Possible

Reid Hoffman
Possible

What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

  1. Spencer Hyman on flavor and chocolate

    5 HR AGO

    Spencer Hyman on flavor and chocolate

    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

    45 min
  2. Devshi Mehrotra on AI, justice, and public defense

    13 NOV

    Devshi Mehrotra on AI, justice, and public defense

    America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform.  For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 3:10 - Hellos and intros 6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText 10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against 12:35 - How JusticeText can help 14:32 - On being a for-profit company  18:11 - Creating a new market 20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base  23:33 - Midroll  23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform 24:40 - Requests for new features 25:58 - JusticeText demo 28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs 30:23 - The intersection of government and technology 32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI 34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system 37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self  38:43 - The future of JusticeText  40:42 - Rapid-fire questions

    49 min
  3. Bill Gates on possibility, AI, and humanity

    30 OCT

    Bill Gates on possibility, AI, and humanity

    How many lives will be saved with the help of AI over the next decade? Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective on how far humanity has come and what our potential—and timelines—for meaningful change really look like. He gets granular on everything from cows (5% of global emissions) to disease reduction and eradication (Guinea worm disease). At each turn, he has data at his fingertips to ground his beliefs. So, what current set of innovations is Bill most excited about? And what is realistically on the horizon for AI, climate change, energy, global health, and education? For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/  Topics: 03:18 - Hellos and intros 03:24 - Projects Bill is most excited about 05:46 - Bill’s recent Netflix series 08:14 - Technology that will change what’s possible 10:41 - Solutions for malnutrition 12:09 - Cow-based solutions for climate change and nutrition 17:06 - What Bill is working toward for climate change 19:19 - Viable alternative energy sources 23:80 - What will make solar work? 26:47 - Nuclear fission and fusion 29:30 - How AI will help mitigate climate change 32:38 - What to focus on in global health 37:24 - AI and drug discovery 39:52 - What else will AI unlock in public health? 42:28 - Personalized medicine: is it worth it? 44:02 - Conditions on the ground in the poorest countries 47:29 - AI in education 51:24 - Khanmigo and early GPT-4 54:59 - Non-tech levers for change in education 56:34 - What would Bill ask someone from 2100? 58:25 - AI in 3-5 years, and what comes next for work 01:03:05 - Rapid-fire Questions Select mentions:  The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Nature  What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxhYr4gbQE  Bill Gates Visits First Avenue School: Commends Innovative Use of Technology https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/first-avenue-school/bill-gates-visits-first-avenue-school-commends-innovative-use-of-technology/  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.

    1h 11m

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About

What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

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