AI and the Future of Work Dan Turchin

Naomi Ionita and Derek Xiao are investors at Menlo Ventures, one of Silicon Valley's most successful and storied venture capital funds. Menlo has backed over 80 public companies, manages over $5 billion in assets, and has been a pillar of the VC community for an astonishing 47 years. You likely know many of Menlo's recent high-profile investments in companies like Anthropic, Chime, and Harness and historical investments such as 3Com, Hotmail, and Roku. Naomi and Derek recently led the firm's publication of a 3,500-word report chronicling the state of generative AI in the enterprise.
In this episode, we discuss
How they decide what to invest in The tripling of budgets for AI projects by 2025, according to a report from ISG and GleanEnterprise leaders face challenges in proving ROI and building trust in AI solutions.The top use cases for AI investment include customer service and enterprise searchMenlo Ventures' perspective on the current state of VC and the opportunities in AI investing.Insights from Menlo Ventures' report on generative AI in the enterprise, including barriers to adoption and the potential for transformationThe broader societal impacts and considerations of AI adoption in business and technology.Resources

The Menlo Ventures Enterprise AI report
Menlo Ventures website
Fun fact article 

Steve Truitt is an award-winning science fiction author, actor, producer, and musician. He received the prestigious Golden Eagle Award for his documentary series on Discovery. Steve's a space enthusiast and NASA history buff. He holds the unique record of having met five moonwalkers. Beyond his creative endeavors, Steve is also a coach and motivational speaker, recognized for his impactful work with the Best Motivational Book of the Year award for "Stop Waiting for Permission". Steve brings a wealth of experience and insight to discussions on AI and the future of work.
In this conversation, we discuss 
How Steve got started in media and entertainment before branching out to other industriesIndustries being most impacted by AIThe tricky ethics of AI and how to harness it as a tool that does more good than harmWhy humanity is so fickle and prone to conflict How leaders can stop the spread of misinformation with AI and what prevents them from doing so Much more

Resources
Get Steve’s book, Mindset Chronicles
Additional episode you’ll enjoy 
AI fun fact 

Chris Herringshaw is the Chief Technology Officer at Janus Henderson Investors, overseeing all technology aspects and serving on the Executive Committee. With over 15 years at Citadel Investment Group, he led Global Infrastructure Technology as Managing Director. Chris founded Quova, now part of NuStar, and held roles including Vice President of Engineering and CTO. He holds a BS in computer systems engineering from the University of Michigan, and actively contributes to shaping technology's future through advisory roles and industry forums. 
In this conversation, we discuss:
Venturing from entrepreneur to an established company.Chris Herringshaw's background in technology, including his experience at Janus Henderson Investors and as a CTO at venture-backed startups.How FinTech companies leverage the power of AI while mitigating risks associated with its unpredictable nature.Why human decision making still trumps AI and algorithmic based trading decisions in certain contexts.Predictions on where AI is headed in the next 12 months.The role of AI governance in ensuring the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence.Resource
Previous episode about an AI app platform that’s growing faster than OpenAI 
Learn more about Janus Henderson 
AI fun fact article

Dmitry Shapiro  is a serial entrepreneur who most recently founded and is the CEO of YouAi and the popular AI app-builder MindStudio. He has a bold vision to help you index your mind which we unpack in today's conversation. Previously, Dmitry founded and led GoMeta and  created the video sharing site Veoh in 2005 which  launched a few months after YouTube. Dmitry served as the CTO at MySpace before moving on to Google where was a Group Product Manager working on social graph, identity, and content discovery. Dmitry received his BS in EE from Georgia Tech.
In this conversation, we discuss:
The New York Times versus OpenAI and Microsoft copyright lawsuit and its implications for AI.The challenges and stakes for publishers when facing AI applications using copyrighted material.Dmitry Shapiro's entrepreneurial journey and the vision behind MindStudio.The impact of generative AI on computing and its potential for revolutionizing work and home environments.Legal and ethical considerations surrounding AI, copyright, and fair use.The intersection of technology, venture capital, and innovation in shaping the future of AI applications.Additional resources 
Another episode to enjoy Fun fact article 

As the Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, Suresh leads the product, engineering, design, and development teams that deliver innovative and scalable solutions for data science and analytics. He is also responsible for product pricing, packaging, and PLG strategies. Over the past 3 years, Alteryx has transformed into an analytics platform with market-leading end-to-end analytics solutions, covering the entire gamut of users from analysts to data engineers, developers, and data scientists.
With over 20 years of experience in the SaaS industry, Suresh has a proven track record of driving growth, customer satisfaction, and market leadership for cloud-based platforms and products.
In this conversation, we discuss:
The ongoing debate between AI guardrails and user autonomy, referencing Mark Gimein's "spicy mayo problem" as a case study.Suresh Vittal's background, journey through analytics and AI, and his role as Chief Product Officer at Alteryx.Alteryx's mission of "analytics for all" and their focus on empowering users across technical and non-technical roles in data analytics.The integration of generative AI features into Alteryx's platform to simplify complex workflows and enhance collaboration among data professionals.Insights into AI-first data management strategies and the evolving landscape of AI-driven tools in the future of work.The importance of governance and transparency in AI-powered analytics, ensuring clarity and understanding across complex data workflows for improved decision-making.Additional resources: 
Suresh’s LinkedIn page
Related episode you might enjoy about responsible AI use
AI fun fact article in the Atlantic 

Ben Kus is the chief technology officer at Box, where he’s responsible for developing Box's technology vision and strategy.  Previously, Ben was the VP of product management at Box. Before joining Box, he was the co founder and CTO of Subspace, an enterprise security solution that was acquired by Box. 
Ben’s held various leadership positions, including chief architect for IBM and senior director of technology for BigFix.  
What we discuss:
The role of generative AI in enhancing productivity and unlocking new use cases within enterprises, focusing on content management.Ben shares insights into Box's innovative culture and compares it to other companies like IBM, highlighting the company's approach to technology and innovation.The discussion touches on responsible AI use, regulatory considerations, and Box's commitment to transparency and compliance.Ben addresses concerns about AI's impact on jobs, emphasizing AI's role in augmenting productivity rather than replacing human jobs.Future trends in AI, including personalized AI assistance and potential advancements in AI capabilities, are explored.The conversation ends with a fun anecdote about Box's CEO, Aaron Levie, known for his magic tricks and the company's unique culture of bringing your own self to work.Additional resources
Ben’s LinkedIn Other episodes you might enjoy about the future of Media & AIFun fact: how much energy is required to create an image with generative AI?