Sean White on Inflection and AI frontiers
How will an empathetic AI interact with humans? What if we used AI not just for its IQ, but its EQ? How do we build the trust to enable it to take agency on our behalf?
This week, Reid and Aria sit down with an expert and friend, Sean White, to start answering those questions. As CEO of Inflection AI, Sean is working on expanding the relationship of what AI can do for humans. He joins the show to discuss humanist approaches to technology—and what it takes to make empathetic AIs like Pi. Sean's background is as wide-ranging as the conversation, which covers the influence of AI in everything from decoding neuroscience to understanding animal languages. Plus, Pi joins to demo its ability to handle a difficult workplace situation—with empathy.
Read the transcript of this episode here: https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/swhite
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
0:00 - Hellos and intros
0:23 - Microsoft and Inflection
5:15 - The capabilities and influence of Inflection’s Pi
7:49 - Pi in the workplace
8:19 - Pi in action
11:36 - AI isn’t a human; it is a tool
12:40 - Pi’s IQ vs EQ
14:15 - Pi’s AQ, or our ability to take action via AI
15:19 - How our lives might change in the near future with Pi
18:04 - How our skill sets will elevate
18:51 - Neuroscience and AI
21:42 - Owning your intelligence
26:32 - The wonders of Earth Species Project
30:23 - Rapid-fire questions
Select mentions:
Inflection: https://inflection.ai/
Spruce art collective
Dr. Eddie Chang, Chang Lab, UCSF
Familiarity by the Punch Brothers
Dr. Hirokazu Kato, Nara Institute of Science and 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.
