

Spruce art collective

Dr. Eddie Chang, Chang Lab, UCSF 

Familiarity by the Punch Brothers

Dr. Hirokazu Kato, Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

With Election Day fast approaching, Reid tackles some big questions: Is Silicon Valley leaning increasingly red? How can—and should—the government modernize voting? Is there a place for AI agents in politics? And which party is really best for business right now? 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

What’s driving some of the greatest political divisions and threats to democracy ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

This week, Reid and Aria attempt to unpack this with someone who specializes in listening to American voters and translating those insights, at scale: Republican political strategist and The Bulwark co-founder/publisher Sarah Longwell. Sarah, who also hosts The Focus Group Podcast, joins the show to talk about her experience listening to everyday voters through focus groups — and her perspective on how doing so can help people better understand one another, combat misinformation, and heal some of the deepest divides in America today. She shares her perspective on Donald Trump, the upcoming election, the state of politics in Silicon Valley, AI, the future of the Republican Party, and the value of compromising. Plus, Reid tests GPT-4o’s ability to separate fact from fiction. 

Note: This conversation is not intended to proselytize or convert anyone. Rather, it is an attempt to learn from someone who has spent hundreds of hours talking to thousands of voters about their lives and politics.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:41 - Hellos and intros

04:55 - The state of politics now

06:08 - Inside the mind of an undecided voter

08:22 - What polls actually tell us

10:04 - What’s different about the political attitude right now

12:22 - How focus groups work, and what they tell us

18:08 - The benefits of qualitative research

18:52 - How can technology improve focus group research?

23:12 - How to become a better listener and persuader

28:21 - The impact and use cases of AI running focus groups

34:03 - When a human touch is necessary

36:37 - AI video-based sentiment analysis

41:05 - Sarah navigating being a lone wolf in politics

45:19 - What Sarah learned fighting for marriage equality

47:25 - How does misinformation spread and stick?

54:08 - What’s next for the Republican party?

57:42 - GPT-4o “spot the fake headline” test

01:02:57 - Rapid-fire questions

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.