Possible with Reid Hoffman

Latest Episodes:

Reid and AIs riff on what could go right with AI Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

This week, we're bringing you the introduction of Reid’s new book, Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, which he co-wrote with last week’s Possible guest, Greg Beato. The Superagency audiobook is narrated by voice actor Scott Wallace and converted with Respeecher to Reid’s AI voice.

Plus, hear what happens when Reid and Aria load Superagency’s introduction into Google’s NotebookLM and turn the final minutes of the episode over to two AI co-hosts.

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

For more on Superagency, check out superagency.ai.

Greg Beato on superagency, AI, and the cognitive industrial revolution Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

In an age of increasingly ubiquitous AI, how do we maintain control of our lives and successfully plot our own destinies? In this episode, Reid is in the hotseat alongside writer Greg Beato, discussing this and more in the context of their new book, Superagency. Greg is a seasoned journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Wired, The Washington Post, Reason, Spin, and Slate, to name a few. He and Reid delve into what could possibly go right with our AI future; the cognitive industrial revolution; and the difference between AI Doomers, Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers. Plus, Reid’s AI avatar makes a cameo to join for a few rounds of the game “Overrated/Underrated.”

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

For more on Superagency, check out superagency.ai.

Topics:

2:04 - Overrated/Underrated Round I

5:02 - Why Reid chose Greg as his co-author

6:01 - Why Greg wanted to write this book

8:19 - Why Reid chose this book topic at this particular time

11:21 - How the rise of AI is similar to the rise of social media

16:36 - Agency, superagency, and AI

19:59 - Overrated/Underrated Round II

23:28 - Defining AI Doomers, Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers

28:46 - How AI amplifies agency

32:16 - How ChatGPT shifted people’s relationship with AI

37:21 - Choosing AI vs. AI being baked into technologies

39:28 - Speed and scale in the current AI moment

44:37 - How innovation and safety can coexist

48:49 - 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.

Bret Taylor on conversational AI, voice, and agents Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

What new kinds of jobs will AI bring that we never could have imagined before?

In this special two-part episode, Reid and Aria explore this question and more with Sierra co-founder and OpenAI chairperson Bret Taylor. Part one features audio from Bret's onstage interview at the 2024 Masters of Scale Summit, where he shared his insights on the voice revolution in AI, the technology’s latest role as a phone customer service agent, and the groundbreaking business opportunities still waiting to be explored in the AI space. Reid and Aria invited Bret to continue the conversation in part two, diving deeper into how AI might reshape our workforce, create new career opportunities, and spark industries we haven’t yet imagined. With leadership experience at both startups (Quip and Friendfeed) and large tech companies (Facebook, Salesforce, and Twitter), Bret is uniquely positioned to track and seize opportunities in the quickly-developing AI industry.

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

Topics:

00:57 - Episode introduction

02:02 - What Bret sees in AI

06:00 - Most exciting upcoming AI breakthrough

08:40 - The three main areas of AI innovation

09:41 - What is the AI voice revolution?

14:07 - First steps in AI customer service

18:15 - Role of entrepreneurs in AI development

22:52 - Parenting and AI

27:48 - Understanding AI inflection points

31:28 - AI as the new dot com market

34:21 - Is the AI market already full?

37:50 - More on the AI voice revolution

45:06 - Predicting how AI will change the world

53:57 - What people are missing about AI

58:29 - Superagency opportunities

1:00:14 - Rapid-fire Questions

Fei-Fei Li on spatial intelligence and human-centered AI Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

How can we use AI to amplify human potential and build a better future? And what exactly does “AGI” even mean?

To kick off Possible’s fourth season, Reid and Aria sit down with world-renowned computer scientist Fei-Fei Li, whose work in artificial intelligence over the past several decades has earned her the nickname “the godmother of AI.” An entrepreneur and professor, Fei-Fei shares her journey from creating ImageNet, a massive dataset of labeled images that revolutionized computer vision, to her current role as co-founder and CEO of the spatial intelligence startup World Labs. She explains why spatial intelligence—the ability to perceive and interact with the 3D world—is so crucial for AI's development and how it could lead to breakthroughs in fields like medicine, climate, and education. They get into regulatory guardrails, governance, and what it will take to build a positive, human-centered AI future for all.

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

Topics:

1:55 - Hellos and intros

3:43 - ImageNet and the interplay between data and models

6:06 - World Labs and spatial intelligence

10:03 - Boundaries between 3D physical and digital worlds

11:50 - The difference between LLMs and LWMs

13:02 - What humans are capable of creating with technology

14:04 - Key principles of AI: human agency and respect

17:16 - Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI

19:13 - What this moment in AI means for humanity

21:06 - Cross-sector collaboration

25:10 - AI4ALL program and the importance of diversity in AI development

27:00 - Midroll ad break

27:09 - Using AI to improve healthcare delivery and treatment

30:20 - Founding history of AI and the meaning of the term “AGI”

33:00 - Future of agentic AI and voice

34:42 - Fei-Fei’s mentor and his advice

37:18 - Rapid-fire questions

PRESENTING: Pioneers of AI with Dr. Rana El Kaliouby and Musician Taryn Southern Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

Pioneers of AI is your weekly guide to the AI frontier. Each week, host Dr. Rana el Kaliouby (AI scientist, investor, author, co-founder of Affectiva) is joined by the leading creators, critics, and thinkers behind mind-blowing technology and asks the important questions about how artificial intelligence is changing the way we live.

In this episode: Creating and sharing art is a uniquely human experience. With the rise of AI, creative processes are shifting, but Taryn Southern doesn’t think that means art becomes any less human. As a storyteller and technologist, Southern uses AI to push the limits of her creativity. She also works to help fellow artists and everyday people embrace the potential of AI. Southern joins Pioneers of AI to talk about what partnering with AI to make art looks like, how she assembled a team of chatbots to create a festival trailer, and what it was like making the first album co-written by AI.

Learn more about Pioneers of AI: http://pioneersof.ai/

Artful Intelligence | Ep 3: Paul Trillo on Music Video x AI Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

What does it take to create something the world has never seen before?

In this final episode of Artful Intelligence, Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore what it takes to spark a creative revolution with filmmaker Paul Trillo. Using OpenAI’s groundbreaking AI video generator, Sora, Paul directed the world’s first fully AI-generated music video.

After gaining early access to Sora, Paul faced a massive creative challenge: How could he use an AI tool known for surreal, dream-like visuals to craft a music video that felt emotionally real? The answer came from embracing AI’s quirks—its strange hallucinations, its unpredictable transformations—and writing prompts like poetic scripts to guide the machine’s creative output.

Join us as Paul reveals how he turned an experimental AI model into an award-winning music video—and how creators everywhere can harness emerging tech to redefine what’s possible in art.

Time Stamps:

Part 1: To Create a Paradigm Shift with AI, Lean Into Its Constraints

07:25 - Paul Trillo discovers OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora

09:46 - Navigating early uncertainty about AI’s impact on filmmaking

12:09 - Directing under creative constraints during COVID with The Shins’ “The Great Divide”

16:57 - Making emotionally resonant art despite technological limits

19:09 - Reid: What advice would you give someone running into constraints with AI tools?

Part 2: Paradigm Shifts Often Come from Reviving Old, Impossible Ideas

23:01 - Paul’s early experiments with Sora push AI video limits

24:34 - Resurrecting old creative concepts from his “Graveyard of Ideas”

25:59 - Inspired by Carl Sagan’s “Golden Record” and its sci-fi storytelling potential

28:49 - Creating a surreal AI-generated trailer blending historical and futuristic imagery

30:21 - Revisiting a decade-old “infinite zoom” concept for a music video

35:05 - Reid: How do paradigm shifts in AI go beyond just replicating older tech?

Part 3: Excavating Right at the Edge of What’s Possible Today

37:45 - Writing “alchemy-like” prompts to guide AI’s hallucinations

40:19 - Blending AI’s surreal misremembered details into an emotional story

42:36 - Generating 700 videos and 320 minutes of AI footage for the music video

44:56 - Reid: What kind of impossible ideas might AI make possible?

Links:

“The Hardest Part” Music Video by Washed Out. Directed by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/941713443

“The Golden Record” by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/927400626

“The Great Divide” by The Shins. Directed by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/461473136

Infinite Zoom in Manhattan:

https://vimeo.com/paultrillo

Paul Trillo on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/paultrillo

Will Smith eating Spaghetti (example of early AI video generation):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQr4Xklqzw8

Reid AI:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reidhoffman_the-nobel-prize-award-ceremony-took-place-activity-7272418124639928320-ZyMn/

Show Description:

Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?

Artful Intelligence | Ep 2: Elise Swopes on Photography x AI Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

How can you shape the future with AI to create the world you want to live in?

Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore this question with Elise Swopes, a trailblazing visual artist and educator blending AI with photography. Currently an evangelist for Adobe, Elise has been a creative force since the early days of Instagram, crafting surreal visuals for brands such as Adidas, McDonald’s, Casamigos, and Sony. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. From online harassment to personal struggles, she’s faced adversity with resilience, using her art to shape a brighter, more inclusive future.

Join us as we traverse her path—while Reid reflects on AI’s evolving role in fostering creativity and meaningful human expression. Can AI ever replace human style, or will the future of art always require a human touch?

Time Stamps:

02:14 - Chris McLeod intros the series

Part 1: Shape Your Tools Because They Will Shape You and Your Future

07:07 - How Elise discovered AI and overcame early backlash

09:26 - Building websites and creating digital art as a kid

11:26 - Teaching creativity online and the power of sharing knowledge

17:03 - Reid: How can we foster more constructive conversations about AI?

Part 2: The Right Networks Will Amplify Your Voice Without Losing It

17:13 - Using AI tools to redefine creative possibilities

19:29 - Elise’s journey from public school to creative entrepreneurship

21:26 - Brand collaborations with Nike, McDonald’s, and Casamigos

23:36 - Navigating higher education on her own terms

25:12 - Reid: What would a “better future with AI” look like for artists?

Part 3: Taste and Style Are Your Competitive Advantage in Shaping the Era of AI

27:50 - How artists can shape AI’s future through experimentation

31:31 - Elise’s creative process with Adobe Firefly and AI-generated art

33:52 - Reid: Could AI make human artistic style obsolete?

41:16 - Elise reflects on personal growth and creative freedom

Links:

Swopes’ Website:

https://www.swopes.info/

Swopes on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/swopes

Swopes AI piece discussed in the episode:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5D0rFJOEzf/?igsh=MWgwNDU1cms1a3I2

Swopes’ TEDx Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joWNKJlf8N0

Show Description:

Introducing: Artful Intelligence | Ep 1: Malick Lombion on Hyperlapse x AI Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

What if you could create the impossible with AI?

In this debut episode of Artful Intelligence, Chris McLeod introduces us to Montreal-based filmmaker Malick Lombion, whose groundbreaking technique, Hyperlapse X AI, is redefining video art. Malick combines hyperlapse cinematography with cutting-edge AI tools like DALL-E to compress time, space, and reality into surreal and mesmerizing visuals.

Malick pushed AI to its creative limits, proving that human ingenuity and machine learning can work in tandem to unlock new dimensions of art. Reid Hoffman and Chris explore what it takes to innovate at this level: the right partnerships, a willingness to fail publicly, and a commitment to going all in.

Discover how Malick’s work inspired a new wave of video creators—and what it says about the future of creativity in an AI-driven world.

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

Time Stamps:

Introduction

00:01 – Artful Intelligence introduction.

02:36 – Chris and Reid discuss the central question: Can AI amplify human creativity?

04:08 – A brief history of cinematic breakthroughs, from Georges Méliès to hyperlapse.

08:13 – Malick explains Hyperlapse x AI.

Part 1: The Right Humans Are Required

10:01 – Malick discovers DALL-E 2 and its potential for groundbreaking visuals.

10:55 – Malick teams up with Manuel Sainsily to create Hyperlapse x AI.

12:26 – A long and tedious process.

13:35 – Reid Hoffman on the value of diverse collaborators in AI innovation.

Part 2: Plan on Failure in a Public Way

18:39 – Malick gets an offer to work with Insta360.

20:45 – Public experimentation on Instagram leads Malick to hyperlapse videos.

23:08 – Trial and error with a 10-foot selfie stick.

26:39 – Reid Hoffman on iterative deployment and learning from failure.

Part 3: Once You Know Where You’re Going, Go All In

31:26 – Malick begins transforming his 360 footage into a Hyperlapse x AI video.

32:16 – Malick moves from Guadeloupe to Montreal, fully committing to his passion for video creation.

37:09 – Malick completes his breakthrough video.

40:33 – Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video goes viral.

Outro

49:19 – Chris reflects on Malick’s journey and previews the next episode in the series.

Links:

Malick Lombion’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/malick.fr?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video with the Insta360 camera

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiPyY1VAv6I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

An updated version of Malick’s and Manuel Sainsily’s first Hyperlapse x AI video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChNyS6iAEA8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Spencer Hyman on flavor and chocolate Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Would the world be a better place if we all paused to enjoy a square of sustainably-sourced craft chocolate every day? In honor of the Thanksgiving season, Reid and Aria treat Possible listeners to a discussion about chocolate, flavor, and sustainability. Joining them is Spencer Hyman, whose company, Cocoa Runners, sells craft chocolates from sustainability-minded artisan makers around the world. He gets into the difference between flavor and taste, along with the future of personalized nutrition and the art of savoring everything from chocolate to friendship.

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

Topics:

2:33 - Hellos and intros

4:20 - Spencer’s journey into the world of chocolate

6:25 - The language of flavor

8:01 - How AI could impact taste

10:23 - Inflection’s Pi describes flavors in creative ways

13:03 - Leading a sustainable business that combines capital and social good

15:17 - Making chocolate more social

16:08 - Why chocolate is water-intensive

18:32 - Waves of culinary trends and innovations

22:17 - Midroll ad break

22:24 - Can technology help us better savor food?

25:14 - The next potential innovations in the food industry

28:07 - Why the order you eat things in matters

30:50 - Building meaningful connection via chocolate

34:14 - A conversation with Spencer’s daughter about chocolate and relationship-building

38:18 - Rapid-fire questions

Reid riffs on AI and public service technology Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

Following an inspiring conversation with JusticeText co-founder Devshi Mehrotra, Aria asks Reid about other opportunities for AI to support public infrastructure. Plus, Reid discusses the state of venture funding and OpenAI’s $6.6 billion round.

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

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