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. Sean White is currently the CEO of Inflection AI and is working on expanding the relationship of what AI can do for humans. Sean takes a humanist approach to new technology, and is interested in AI that can go beyond intelligence to learn empathy and take action. Sean's background is as wide-ranging as the conversation, where we discuss the influence of AI in everything from neuroscience to understanding animal languages. Plus, listen to a live test with Pi to demonstrate Pi's ability to handle a tough situation at work, with empathy. 

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

01:22 - Hellos and intros

3:20 - Microsoft and Inflection 

6:27 - The capabilities and influence of Inflection’s Pi 

11:02 - Pi in the workplace 

12:10 - Pi in action 

15:38 - AI isn’t a human; it is a tool 

16:11 - Pi’s IQ vs EQ 

17:46 - Pi’s AQ, or our ability to take action via AI 

18:51 - How our lives might change in the near future with Pi 

21:36 - How our skill sets will elevate 

22:28 - Neuroscience and AI 

25:22 - Owning your intelligence 

30:14 - The wonders of Earth Species Project 

34:05 - 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.