173 episodes

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.

Eye On A.I‪.‬ Craig S. Smith

    • Technology
    • 4.8 • 61 Ratings

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.

    #176 Sergey Levine: Decoding The Evolution of AI in Robotics

    #176 Sergey Levine: Decoding The Evolution of AI in Robotics

    Join host Craig Smith on episode #176 of Eye on AI as he dives deep into the realm of robotic artificial intelligence with Sergey Levine, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley. 
    In this episode, Sergey unveils the latest advancements in AI control of robots, exploring the implications of reinforcement learning and the concept of embodied AI. 
    Discover how Sergey's research is pushing the boundaries of AI, enabling robots to learn manipulation skills and generalize across diverse tasks, transforming the potential of home robots and beyond.
    Sergey also shares insights into the RTX project, an ambitious collaboration designed to achieve remarkable generalization across different robot morphologies, enhancing robots' ability to perform language-conditioned manipulation tasks.
    If you're fascinated by the intersection of AI, robotics, and the quest for creating adaptable, generalizable machines that promise to revolutionize our interaction with technology, this episode is a must-listen. 
    Remember to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if this episode ignites your interest in the dynamic field of robotic AI and the visionary work of Sergey Levine.



    Stay Updated:
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI


     
    (00:00) Preview and Introduction to Home Robots and AI in Robotics
    (01:43) World Models and Language Models in Robotics
    (04:01) The Challenge of Learning-Based Control and Data Utilization
    (06:05) RTX Project: Generalizing Controllers Across Different Robots
    (10:09) Uniformity in Model Architecture Across Labs
    (13:50) Introduction of RT1 and RT2 Models for Robot Control
    (16:06) The Future of Robotic Control Research and Architecture
    (18:49) The Impact of Hardware Development on Robotics
    (22:15) Advances in Controller and AI Model Development
    (26:21) Planning and Acting with Vision Language Models
    (31:38) The Proprietary vs. Open-Source Debate in Robotics
    (36:23) The Future of Commercial and Open Source Robotics Applications
    (40:59) The State of Robotics Research in China

    • 42 min
    #175 Aravind Srinivas: Revolutionizing Search with Perplexity AI

    #175 Aravind Srinivas: Revolutionizing Search with Perplexity AI

    Join host Craig Smith on episode #175 of Eye on AI as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI.
     
    In this episode, Aravind delves into the intricacies of Perplexity AI, a groundbreaking conversational answer engine designed to redefine the landscape of online search.
     
    Discover how Perplexity AI aims to challenge the status quo of search engines by providing direct answers grounded in factual sources, contrasting with the traditional method of sifting through links.
     
    Learn about the challenges and breakthroughs in developing a search engine that combines the reliability of verified information with the intuitive interaction of conversational AI.
     
    Dive into the technical and philosophical nuances of building a search platform that stands to transform how we access information online. Explore the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and the relentless pursuit of innovation that drives the team at Perplexity AI.
     
    Remember to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if this episode piques your curiosity about the evolving interface of AI and information retrieval!"



    Stay Updated:
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI



    (00:00) Introduction to Perplexity AI with Aravind Srinivas
    (02:26) Aravind Srinivas's Background
    (04:17) Early Influences and The Shift to Generative AI
    (06:30) Ideation and Entrepreneurial Leap to Start Perplexity AI
    (09:44) Challenges of Building a New AI-Powered Search Engine
    (13:53) The Journey from Idea to Market with Perplexity AI
    (17:34) Overcoming Technical and Market Challenges
    (23:44) Disrupting Traditional Search with AI Innovation
    (30:08) Building Perplexity's AI and Indexing Technology
    (37:13) The Future of Web Indexing and AI's Role
    (41:29) Navigating Legal and Ethical Aspects of AI Search
    (52:39) Concluding Thoughts and The Road Ahead for Perplexity AI

    • 53 min
    #174 Tianmin Shu: How World Models are Shaping The Future of AI

    #174 Tianmin Shu: How World Models are Shaping The Future of AI

    Join host Craig Smith on episode #174 of Eye on AI as he sits down with Tianmin Shu, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University in both the Computer Science and Cognitive Science departments.
     
    In this episode, Tianmin unravels the fascinating concept of world models and their intersection with artificial and human intelligence. Discover how these models, rooted in cognitive science, offer a blueprint for understanding our environment and enhancing AI's ability to interpret, predict, and interact within it.
     
    Explore the intricate dance between AI and cognitive science as Tianmin shares insights from his rich academic journey from UCLA to MIT, leading to his innovative work on social aspects of AI and the development of agents capable of human-level cooperation and understanding.
     
    Dive deep into the discussion on the integration of world models with large language models, and how this synergy could revolutionize AI's predictive capabilities and reasoning, paving the way for more intuitive and interactive systems across various domains, especially in household environments.
     
    Don't miss this riveting exploration of the next frontier in artificial intelligence research and its potential to transform our interaction with technology.
     
    Remember to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if you're intrigued by the insights shared in this episode!

     
    This episode is sponsored by 1Password. 1Password combines industry-leading security with award-winning design to bring private, secure, and user-friendly password management to everyone. Companies lose hours every day just from employees forgetting and resetting passwords. A single data breach costs millions of dollars. 1Password secures every sign-in to save you time and money.

    Right now, my listeners get a free 2-week trial at: 1password.com/eyeonai
     
    Stay Updated:
     
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI

    • 48 min
    #173 Vincent Vanhoucke: How Is AI Helping Advance Robotics?

    #173 Vincent Vanhoucke: How Is AI Helping Advance Robotics?

    Join host Craig Smith for episode #173 of Eye on AI, featuring a groundbreaking discussion with Vincent Vanhoucke, distinguished Scientist, and Senior Director for Robotics at Google DeepMind. 
    In this episode, Vincent dives into the cutting-edge world of robotic control with RT2, DeepMind's innovative robotic transformer system. Learn how RT2's integration of visual perception, natural language understanding, and action planning is pushing the boundaries of robotics, enabling machines to reason and act with unprecedented flexibility and intelligence. 
    Discover the challenges, technological marvels, and future prospects of robotics as we explore how DeepMind is shaping the future of AI-driven automation.
    Tune in to uncover the potential of RT2 in transforming robotic capabilities and the implications for diverse applications across industries. 
    Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if you find the episode insightful!

    This episode is sponsored by Netsuite by Oracle, the number one cloud financial system, streamlining accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more.
    Download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist, designed to give you consistently excellent performance - absolutely free at https://netsuite.com/EYEONAI

    Stay Updated:
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI

    (00:00) Preview and Introduction 
    (04:15) Vincent's Background and DeepMind's Robotics
    (06:04) RT2 Architecture Overview
    (09:06) Semantic Planning in Robotics
    (12:33) Reinforcement Learning and Mitigating Model Hallucinations
    (15:47) World Models and Planning
    (19:29) Integrating Sensory Data for Planning
    (24:08) The Future of Robotic Control and RT2
    (27:35) RT2 Open Source and Hardware Integration

    • 32 min
    #172 Cristóbal Valenzuela: Can AI Revolutionize How We Create Art?

    #172 Cristóbal Valenzuela: Can AI Revolutionize How We Create Art?

    Join host Craig Smith on episode #172 of Eye on AI as he sits down with Cris Valenzuela, co-founder and CEO of Runway, an applied AI research company shaping the next era of art, entertainment and human creativity
     
    Cris shares insights into the origins of Runway, highlighting how the company supports creators across various domains, from filmmaking to music production, by leveraging the power of AI.
     
    We dive deep into the fascinating world of generative models like stable diffusion, discussing their development, applications, and the future of creative expression through AI.Discover how Runway's AI tools are breaking new ground in image and video generation, transforming artistic workflows, and opening up unprecedented opportunities for creativity.
     
    We'll also explore the broader implications of AI in art and media, discussing the balance between technological innovation and the preservation of artistic integrity.
     
    Tune in and don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if you enjoy the episode!
     
     
    This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Shopify is a commerce platform that allows anyone to set up an online store and sell their products. Whether you’re selling online, on social media, or in person, Shopify has you covered on every base. With Shopify you can sell physical and digital products. You can sell services, memberships, ticketed events, rentals and even classes and lessons.
     
    Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at http://shopify.com/eyeonai
     

    Stay Updated:
     
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
     
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI



    (00:00) Preview and Introduction
    (01:56) Cris Valenzuela: Background and Runway's Genesis
    (05:48) Understanding Diffusion Models
    (08:01) Discussion on Mid Journey and Other Models
    (10:19) Open Source vs Proprietary Models
    (13:07) Exploring Video Generation Technology
    (17:52) Achieving Consistency in Generated Videos
    (21:22) Compute Requirements for Training Models
    (25:07) Scale and Parameters of Runway's Models
    (29:49) Customizing Models for Specific Needs
    (33:51) Applicability to AR and VR
    (37:32) Runway's User Community and Impact
    (40:21) Runway’s Best Work
     
     

    • 45 min
    #171 Anna Marie Wagner: Harnessing AI for Synthetic Biology

    #171 Anna Marie Wagner: Harnessing AI for Synthetic Biology

    Join host Craig Smith on episode #171 of Eye on AI, for an enlightening conversation with Anna Marie Wagner, SVP, Head of AI at Ginkgo Bioworks, renowned for their work in synthetic biology and its integration with artificial intelligence.
    In this episode, we explore groundbreaking projects like engineering self-fertilizing corn, pioneering RNA therapeutics, and developing sustainable materials.
    Discover how Ginkgo leverages its genomic library and AI to design custom proteins, pushing scientific boundaries and paving the way for revolutionary industry applications. We'll also tackle the vital topics of biosecurity and ethical considerations in biotech, highlighting the balance between innovation and responsibility.
    Anna Marie Wagner's insights provide a glimpse into the transformative potential at the crossroads of biology and technology, making this episode a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the future of scientific advancements.
    Tune in to Eye on AI for this enlightening discussion, and don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify if you enjoy the episode.



    Stay Updated:
    Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss
    Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI



    (00:00) Preview and Introduction
    (01:37) Anna 's Role at Ginkgo and Her Journey in AI and Biotech
    (02:25) Ginkgo Bioworks: History, Founders, and Philosophy
    (08:05) Who Can Use Ginkgo's Services?
    (10:30) Small Molecules, Biologics, and the Scope of Ginkgo's Work
    (12:48) The Role of AI in Biotechnology
    (16:46) Enzyme Engineering and ML-Guided Searches
    (19:11) Ginkgo's Unique Approach to AI and Biotech
    (24:33) The Corn Nitrogen Fixation Project with Bayer
    (27:20) Genetic Mechanisms for Nitrogen Fixation
    (33:19) Addressing Biosafety and Biosecurity Concerns
    (36:47) Exploring New Materials and Environmental Concerns
    (40:27) Innovations in Biotech 
    (42:01) Increasing Biotech Awareness
    (46:46) Collaboration with Google
    (48:06) Building Foundation Models on Google's Infrastructure
    (53:20) The Potential of AI in Biology

    • 54 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
61 Ratings

61 Ratings

Info_Sprinkles ,

Fantastic podcast…

Review: bamdiggity!

josepcpea ,

Well researched, great quality guests and calm, level headed interviewing

Just what I was looking for.

Fred Aebli ,

Top Notch Content and No Frills

When delving into the science and industry driving the evolution of artificial intelligence this is a podcast that you want to subscribe. Craig’s knowledge provides a framework of questions that produce a very informative podcast that will have you more informed at the end of each episode.

I would add that you don’t need a science background but if you do, you will enjoy where he takes the conversations.

There is no hype. No distractions. It is always a solid conversation that informs.

Top Podcasts In Technology

Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex Fridman
All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
All-In Podcast, LLC
No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Machine Learning | Technology | Startups
Conviction | Pod People
Hard Fork
The New York Times
Acquired
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal
TED Radio Hour
NPR

You Might Also Like

This Day in AI Podcast
Michael Sharkey, Chris Sharkey
Practical AI: Machine Learning, Data Science
Changelog Media
"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player Analysis
Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz
The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence)
Sam Charrington
Last Week in AI
Skynet Today
The AI in Business Podcast
Daniel Faggella