PodcastsBusinessAI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics
359: Why AI-Efficient Startups Are Forcing Venture Capital to Evolve with Jim Curry, CEO of BuildGroup
Jim Curry is the co-founder and CEO of BuildGroup, a venture firm based in Austin that has raised $330 million since its founding in 2015 and backed companies like Anaconda, Vidmob, DigniFi, and Benefitfocus. He brings more than two decades of experience in product, strategy, and corporate development from roles at Rackspace and Dell, and he co-founded OpenStack, one of the most widely used open source cloud computing platforms. Jim serves on the boards of Generation Serve and the University of Texas School of Undergraduate Studies. He holds degrees from UT Austin and Harvard Business School.In this conversation, we discuss:Jim’s journey from Rackspace to launching BuildGroup and why he believes in “longer, slower capital” to support mission-driven foundersHow his experience co-founding OpenStack shaped his thinking on community-driven innovation and open-source softwareWhat AI startups can learn from the cloud era—and why infrastructure still matters in the age of foundation modelsWhy Jim believes VCs often push startups to scale too fast and what sustainable growth looks like in practiceThe impact of AI on venture capital and how BuildGroup thinks about investing in software companies that solve real problemsHow founders can balance product vision with pragmatism, especially when building in volatile marketsResources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Jim on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How to Develop NLP and AI Data Harvesting Using Games and Blockchains To Earn NFTs
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Artificial General Intelligence: Can Machines Really Think Like Us? (Special Episode)
In this special episode of AI and the Future of Work, host Dan Turchin explores one of the most ambitious and debated frontiers in technology: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).What is AGI? How close are we to creating machines that truly think, reason, and learn like humans? And what will that mean for the future of work, creativity, and ethics?This compilation episode revisits insights from three leading thinkers who have spent years defining, debating, and developing the next generation of intelligent systems.Featuring Guests🔹 Peter Voss, CEO & Chief Scientist, Aigo.ai 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/15366873 🔹 Babak Hodjat, CTO of AI, Cognizant 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/14689727 🔹 Pankaj Kedia, Founder, 2468 Ventures 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/15662279 ✅ What You’ll LearnWhat truly defines Artificial General Intelligence and how it differs from narrow AIWhy scaling large models isn’t enough to achieve real cognitionHow cognitive and embodied AI could bridge the gap to human-like understandingWhy AGI may usher in a new “age of abundance” where work, creativity, and purpose are redefined💬 Inspired by this episode?Share your favorite insight on social media and tag us.And don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of AI and work.Other special episodes:Lessons from Four Unicorn CEOs Disrupting Massive Markets with AI (Special Episode)Ethical AI in Hiring: How to Stay Compliant While Building a Fairer Future of Work (HR Day Special Episode)The Future of AI Ethics Special: Perspectives from Women Leaders in AI on Bias, Accountability & TrustAI and Safety: How Responsible Tech Leaders Build Trustworthy Systems (National Safety Month Special)Empowering the Next Generation: Career, Leadership & Resilience Insights (International Youth Day Special Episode)Lessons from Leaders: How AI Is Redefining Work and the Human Experience (Labor Day Special Episode)
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358: Inside Mastercard’s AI Adoption Journey: CTO George Maddaloni on Building Trust, Detecting Fraud, and the Future of Payments
George Maddaloni is the EVP and CTO for Operations at Mastercard, where he leads the performance and modernization of technology platforms serving more than 35,000 employees worldwide. He has previously held senior IT leadership roles at AIG, UBS, AT&T, GM, and Merrill Lynch, and currently serves on the board of SustainableIT.org. George earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Fordham University.In this conversation, we discuss:How Mastercard’s CTO thinks about the balance between innovation, trust, and regulation in one of the world’s most complex financial networks.The strategy behind modernizing Mastercard’s internal technology platforms to empower 35,000 global employees.Why a decade of AI experience changed how Mastercard approaches fraud, data, and customer confidence.The cultural shift that turned curiosity about AI into measurable progress across a global workforce.How a 50-year-old payments company keeps competing with startups by rethinking infrastructure from the ground up.George Maddaloni’s vision of the next era of payments and how technology might make transactions faster, safer, and nearly invisible.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with George on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How To Create an Energy-Based Work System that Empowers EmployeesOther resources mentioned in this conversation: On decentralized AI in Banks and the Future of Finance with Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO
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357: Emotional Team Intelligence Over Star Power: Behavioral Scientist Jon Levy on Culture, AI, and Leadership
Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist and New York Times bestselling author known for exploring trust, human connection, belonging, and influence. He’s the founder of The Influencers Dinner, a secret dining experience that has grown into a community of thousands of leaders, including Nobel laureates, Olympians, celebrities, executives, artists, and musicians. His book You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging was named a Wall Street Journal “Book of the Month” in 2021. He’s also the author of The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure and the newly released Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius.In this conversation, we discuss:Why the smartest teams often fail, and how trust, belonging, and psychological safety drive collective intelligenceThe surprising data behind team performance, including why individual IQ doesn’t predict group successWhat makes a team “brilliant,” and how leaders can design environments that unlock group flow and faster decision-makingHow AI changes team dynamics and why it's urgent to redefine collaboration in a hybrid, tech-driven worldThe four principles of Team Intelligence and how they apply to both startups and global enterprisesJon’s personal journey from hosting secret dinners to writing Team Intelligence, and why he believes social bonds are the future of workResources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterLearn more of Jon on LinkedInExplore Jon’s published work and speaking eventsAI fun fact articleOn How gen AI startups can beat Big Tech incumbents
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356: Can HR Build Trust in an Age of AI Uncertainty? With Tracy Layney, Former CHRO of Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly
Tracy Layney is a seasoned HR leader with more than 15 years of experience shaping people and culture strategies at Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly. She currently teaches Human Capital Strategy as an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tracy holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania.In this conversation, we discuss:Tracy shares her unconventional path from English major and aspiring lawyer to CHRO at Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly, and how consulting shaped her approach to organizational strategy.She reflects on lessons from working with iconic leaders like Eva Sage Gavin and Chip Bergh, including leading Levi’s through the early days of the pandemic.She explains why excellence and heart-centered leadership must coexist to build values-driven, high-performing cultures.She explores how AI and other disruptive forces are reshaping HR, from talent strategy to employee expectations, and why adaptability is critical for leaders.She discusses the importance of transparency and trust-building between HR and employees during times of uncertainty, drawing parallels with past crises.She shares her perspective as a professor on how future HR leaders are navigating unprecedented change, mental health challenges, and the rapid rise of AI in the workplace.Resources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Tracy on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How To Democratize Content Creation using AI
About AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics
Host Dan Turchin, PeopleReign CEO, explores how AI is changing the workplace. He interviews thought leaders and technologists from industry and academia who share their experiences and insights about artificial intelligence and what it means to be human in the era of AI-driven automation. Learn more about PeopleReign, the system of intelligence for IT and HR employee service: http://www.peoplereign.io.
Listen to AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics, Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing) and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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