Paradigms

Leitmotiv

Unpacking the Leitmotiv of our digital future – where we are now, where we're going, and who is setting the direction? Each week, Zuzana and Max discuss the latest developments and public debates in the digital sphere to figure out our future and ask: Is this where we, as a society, want to go? This podcast is part of our mission as an independent think-tank focused on operationalizing values in our digital future. Together with you, we want to imagine a Leitmotiv (’vision’) for a digital world that is grounded in societal values and mobilize our power to shape it. Follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky or Instagram to stay on the pulse of digital policy or the latest tech talk and learn everything about how we’re building a values-centered digital future. Apple Podcasts: https://ltmv.io/podcast-apple Spotify: https://ltmv.io/podcast-spotify YouTube: https://ltmv.io/podcast-yt Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Afleveringen

  1. Is AI Compute A Public Utility?

    29-12-2025

    Is AI Compute A Public Utility?

    If compute is to AI what energy is to an aluminum plant, what happens when we start treating it like a utility? As 2025 draws to a close, tech firms have already poured over $400 billion into AI infrastructure globally – and AI continues to reshape our world with each passing second. While AI tools and products become woven into government services, businesses, and our daily routines, we stop to ask: shouldn't the providers of compute infrastructure be considered public utilities? And if so, what opportunities arise? In this episode, we revisit our conversation from May, which remains more relevant than ever, and dive into the current debate on AI compute and the risks of rapid scaling without proper regulation. Listen along as we explore potential solutions against keeping production capacity in private hands – from market liberalization (think energy markets) to private investment over state subsidies, state loans, and hybrid models. How can we prioritize fairness in the AI compute market and what is lost when the potential profits of the world's richest compute companies far outweigh the reputational risk of rolling back their sustainability plans? Link to Max's LinkedIn post: https://ltmv.io/max-post Sources: CNN Business - Paradigms is a podcast produced by Leitmotiv – an independent think tank focused on operationalizing values in our digital future. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SIqDnLt5wAl6jZRboqgSF?si=2e29d270de83472dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-ai-compute-a-public-utility/id1842815462?i=1000743083552YouTube: https://youtu.be/ADPMxjw-4xA Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    24 min
  2. Shaping the EU Cloud and AI Development Act

    20-10-2025

    Shaping the EU Cloud and AI Development Act

    How can we create responsible regulation when the AI race has just begun and there's still little evidence of its benefits for the European market and society? As the European Commission seeks public input on its upcoming Cloud & AI Development Act and its potential impacts, it aims to build more European data centers to match the economic power of the US and China in AI & cloud computing. But is it feasible and what do we do about the missing data? In this episode, Zuzana and Max for the first time welcome Leitmotiv's co-founder Christiaan van Veen who is a human rights lawyer with extensive experience at the UN, EU, and national level (NL). Together, Max and Christiaan share details about the 40-page analysis and policy recommendations they submitted to the Commission's call for evidence on the Act's possible impact, in collaboration with cultural anthropologist Corinne Cath. Through their rigorous analysis, solid conceptual framework, and six regulatory interventions, the authors point out how EU policy remains fixated on expanding cloud as a centralized “shared” or “infinity” factory – creating dependence on a few owners, weak competition, questionable social benefits, and guaranteed environmental costs. And their ultimate proposal for the EU Commission? Fix market failures first, then invest where public value is clear. (Correction (5:29): Christiaan mentions Article 9, but the correct version is Article 19.) - Paradigms is a podcast produced by Leitmotiv – an independent think tank focused on operationalizing values in our digital future. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JlonWocmeNx803GCJNWs8?si=d1b97c75000d4fb7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shaping-the-eu-cloud-and-ai-development-act/id1842815462?i=1000732605907YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrojS7WBLF8 Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    37 min
  3. On The Illusion of AI Agents and Keeping Human Value

    30-09-2025

    On The Illusion of AI Agents and Keeping Human Value

    As large investments are being poured into artificial intelligence technology, tech companies paint a picture of a near future where AI agents do most work for you – but is that realistic? What even is an AI agent and how does it differ from assistants like ChatGPT? With companies claiming that these technologies can become autonomous workers able to handle complex tasks independently, it's crucial to understand the difference between real capability versus a marketing narrative. As AI emerges in different forms and creates new dependencies across all industries and spheres, a reality check on the playbook scripts designed by the tech industry is crucial. Which thoughtful approaches towards automation can we propose that prioritize human and environmental wellbeing? Is it worth imagining AI integrations in workspaces that balance innovation with responsibility? Paradigms is a podcast produced by Leitmotiv – an independent think tank focused on operationalizing values in our digital future. Join the conversation by following us on LinkedIn, Bluesky or Instagram, stay on the pulse of the latest digital developments and learn everything about how we’re shaping a values-centered digital future that is ours. Listen more on Paradigms – now also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! ⬇️Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e8c7S9QUApple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eNTgS3zWYouTube: https://lnkd.in/eznN2U6k Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    26 min

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Info

Unpacking the Leitmotiv of our digital future – where we are now, where we're going, and who is setting the direction? Each week, Zuzana and Max discuss the latest developments and public debates in the digital sphere to figure out our future and ask: Is this where we, as a society, want to go? This podcast is part of our mission as an independent think-tank focused on operationalizing values in our digital future. Together with you, we want to imagine a Leitmotiv (’vision’) for a digital world that is grounded in societal values and mobilize our power to shape it. Follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky or Instagram to stay on the pulse of digital policy or the latest tech talk and learn everything about how we’re building a values-centered digital future. Apple Podcasts: https://ltmv.io/podcast-apple Spotify: https://ltmv.io/podcast-spotify YouTube: https://ltmv.io/podcast-yt Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.