Business
chris kalaboukis
Welcome to thinkfuture, where host Chris Kalaboukis explores the bold ideas shaping tomorrow. From AI-driven creativity and personal growth to leadership in remote work, this podcast delves into the intersection of innovation, technology, and human connection. With visionary guests and thought-provoking conversations, thinkfuture helps listeners unlock new possibilities, challenge the status quo, and create the future they want to see. Tune in for fresh insights, actionable strategies, and unexpected inspiration. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
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16/10/2024

1030 INNOVATION? THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/ Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us Read more here: https://thinkfuture.com --- In this episode of "ThinkFuture," host Chris Kalaboukis chats with Mike Todasco, an innovation expert with a diverse background ranging from accounting at GE to leading innovation at PayPal. Mike shares his journey of shifting from traditional roles to exploring new technologies and the challenges of fostering innovation within large companies. Mike discusses how traditional corporate environments often struggle with separating outcomes from the actual work done. He and Chris explore how companies tend to scapegoat teams when projects fail, rather than acknowledging factors like timing and luck. They delve into examples of ideas that were ahead of their time, such as PayPal's "Beacon" hands-free payment system. Mike also reveals how he cultivated a culture of innovation at PayPal by creating an "innovation lab" with a unique environment to encourage employees to "think differently." He stresses the importance of allowing teams the freedom to explore without immediate constraints, fostering a space of creativity. Additionally, the conversation touches on AI and machine learning. Mike shares his fascination with AI, sparked in 2021 with the advent of GPT-3, and discusses AI's potential to revolutionize industries like healthcare. The discussion wraps up with thoughts on achieving "superintelligence" within the next decade, questioning how we keep moving the goalposts on what "superintelligence" truly means​( --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
35m
18/09/2024

1018 REVOLUTIONIZING WATER TREATMENT

Connect with Riggs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riggs/ Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Chris interviews Riggs Eckelberry, a 17-year "overnight success" with a unique career that spans from ship captain to tech CEO. Riggs discusses his company’s fascinating pivot from algae-based fuel production to wastewater treatment using electrolysis technology. When oil prices plummeted, the company adapted, turning its focus to extracting solids from wastewater—a challenging transition due to the water industry's resistance to change. Riggs highlights the game-changing concept of decentralized water treatment, targeting mobile home parks, housing developments, and businesses that are disconnected from municipal infrastructure. Instead of relying on slow-moving centralized water utilities, Riggs's company provides on-site solutions. What’s even more impressive? Their innovative "water as a service" model allows customers to use the equipment for free, only paying per gallon of treated water. Looking ahead, Riggs predicts that decentralized, privately financed water treatment systems will become the norm over the next decade as water infrastructure continues to degrade and scarcity worsens. His company’s mission is to be ready before major water crises emerge, turning a critical necessity into a highly profitable, scalable business. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
33m
17/09/2024

1017 SIRI, DO IT FOR ME!

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Chris digs deep into the limitations of current AI assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. He argues that despite all the advancements in AI technology, these assistants are still incredibly reactive rather than proactive. Imagine a world where your AI knows your schedule, predicts your needs, and helps you manage your day without being told what to do—Chris thinks this is where AI should be heading. He shares a personal example: while driving to pick up his son from school, Google Maps knows he's running late. It knows his routine, but it doesn't automatically text his son to inform him of the delay. Chris believes that the technology already exists for such proactivity but is being held back, likely because tech companies are cautious about revealing how much data they have on us. He challenges the audience to imagine AI that can not only notify us of deliveries but also manage our day seamlessly, adding real value to our lives. Chris also dives into the potential fears people have about such proactive AI, from privacy concerns to inappropriate interruptions. However, he contends that context-aware AI—AI that can recognize when you're in a meeting and act accordingly—would solve many of these problems. He leaves the audience with a question: Are you ready for an AI that does more than just react? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
9m
13/09/2024

1014 THE POWER OF CONVERSATIONAL AI

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this podcast episode, Chris delves into the essence of conversational AI and why platforms like ChatGPT feel so intuitive and human. Chris explains that the brilliance of generative AI lies in its conversational interface, which mimics how humans naturally communicate. This interface taps into an innate skill that everyone possesses—the ability to hold a conversation. By using chat as the primary mode of interaction, these AI systems make it easy for users to engage without extensive training. He goes on to explain how interacting with chatbots feels like communicating with "the sum total of humanity." While these systems aren't truly human, they pull from a vast database of human-generated content to craft their responses. As a result, users often feel like they're talking to another person, and this human-like interaction has allowed AI to "pass" the Turing test—a benchmark in computer science for determining whether a machine can convincingly imitate human behavior. Chris also touches on the current limitations of AI, stressing that while today's generative AI is impressive, we are still far from achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). For now, AI should be embraced as a powerful tool to enhance our lives, rather than something to fear. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
9m
27/08/2024

1011 WHY AI COMPANIONS? MAYBE HUMANS SUCK.

In this episode, Chris dives into the controversial and thought-provoking topic of AI companions—AI boyfriends, girlfriends, and friends—discussing the growing trend and public reactions surrounding them. He questions why AI companions are often seen as a terrible thing, drawing parallels to past phenomena, such as people forming emotional bonds with anime characters. Chris argues that the popularity of AI companions reflects a deeper issue within human society: the increasing difficulty of forming meaningful relationships with other humans. Chris suggests that the rise of AI companions isn't driven by a desire to be with a machine, but rather by the lack of appealing human connections. He points out that many people today are not as kind, empathetic, or attractive in their behavior, leading others to seek companionship in AI, which is designed to be compliant and fulfilling. He critiques modern society for fostering a culture where anonymity and the lack of accountability online have diminished the quality of human interactions, making AI companions a more attractive option for some. Ultimately, Chris emphasizes that if people were kinder, more caring, and less self-centered, there would be less of a need for AI companions. He encourages listeners to reflect on how we interact with each other and to strive to become better human beings, so that we do not drive ourselves further into the arms of artificial companionship. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
7m
21/08/2024

1009 AI IN TRAVEL PLANNING

In this episode, Chris interviews Michelle, the Chief Marketing Officer of MindTrip, a new AI-powered travel platform designed to transform the travel planning experience. Michelle shares her extensive background as a startup executive and advisor, as well as insights from her upcoming book, "Grow Up: Take Your Startup to the Next Level," which focuses on helping founders scale their businesses. Michelle explains that MindTrip was created to address the fragmentation and inefficiency in current online travel planning tools. By leveraging AI and generative technology, the platform aims to provide users with a seamless, personalized, and collaborative experience, eliminating the hassle of jumping between multiple websites and apps to plan a trip. Michelle's book, "Grow Up," focuses on the psychology and essential skills needed for founders to scale their startups successfully. She explores the different "superpowers" and blind spots that founders often possess and emphasizes the importance of building a balanced team to address these challenges. Chris and Michelle discuss the potential future of AI-powered personal assistants, including their integration into everyday tasks like travel planning and health management. They explore the balance between AI automation and human involvement, considering how these technologies could further enhance our daily lives. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
30m
22/07/2024

1006 TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN BETTERMENT

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Chris delves into the core purpose of technology, which is to alleviate human burdens and enhance life quality. He laments how technology is often misused for profit rather than for the betterment of humanity, highlighting that the original intent behind technological advancements was to improve our lives. Chris discusses the accessibility of generative AI, praising its chat-based interface, which mirrors natural human conversation. This design choice makes powerful AI tools approachable even for those who aren't tech-savvy. He contrasts this with traditional tech, which often required technical expertise to use effectively. An example he gives is the difficulty many people face when setting up smart light bulbs, underscoring the complexity that typically accompanies technological innovations. Generative AI democratizes access to creative tools, allowing anyone to bring their ideas to life. While there are concerns about AI displacing jobs and generating low-quality content, Chris argues that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. AI can empower individuals to realize creative ideas that were previously out of reach, thereby fostering innovation and creativity on a broader scale. Chris concludes by urging listeners to view technology, especially generative AI, as a means to enhance human creativity and connection, rather than merely a tool for profit. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
10m
18/07/2024

1005 ATTENTION, PLEASE!!!

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In today's episode, Chris delves into the concept of the attention-based economy, highlighting how attention has become the primary currency in our digital age. He emphasizes that while attention is not the only value, it has become the initial value—essentially the "table stakes" for any engagement or relationship, whether personal or commercial. Chris discusses how traditional drivers of engagement, like quality and customer service, have taken a backseat to the pursuit of attention. In today's social media-driven environment, gaining attention is crucial because being invisible means being irrelevant. This has led to increasingly outrageous behavior as individuals and companies compete for visibility. Drawing on examples from science fiction, Chris warns of the potential for extreme measures to capture attention, likening it to dystopian scenarios where sports and entertainment turn into blood sports. He questions the impact of this trend on humanity, pondering whether it makes us more or less human when we need to constantly shout to be heard. Chris criticizes tech companies for not doing enough to facilitate meaningful connections despite their vast data on user preferences and behaviors. He suggests that instead of focusing solely on profit through ad sales, tech companies could use their capabilities to connect people in ways that enhance humanity. He concludes by encouraging listeners to think about how we can use technology to foster genuine connections and improve the human experience, rather than just seeking attention. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
8m
17/07/2024

1004 THE SCIENCE BEHIND FOOD PERCEPTION

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Chris interviews Carolyn Ross, a professor at Washington State University specializing in food science. With a background in food chemistry and sensory evaluation, Carolyn's work focuses on how people perceive food differently compared to instrumental measurements. Initially aiming to become a dietitian, she shifted her focus to food science, where she now explores the sensory experiences of different populations, including older adults and children with Down Syndrome. Carolyn discusses the use of advanced tools like the electronic tongue, which provides a comprehensive response to food samples, measuring aroma compounds and texture profiles. These instruments help bridge the gap between human sensory perception and objective data, aiding in the development of better food products and quality control measures. One of Carolyn's surprising findings is the consistency in how people perceive food, despite the myriad factors influencing individual preferences. Nostalgia and psychological associations significantly impact these perceptions, highlighting the complex interplay between sensory experiences and memories. In addition to enhancing food product development, these instruments are valuable in detecting off-flavors and quality issues early, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, where masking bitterness in medications is crucial. Looking ahead, Carolyn envisions more sophisticated models and data analysis methods that incorporate variables from the entire supply chain. Personalizing sensory experiences to account for individual differences remains a goal, though replicating the full complexity of human taste and smell continues to be a significant challenge. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
35m
16/07/2024

1003 HOMONEXIS: THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN JUDGMENT

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Chris introduces the concept of "Homonexis," or "connected man," drawing parallels to the Borg from Star Trek. He discusses how, unlike Homo sapiens who pride themselves on individual decision-making, Homonexis relies heavily on collective input from social networks for making decisions. This shift reflects our current reality where people often seek validation and guidance from their online connections. Chris shares his innovative startup idea for a fashion app called "Does This Go?" where users can get instant feedback on their outfits from their social network. This app epitomizes how we've outsourced our judgment to the crowd, allowing collective input to guide personal choices. He poses philosophical questions about whether this trend makes us better or lesser human beings and emphasizes the importance of retaining individual decision-making power while leveraging collective wisdom. Drawing on the Star Trek analogy, Chris advocates for a balanced approach: taking input from our social networks but ultimately making our own decisions. He concludes by encouraging listeners to reflect on their use of social networks for decision-making and to ensure they maintain personal responsibility and judgment. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
9m
11/07/2024

1002 H2M: MAN AND MACHINE

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In today's episode, Chris introduces the concept of H2M, which stands for Human-Human-Machine. Drawing a parallel to H2O (water), Chris explains that H2M is the combination of two "atoms" of humanity and one "atom" of machine. This represents the synergy between human creativity, the collective knowledge embedded in large language models, and the capabilities of AI. Chris breaks down the components of H2M: the first human atom is the creator or user who provides the prompts and initial input; the machine atom is the AI that processes and generates content; and the second human atom represents the vast repository of human-generated content within the AI's database. This combination enhances our creative output, making it a product of augmented humanity rather than pure machine output. He emphasizes that this collaboration with AI, using generative models, integrates humanity's collective knowledge, resulting in a new form of creation that surpasses traditional man-machine interactions. Chris highlights the ongoing integration of technology in our lives and how generative AI enriches this relationship by leveraging human creativity on a larger scale. Chris concludes by reflecting on the transformative potential of H2M, viewing it as a step towards a more advanced, interconnected future where human ingenuity is amplified through AI. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
8m
26/06/2024

997 EXPLORING THE FUTURE WITH AWARD-WINNING SCI-FI AUTHOR MICHAEL BLAND

Visit Michaels Site: https://mcbland.com Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Like this? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://thinkfuture.com Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, Michael Bland introduces himself as an award-winning science fiction author who has published the first two books in a trilogy, with the third book on the way. Inspired by his father's love of astrophysics and his own passion for sci-fi, Bland's novels explore a future 25 years ahead, where technology is deeply woven into daily life, ensuring no crime goes unsolved. However, the protagonist uncovers the dark side of this tech—surveillance and control of the population, raising critical questions about privacy. Bland discusses the impact of social media and shortened attention spans on the publishing industry, emphasizing the need for engaging, fast-paced stories with cliffhangers to retain readers' interest. He expresses concerns about AI-generated content being passed off as original work but acknowledges AI's potential as a research tool and for tasks like summarization, while maintaining that the human creative process is essential in storytelling. The conversation also touches on the changing landscape of fiction, with the rise of formats like flash fiction and serialized novels. Despite these trends, Bland remains optimistic about the enduring appeal of traditional novels for immersive storytelling. He concludes by inviting listeners to connect with him and learn more about his work through his website, https://mcbland.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
35m
20/06/2024

993 POMODORO FOR EXPANDING ATTENTION

Be A Better YOU with AI: Join The Community: https://10xyou.us Like this? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://thinkfuture.com Get AIDAILY every weekday. Subscribe at https://aidaily.us --- In this episode, we explore the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that uses a 25-minute timer to help individuals focus on deep work. Chris discussed how this technique can break up long work sessions into manageable intervals, allowing for necessary breaks and preventing burnout. Originally inspired by a tomato-shaped timer, the Pomodoro Technique encourages 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break, promoting sustained productivity. Nick Harper's recent blog post on 10XU highlighted the benefits of this approach, especially in a world where our attention spans are rapidly shrinking. Ursula suggests that, in addition to breaking up long work periods, the Pomodoro Technique could also be used to gradually expand our attention spans. By starting with shorter focus sessions and gradually increasing them, we can combat the negative effects of constant short-form content consumption. The episode emphasizes the importance of patience and consistent effort over time, whether it's for building habits, achieving goals, or simply maintaining mental health. Chris encourages listeners to try longer-form content, like reading books, to further enhance their attention spans. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinkfuture/support
7m