Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson

• AGI Is Here: AI Legend Peter Norvig on Why it Doesn't Matter Anymore

  Are we chasing the wrong goal with Artificial General Intelligence, and missing the breakthroughs that matter nowOn this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former research director at Google and AI legend, Peter Norvig.Peter is an American computer scientist and a Distinguished Education Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). He is also a researcher at Google, where he previously served as Director of Research and led the company’s core search algorithms group. Before joining Google, Norvig headed NASA Ames Research Center’s Computational Sciences Division, where he served as NASA’s senior computer scientist and received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Award in 2001.He is best known as the co-author, alongside Stuart J. Russell, of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach — the world’s most widely used textbook in the field of artificial intelligence.Peter sits down with Geoff to separate facts from fiction about where AI is really headed. He explains why the hype around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) misses the point, how today’s models are already “general,” and what truly matters most: making AI safer, more reliable, and human-centered. He discusses the rapid evolution of generative models, the risks of misinformation, AI safety, open-source regulation, and the balance between democratizing AI and containing powerful systems. This conversation explores the impact of AI on jobs, education, cybersecurity, and global inequality, and how organizations can adapt, not by chasing hype, but by aligning AI to business and societal goals. If you want to understand where AI actually stands, beyond the headlines, this is the conversation you need to hear. In this episode:00:00 Intro01:00 How AI evolved since Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach03:00 Is AGI already here? Norvig’s take on general intelligence06:00 The surprising progress in large language models08:00 Evolution vs. revolution10:00 Making AI safer and more reliable12:00 Lessons from social media and unintended consequences15:00 The real AI risks: misinformation and misuse18:00 Inside Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute20:00 Regulation, policy, and the role of government22:00 Why AI may need an Underwriters Laboratory moment24:00 Will there be one “winner” in the AI race?26:00 The open-source dilemma: freedom vs. safety28:00 Can AI improve cybersecurity more than it harms it?30:00 “Teach Yourself Programming in 10 Years” in the AI age33:00 The speed paradox: learning vs. automation36:00 How AI might (finally) change productivity38:00 Global economics, China, and leapfrog technologies42:00 The job market: faster disruption and inequality45:00 The social safety net and future of full-time work48:00 Winners, losers, and redistributing value in the AI era50:00 How CEOs should really approach AI strategy52:00 Why hiring a “PhD in AI” isn’t the answer54:00 The democratization of AI for small businesses56:00 The future of IT and enterprise functions57:00 Advice for staying relevant as a technologist59:00 A realistic optimism for AI’s futureConnect with Peter:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnorvig/Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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• Why AI is Failing: Ex-Google Chief Cassie Kozyrkov Debunks "AI-first"

  Is “AI-first” the future of business or just another tech buzzword?On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former Google Chief Decision Scientist and CEO of Kozyr, Cassie Kozyrkov.Cassie is best known for founding the field of Decision Intelligence and serving as Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, where she helped lead the company’s AI-first transformation. A sought-after advisor and keynote speaker, Cassie has guided organizations including Gucci, NASA, Meta, Spotify, Salesforce, and GSK on AI strategy. She combines deep technical expertise with theater-trained charisma to make complex concepts engaging and actionable for executive and general audiences alike delighting audiences in over 40 countries across all seven continents, including stages at the UN, WEF, Web Summit, and SXSW.Cassie sits down with Geoff to unpack the hidden cost of the “AI-first” hype, the dangers of AI infrastructure debt, and why real AI readiness starts with people, not technology. She reveals how leaders can architect their organizations for innovation, build human-in-the-loop systems, and create cultures that embrace experimentation instead of fearing mistakes.Cassie exposes why 95% of organizations fail to achieve measurable ROI from AI and how leaders can finally bridge the AI value gap. This conversation dives into why AI success isn’t about tools, it’s about leadership, measurement, and mindset.Most organizations chasing “AI transformation” see no measurable ROI not because the technology fails, but because leaders are still measuring value the old way. Generative AI success is hard to quantify when there isn’t a single “right answer,” yet many businesses keep trying to apply outdated metrics to a completely new paradigm.In this video:00:00 Intro00:44 The Generative AI Value Gap: Why 95% get no ROI02:20 The paradox of AI productivity05:38 Why measuring AI value is harder than we think12:04 Leadership abdication: “Just sprinkle AI on everything”15:10 AI infrastructure debt explained20:17 What real AI readiness looks like (beyond tech)23:42 Humans as part of AI infrastructure28:00 Why “AI-first” isn’t one-size-fits-all33:31 Building human judgment into AI systems36:19 The risks of scaling too fast41:34 Automation vs augmentation: where leaders go wrong44:00 The “do the work” approach to AI success48:35 The recipe for an AI-ready organization53:40 Guardrails, governance, and security in AI systems57:00 Thinking probabilistically: a new mindset for leaders1:03:20 The human side of AI transformation1:06:45 Leading through uncertaintyConnect with Cassie:Website: https://www.kozyr.com/aboutLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kozyrkov/X: https://x.com/decisionleaderYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KozyrkovVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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• How AI-Ready Leaders Will Replace You: Erik Qualman Explains

  Why is adaptability the real superpower for leaders in the digital age?On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Erik Qualman, a digital leadership expert, best-selling author, and motivational speaker.Erik is a 5x #1 Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker who has inspired audiences in over 55 countries and reached 50 million people. Voted the #2 Most Likeable Author in the World behind J.K. Rowling, his work Socialnomics has been featured on 60 Minutes, in The Wall Street Journal, and used by organizations from the National Guard to NASA. A professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University, Qualman’s research and courses are studied at 500+ universities worldwide. Through his animation studio, he has partnered with brands like Disney, Oreo, Chase, and Cartier. A former MIT and Harvard edX professor and honorary doctorate recipient, Qualman is also the creator of the bestselling board game Kittycorn.Erik joins Geoff Nielson to break down what it really means to be AI-ready. He reveals why the leaders who know how to leverage AI and adapt fast will replace those who don’t. He explains why AI is overhyped in the short term but underhyped in the long term, and how the most successful leaders of the next decade will blend Flintstones-level human connection with Jetsons-era innovation. Erik explains why adaptability and emotional intelligence (EQ) are the new competitive edge in the age of artificial intelligence. This conversation explores how AI can remove friction, save time, and ironically help us become more human, while also exploring the guardrails needed for responsible tech adoption. Erik also shares lessons from advising some of the world’s top brands including Facebook, Disney, and Sony and explains why the future favors those who fail fast, fail forward, and fail better.In this video:00:00 Intro02:00 The “Flintstones First” approach to digital leadership04:40 How AI helps us become more human06:15 Winners, losers, and adaptability in the AI era08:30 Emotional intelligence and leadership in a tech-driven world11:00 The need for guardrails in AI and social media13:00 Teaching AI and digital leadership at Northwestern15:00 How technology is transforming the classroom17:45 The 70/30 rule: what changes vs. what never will19:00 Core advice for leaders and digital innovators21:30 Avoiding hype: testing new tech like AI and Clubhouse23:00 Lessons from Montblanc and the origins of “Digital Leadership”25:00 The Disney+ story: digital transformation done right27:00 Building a culture of “fail fast, fail forward, fail better”30:00 Balancing the Flintstones and the JetsonsConnect with Erik:Website: https://equalman.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qualman/X: https://x.com/equalmanYouTube: @equalmanVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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• The AI Market Must Crash: Ed Zitron on Why the Bubble Will Burst

  Could AI’s biggest impact be economic, not technological?On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by the founder of EZPR and host of Better Offline podcast, Ed Zitron.Ed is a technology writer, public relations expert, and podcaster known for his critical takes on the tech industry and its biggest players. His work has appeared in leading outlets including The Atlantic, Business Insider, and TechCrunch. He is the author of the popular newsletter Where’s Your Ed At, launched in 2020, where he explores the intersection of technology, business, and culture. Ed also hosts the Better Offline podcast, delving into the realities of the tech industry and the ripple effects of the AI boom. With his candid insights and thoughtful commentary, Ed has become a trusted voice and sought-after speaker within the tech community. One of the most outspoken critics of the AI boom, Ed Zitron joins Geoff to cut through the noise and talk about the truth behind generative AI. Ed breaks down why he believes AI “doesn’t work,” what’s really driving the trillion-dollar hype, and why big tech, media, and investors may be steering straight into the next Enron moment. This conversation unpacks why large language models fall short, how Microsoft’s AI Copilot has failed to deliver, and how corporate opportunism and investor “vibes” are fueling one of the biggest speculative bubbles in tech history. They also explore the “Enron-like” risks in the AI hardware race, the potential fallout for retail investors and startups, and tackle one of tech’s most misunderstood narratives, the myth of AI-driven job loss, revealing who’s really being replaced. In this episode:00:00 Intro00:36 “AI doesn’t work”02:05 The limits of LLMs 04:33 Microsoft Copilot and the illusion of productivity07:05 The AI job myth: Who’s really being replaced?10:00 CEOs, opportunism, and the false narrative of AI efficiency12:00 The Salesforce example: Lies, hype, and failure to deliver14:00 What AI can actually do 18:00 The trust problem19:45 Media complacency and tech industry collusion22:00 Microsoft, Nvidia, and false growth25:00 The Enron parallels28:30 Why investors are rewarding bad behavior31:00 Who gets hurt when the AI bubble bursts? 35:00 Unsustainable startups and rising model costs38:00 The coming collapse of AI infrastructure40:00 What business leaders should do now to avoid being burned44:30 The harsh truth about ChatGPT49:00 What real innovation looks like: Batteries, EVs, AR, and more54:00 The future of work beyond AI hypeConnect with Ed:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edzitron/X: https://x.com/edzitronInstagram: instagram.com/edzitronVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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• Godfather of AGI on Why Big Tech Innovation is Over

  Is the AI arms race between tech giants and nations pushing us toward a dangerous future?On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by the founder of SingularityNET and the pioneering mind behind the term Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Dr. Ben Goertzel.Dr. Ben Goertzel is a leading figure in artificial intelligence, robotics, and computational finance. Holding a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Temple University, he has been a pioneer in advancing both the theory and practical applications of AI, particularly in the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI) a term he helped popularize. He currently leads the SingularityNET Foundation, TrueAGI, the OpenCog Foundation, and the AGI Society, and has organized the Artificial General Intelligence Conference for over fifteen years. A co-founder and principal architect of OpenCog, an open-source project to build human-level AI, Dr. Goertzel’s work reflects a singular mission: to develop benevolent AGI that advances humanity’s collective good. Dr. Goertzel sits down with Geoff to share his insights on the accelerating progress toward AGI, what it truly means, and how it could reshape human life, work, and consciousness. He discusses the role of Big Tech in shaping AI’s direction and how corporate incentives, and commercialization are both driving innovation and limiting true AGI research. From DeepMind and OpenAI to decentralized AI networks, Dr. Goertzel reveals where the real breakthroughs might happen. The conversation also explores the ethics of AI, the dangers of fake democratization and false compassion, and why humanity must shape AI’s evolution with empathy and awareness.In this episode:00:00 Intro00:21 What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?01:10 The pace of AI progress and the hype cycle05:44 The path from human-level AGI to superintelligence09:20 How close are we to AGI? 13:08 Transformer vs. multi-agent systems14:05 Which AI labs might strike AGI gold? (DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic)17:07 Big Tech’s innovator’s dilemma and why true AGI may come elsewhere20:20 Predictive coding22:59 Why Big Tech resists new AI training paradigms29:16 Imagining life after AGI: optimism, transhumanism, and choice33:29 Navigating the transition from AGI to ASI37:55 Decentralized vs. centralized control of AGI43:20 Who (or what) will be in control47:19 Risks of power concentration in early AGI development51:01 Who should own and guide AGI?53:06 Why we need participatory governance for intelligent systems54:47 The danger of fake compassion and false democratization1:00:50 Finding meaning in the age of intelligent machines1:04:13 How AGI could help humanity focus on inner growth1:07:20 – Learning how to learn: the last human advantageConnect with Dr. Goertzel:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengoertzel/X: https://x.com/bengoertzelVisit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

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