Shape of Tomorrow

In this episode, I explore why the best tech leaders today are becoming builders again—and why rolling up your sleeves might be the smartest strategic move you can make. Then I unpack the rise of agentic AI use cases: systems that don’t just analyze, but take action. If you’re leading in tech, strategy, or innovation, this one’s for you.

What if your operating system didn’t just run apps, but anticipated your next move? What if CFOs became the unexpected tech power players? And what if open source quietly outmaneuvered the giants in the AI race? In this episode, I’m decoding signals — the ones hiding in plain sight — that reveal where strategy and technology are really headed. Then in segment two, we zoom in on leadership — not theory, but the small, human moments where AI can make your impact sharper, smarter, and more intentional.

In this episode of Shape of Tomorrow, I take you inside Anthropic’s newly launched Claude for Education—a move I believe marks the beginning of a new category in higher education: the intelligent academic colleague.

This isn’t just another AI chatbot. It’s a purpose-built tool for students, faculty, and administrators that’s designed to elevate learning, streamline operations, and reinforce—not replace—the critical thinking that lies at the heart of higher education.

I explore Claude’s standout feature, Learning Mode, which pushes beyond answers and into the realm of inquiry-based dialogue. I break down use cases across campus roles, from drafting rubrics to solving equations to rethinking how academic institutions communicate. And I share what Anthropic’s strategic partnerships with schools like Northeastern and LSE tell us about the future of AI-integrated learning ecosystems.

If you’re in education—or advising, building, or investing in its future—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

This week on Shape of Tomorrow, I dive deep into a concept that’s been resonating with many of you: Strategic Surface Area. Born from a newsletter article I wrote while reflecting on the ingenuity of Venice, this idea is about how leaders can create space at the edges of their organizations to reignite momentum when things feel existentially stuck. I unpack the core design principles behind it—intentionality, visibility, and loose coupling—and share examples from different sectors to bring the idea to life.

I also give a quick rundown of the latest shifts in the GenAI landscape: Google’s Gemini 2.5, Microsoft Copilot’s new agents, and OpenAI’s native image generation capabilities inside ChatGPT. The big players are accelerating, and it’s time to consider how these tools fit into your own workflow.

In Episode 125 of Shape of Tomorrow, I explore the rise of digital agents—tools designed to take action, make decisions, and complete work without constant direction. I share examples of how these agents are beginning to operate independently, coordinating with one another and stepping into roles that once required human oversight. This episode is a practical look at how these systems are quietly reshaping how work gets done.

While traveling through the timeless towns of Latisana, Udine, San Daniele, and Venzone, I found myself reflecting on the paradox of permanence in a world shaped by exponential technologies. This episode explores that tension and dives deep into ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2025 report, unpacking how converging innovation platforms—AI, Robotics, Energy Storage, Blockchain, and Multiomic Sequencing—are set to reshape industries and societies. Join me as I consider what this future means not just for global economies, but for the quiet places where time seems to stand still.

Ciao, from Venezia Italia!

Venice isn’t just a stunning destination—it’s one of history’s greatest innovation labs. Founded by refugees in a marshy lagoon, the city transformed its greatest constraint into its greatest strength, pioneering breakthroughs in architecture, commerce, and even mass production centuries before the industrial revolution.

But Venice’s story isn’t just about the past. Today, it faces new challenges—rising sea levels, overtourism, and population decline. True to its legacy, the city continues to innovate through initiatives like VeniSIA, a sustainability accelerator shaping solutions for the future.

In this episode of Shape of Tomorrow, I explore how Venice’s history offers powerful lessons on resilience, systems thinking, and turning obstacles into opportunities. Join me as I reflect on what this extraordinary city can teach us about shaping a future that lasts.

I’m diving into key takeaways from the Paris AI Summit and the biggest AI trends shaping business in 2025. From innovation to strategy, let’s explore what’s next and why it matters.

In episode 121, we explore a groundbreaking quantum computing breakthrough from Microsoft that could reshape AI, medicine, and material science. Then, we dive into Apple's bold move to democratize AI with the iPhone 16E and unpack 'The Great Unbundling'—the seismic shift dismantling traditional business models across industries.

In this week’s episode of Shape of Tomorrow, we dive into the evolving role of AI in knowledge work and the unexpected cognitive challenges it presents. A recent study from Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon reveals that AI reliance may be impairing critical thinking, a finding that raises important questions about how we integrate these tools into our workflows. We also explore Anthropics’ AI Economic Index, which tracks AI’s role in augmenting vs. automating work, and discuss OpenAI’s move into custom chip manufacturing—an industry-shifting development that could reshape the AI hardware landscape.

In the second half, we spotlight Tana, an AI-powered note-taking and productivity tool that blends structured databases with dynamic metadata tagging, automated meeting summaries, and knowledge graph insights. Could this be the answer to information overload?

Tune in for insights, strategy, and a fresh perspective on how AI is reshaping both work and thought.