Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson

• Malcolm Gladwell on Tesla, RFK, and Why AI Could Save Us

  Can generative AI help us close the gap between expertise and access?This week on a special episode of Digital Disruption, we're joined by New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, recorded live in Las Vegas at Info-Tech Research Group's LIVE tech conference.Malcolm Gladwell is the author of eight New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and one of Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers, he is renowned for his unique perspective on the forces shaping human behavior and society. An extraordinary speaker, Gladwell combines eloquence, warmth, and humor to both entertain and challenge audiences. Through masterful storytelling, he unpacks complex and often misunderstood ideas, from decision-making in Blink and the roots of success in Outliers, to our underestimation of adversity in David and Goliath, and the missteps we make when interacting with strangers in Talking to Strangers.Malcolm Gladwell sits with Geoff Nielson for an engaging conversation on the future of AI, the power of storytelling, and the evolving forces that shape society. From AI’s role in closing the expertise gap to how unexpected narratives drive lasting cultural change, Gladwell offers his signature perspective: thoughtful, contrarian, and always surprising. He talks about why the most transformative uses of AI may be the simplest, how generative tools can elevate human capability, and why culture never changes in ways we expect. Malcolm provides insight into how the media, brands and politics are changing and what that could mean for leadership, while touching on the surprising truth about misinformation, expertise, and AI as a corrective tool. In this episode:0:00 Intro0:24 AI's biggest promise? Strengthening weak links1:33 AI in developing vs developed countries2:12 Should AI replace or empower teachers?3:13 Closing the expertise gap with AI4:18 AI as a safe place to learn without embarrassment5:08 The human side of AI5:32 AI in surprising places6:15 Malcolm’s personal use of AI7:57 Where Malcolm finds ideas and why AI can’t replicate them9:52 Why creativity can’t be automated12:42 Will AI ever replace storytellers and thinkers?14:24 Paul Simon’s genius explained17:27 What makes a great story? Tesla example22:26 Are people the new brand? Apple vs Chevy25:13 The power of "overstories" in shaping behavior26:57 We live in multiple narratives at once29:26 Can organizational culture be changed?30:37 How cultural narratives evolve31:37 Politics, power, and social media’s new role35:07 We’re still figuring out what tech is for38:10 Why AI disruption might not be as bad as we fear39:34 Is Malcolm an optimist or just realistic?41:22 Can AI restore trust in expertise?43:43 The power of narrative over facts44:15 Poking the bearConnect with Malcolm:Website: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/X: https://x.com/GladwellInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcolmgladwell/Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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• Forces That Will Radically Transform Society in the Next Decade

  Can your organization survive its own hesitation to take bold bets?Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former Amazon exec and bestselling author, John Rossman. John is an author, business advisor, and keynote speaker. He was an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002. He has served as the senior technology advisor at the Gates Foundation and senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile. His books include “The Amazon Way” and “Think Like Amazon.” His new book, Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era, is an actionable guide for leaders who want to succeed in complex transformations. John sits down with Geoff to unpack why most change initiatives fall short, and what leaders can do to shift the odds in their favor. Looking back on his experience launching Amazon Marketplace and advising top organizations, he shares strategies for scaling effectively, leading through change, and building resilience in today’s digital environment. John explains why traditional transformation efforts often fail, the issues leaders come across, and how to adopt a system of risk-smart decision-making and drive meaningful change. Get ready to challenge assumptions, cut through the hype, and transform the way you lead. In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:07 Solving hard problems with an integrated mindset03:07 Why most companies struggle with change04:21 The 3 megatrends disrupting business06:32 Why Back-office productivity must change07:22 Why Past winners are at risk of losing09:36 Why big bets often fail13:30 The three habits of big bet leaders16:42 Why innovation labs often fail21:39 Why leaders must design decision points intentionally25:03 The power of a clear “Big Bet Vector”31:27 What extreme accountability really means36:08 Should we abandon silos?40:25 Advice for how CIOs can unlock progress despite technical debt46:08 How CIOs can win51:55 Why Change can’t just be an operator’s job53:01 The Big Bet Playbook explained56:27 Active skepticismWebsite: https://johnrossman.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/X: https://x.com/johnerossmanConnect with John:Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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  57:57
• The Big Lie Behind AI Hype: Tom Goodwin on the Future of Business

  What if the biggest threat to progress isn’t technology? Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Tom Goodwin, Co-Founder of All We Have Is Now.Tom Goodwin is a four-time LinkedIn “#1 Voice in Marketing.” He is also the Co-Founder of, All We Have Is Now, a digital transformation consultancy helping businesses harness emerging technologies. A sought-after speaker, writer, and advisor, Tom also hosts The Edge, a tech-focused TV series, and My Wildest Prediction, a podcast with Euronews. In 2021 Tom published the second edition of his book “Digital Darwinism” with Kogan Page, in 2023 Tom launched a comprehensive online Digital Transformation course, and has now spoken in over 100 cities in 50 countries around the world.Tom sits down with Geoff to share his perspective on the evolving digital landscape and how to cut through the noise especially around AI, digital transformation, and innovation — to focus on what truly matters for organizations today. He argues that in a time of rapid technological change, the smartest move may be to slow down, ignore the hype, and prioritize people, processes, and a long-term strategic vision. Tom urges leaders to think critically, stay grounded in fundamentals, and embrace thoughtful, human-centered progress over flashy solutions.In this video:00:00 Intro01:11 Why tech hype needs a reality check02:06 What actually matters in 202503:04 Business first, not tech first04:11 Why not every company needs to chase every trend05:16 The problem with constant agility07:13 Why disruption isn’t always real10:18 Are we avoiding hard truths about our business models?12:12 Who wins: legacy companies or startups?15:28 Will AI-native companies dominate?17:09 Why real change still takes time19:07 Hype vs. reality in AI adoption22:47 Technology adoption is slower than you think24:02 Advice to leaders on using AI strategically26:44 Why short-term thinking is overrated29:05 Planning for what really matters31:00 A better approach to technology prioritization33:18 Why digital transformation usually fails34:49 The Heathrow metaphor: patchwork vs. reinvention39:06 The promise of AI for real reinvention42:20 Are IT leaders being left behind?44:00 Why the CTO must be more strategic47:03 What it takes to lead digital transformation48:22 Why we need more ambitious use of existing tech50:01 Tom’s book: Digital Darwinism51:40 What happens when AI becomes invisible tech53:13 We need clearer conversations around AIConnect with Tom:Website: https://www.tomgoodwin.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfgoodwin/X: https://x.com/tomfgoodwinVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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  54:03
• What Amazon’s AI Leader Thinks About the Future of Your Job

  Is AI coming for your job, or just the parts that you hate doing?Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Rory Richardson, Director of Go-To-Market for Generative AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS). With over a decade of experience at AWS, she has been instrumental in launching and scaling breakthrough technologies, including non-relational databases and serverless computing. Rory has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of cloud development through her strategic leadership in go-to-market initiatives, empowering developers to expand the boundaries of what’s possible in the cloud. Driven by a passion for innovation, her current focus is on harnessing the potential of generative AI to transform developer tools, enabling more efficient, creative, and human-centered development processes. Rory sits down with Geoff to explain how generative AI can supercharge the developer experience, helping teams write better code, faster, and with fewer headaches. She shares her perspective that AI isn’t about replacing people, but about helping us do less of what we dislike, and why embracing AI now is one of the smartest moves leaders can make. Rory shares real-world examples from AWS, insights from developer culture, and a human-centered view on the rapidly changing AI landscape. In this episode:00:00 Intro01:04 Recap of Info-Tech LIVE 2024 in Las Vegas01:35 What’s new in AI & developer tools02:53 The rise of AI-powered command line tools03:32 Why Amazon is paying people to play06:44 “Vibe Coding”08:10 Differential equations & development tools12:00 Risks of rapid AI adoption13:32 What does coding look like in 2028?16:20 Creativity, context-switching & grit18:07 How play drives innovation19:34 Teaching AI in schools23:10 Is age the biggest barrier to AI adoption?28:20 What should junior Devs expect?30:38 Better AI boundaries35:01 Will AI replace Developers?37:25 Accelerating innovation, not replacing humans42:24 Why AI works best on repetitive tasks44:11 Let AI do the dishes, not the art46:04 From Paris, Texas to Amazon Web Services48:19 Everything is learnable49:09 The grit factorConnect with Rory:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roryr/Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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  52:54
• Ex-Google Officer on AI, Capitalism, and the Future of Humanity

  Is the real threat of AI the technology or the humans behind it?Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X. Mo is the host of the popular podcast Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat, and the author of several international bestsellers, including Solve for Happy, Scary Smart, That Little Voice in Your Head, and Unstressable. He is also the founder of One Billion Happy and currently serves as Chief AI Officer at Flight Story. With a 30-year career in tech, Mo has since shifted his focus to the pursuit of happiness and human well-being. He has extensively researched the science of happiness and engaged in conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers. More recently, his work has centered on the urgent ethical and societal challenges posed by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Mo sits down with Geoff for an unfiltered conversation on the future of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence. Mo explains that we’re living in the early stages of a technology-fueled dystopia, one that is driven not by AI itself, but by humans who shape it by greed, power, and unchecked capitalism. But he also shares a vision for a future of unprecedented abundance, one where AI could solve global challenges, from climate change to poverty, but only if we as humans embrace ethical design and mutual cooperation. In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:20 AI, geopolitics, and capitalism03:05 Is the problem human nature or systems?06:22 The coming age of abundant intelligence08:13 AI’s dark side13:15 Fear-driven ai development17:10 Handing power to ai19:14 Why superintelligent ai could save us21:12 Can we avoid an ai Hiroshima moment?25:30 Mutual prosperity or destruction29:11 The age of machine supremacy31:00 How to influence AI for good33:12 AI reflects humanity36:06 What AI is learning from us right now40:06 Who thrives in the AI era44:04 The rise of mind manipulation47:02 How to stay critical in a world of deepfakes49:12 Use AI to expand your thinking, not replace it51:21 The leadership skills of the future54:42 Collaborating with AI as team members57:20 Will AI want to connect with us?01:01:06 Could AI become conscious?01:04:48 AI emotions and the next evolution of intelligence01:06:32 The role of humansConnect with Mo:Website: https://www.mogawdat.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mogawdat/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mogawdatofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mo_gawdat/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mogawdatVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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