Stay ConnectedThe Next Industrial Revolution is Already Here
Digital Disruption is where industry leaders and experts share insights on leveraging technology to build the organizations of the future.
As intelligent technologies reshape our lives and our livelihoods, we speak with the thinkers, the doers and innovators who will help us predict and harness this disruption. Join us as we explore how to adapt to and harness digital transformation.
Copyright: © Info-Tech Research Group
Are we entering the most transformative era of work in history?
Technology is evolving weekly, and culture takes time to adapt. In this episode, AI futurist and award-winning innovation leader Maurice Conti explains how rapid technological change, especially in artificial intelligence, will shape our world, the economy, and the future of jobs, and what AI leadership means for navigating these shifts.
Drawing on his experience with companies like Amazon, Nike, Mercedes, and Lululemon, Maurice shares insights from Fortune 100 companies and explains how generative AI, automation, and human-AI collaboration are transforming the workplace.
The key insight is simple. The future of AI is not big, flashy, or “sexy.” It is quiet, invisible, and massively impactful. Maurice explains why we have entered the “Augmented Age,” where humans and AI work together, and outlines the major shifts known as the 4 Waves of AI defining this transformation, including the grassroots AI revolution happening inside organizations and the rise of AI agents and ecosystems.
If you want to understand where AI is really going beyond the hype, this is a must-watch episode.
Like and follow for weekly episodes.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:04 The “Augmented Age”: Humans + AI working together
02:10 Sci-Fi to reality: Talking to computers like Star Trek
04:11 Have we arrived at intuitive AI?
05:15 Why AI progress isn’t linear
06:05 Can anyone predict the future of AI?
07:05 The Nvidia story & “more AI in the future” principle
08:57 Amara’s Law: Short-term hype vs long-term impact
10:08 Why AI will be bigger (and slower) than expected
10:54 The 4 Waves of AI explained
11:00 Wave 1: “Interesting but not useful” AI
12:31 Wave 2: Grassroots AI (hidden ROI inside companies)
13:16 Why CEOs can’t see AI ROI
14:09 Tool users → tool makers (the real shift)
16:17 The invisible productivity explosion
20:10 Wave 3: AI agents & ecosystems
21:48 Wave 4: AI as electricity (invisible & everywhere)
23:18 The dark side of “interesting AI”
26:15 Personal AI use cases (daily life & work)
27:09 Why most organizations are still “Grassroots”
28:38 The explosion of tools (new risks for IT)
30:15 CIO/CTO challenges: Control vs innovation
33:09 Building the right AI infrastructure layer
34:45 Where should companies invest in AI?
37:14 Start with the problem, not the technology
40:04 Toolset vs skillset vs mindset
42:45 Why mindset & culture matter most
44:28 The race to the bottom vs innovation
45:15 New workplace norms & ethical questions
49:49 Why culture changes slowly
51:33 Tech vs culture: A fundamental tension
52:30 Can organizations adapt to constant change?
56:06 The myth of big, sexy AI
57:01 Small AI, massive impact
58:18 Where real innovation is happening
59:13 Why young workers lead AI adoption
01:01:22 Advice for leaders
01:02:59 AI is a “Lord of the Rings” journey
01:05:15 Will AI replace jobs?
01:10:23 Lessons from past tech revolutions
01:13:47 Why humans need ~25 years to adapt
01:16:02 Why expectations rise with technology
01:17:38 Why there will always be more work to do
01:18:55 Final thoughts
Connect with Maurice:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriceconti/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What if everything we’ve been told about AI and the future of work is wrong?
John Hagel says most leaders are asking the wrong questions:
“How fast can we automate?”
“How many jobs can we cut?”
According to him, that’s a “going out of business strategy.”
In this episode, we sit down with Silicon Valley veteran John Hagel, an advisor to firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Deloitte, to challenge the dominant narrative around AI, automation, and job elimination. He shares insights into how leaders are approaching AI today, often focusing on cost-cutting and workforce reduction, and what that means for the future of business and entrepreneurship.
John explains that the real opportunity with AI isn’t efficiency, it’s learning. He talks about the shift from scalable efficiency to scalable learning and how organizations can use AI to augment human potential, unlock creativity and curiosity, and build cultures rooted in trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
If you’re thinking about the future of work, this episode will challenge how you view AI, strategy, and innovation, and offer a different perspective on AI’s role in the modern economy.
Like and follow for weekly episodes.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Is “this time different” with technology?
02:29 The Big Shift: Why organizations must fundamentally change
03:18 Scalable efficiency vs scalable learning
05:33 The dangerous AI narrative: automation & job cuts
06:19 Why efficiency alone leads to diminishing returns
09:42 Trust: The missing foundation in most organizations
10:50 What happens when companies fail to adapt
12:21 Debunking AI myths and media narratives
12:46 Humans vs machines: who should do what?
13:14 Reskilling vs building human capabilities
15:03 How to convince leaders to rethink AI strategy
16:24 Fear vs opportunity in leadership
20:16 What real workplace learning looks like
21:18 The future leader: asking better questions
24:38 How to structure high-impact teams
26:06 The collapse of trust in institutions
26:58 Corporate narratives & Apple’s “Think Different”
30:06 Creativity vs technology in strategy
30:41 Zoom Out, Zoom In strategy explained
33:08 Microsoft example: seeing the future early
35:14 Why agility without direction fails
37:21 Understanding “the edge” and innovation
39:34 Why transformation efforts fail in large companies
41:22 Scaling the edge vs top-down change
42:52 The power of the “explorer mindset”
47:18 Why companies suppress passion
48:31 Only 14% of workers are truly passionate
50:18 Can passion be cultivated at scale?
52:29 Does IT still matter in the AI era?
55:07 AI, healthcare, and the future of longevity
57:13 From healthcare to “wellness ecosystems”
58:19 The rise of the trusted advisor
59:50 Can AI replace human advisors?
01:02:25 Advice for leaders
01:04:18 AI is a tool humans determine its impact
01:06:29 Why most digital transformations fail
Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhagel/
X: https://x.com/jhagel
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What if the AI revolution isn’t what we’ve been promised?
What does an economist and bestselling author have to say about the idea that Big Tech may be overselling the future of artificial intelligence?
In this episode, Oxford economist and Associate Professor of AI & Work, Carl Benedikt Frey, shares his skeptical perspective on the impact of artificial intelligence. He explains what it could mean for the future of work, including job market shifts and the necessity of skills development.
This conversation takes a critical look at the economic changes driven by AI, challenging the dominant narrative around productivity and technological progress. While Big Tech describes a future of abundance, Carl argues that history tells a more complicated story. From the Industrial Revolution to the computer age, breakthrough technologies didn’t automatically lead to sustained productivity or shared prosperity, and AI may follow a similar path.
Like and follow for weekly episodes.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:57 Why the “AI Abundance” narrative might be wrong
01:45 Lessons from the computer revolution & productivity slowdown
03:30 AI vs computers: Automating cognition vs information
05:19 Why Big Tech may be overhyping AI impact
06:20 Automation vs creating new industries
08:08 AI infrastructure race: US vs China
10:25 The “Steam Engine Moment” AI hasn’t reached
12:31 Why technology alone isn’t enough
14:19 Why breakthrough innovation is declining
15:09 The collapse of business dynamism
15:45 Corporate lobbying, patents & barriers to entry
17:27 Why this matters more than AI itself
18:20 Startups vs Big Tech: Who drives innovation?
19:36 Will AI accelerate economic inequality?
21:37 Lessons from the Gilded Age & Antitrust History
24:04 Why strong governments enable competition
25:00 Big Tech vs historical monopolies
26:19 Centralization vs decentralization in innovation
29:01 Japan vs US
33:56 AI and the “more vs better work” problem
35:20 Will AI lower quality in research & knowledge?
36:23 AI: Increasing quantity vs improving quality
38:16 Why AI benefits low-skill workers more
39:49 AI and the rise of global labor competition
40:42 AI-driven offshoring
42:17 Which jobs are most at risk?
44:06 Long-term labor market predictions
46:20 Where humans still beat AI
48:15 The growing anti-AI backlash
49:11 Historical resistance to technology
53:39 Can government reduce AI disruption?
56:01 Why institutions determine outcomes
59:25 Advice for business leaders
01:00:12 Why decentralized companies win
01:02:24 Why innovation requires “waste”
Connect with Carl:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlbfrey/
X: https://x.com/carlbfrey
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Why are 88% of businesses using AI but only 5% seeing real transformation?
In this episode, we sit down with Dan Diasio, EY’s Global Consulting AI Leader and CTO, to break down the four possible futures of AI, from constraint to full transformation, and what it takes for organizations to win in an AI-driven world.
Drawing from his experience advising Fortune 50 executives, Dan explains how leaders are navigating uncertainty, why many companies fall into the “sameness trap,” and what separates simple AI adoption from true competitive differentiation.
We also explore the rise of AI agents and end-to-end workflows, why mindset and skillset matter more than toolset, and what the future of jobs looks like in an AI-first world.
If you are thinking about AI strategy, leadership, or how to prepare your organization for what comes next, this episode delivers practical and forward-looking insights.
Like and subscribe for weekly episodes.
In this video:
00:00 Intro
00:40 Inside SXSW: Future-proofing AI strategy
02:14 Why predicting AI is impossible
02:56 The four AI futures explained (constraint → collapse)
04:36 What winning teams did differently
05:50 The “sameness trap” in AI
06:19 Positive vs negative AI futures
07:23 Constraint, growth, transform, collapse
09:54 What people actually believe about AI’s future
10:45 How do you win with AI?
13:17 Why business model innovation beats automation
14:02 Hands-on AI
15:46 How AI commoditizes output
17:01 AI investment trends: Productivity vs differentiation
18:13 The shift toward competitive advantage with AI
19:27 The AI Playbook: How leaders get it right
20:34 Going broad vs going deep with AI
21:11 88% vs 5%: The AI Adoption Gap
22:20 Mindset vs skillset vs toolset
23:27 Top-down vs bottom-up AI transformation
25:16 The visibility trap explained
26:06 Why new talent drives AI innovation
28:22 AI resistance & fear in organizations
29:43 “Death by a Thousand Papercuts” automation
30:54 New jobs: Knowledge Engineers & AI Orchestrators
32:48 Future Skills: Critical thinking, creativity, systems thinking
35:12 The role of IT in the AI era
37:34 AI as the new operating system of business
39:01 SaaS vs A
44:35 AI prototyping vs enterprise-scale systems
47:18 Will AI kill consulting?
54:07 AI infrastructure constraints & global risks
56:09 Biggest AI myths & misconceptions
57:34 Are we automating the wrong things?
59:27 Amara’s Law & AI hype cycles
01:00:12 How leaders should prepare
01:01:01 Why value creation beats cost cutting
01:02:17 Aligning AI strategy across the organization
Connect with Dan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-diasio/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
This is not just a technology shift. It is a human, organizational, and identity transformation.
In this episode, we sit down with Ian Beacraft, Founder and Chief Futurist at Signal and Cipher, to talk about one of the most urgent questions facing leaders today: what happens to work, organizations, and identity in the age of AI?
Ian argues that the next two years will matter more than the last 30, and that AI is not just another tool. It is a platform reshaping economies, organizations, and how we define work itself.
We break down why most companies are getting AI wrong, the critical difference between culture and coordination, and how the rise of AI agents is shifting value from doing the work to designing it. We also cover what leaders need to do right now to stay ahead, including real world examples of failed AI adoption, the growing power of small teams, and the coming identity shift in the workplace.
Like and subscribe for weekly episodes.
In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Biggest AI trends since last year
02:28 Why AI is not just a tool
03:28 AI, identity, and the redefinition of work
04:08 The real threat: Outdated organizational thinking
05:00 Culture vs coordination explained
07:08 The danger of replacing humans with AI
09:48 Employee anxiety & leadership impact
11:19 Why AI is NOT an IT problem
12:31 How organizations should approach AI
15:04 Encoding human expertise into AI systems
16:22 Trust, fear, and job replacement concerns
17:23 Leadership, vision & the social contract
20:50 Why most leaders lack vision today
21:46 “What you do in the next 2 years is your legacy”
23:14 Incremental vs transformational AI thinking
24:25 Encoding organizational identity for AI
29:02 Why everyone must redesign their own work
31:16 From doing work to designing work
34:50 How leaders should drive AI adoption
38:08 Lessons from Building an AI-native organization
41:23 Rethinking departments & organizational structure
42:33 AI agents running autonomous workflows
44:08 The future role of culture
45:12 Real examples of AI agents in action
48:21 Small teams vs large organizations
49:04 The rise of entrepreneurship with AI
50:07 Which jobs are most at risk
55:13 Finding your competitive moat in AI
56:47 Why AI adoption is Lagging
57:24 Prediction: The future will be messy
59:38 Why systems must break before they improve
01:00:29 The AI transformation is about people, not tech
Connect with Ian:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianbeacraft
X: https://x.com/ianbcraft
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianbcraft/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Are we giving up our freedom for convenience without realizing it?
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a globally recognized AI ethics leader featured in Time and Forbes, to unpack the real risks of artificial intelligence, Big Tech power, and data privacy.
As the former Head of AI Ethics at Twitter and Accenture, Dr. Chowdhury shares an insider perspective on how Big Tech is consolidating power, why narratives around AGI and “AI intelligence” are often misleading, and how everyday tools from apps to social media, are quietly shaping a surveillance-driven ecosystem.
This conversation dives into AI ethics, surveillance, and the future of work, and explores why trust in AI is declining even as adoption accelerates. We also break down the real-world implications of AI, and most importantly, how you can protect your data, reclaim your agency, and use AI more intentionally.
In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:16 What’s wrong with AI today
02:18 Why people trust AI less every year
03:09 Big tech vs the technology itself
04:22 Dangerous narratives about AI
06:09 Anthropomorphism and moral outsourcing
07:40 The myth of AGI and profit motives
09:20 The economics behind AI power
11:21 Consumer responsibility and the privacy paradox
13:42 “I have nothing to hide” explained
15:04 How big tech is consolidating control
16:42 What consumers should actually do
18:30 Real-world consequences of data misuse
21:05 From Pokémon Go to surveillance systems
22:29 The dilemma of social media and platforms
26:05 Can AI still be used for good
28:20 Algorithms, manipulation, and loss of agency
30:12 Inside AI ethics at Twitter
33:48 Why leadership and trust are changing
35:17 Surveillance capitalism and public backlash
37:31 How to think strategically about AI
41:19 Finding agency and intentional use of AI
45:06 Will society push back against AI power
52:02 The role of AI ethicists and builders
56:41 The future of work and automation reality
01:01:32 Why expertise and discernment matter most
01:06:35 Advice for business leaders using AI
01:11:33 Final thoughts on agency and discernment
Connect with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rumman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rumman_c/?hl=en
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What happens when AI, energy, and technology all go exponential at the same time?
Salim Ismail says we’re entering a “messy decade” of disruption…
In this episode, we sit down with Salim, the founding executive director of Singularity University and author of Exponential Organizations, to break down the rapid acceleration of AI, robotics, space tech, and solar energy, and what it all means for jobs, business, governments, and your future.
Salim explains why AI is doubling every 8–10 weeks, how the cost of technology is collapsing, and how this shift is reshaping innovation, the workforce, and global power structures. From space-based data centers and abundant energy to the rise of AI-native companies, this conversation explores the technologies driving one of the biggest transformations of our time.
Like and follow for weekly episodes.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:00 What’s actually going exponential right now
03:30 The convergence of multiple exponential technologies
05:00 Space tech breakthroughs & $6M rocket launches
06:30 Data centers in space & infinite compute
07:45 From scarcity to abundance: the big shift
10:30 Real-world examples: music, communication, and industry disruption
12:45 The “messy decade” before the future gets better
14:00 Why institutions are breaking down (government, media, education)
15:30 Star Trek vs mad max: two possible futures
17:00 Why humans fear AI
20:00 Why technology is still humanity’s biggest advantage
23:00 Will AI take your job?
25:00 The ATM example: why jobs don’t disappear
26:30 AI organizations and 80% workforce reduction myth
28:30 The future of companies: small teams, big impact
30:00 The rise of the creative economy
32:00 Why human experience becomes more valuable
34:30 AI and human experts (doctors, teachers, consultants)
37:00 Which industries will be disrupted first
40:00 Why governments are falling behind
41:30 How to actually innovate
46:30 What leaders must do right now
50:00 What is an exponential organization?
52:30 “What do I do on Monday?” practical advice
57:00 The only strategy that works
59:00 AI startups & the future of entrepreneurship
01:02:00 Why most companies will fail to adapt
01:06:00 How to increase organizational speed
01:10:00 Leadership in the age of exponential change
01:15:00 The future of nations vs cities
01:20:00 Remote work vs in-person work
01:25:00 Robots, AI, and the coming inner loop
01:26:30 Why AGI is misunderstood
01:32:00 What most people get wrong about the future
01:34:00 Fixing civilization & human evolution
01:37:00 Psychedelics, creativity, and human potential
01:42:00 AI solving science and R&D autonomously
01:48:00 Raising kids in an AI world
01:52:00 The risk of losing human connection
01:53:00 Where we’re headed
Connect with Salim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salimismail/
X: https://x.com/salimismail
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Are businesses falling behind in the AI revolution?
While AI is transforming everything from workflows to decision-making, many companies are facing a surprising reality: they’re becoming less prepared for AI, not more. In this episode, we sit down with Brian Solis, a globally recognized futurist and thought leader, to explore how disruptive technology is reshaping business, society, and the future of work.
As Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, Brian shares expert insights on business innovation, AI adoption, and what it truly takes to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape. We also talk about the growing gap between AI-native companies and traditional enterprises, the rise of the agentic enterprise, and why true AI-driven reinvention requires far more than simple automation.
Like and follow for weekly episodes.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Are businesses falling behind in AI?
01:30 What “AI disruption” really means for business
03:30 The hidden dangers of AI: Bias, sycophancy & atrophy
05:20 Why most companies are underusing AI (capability overhang)
07:00 The AI index explained: Why readiness is declining
08:30 AI maturity scores are dropping and here’s why
10:50 Will AI-native startups disrupt enterprise giants?
13:00 How AI is reshaping jobs, roles, and workflows
15:30 The biggest myth: “AI transformation is easy”
16:30 What is the agentic enterprise? (future of AI work)
18:30 Automation vs innovation: Where AI creates real value
20:30 Why AI needs vision, not just it execution
22:30 IKEA’s $1B AI Pivot: A real business case study
25:00 AI business reinvention vs digital transformation
27:00 AI agents explained: How they actually work in business
30:00 Who manages AI? The Rise of HR and IT collaboration
33:30 The Chief Workflow Officer: A new c-suite role?
37:30 Innovation culture vs reality: Why most companies fail
45:00 Can you succeed in AI without an innovation culture?
53:00 Biggest AI myth debunked and final takeaways
Connect with Brian:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansolis/
X: https://x.com/briansolis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briansolis/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What happens to leadership, meaning, and human value in the age of AI?
On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Chip Conley, the former Head of Strategy at Airbnb, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Modern Elder Academy.
Chip joins Geoff to explore whether humans are becoming obsolete or more important than ever. Chip makes the case that while AI is commoditizing knowledge, it’s elevating the value of human wisdom, intuition, and soulful leadership. They unpack the difference between knowledge and wisdom, why AI struggles to ask the right questions, how leaders can balance efficiency with humanity, and what the future of work looks like in an AI-driven world. From philosophy and ethics making a comeback to practical frameworks and wisdom as metabolized experiences shared for the common good, this episode is for anyone navigating AI transformation, searching for meaning, or rethinking what it means to lead and work today. If AI is the age of intelligence, this conversation argues that wisdom is the real competitive advantage.
Chip is an American hotelier, hospitality entrepreneur, author, and speaker who founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality, growing it into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in the U.S., and later served as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy. A New York Times bestselling author of books like Peak, Emotional Equations, and Wisdom@Work, he founded the Modern Elder Academy, the first “midlife wisdom school,” to reframe aging and midlife. He is a prominent speaker, board member, and advocate for social impact initiatives.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:27 Are humans becoming obsolete in the age of AI?
01:08 What is Chip Conley’s core philosophy today?
01:27 Knowledge vs. wisdom: Why it matters more than ever
02:30 AI, intelligence, and the limits of answers
03:16 Why AI can’t ask the right questions (yet)
04:06 Human intuition, storytelling, and experience
06:19 Is AI a useful tool for leaders?
07:06 How to use AI effectively as a leader
07:43 Efficiency vs. soulfulness in work
09:18 The human + AI partnership
11:27 What is “soulfulness” in leadership?
14:10 Leadership, agency, and accountability
15:30 Leaders as resource allocators
17:17 Great leaders create future leaders
18:29 Defining soulfulness: Empathy, intuition & connection
20:19 Why soulful leaders feel different
21:36 Is society losing its soul?
22:25 Why scarcity makes wisdom more valuable
24:27 Leadership, culture, and emotional contagion
27:04 “Win at All Costs” vs. soulful leadership
28:16 Is being human a weakness in business?
29:53 The return of philosophy, ethics & humanities
31:09 Why wisdom is making a comeback
34:23 The future of work and what changes
37:31 AI as a partner, not a replacement
38:20 New careers: Coaches, curators & meaning makers
39:04 What is Wisdom?
42:18 Viktor Frankl & the equation for meaning
44:24 Purpose vs. meaning explained
46:47 Growth mindset vs. Know-it-all culture
49:32 Turning pain into wisdom
50:29 The Midlife “U-Curve” of happiness
53:21 The “Diet of Despair” in modern media
59:19 Advice for young people in the AI era
01:02:10 Why usefulness matters more than youth
Connect with Chip:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipconleysf/
X: https://x.com/ChipConley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chipconley/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Are we in an AI bubble or at the beginning of the biggest technological convergence cycle since the Industrial Revolution?
On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by the CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group and tech futurist Amy Webb.
Amy joins Geoff Nielson to unpack what 2026 really looks like through the lens of artificial intelligence, programmable biology, quantum computing, biological computing, geopolitics, and systems-level change. Amy argues that we’ve officially entered a new convergence cycle, a rare historical moment where AI, biotech, computing architectures, economic systems, and geopolitics collide to create an entirely new reality. This isn’t incremental innovation. It’s structural transformation.
If you’re looking for a conversation grounded in data-backed frameworks to help you navigate disruption, understand convergence cycles, and build real strategic vision in an age of uncertainty, this episode is for you.
Tune in to hear what “creative destruction” truly means for business leaders, how power is shifting between Big Tech, governments, and capital markets, why “future-proofing” is a myth, and why many CEOs are falling short when it comes to long-term strategic foresight.
Amy is recognized as the global authority who transformed the practice of strategic foresight into a rigorous, data-driven discipline. A pioneering quantitative futurist, she established the field’s foundational methodologies that today guide leaders, organizations, and governments in anticipating disruption, shaping the future, and securing long-term growth. Ranked the #4 Most Influential Management Thinker in the World by Thinkers50, Amy is regarded as one of the most important voices on the future of technology, business, and society. Forbes named her “one of the five women changing the world,” and the BBC recognized her among its 100 Women of the Year.
In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Where are we in 2026? A world in technological “Typhoon”
01:49 What is a convergence cycle? (Industrial revolution to internet era)
04:14 Why AI is the foundation of this new era
05:04 Systems-level change vs trend stacking
06:19 From AI winters to generative AI breakthroughs
07:27 Power shifts: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google & Competitive Dynamics
08:31 Winners vs losers in the convergence economy
09:26 Fear, FOMO & leadership paralysis
12:17 Rethinking regulation & geopolitical power shifts
15:40 Why “Future-Proofing” is a myth
17:14 AI capital flood: Is there a bubble?
19:25 Enterprise AI & the 80% workforce threshold
23:27 The attention economy & AI hype
27:28 Where AI actually creates real impact
28:11 Programmable biology & DeepMind’s Evo 2
30:00 Climate solutions, agriculture & synthetic biology
31:59 Dolly the Sheep & why transparency matters
38:19 mRNA, public trust & technology communication
40:15 The polycompute future: AI + quantum + biological computing
41:01 Quantum computing’s business implications
42:20 Brain organoids & biological computers
46:48 Creative destruction: What must die for you to survive?
49:00 Why evolution isn’t enough anymore
51:47 Why leaders avoid dangerous conversations
52:39 Strategic foresight & data-backed vision
56:36 Why AI navel-gazing is procrastination
57:23 Leadership in an age of convergence
Connect with Amy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywebb/
X: https://x.com/amywebb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amywebbfuturist/
Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
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