Eye On A.I.

Craig S. Smith
  • 4.8 (63)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Eye On A.I.

Eye on A.I. is a biweekly podcast, hosted by longtime New York Times correspondent Craig S. Smith. In each episode, Craig will talk to people making a difference in artificial intelligence. The podcast aims to put incremental advances into a broader context and consider the global implications of the developing technology. AI is about to change your world, so pay attention.

  1. 4D AGO

    #245 Rajat Taneja: Visa's President of Technology Reveals Their $3.3 Billion AI Strategy

    This episode is sponsored by Thuma.   Thuma is a modern design company that specializes in timeless home essentials that are mindfully made with premium materials and intentional details.   To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/eyeonai Visa’s President of Technology, Rajat Taneja, pulls back the curtain on the $3.3 billion AI transformation powering one of the world’s most trusted financial networks.   In this episode, Taneja shares how Visa—a company processing over $16 trillion annually across 300 billion real-time transactions—is leveraging AI not just to stop fraud, but to redefine the future of commerce.   From deep neural networks trained on decades of transaction data to generative AI tools powering next-gen agentic systems, Visa has quietly been an AI-first company since the 1990s. Now, with 500+ petabytes of data and 2,900 open APIs, it’s preparing for a future where agents, biometrics, and behavioral signals shape every interaction.   Taneja also reveals how Visa’s models can mimic bank decisions in milliseconds, stop enumeration attacks, and even detect fraud based on how you type. This is AI at global scale—with zero room for error.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Visa’s $3.3B data platform powers 24/7 AI-driven decisioning The fraud models behind stopping $40 billion in criminal transactions What “agentic commerce” means—and why Visa is betting big on it How Visa uses behavioral biometrics to detect account takeovers Why Visa rebuilt its infrastructure for the AI era—10 years ahead of the curve The role of generative AI, biometric identity, and APIs in the next wave of payments   The future of commerce isn’t just cashless—it’s intelligent, autonomous, and trust-driven.   If you’re curious about how AI is redefining payments, security, and digital identity at massive scale, this episode is essential viewing.   Subscribe for more deep dives into the future of AI, commerce, and innovation. Stay Updated: Craig Smith on X:https://x.com/craigss Eye on A.I. on X: https://x.com/EyeOn_AI (00:00) Introduction (02:57) Meet Rajat Taneja, Visa’s President of Technology (04:02) Scaling AI for 300 Billion Transactions Annually (05:27) The Models Behind Visa’s Fraud Detection (08:02) Visa’s In-House AI Models vs Open-Source Tools (10:54) Inside Visa’s $3.3B AI Data Platform (12:29) Visa’s Role in E-Commerce Innovation (16:24) Biometrics, Identity & Tokenization at Visa (21:14) Visa’s Vision for AI-Driven Commerce

    25 min

  2. MAR 27

    #244 Yoav Shoham on Jamba Models, Maestro and The Future of Enterprise AI

    This episode is sponsored by the DFINITY Foundation.  DFINITY Foundation's mission is to develop and contribute technology that enables the Internet Computer (ICP) blockchain and its ecosystem, aiming to shift cloud computing into a fully decentralized state.   Find out more at https://internetcomputer.org/ In this episode of Eye on AI, Yoav Shoham, co-founder of AI21 Labs, shares his insights on the evolution of AI, touching on key advancements such as Jamba and Maestro. From the early days of his career to the latest developments in AI systems, Yoav offers a comprehensive look into the future of artificial intelligence.   Yoav opens up about his journey in AI, beginning with his academic roots in game theory and logic, followed by his entrepreneurial ventures that led to the creation of AI21 Labs. He explains the founding of AI21 Labs and the company's mission to combine traditional AI approaches with modern deep learning methods, leading to innovations like Jamba—a highly efficient hybrid AI model that’s disrupting the traditional transformer architecture.   He also introduces Maestro, AI21’s orchestrator that works with multiple large language models (LLMs) and AI tools to create more reliable, predictable, and efficient systems for enterprises. Yoav discusses how Maestro is tackling real-world challenges in enterprise AI, moving beyond flashy demos to practical, scalable solutions.   Throughout the conversation, Yoav emphasizes the limitations of current large language models (LLMs), even those with reasoning capabilities, and explains how AI systems, rather than just pure language models, are becoming the future of AI. He also delves into the philosophical side of AI, discussing whether models truly "understand" and what that means for the future of artificial intelligence.   Whether you’re deeply invested in AI research or curious about its applications in business, this episode is filled with valuable insights into the current and future landscape of artificial intelligence.     Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI     (00:00) Introduction: The Future of AI Systems (02:33) Yoav’s Journey: From Academia to AI21 Labs (05:57) The Evolution of AI: Symbolic AI and Deep Learning (07:38) Jurassic One: AI21 Labs’ First Language Model (10:39) Jamba: Revolutionizing AI Model Architecture (16:11) Benchmarking AI Models: Challenges and Criticisms (22:18) Reinforcement Learning in AI Models (24:33) The Future of AI: Is Jamba the End of Larger Models? (27:31) Applications of Jamba: Real-World Use Cases in Enterprise (29:56) The Transition to Mass AI Deployment in Enterprises (33:47) Maestro: The Orchestrator of AI Tools and Language Models (36:03) GPT-4.5 and Reasoning Models: Are They the Future of AI? (38:09) Yoav’s Pet Project: The Philosophical Side of AI Understanding (41:27) The Philosophy of AI Understanding (45:32) Explanations and Competence in AI (48:59) Where to Access Jamba and Maestro

    52 min

  3. MAR 18

    #243 Greg Osuri: Why the Future of AI Depends on Decentralized Cloud Platforms

    This episode is sponsored by Indeed.  Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites. Indeed's Sponsored Jobs help you stand out and hire fast. With Sponsored Jobs your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates, so you can reach the people you want faster. Get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to boost your job’s visibility! Claim your offer now: https://www.indeed.com/EYEONAI Greg Osuri’s Vision for Decentralized Cloud Computing | The Future of AI & Web3 Infrastructure The cloud is broken—can decentralization fix it? In this episode, Greg Osuri, founder of Akash Network, shares his groundbreaking approach to decentralized cloud computing and how it's disrupting hyperscalers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.  Discover how Akash Network’s peer-to-peer marketplace is slashing cloud costs, unlocking unused compute power, and paving the way for AI-driven infrastructure without Big Tech’s control. What You'll Learn in This Episode: - Why AI training is hitting an energy bottleneck and how decentralization solves it - How Akash Network creates a global marketplace for underutilized compute power - The role of blockchain in securing cloud resources and enforcing smart contracts - The privacy risks of hyperscalers—and why sovereign AI in the home is the future - How Akash Network is evolving from a resource marketplace to a full-fledged services economy - The future of AI, energy-efficient cloud solutions, and decentralized infrastructure The battle for the future of cloud computing is on—and decentralization is winning. If you're interested in AI, blockchain, Web3, or the economics of cloud infrastructure, this episode is a must-watch! Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI   (00:00) Introduction & The Biggest Challenges in AI Training   (02:36) Greg Osuri’s Background (04:50) The Problem with AWS, Google Cloud & Traditional Cloud Providers   (06:40) How To Use Blockchain for a Decentralized Cloud   (10:17) Akash Network’s Marketplace Matches Compute Buyers & Sellers   (14:42) Security & Privacy: Protecting Users from Data Risks   (18:25) The Energy Crisis: Why Hyperscalers Are Unsustainable   (21:51) The Future of AI: Decentralized Cloud & Home AI Computing   (26:42) How AI Workloads Are Routed & Optimized (30:24) Big Companies Using Akash Network: NVIDIA, Prime Intellect & More   (45:49) Building a Decentralized AI Services Marketplace   (55:09) Why the Future of AI Needs a Decentralized Cloud

    59 min

  4. MAR 12

    #242 Dylan Arena: The AI Education Revolution: How AI is Changing the Way We Learn

    This episode is brought to you by Extreme Networks, the company radically improving customer experiences with AI-powered automation for networking. Extreme is driving the convergence of AI, networking, and security to transform the way businesses connect and protect their networks, delivering faster performance, stronger security, and a seamless user experience. Visit extremenetworks.com to learn more. ———————————————————————————————————————— The Role of AI in Education | Dylan Arena on Learning, AI Tutoring & The Future of Teaching How can AI enhance education without replacing the human touch? In this episode, Dylan Arena, Chief Data Science and AI Officer at McGraw Hill, shares his insights on the intersection of AI and learning. Dylan’s background in learning sciences and technology design has shaped his approach to AI-powered tools that help students and teachers—not replace them. He discusses how AI can augment human relationships in education, improve personalized learning, and assist teachers with real-time insights while avoiding the pitfalls of over-reliance on automation. With AI playing an increasingly central role in education, are we at risk of losing the essential human connections that define great learning experiences? What You’ll Learn in This Episode: - Why AI should be used to enhance not replace teachers - The risks and rewards of AI-powered tutoring - How AI-driven assessments can improve personalized learning - Why AI chatbots in education need careful ethical considerations - The future of gamification and AI-driven engagement in classrooms - How McGraw Hill is integrating AI into its learning platforms If you care about the future of education, AI, and ethical tech development, this episode is a must-watch.  ———————————————————————————————————————— This episode is sponsored by Oracle. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a blazing-fast and secure platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, plus all your AI and machine learning workloads. OCI costs 50% less for compute and 80% less for networking—so you’re saving a pile of money. Thousands of businesses have already upgraded to OCI, including MGM Resorts, Specialized Bikes, and Fireworks AI. Cut your current cloud bill in HALF if you move to OCI now: https://oracle.com/eyeonai ———————————————————————————————————————— Chapters: (00:00) The Role of AI in Augmenting Human Learning (02:10) Dylan’s Background in Learning Sciences & AI (08:23) The Risks of AI-Powered Education Tools (11:08) AI Tutoring: Can It Replace Human Teachers? (16:28) AI’s Role in Personalized Learning & Adaptive Assessments (22:47) How AI Can Assist, Not Replace, Teachers (29:36) The Future of AI-Driven Gamification in Education (36:41) Ethical Concerns Around AI Chatbots & Student Relationships (45:02) The Impact of AI on Student Learning & Memory Retention (50:19) How McGraw Hill is Innovating with AI in Education (54:44) Final Thoughts: AI’s Role in Shaping the Future of Learning

    58 min

  5. MAR 7

    #241 Patrick M. Pilarski: The Alberta Plan’s Roadmap to AI and AGI

    This episode is sponsored by Netsuite by Oracle, the number one cloud financial system, streamlining accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more. NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to  https://netsuite.com/EYEONAI to know more. Can AI learn like humans? In this episode, Patrick Pilarski, Canada CIFAR AI Chair and professor at the University of Alberta, breaks down The Alberta Plan—a bold roadmap for achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) through reinforcement learning and real-time experience-based AI. Unlike large pre-trained models that rely on massive datasets, The Alberta Plan champions continual learning, where AI evolves from raw sensory experience, much like a child learning through trial and error. Could this be the key to unlocking true intelligence? Pilarski also shares insights from his groundbreaking work in bionic medicine, where AI-powered prosthetics are transforming human-machine interaction. From neuroprostheses to reinforcement learning-driven robotics, this conversation explores how AI can enhance—not just replace—human intelligence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why reinforcement learning is a better path to AGI than pre-trained models The four core principles of The Alberta Plan and why they matter How AI-driven bionic prosthetics are revolutionizing human-machine integration The battle between reinforcement learning and traditional control systems in robotics Why continual learning is critical for AI to avoid catastrophic forgetting How reinforcement learning is already powering real-world breakthroughs in plasma control, industrial automation, and beyond The future of AI isn’t just about more data—it’s about AI that thinks, adapts, and learns from experience. If you're curious about the next frontier of AI, the rise of reinforcement learning, and the quest for true intelligence, this episode is a must-watch. Subscribe for more AI deep dives! (00:00) The Alberta Plan: A Roadmap to AGI   (02:22) Introducing Patrick Pilarski (05:49) Breaking Down The Alberta Plan’s Core Principles   (07:46) The Role of Experience-Based Learning in AI   (08:40) Reinforcement Learning vs. Pre-Trained Models   (12:45) The Relationship Between AI, the Environment, and Learning   (16:23) The Power of Reward in AI Decision-Making   (18:26) Continual Learning & Avoiding Catastrophic Forgetting   (21:57) AI in the Real World: Applications in Fusion, Data Centers & Robotics   (27:56) AI Learning Like Humans: The Role of Predictive Models   (31:24) Can AI Learn Without Massive Pre-Trained Models?   (35:19) Control Theory vs. Reinforcement Learning in Robotics   (40:16) The Future of Continual Learning in AI   (44:33) Reinforcement Learning in Prosthetics: AI & Human Interaction   (50:47) The End Goal of The Alberta Plan

    1h 2m

  6. MAR 4

    #240 Manos Koukoumidis: Why The Future of AI is Open-Source

    This episode is brought to you by Sonar, the creators of SonarQube Server, Cloud, IDE, and the open source Community Build.    Sonar unlocks actionable code intelligence, helping to redefine the software development lifecycle by use of AI and AI agentic systems, to continuously improve quality and security while reducing developer toil. By analyzing all code, regardless of who writes it—your internal team or genAI—Sonar enables more secure, reliable, and maintainable software. Join the over 7 million developers from organizations like the DoD, Microsoft, NASA, MasterCard, Siemens, and T-Mobile, who use Sonar.    Visit http://sonarsource.com/eyeonai to try SonarQube for free today.   ———————————————————————————————————————— The Future of AI is Open-Source | Manos Koukoumidis on UMI & The AI Revolution Is closed AI holding back innovation? In this episode, Manos Koukoumidis, CEO of Oumi, makes the case for why the future of AI must be open-source. OUMI (Open Universal Machine Intelligence) is redefining how AI is built—offering fully open models, open data, and open collaboration to make AI development more transparent, accessible, and community-driven. Big Tech has dominated AI, but UMI is challenging the status quo by creating a platform where anyone can train, fine-tune, and deploy AI models with just a few commands. Could this be the Linux moment for AI? What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why open-source AI is the only sustainable path forward The difference between “open-source” AI and true open AI How OUMI enables researchers and enterprises to build better AI models Why Big Tech’s closed AI systems are losing their competitive edge The impact of open AI on healthcare, science, and enterprise innovation The future of AI models—will proprietary AI survive? The AI revolution is happening—and it’s open-source. If you care about the future of AI, innovation, and ethical tech development, this episode is a must-watch. ————————————————————————————————————————   This episode is sponsored by Thuma.   Thuma is a modern design company that specializes in timeless home essentials that are mindfully made with premium materials and intentional details.   To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/eyeonai   ————————————————————————————————————————   (00:00) The True Meaning of Open-Source AI   (02:15) The Open vs. Closed AI Debate   (07:54) Why Open AI Models Are Safer  (10:34) Defining Open Data (13:21)Beating GPT-4-O with an Open AI Model   (16:36) Open AI in Healthcare (19:31) Why Open Models Will Dominate   (23:07) How OUMI Makes AI Training Fully Accessible & Reproducible   (28:44) UMI’s Collaboration with Universities   (32:29) The Shift Toward Open A (36:41) Can We Build Truly Open AI Models from Scratch?   (40:20) The Role of Open AI in Eliminating Bias (45:02) Will Open AI Replace Proprietary AI Models?   (50:19) How OUMI Works (54:44) The Open AI Revolution Has Begun

    1h 6m

  7. FEB 26

    #239 Tuhin Srivatsa: How Baseten is Disrupting AI Deployment & Scaling in 2025

    This episode is sponsored by Thuma.   Thuma is a modern design company that specializes in timeless home essentials that are mindfully made with premium materials and intentional details.   To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/eyeonai   ————————————————————————————————————————— AI deployment is broken—can it be fixed? In this episode, Tuhin Srivatsa, CEO & Co-Founder of Baseten, reveals how his company is DISRUPTING AI infrastructure, making it easier, faster, and more cost-effective to deploy and scale AI models in production. As enterprises increasingly turn to open-source AI models and grapple with the high costs and complexity of scaling, Baseten offers a game-changing solution that eliminates bottlenecks and simplifies the process. Discover how Baseten is taking on AWS SageMaker, OpenAI, and cloud-based AI deployment platforms to reshape the future of AI model deployment. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why AI deployment & scaling is one of the biggest challenges in 2025 How Baseten enables enterprises to run AI models faster & more efficiently The shift from closed-source to open-source AI models—and why it matters The hidden costs of AI inference & how to optimize for performance Why most AI models fail in production and how to prevent it The future of AI infrastructure: What comes next for scalable AI Whether you’re a machine learning engineer, AI researcher, startup founder, or enterprise leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you scale AI models without the headaches. Don’t miss this conversation on the next era of AI deployment! #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #Baseten #AIDeployment #AIScaling #Inference #MLInfrastructure #TechPodcast Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI   —————————————————————————————————————————   (00:00) Tuhin Srivatsa’s Journey in AI & Baseten   (01:50) What is AI Infrastructure & Why It Matters   (03:30) How Baseten Optimizes AI Model Deployment   (05:19) Why Most AI Deployments Fail (And How to Fix It)   (09:17) The Future of Open-Source AI Models in Enterprise   (11:01) How Baseten Automates AI Scaling & Inference   (14:12) Why AI Developers Struggle with Cloud-Based AI Tools   (18:47) The Real Cost of AI Inference (And How to Reduce It)   (20:44) Why AI Scaling is the Biggest Challenge in 2025   (26:55) Can AI Run on Non-NVIDIA Chips? (The Hardware Debate)   (31:23) The Future of AI Model Deployment & Inference   (37:05) How AI Agents & Reasoning Models Are Changing the Game   (40:39) The Truth About AI Hype vs. Reality   (45:04) How to Get Started with Baseten   (45:48) The Future of AI Infrastructure

    46 min

  8. FEB 20

    #238 Dominic Williams Reveals His Vision for the Internet Computer (ICP)

    This episode is sponsored by Indeed.  Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites. Indeed's Sponsored Jobs help you stand out and hire fast. With Sponsored Jobs your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates, so you can reach the people you want faster.   Get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to boost your job’s visibility! Claim your offer now: https://www.indeed.com/EYEONAI     Dominic Williams’ Bold Vision for The Internet Computer (ICP) | The Future of Decentralized Computing   The internet is broken—can blockchain fix it? In this episode, Dominic Williams, the visionary behind The Internet Computer (ICP) and founder of DFINITY, reveals his plan to build a decentralized alternative to cloud computing. Discover how ICP is challenging Big Tech, replacing traditional IT infrastructure, and creating a tamper-proof, autonomous internet powered by smart contracts.   What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why Dominic Williams believes the current internet is flawed How ICP aims to replace centralized cloud providers like AWS & Google Cloud The role of smart contracts in making the internet more secure and censorship-resistant The mission of DFINITY and how it started in 2016 The future of Web3, decentralized applications (dApps), and blockchain governance   Don't miss this deep dive into the future of the internet! If you're interested in blockchain, decentralization, and the next evolution of the web, this episode is for you. Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI   (00:00) The Origins of The Internet Computer   (02:57) Dominic Williams’ Background in Tech   (04:28) Early Innovations in Distributed Computing   (07:08) The Birth of a 'World Computer' Concept   (11:22) Reimagining IT: A Decentralized Alternative   (13:45) The Creation of DFINITY and ICP   (16:29) How ICP Differs from Traditional Blockchains   (22:05) The Problem with Cloud-Based Blockchains   (25:35) How ICP Ensures True Decentralization   (29:25) AI & The Self-Writing Internet   (35:24) How ICP Hosts AI & Smart Contracts   (40:23) Understanding Reverse Gas and ICP’s Economy   (45:03) The Vision: A Truly Decentralized Internet   (49:09) How To Use The Internet Computer   (52:01) The Role of Nodes & Incentives in ICP   (56:53) The Future of Web3 & Decentralized Applications   (01:05:49) The Misconception of ‘On-Chain’ & Blockchain Hype

    1h 15m
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    4.8
    out of 5
    63 Ratings

    About

    Eye on A.I. is a biweekly podcast, hosted by longtime New York Times correspondent Craig S. Smith. In each episode, Craig will talk to people making a difference in artificial intelligence. The podcast aims to put incremental advances into a broader context and consider the global implications of the developing technology. AI is about to change your world, so pay attention.

    Information

    • Creator
      Craig S. Smith
    • Years Active
      2018 - 2025
    • Episodes
      244
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Eye On A.I.
    • Show Website
      Eye On A.I.

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