STAY Sustainable Alec Crawford

In the STAY Sustainable podcast, our host, Alec Crawford, Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. (aicrisk.com), interviews guests about Sustainability, Technology, Artificial Intelligence and relates that to You.
Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com
Olivia Albrecht (ex-PIMCO) and Jonathan Treussard (Finance PhD) discuss ESG investing and its impact on the financial industry. They address common misconceptions about ESG investing and the challenges of evaluating companies' ESG performance. They also explore the role of institutional investors in influencing companies' behavior and practices. The conversation touches on the intersection of AI and sustainability, highlighting the increasing power consumption of data centers and the need for balance in addressing environmental concerns. Overall, the discussion provides insights into the complexities and opportunities of sustainable finance. Olivia and Jonathan discuss the need for cheaper and more effective energy sources, the challenges of implementing sustainable technologies, and the importance of grid efficiency. They also share advice for individuals looking to help the planet and discuss the benefits and challenges of starting a business.
Takeaways
ESG investing is not a monolithic strategy, and there are different approaches and factors to consider when evaluating companies' ESG performance.Institutional investors have the potential to influence companies' behavior and practices through engagement and divestment strategies.The intersection of AI and sustainability presents challenges in terms of increasing power consumption, but also opportunities for innovation and solutions.There is a need for a balanced approach to address environmental concerns while harnessing the potential of AI and data centers. The need for cheaper and more effective energy sources is crucial for addressing the climate crisis.State regulations and grid inefficiencies can hinder the adoption of sustainable technologies.Reducing consumption and focusing on good governance are important steps individuals can take to help the planet.
Links
https://www.treussard.com/about
Books/Movies Mentioned
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates
Speed and Scale by John Doerr
Footloose

In the STAY Sustainable podcast, our host, Alec Crawford, Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. (https://www.aicrisk.com), interviews guests about Sustainability, Technology, Artificial Intelligence and relates that to You.
Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at https://www.troutmanstreetaudio.com
In this episode, Tobias Mark Jensen, head of legal at the Nordic Blockchain Association and blog author of The Futuristic Lawyer, discusses his journey in the legal field and his fascination with AI. He shares insights on the impact of AI on the job market and the ethical questions surrounding its use. Tobias also talks about his role at the Nordic Blockchain Association and his plans for the future. The conversation covers topics such as Copenhagen as a foodie destination, the power of now, the book Homo Sapiens, and the potential of AI for good.
Takeaways
AI has the potential to disrupt the job market, and lawyers should experiment with AI tools while being cautious of their limitations.Humans using AI ("centaurs") used to win chess matches. Now, humans just make AI worse.The intersection of technology and law is an exciting space to explore, and understanding the ethical implications of AI is crucial.Copenhagen has become an epicenter for gourmet dining with world-renowned restaurants like Noma and Geranium.
Links/References
https://futuristiclawyer.com
https://www.nordicblockchain.com/
https://www.smk.dk/en/
Daniel Schmachtenberger at https://civilizationemerging.com/
https://noma.dk/
https://www.geranium.dk/en/
https://openai.com/blog
Books/Movies
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Shining (1980)
Coypright (c) 2024 All Rights Reserved, Owl Peak Management, LLC.

In this episode, our host, Alec Crawford, Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. interviews Aco Momcilovic, Future HR owner and the co-founder and President of the Global AI Ethics Institute. Aco shares his insights on various topics, including his career in human resources, his interest in artificial intelligence, and the AI Art Singularity project. He also discusses the threats and dangers of AI, the need for global cooperation in AI governance, and the importance of using AI for good.
This episode was produced and engineered by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn.
Takeaways
A career in human resources provides opportunities to work with people and be creative.Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly impact society and the global economy.Global cooperation and ethical considerations are crucial in the development and regulation of AI.Using AI for good can lead to innovation and positive societal outcomes.
Resources
https://artexpo.ai/
https://www.aicrisk.com/
https://globalethics.ai/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/acomomcilovic/?originalSubdomain=hr
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Kurzweil, Ray. The Singularity.

Our host, Alec Crawford interviews high profile guests at the intersection of sustainability, technology and AI for you in the STAY Sustainable podcast. In this episode, he interviews Doug Parker, founder and CEO of Ecolumix, a company providing verified ESG data on their platform, shares his career journey from being a history major to working in environmental law enforcement and eventually founding his own company. He discusses the mission of Ecolumix, which focuses on using data analytics to help companies identify and manage environmental risks. Parker also provides insights into the enforcement priorities of the EPA and the future plans for Ecolumix. He offers advice for entrepreneurs and discusses the importance of transparency and involvement of corporate boards in environmental management.
Takeaways
Data analytics can be a powerful tool for identifying and managing environmental risks.Benchmarking against peers is an effective way for companies to assess their environmental performance.The EPA's enforcement priorities for 2024 include climate change and PFAS.Building a culture of transparency and providing a relief valve for employees to speak up is crucial for effective environmental management.
Links/References
Doug Parker, CEO, Ecolumix
Doug is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ecolumix, an ESG data intelligence and advisory company that measures corporate environmental, health, and safety (EHS) performance. At Ecolumix, Doug leads the team in the development and deployment facility-level EHS data insights for clients related to benchmarking, supply chain evaluation, and due diligence. The Ecolumix team also works with corporate clients and law firms to advise them on EHS compliance and ESG strategy. 
Doug formerly served as the Director of the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division overseeing a nationwide team of criminal investigators and matters related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal, and the agency’s analytics-driven criminal enforcement initiatives. He has also advised dozens of companies on complex enforcement matters and served as an independent compliance monitor. He received his B.A. from Colby College and M.A. in Public Policy from Georgetown University. 
https://ecolumix.com/
https://ecolumix.com/linking-environmental-compliance-and-esg-understanding-the-necis/
https://ecolumix.com/doug-parker-ecolumix-co-founder-ceonamed-to-2022-environmentenergy-leader-50-honoree-list/
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-federal-enforcement-priorities-protect-communities-pollution#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20Today%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Environmental,from%20cancer%2Dcausing%20coal%20ash.
Books, Movies
Coll, Steve Ghost Wars (2004)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Note
Please note that Alec Crawford has a financial interest in Ecolumix and sits on their advisory board.

In this episode, our host, Alec Crawford, interviews Karin Golde, an Amazon alumna, linguistics expert and AI professional. They discuss various topics related to AI and language models. She shares her background in linguistics and the contributions of linguists like Barbara Partee. Karin explains the concerns and risks associated with large language models (LLMs) and the challenges of training data. She discusses different approaches to improve the accuracy of LLMs and the ethical considerations of their use. Karin also highlights the issue of "ghost workers" in AI and the need for fair labor practices. She provides insights into the future of AI, the role of regulation, and the importance of using AI for good. Karin concludes with advice for those interested in AI and the importance of building diverse data teams.
Key Takeaways
Large language models (LLMs) have the potential to amplify existing societal problems and biases, making it crucial to address issues of fairness and equity in their development and deployment.
Training data for LLMs often contains biases and undesirable content, which can lead to inaccurate or biased outputs. Careful data curation and fine-tuning techniques are necessary to mitigate these risks.
The ethical use of AI requires ongoing monitoring, risk management, and a deep understanding of the impact on individuals and society. It is important to involve diverse stakeholders and subject matter experts in the development and regulation of AI systems.
Building a data team with diverse skill sets (rather than titles), including expertise in statistics, machine learning, engineering, linguistics, sociology, and domain knowledge, is essential for successful AI projects.
To use AI for good, it is crucial to understand the real needs of the target audience and the potential impact of AI systems. Collaboration, education, and a focus on specific use cases can help ensure positive outcomes.
References in the show:
Karin Golde's startup: https://www.westvalley.ai/
Ghost Work book: https://ghostwork.info/
The letter from Senator Markey to big tech companies regarding ghost work: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-rep-jayapal-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-from-ai-companies-on-use-of-underpaid-overworked-data-workers
"Mystery Hype Theater 3000" from the DAIR institute: https://peertube.dair-institute.org/
"Human-in-the-Loop Machine Learning" by Robert Monarch: https://www.manning.com/books/human-in-the-loop-machine-learning

Our host, Alec Crawford, interviews Ashok Manthena, CEO & Founder of ChatFin, and a Google and Gap alumni. Ashok founded Chatfin in April of 2023 to help CFOs and their teams automate their processes using AI, including natural language processing tools, similar to Chat GPT for finance!
They cover everything from Ashok’s MBA, to his roles at Con Edison, Google and the Gap, all the way to his new startup venture. See the recommended books, movies and links from the episode listed below!
 Books
Gandhi, Mahatma. (2020) The Story of My Experiments with Truth.
Movies
Gandhi (1982), starting Ben Kingsley
Interstellar (2014), starring Matthew McConaughey
Links
https://chatfin.ai