Shift AI with Boaz Ashkenazy

Latest Episodes:

Investing in Founders in the Age of AI with Trilogy Equity Partners Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, Boaz Ashkenazy, CEO of Augmented AI, hosts Yuval Neeman and Amy McCullough, managing directors at Trilogy Equity Partners. They discuss Gen AI's potential to revolutionize the workforce by automating mundane tasks and making advanced services more accessible. Yuval and Amy share their journeys to venture capital, Trilogy's investment thesis, and highlight portfolio companies like Alongside and Bright Canary. The discussion also touches on the qualities VC firms seek in founders and the broader implications of Gen AI for society. The show is sponsored by Augmented AI and syndicated by GeekWire. 01:11 Introduction to Yuval and Amy 01:53 Yuval's Journey to Trilogy 02:56 Amy's Path to Venture Capital 05:55 First Jobs and Early Experiences 09:10 Trilogy's Investment Thesis 16:13 Exciting Portfolio Companies 22:17 The Impact of Gen AI on Society 26:10 Advice for Founders 32:27 The Future of Work and AI Connect with Amy McCullough LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-nam-mccullough-1144835/ Connect with Yuval Neeman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuvalneeman/ Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy Twitter: https://twitter.com/boazashkenazy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy Email: shift@simplyaugmented.ai⁠

Advancing Positive AI Outcomes with Partnership on AI CEO Rebecca Finaly Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, Rebecca, the CEO of Partnership on AI, discusses the dynamic impacts of AI on the job market, job quality, and worker well-being. Reflecting on her diverse career background and early influences, Rebecca emphasizes the necessity for multi-stakeholder collaborations, responsible AI development, and proactive workforce planning. She highlights AI's dual nature, bringing both opportunities and challenges, and stresses the importance of regulatory frameworks and proper education to prepare for this technological evolution. Key takeaways include the necessity of balancing technological adoption with human-centric values, and the potential of AI to address significant global issues.

00:00 Introduction: The Impact of AI on Jobs 01:38 Rebecca's Background and Career Journey 04:39 Public Policy and Personal Influences 06:09 Societal Reactions to AI Advancements 09:17 The Role of Partnership on AI 12:58 Public Policy and AI Regulation 16:12 Educating Policymakers on AI 18:41 The Future of Jobs in the AI Era 22:03 Employers' Responsibilities in the AI Age 24:33 Personal Mentors and Leadership Insights 26:19 Final Thoughts: Optimism and Responsibility

Connect with Rebecca Finely

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-finlay-b6b7a0a/

X: RFinLayPAI

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy⁠

X: ⁠boazashkenazy

Email: shift@simplyaugmented.ai

How AI is shaking up the worlds of media and marketing with Geekwire's Todd Bishop and Adam Tratt Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, Boaz Ashkenazy, founder and CEO of Augmented AI, hosts Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire, and Adam Tratt, marketing consultant at Squirrelfish, for an engaging discussion on the impact and future of AI in the world of media, marketing and startups. The conversation covers a variety of topics that range from Todd's perspective on Google’s approach to AI and Adam's ethical considerations in AI and marketing.

They delve into the rapid advancements in AI, discuss specific AI tools and explore the challenges startups face in a competitive tech landscape. With a special focus on Seattle's tech ecosystem, this episode provides valuable insights and predictions for the future trajectory of AI and its integration into the workplace.

00:00 Introduction and Initial Impressions of AI 01:57 Meet Our Guests: Todd Bishop and Adam Tratt 06:01 Current Trends and Developments in AI 07:17 AI Tools and Their Impact on Productivity 18:24 Ethical Considerations in AI 29:07 The Future of AI and Regulatory Concerns 35:34 First Jobs and Personal Stories 38:03 Conclusion and Farewell

Connect with Todd Bishop

LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/toddbishop

Geekwire: www.geekwire.com

Connect with Adam Tratt

LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/adamtratt

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/boazashkenazy⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy⁠

AI-Driven Learning and Development with Imperical College Idea Lab Executive Director Monica Ares Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy, founder and CEO of Simply Augmented, interviews Monica Ares, the Executive Director of Innovation, Digital Education, and Analytics at Imperial College London Business School Idea Lab. They discuss Monica's journey from teaching and working at tech giants like Amazon and Meta to her current role in advancing immersive and AI-driven educational technologies. Topics include the convergence of AI and immersive experiences, the evolution of learning tools, and the impact of these advancements on higher education and lifelong learning. Monica shares her vision for a future where learning is seamless, personalized, and supported by intelligent technology.

00:51 Monica Aries: A Pioneer in Immersive Learning

01:38 Monica's Journey: From Educator to AI Innovator

05:41 The Power of VR in Education and Empathy

08:27 Exploring AI's Role in Enhancing Learning Experiences

12:59 Monica's Vision for Lifelong Learning and AI Integration

19:54 The Evolution of Monica's Educational Philosophy

26:12 Looking Ahead: The Future of Education with AI

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/boazashkenazy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy

Email: shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

Setting AI Guidelines at Work with City of Seattle Interim CTO Jim Loter May 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz welcomes Jim Loter, the Interim CTO of the City of Seattle, to discuss the city's approach to AI policy, its impacts on public service, and the future of technology in the government sector. Jim shares his background and experiences in technology and highlights the importance of responsible and factual use of AI technology and the need for human involvement in decision-making. The episode also covers the formation of AI guidelines in Seattle, engaging with various stakeholders to understand AI risks and possibilities, and the mayor's role in shaping the city's stance on AI.

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:14 Early Work on AI Guidelines

10:14 City of Seattle's Approach to Technology

11:01 Development of AI Policy

21:57 Excitement about Technology

26:23 Influence of Mentors

29:14 Future of Work and Technology

Connect with Jim Loter

⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

Decoding Azure AI Search with Microsoft Distinguished Engineer Pablo Castro May 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Pablo Castro, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft. They discuss Pablo's background and journey at Microsoft, his current work in Azure Open AI and databases, and the practical applications of AI in business. They also explore exciting developments in large language models and address concerns about hallucination in AI systems. Pablo emphasizes the importance of security and responsible AI and shares insights into Microsoft's direction in AI. He also reflects on the mentors who have influenced his career and shares his optimistic vision for the future of work and AI.

Takeaways

Large language models are becoming more sophisticated and capable of reasoning, opening up new possibilities for practical applications in business.
Addressing hallucination in AI systems requires grounding the answers in concrete data and involving users in the process.
Security and responsible AI are top priorities for Microsoft, with a focus on data management, transparency, and inclusiveness.
Microsoft is working on scaling retrieval systems and improving the economics of AI applications to remove barriers for businesses.
Pablo Castro highlights the importance of mentors and learning from experienced professionals in shaping a successful career in AI.
The future of work and AI is about going further by combining human ingenuity with the capabilities of AI systems to tackle complex challenges and drive progress.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:10 Early Interest in Computers

03:25 First Job and Experience in Application Development

05:29 Working with Azure Open AI and Databases

07:04 Practical Examples of AI in Business

10:09 Exciting Developments in Large Language Models

12:23 Addressing Hallucination in AI Systems

15:48 Ensuring Security and Responsible AI

28:34 Influential Mentors and Career Insights

32:28 Vision for the Future of Work and AI

Connect with Pablo Castro

⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

Cultivating the Next Wave of AI Startups with AI2 Incubator Managing Director Yifan Zhang Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Yifan Zhang's journey from a Harvard graduate to a serial entrepreneur and now the Managing Director at AI2 Incubator exemplifies her evolution within the tech startup ecosystem. Immigrating from China, she first ventured into the startup world by founding GymPact, a fitness app, followed by Loftium, an innovative home ownership model. Zhang's transition to investor at AI2 Incubator marks a new chapter where she leverages her experience to mentor early-stage AI startups with a focus on nurturing AI solutions that promise both global impact and local community innovation.

Summary of topics covered:

00:00 Yifan Zhang's Early Background 08:18 AI2 Incubator and its Approach 12:22. Company Building in the AI Space 15:27. AI2 Incubator and Seattle's Ecosystem 18:56. Yifan Zhang's Community Work in Seattle 21:22. Seattle's Potential as an AI Hotbed 24:58. Mentors 28:51. The Future of Work is Strategic

Connect with Yifan Zhang

⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: yifan@ai2incubator.com

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

Building Confidence through AI with Yoodli CEO Varun Puri Mar 10, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Varun Puri, the founder and CEO of Yoodli, who shares his journey from working at Google to starting his own AI startup Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered speech coaching tool that helps individuals improve their communication skills. Puri discusses the importance of effective communication and how Yoodli can be used as a personalized coach. He also highlights the positive response of Yoodli by users and organizations and shares his thoughts on the role of AI in the future of work.

Summary of topics covered:

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:31 From Google to Starting Yoodli 03:41 The Idea behind Yoodli 06:40 The Importance of Communication Skills 08:41 Using Yoodli as a Personalized Coach 09:49 Response and Adoption of Yoodli 16:01 The Future of AI Startups 23:24 Two Words to Describe the Future of Work 25:10 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Connect with Varun Puri

⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

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Real-Time Chat with your Data with Seek.ai CEO Sarah Nagy Mar 03, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Sarah Nagy, CEO of Seek.ai, discussing her journey from astrophysics and finance to leading one of the fastest-growing AI companies. Sarah shares insights into her transition from quantitative analysis and data science in finance to creating Seek.ai, which aims to make data more accessible to non-technical users through natural language interfaces. She highlights the significance of large language models in facilitating this transition and elaborates on Seek.ai's achievements, including surpassing a major benchmark in natural language to SQL translation.

Summary of topics covered:

Introduction to Sarah Nagy: The podcast begins with an introduction to Sarah Nagy, highlighting her past work in the financial sector and her transition to the AI industry, leading up to her role as CEO of Seek.ai.
Background in Finance and Astrophysics: Sarah shares her journey from working in astrophysics and quantitative finance to her growing interest in big data and machine learning, eventually leading data teams at startups and at Citadel.
Founding of Seek.ai: Frustrated with the challenges non-technical people face in accessing and understanding data, Sarah discusses how her experiences led to the founding of Seek.ai, aiming to make data accessible through a natural language interface.
Large Language Models and Code Generation: Sarah elaborates on the potential of large language models for code generation and their application in making data queries accessible to non-technical users, underpinning the technology behind Seek.ai.
Seek.ai's Mission and Technology: The discussion delves into Seek.ai's mission to enable business professionals to ask data-related questions in natural language, highlighting the company's use of analytical AI to process these queries efficiently.
Challenges of Transitioning to AI from Finance: Sarah reflects on the transition from working deeply with data in finance to leading an AI startup, discussing the challenges and opportunities this shift presented.
Mentorship and Influence: The conversation shifts to Sarah's early influences, including her family's background in tech and her mentors throughout her career, emphasizing the role of mentorship in her professional development.
The Future of AI and Work: Sarah offers her perspective on the evolving AI landscape, the excitement around large language models, and their implications for the future of work, including the potential for everyone to leverage AI for decision-making.
Seek.ai's Achievements and Benchmarks: Sarah shares recent accomplishments of Seek.ai, including their performance on the Spider benchmark for natural language to SQL translation, highlighting the company's leadership in the field.
Vision for Seek.ai and the Industry: The podcast concludes with Sarah's vision for the future of Seek.ai and the broader AI industry, touching on the opportunities for innovation and the importance of making AI accessible to a wider audience.

Connect with Sarah Nagy

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.com⁠

AI’s Role in Modern Governance with WA State Senator Joe Nguyen Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, Joe shares his unique journey from a tech-savvy business professional to a state senator in Washington, emphasizing his work on technology legislation, particularly around AI and facial recognition. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities of regulating AI technology, balancing innovation with privacy and ethical considerations. They also explore Joe's personal use of AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance his legislative effectiveness, underscoring the potential of AI to transform governance and policy-making.

Summary of topics covered:

Joe Nguyen's Path to Politics: Nguyen discusses his journey from a tech professional to a state senator in Washington, emphasizing his focus on technology and AI legislation.
Personal Origin Story: He shares the compelling story of his family's escape from Vietnam and their resettlement in the United States, highlighting the impact of this history on his career and public service.
AI and Facial Recognition Legislation: Nguyen talks about his work on contentious facial recognition legislation, balancing the need for privacy with technological innovation.
Utilizing AI in Governance: He reveals how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance legislative efficiency, particularly in budget discussions and policy formulation.
Concerns and Regulation of AI: The conversation touches on the challenges of regulating AI technology, including biases and ethical considerations.
Federal and State AI Policy: Nguyen gives his perspective on federal AI initiatives, including President Biden's executive order, and discusses Washington's role in AI leadership.
Mentorship and Influences: He reflects on the influence of his family, mentors, and notable figures like Governor Gary Locke on his career.
Future of Work and AI: Nguyen concludes with thoughts on basic income as a response to the transformative impact of AI and automation on jobs.

Connect with Joe Nguyen

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

⁠Twitter⁠
⁠LinkedIn⁠
Email: ⁠shift@simplyaugmented.ai⁠

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