Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson

4d ago

Are we using AI in a way that actually makes us smarter or are we unknowingly making ourselves less capable, less curious, and easier to automate? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we are joined by artificial intelligence expert and neuroscientist, Dr. Vivienne Ming. Over her career, Dr. Vivienne Ming has founded 6 startups, been chief scientist at 2 others, and founded The Human Trust, a philanthropic data trust and “mad science incubator” that explores seemingly intractable problems—from a lone child’s disability to global economic inclusion—for free. She co-founded Dionysus Health, combining AI and epigenetics to invent the first ever biological test for postpartum depression and change the lives of millions of families. She also develops AI tools for learning at home and in school, models of bias in hiring and promotion, and neurotechnologies to treat dementia and TBI. Vivienne was named one of “10 Women to Watch in Tech” by Inc. Magazine and one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2017. She is featured frequently for her research and inventions in The Financial Times, The Atlantic, Quartz Magazine and the New York Times. Dr. Vivienne Ming sits down with Geoff to unpack one of the most misunderstood truths about artificial intelligence: AI isn’t here to replace your thinking it’s here to challenge it. And whether you grow or get left behind depends entirely on how you choose to engage with it. Dr. Ming reveals why most organizations and most individuals are using AI in the worst possible way. Instead of creating leverage, they’re creating “work slop,” cognitive dependency, shallow automation, and declining human capability. She explains why the real competitive advantage in the AI age comes from productive friction, creative complementarity, and teams that know how to use AI to explore the ill-posed problems—the ambiguous, uncertain, high-value challenges machines can’t solve on their own. From how to robot-proof your company, to why AI tutors fail when they give answers, to the science of courage, reward systems, and organizational culture, this conversation is one of the most honest explorations of the future of human capability in an AI-saturated world. In this video: 00:00 Intro 02:30 The real value of hybrid intelligence 05:00 Cognitive automation vs. true complementarity 08:20 Ill-posed problems: where humans still win 12:10 What elite performers really do differently 16:00 The paradox of AI: why more automation creates more work 18:30 How hybrid teams beat prediction markets 20:50 Inequality & imagination disease in AI 23:10 AI tutors & the golden rule: never give the answer 28:00 The nemesis prompt: how to robot-proof yourself 44:20 Courage, ethics & reward structures in organizations 54:00 Using AI without losing the human story 01:06:30 How to robot-proof your company Connect with Vivienne: Website: https://socos.org/about-vivienne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienneming/ Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

Dec 8

If AI is becoming a “playground” for experimentation, are today’s organizations bold enough to explore it or are they still too afraid to try? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we are joined by Kenneth Cukier, Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist and bestselling author. Kenneth Cukier is the Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist. He is the author of several books on technology and society, notably “Framers” on the power of mental models and the limitations of AI, with Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Francis de Vericourt, as well as “Big Data: A Revolution That Transforms How We Live, Work and Think” with Viktor. It was a NYT bestseller translated into over 20 languages, and sold over two million copies worldwide. It won the National Library of China’s Wenjin Book Award and was a finalist for the FT Business Book of the Year. Kenn also coauthored a follow-on book, “Learning with Big Data: The Future of Education”. He has been a frequent commentator on CBS, CNN, NPR, the BBC and was a member of the World Economic Forum’s global council on data-driven development. Kenneth has spent decades at the intersection of AI, journalism, business strategy, and global policy. In this conversation, he sits down with Geoff to share candid insights on how AI is reshaping organizations, leadership, economics, and the future of work. He breaks down the real state of AI, what’s hype, what’s real, and what it means for workers, leaders, and companies. Kenneth explains how AI is shifting from automating tasks to expanding the frontier of knowledge, why today’s multi-trillion-dollar AI investment wave is both overhyped and underhyped, and how everything from healthcare to management is poised to transform. This episode explores why most companies should treat AI as a “playground” for experimentation, how The Economist is using generative AI behind the scenes, the human skills needed to stay competitive, and why great leadership now requires enabling curiosity, psychological safety, and responsible innovation. Kenneth also unpacks the growing “AI-lash,” the limits of GDP as a measure of progress, and why the organizations that learn fastest, not the ones that simply know the most, will win the future. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 05:00 AI Today: Overhyped, underhyped, or both? 10:00 From Big Data to LLMs: How we got here 15:00 The $3 trillion AI wave: What it really signals 20:00 Automation vs. knowledge expansion 25:00 Inside The Economist: How they actually use Generative AI 30:00 Why “more content” isn’t a strategy 35:00 Leadership in the age of AI: Curiosity, judgment, culture 40:00 The skills humans must keep and why they matter more now 45:00 The rise of the “AI-lash” and public skepticism 50:00 GDP, progress, and what we’re measuring wrong 55:00 Why the fastest learners win the future 1:01:00 What can this technology really do? Connect with Kenneth: Connect with Kenneth: Website: http://www.cukier.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-cukier-9ab56335/ X: https://x.com/kncukier 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

Dec 1

What does the future of work really look like when AI, identity, and culture collide? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon, Chair of the Institute for the Future of Work. Anne-Marie is a leading voice in the tech world, known for her work as a trustee at the Institute for the Future of Work and as the temporary Arithmetician on Channel 4’s Countdown. A former child prodigy who passed A-level computing at 11 and earned a Master’s in Maths and Computer Science from Oxford by 20, she has since spoken globally for companies including Facebook, Amazon, Google and Mastercard. She hosts the acclaimed Women Tech Charge podcast and is a sought-after presenter who has interviewed figures such as Jack Dorsey and Sir Lewis Hamilton. Anne-Marie has received multiple Honorary Doctorates, serves on several national boards, and continues to champion diversity and innovation in tech. Her latest book, She’s In CTRL, was published in 2022. Dr. Anne-Marie joins Geoff to break down how AI, big data, quantum, and the wider “Fourth Industrial Revolution” are transforming jobs, workplaces, identity, culture, and society. From redefining long-held beliefs about “jobs for life,” to the cultural fractures emerging between companies, workers, and society, Dr. Anne-Marie goes deep on what’s changing, what still isn’t understood, and what leaders must do right now to avoid being left behind. This conversation dives into why most AI use cases are still limited to fraud detection and customer service, and the hidden cultural blockers preventing real transformation. She emphasizes the danger of hype cycles, and how to stay focused on real value and how to build organizations that can experiment, learn, and make “high-quality mistakes.” In this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:31 The Future of Work: What’s changing now 02:32 Generational identity, legacy jobs & why work is no longer “for life” 04:36 Work identity crisis & fragmentation of modern careers 07:45 Rethinking digital transformation & the fourth industrial revolution 11:36 Why the institute avoids the AI hype & looks beyond it 13:39 AI Hype vs. reality 17:50 High-quality mistakes 21:06 Tech design failures 23:18 Culture, customers & building organizations that reflect the real world 29:04 Destroying the “Einstein Myth” & rewriting who tech is for 39:37 First-principles thinking 50:34 Norms, unintended consequences & system-level change 55:32 When will the dust settle? ai timelines, disruption & what’s next 57:28 Closing thoughts Connect with Dr. Ann-Marie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimafidon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyouraverageami/ 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

Nov 24

When intelligence becomes abundant, what happens to humanity’s purpose? Andy Mills, the co-founder of The New York Times’ The Daily and creator of The Last Invention, joins us on this episode of Digital Disruption. Andy is a reporter, editor, podcast producer, and co-founder of Longview. His most recent series, The Last Invention, explores the AI revolution, from Alan Turing’s early ideas to today’s fierce debates between accelerationists, doomers, and those focused on building the technology safely. Before that, he co-created The Daily at The New York Times and produced acclaimed documentary series including Rabbit Hole, Caliphate, and The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling. A former fundamentalist Christian from Louisiana and Illinois, Andy now champions curiosity, skepticism, and the transformative power of listening to people with different perspectives, values that shape his award-winning journalism across politics, terrorism, culture wars, technology, and science. Andy sits down with Geoff to break down the real debate shaping the future of AI. From the “doomers” warning of existential risk to the accelerationists racing toward AGI, Andy maps out the three major AI camps influencing policy, economics, and the future of human intelligence. This conversation explores why some researchers fear AGI, why others believe it will save humanity, how job loss and automation could reshape society, and why 2025 is becoming an “AI 101 moment” for the public. Andy also shares what he’s learned after years investigating OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and the people behind the AGI race. If you want clarity on AGI, existential risk, the future of work, and what it all means for humanity, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:00 The three camps of AI: doom, acceleration, scouts 05:00 Why skeptics aren’t driving the AI debate 07:00 Job loss, productivity & “good” vs. “bad” disruption 09:00 Existential risk & why scientists are sounding alarms 12:00 The origins of doomers and accelerationists 17:00 How AI debates escalated after ChatGPT 22:00 Why 2025 is an AI “101 moment” for the public 24:00 The tech stack wars: OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI 28:00 Why leaders joined the AI race 30:00 The accelerationist mindset 33:00 Contrarians, symbolists & the forgotten history of AI 39:00 Big Tech, branding & why AI CEOs avoid open conflict 42:00 The closed group chats of AI’s elite builders 46:00 Sci-Fi narratives vs. real-world intelligence risks 52:00 The AI bubble & why adoption is unlike any tech before 01:00:00 Are we entering a wright-brothers-to-moon-landing era? 01:10:00 What AGI means for capitalism, work & purpose 01:18:00 Why public debate needs to start now 01:20:00 What happens next Connect with Andy: Website: https://www.andymills.work/about 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

Nov 17

Are we chasing the wrong goal with Artificial General Intelligence, and missing the breakthroughs that matter now On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former research director at Google and AI legend, Peter Norvig. Peter is an American computer scientist and a Distinguished Education Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). He is also a researcher at Google, where he previously served as Director of Research and led the company’s core search algorithms group. Before joining Google, Norvig headed NASA Ames Research Center’s Computational Sciences Division, where he served as NASA’s senior computer scientist and received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Award in 2001.He is best known as the co-author, alongside Stuart J. Russell, of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach — the world’s most widely used textbook in the field of artificial intelligence. Peter sits down with Geoff to separate facts from fiction about where AI is really headed. He explains why the hype around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) misses the point, how today’s models are already “general,” and what truly matters most: making AI safer, more reliable, and human-centered. He discusses the rapid evolution of generative models, the risks of misinformation, AI safety, open-source regulation, and the balance between democratizing AI and containing powerful systems. This conversation explores the impact of AI on jobs, education, cybersecurity, and global inequality, and how organizations can adapt, not by chasing hype, but by aligning AI to business and societal goals. If you want to understand where AI actually stands, beyond the headlines, this is the conversation you need to hear. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:00 How AI evolved since Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach 03:00 Is AGI already here? Norvig’s take on general intelligence 06:00 The surprising progress in large language models 08:00 Evolution vs. revolution 10:00 Making AI safer and more reliable 12:00 Lessons from social media and unintended consequences 15:00 The real AI risks: misinformation and misuse 18:00 Inside Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute 20:00 Regulation, policy, and the role of government 22:00 Why AI may need an Underwriters Laboratory moment 24:00 Will there be one “winner” in the AI race? 26:00 The open-source dilemma: freedom vs. safety 28:00 Can AI improve cybersecurity more than it harms it? 30:00 “Teach Yourself Programming in 10 Years” in the AI age 33:00 The speed paradox: learning vs. automation 36:00 How AI might (finally) change productivity 38:00 Global economics, China, and leapfrog technologies 42:00 The job market: faster disruption and inequality 45:00 The social safety net and future of full-time work 48:00 Winners, losers, and redistributing value in the AI era 50:00 How CEOs should really approach AI strategy 52:00 Why hiring a “PhD in AI” isn’t the answer 54:00 The democratization of AI for small businesses 56:00 The future of IT and enterprise functions 57:00 Advice for staying relevant as a technologist 59:00 A realistic optimism for AI’s future Connect with Peter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnorvig/ Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

Nov 10

Is “AI-first” the future of business or just another tech buzzword? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former Google Chief Decision Scientist and CEO of Kozyr, Cassie Kozyrkov. Cassie is best known for founding the field of Decision Intelligence and serving as Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, where she helped lead the company’s AI-first transformation. A sought-after advisor and keynote speaker, Cassie has guided organizations including Gucci, NASA, Meta, Spotify, Salesforce, and GSK on AI strategy. She combines deep technical expertise with theater-trained charisma to make complex concepts engaging and actionable for executive and general audiences alike delighting audiences in over 40 countries across all seven continents, including stages at the UN, WEF, Web Summit, and SXSW. Cassie sits down with Geoff to unpack the hidden cost of the “AI-first” hype, the dangers of AI infrastructure debt, and why real AI readiness starts with people, not technology. She reveals how leaders can architect their organizations for innovation, build human-in-the-loop systems, and create cultures that embrace experimentation instead of fearing mistakes. Cassie exposes why 95% of organizations fail to achieve measurable ROI from AI and how leaders can finally bridge the AI value gap. This conversation dives into why AI success isn’t about tools, it’s about leadership, measurement, and mindset. Most organizations chasing “AI transformation” see no measurable ROI not because the technology fails, but because leaders are still measuring value the old way. Generative AI success is hard to quantify when there isn’t a single “right answer,” yet many businesses keep trying to apply outdated metrics to a completely new paradigm. In this video: 00:00 Intro 00:44 The Generative AI Value Gap: Why 95% get no ROI 02:20 The paradox of AI productivity 05:38 Why measuring AI value is harder than we think 12:04 Leadership abdication: “Just sprinkle AI on everything” 15:10 AI infrastructure debt explained 20:17 What real AI readiness looks like (beyond tech) 23:42 Humans as part of AI infrastructure 28:00 Why “AI-first” isn’t one-size-fits-all 33:31 Building human judgment into AI systems 36:19 The risks of scaling too fast 41:34 Automation vs augmentation: where leaders go wrong 44:00 The “do the work” approach to AI success 48:35 The recipe for an AI-ready organization 53:40 Guardrails, governance, and security in AI systems 57:00 Thinking probabilistically: a new mindset for leaders 1:03:20 The human side of AI transformation 1:06:45 Leading through uncertainty Connect with Cassie: Website: https://www.kozyr.com/about LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kozyrkov/ X: https://x.com/decisionleader YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Kozyrkov 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

Nov 3

Why is adaptability the real superpower for leaders in the digital age? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Erik Qualman, a digital leadership expert, best-selling author, and motivational speaker. Erik is a 5x #1 Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker who has inspired audiences in over 55 countries and reached 50 million people. Voted the #2 Most Likeable Author in the World behind J.K. Rowling, his work Socialnomics has been featured on 60 Minutes, in The Wall Street Journal, and used by organizations from the National Guard to NASA. A professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University, Qualman’s research and courses are studied at 500+ universities worldwide. Through his animation studio, he has partnered with brands like Disney, Oreo, Chase, and Cartier. A former MIT and Harvard edX professor and honorary doctorate recipient, Qualman is also the creator of the bestselling board game Kittycorn. Erik joins Geoff Nielson to break down what it really means to be AI-ready. He reveals why the leaders who know how to leverage AI and adapt fast will replace those who don’t. He explains why AI is overhyped in the short term but underhyped in the long term, and how the most successful leaders of the next decade will blend Flintstones-level human connection with Jetsons-era innovation. Erik explains why adaptability and emotional intelligence (EQ) are the new competitive edge in the age of artificial intelligence. This conversation explores how AI can remove friction, save time, and ironically help us become more human, while also exploring the guardrails needed for responsible tech adoption. Erik also shares lessons from advising some of the world’s top brands including Facebook, Disney, and Sony and explains why the future favors those who fail fast, fail forward, and fail better. In this video: 00:00 Intro 02:00 The “Flintstones First” approach to digital leadership 04:40 How AI helps us become more human 06:15 Winners, losers, and adaptability in the AI era 08:30 Emotional intelligence and leadership in a tech-driven world 11:00 The need for guardrails in AI and social media 13:00 Teaching AI and digital leadership at Northwestern 15:00 How technology is transforming the classroom 17:45 The 70/30 rule: what changes vs. what never will 19:00 Core advice for leaders and digital innovators 21:30 Avoiding hype: testing new tech like AI and Clubhouse 23:00 Lessons from Montblanc and the origins of “Digital Leadership” 25:00 The Disney+ story: digital transformation done right 27:00 Building a culture of “fail fast, fail forward, fail better” 30:00 Balancing the Flintstones and the Jetsons Connect with Erik: Website: https://equalman.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qualman/ X: https://x.com/equalman YouTube: @equalman 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

Oct 27

Could AI’s biggest impact be economic, not technological? On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by the founder of EZPR and host of Better Offline podcast, Ed Zitron. Ed is a technology writer, public relations expert, and podcaster known for his critical takes on the tech industry and its biggest players. His work has appeared in leading outlets including The Atlantic, Business Insider, and TechCrunch. He is the author of the popular newsletter Where’s Your Ed At, launched in 2020, where he explores the intersection of technology, business, and culture. Ed also hosts the Better Offline podcast, delving into the realities of the tech industry and the ripple effects of the AI boom. With his candid insights and thoughtful commentary, Ed has become a trusted voice and sought-after speaker within the tech community. One of the most outspoken critics of the AI boom, Ed Zitron joins Geoff to cut through the noise and talk about the truth behind generative AI. Ed breaks down why he believes AI “doesn’t work,” what’s really driving the trillion-dollar hype, and why big tech, media, and investors may be steering straight into the next Enron moment. This conversation unpacks why large language models fall short, how Microsoft’s AI Copilot has failed to deliver, and how corporate opportunism and investor “vibes” are fueling one of the biggest speculative bubbles in tech history. They also explore the “Enron-like” risks in the AI hardware race, the potential fallout for retail investors and startups, and tackle one of tech’s most misunderstood narratives, the myth of AI-driven job loss, revealing who’s really being replaced. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:36 “AI doesn’t work” 02:05 The limits of LLMs 04:33 Microsoft Copilot and the illusion of productivity 07:05 The AI job myth: Who’s really being replaced? 10:00 CEOs, opportunism, and the false narrative of AI efficiency 12:00 The Salesforce example: Lies, hype, and failure to deliver 14:00 What AI can actually do 18:00 The trust problem 19:45 Media complacency and tech industry collusion 22:00 Microsoft, Nvidia, and false growth 25:00 The Enron parallels 28:30 Why investors are rewarding bad behavior 31:00 Who gets hurt when the AI bubble bursts? 35:00 Unsustainable startups and rising model costs 38:00 The coming collapse of AI infrastructure 40:00 What business leaders should do now to avoid being burned 44:30 The harsh truth about ChatGPT 49:00 What real innovation looks like: Batteries, EVs, AR, and more 54:00 The future of work beyond AI hype Connect with Ed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edzitron/ X: https://x.com/edzitron Instagram: instagram.com/edzitron 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