The Next Industrial Revolution is Already Here
Digital Disruption is where industry leaders and experts share insights on leveraging technology to build the organizations of the future.
As intelligent technologies reshape our lives and our livelihoods, we speak with the thinkers, the doers and innovators who will help us predict and harness this disruption. Join us as we explore how to adapt to and harness digital transformation.
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Taryn Southern: How AI Is Unlocking Human Creativity
Monday, February 24, 2025 • Duration 43:34
Which emerging technologies are most likely to collide – and what does this mean for the future?
Today on Digital Disruption, we are joined by Creative Technologist Taryn Southern, a pioneering storyteller known for her work at the intersection of emerging technology, creativity, and human potential.
Taryn’s journey with AI began in 2017 with a groundbreaking creative experiment—to compose an entire music album using artificial intelligence. The result, I AM AI, became one of the first AI-assisted pop albums and reached the Top 100 on the U.S. Radio Charts in 2018.
Taryn sits down with Geoff Nielson to reveal the overlooked, hair-raising technologies shaping our future—and why she’s optimistic about AI as a force for good.
What we talk about:
0:00 Intro
1:48 Hair-raising moments
3:08 Predictions
4:43 AI taking over creative tasks
9:09 Is using an AI tool more challenging than just doing it yourself?
11:35 Any one person can be a merchant
13:50 These organizations need to be on their toes
15:08 What role do major tech companies play
17:24 The algorithms
19:00 Trusting the tech companies
19:48 Where is this going
24:28 Impact on individual and collective well-being
26:06 What is the state of Neurotechnology
30:54 Brain computer interface and mass adoption
32:00 The scope of creativity is unlimited with BCI
33:32 Hair-raising moments
35:13 Will we lose a lot of human connection with AI?
36: 44 Your perfect reality
38:35 A better path to success
39:36 AI therapists?
Connect with Taryn:
Website: https://tarynsouthern.com/Instagram:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarynsouthern
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TarynSouthern
Follow us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oKIgSAFcAkI
Former OpenAI Lead Zack Kass: How AI Will Change Society Forever
Monday, March 3, 2025 • Duration 56:27
Are we on the verge of the most profound industrial revolution in human history?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Zack Kass, an AI futurist and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI. As a leading expert in applied AI, he harnesses its capabilities to develop business strategies and applications that enhance human potential.
Zack has been at the forefront of AI and played a key role in early efforts at commercializing AI and large language models, channeling OpenAI’s innovative research into tangible business solutions. Today, Zack is dedicated to guiding businesses, nonprofits, and governments through the fast-changing AI landscape. His expertise has been highlighted in leading publications, including Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.
Zack sits down with Geoff Nielson to give the inside scoop on the future of AI and the broader impact of digital disruption. They discuss the future of work, how organizations need to respond to survive, and the human skills that will become increasingly valued. Zack describes this transformation as the next Renaissance.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:44 The next Renaissance
1:47 First major expansion of human potential
2:58 The way we understand the universe is changing
4:31 Supercharging the experts
6:12 We will see the biggest changes in the next 50 to 100 years
7:42 Human social structure is potentially disruptive
10:03: Conflict
12:04 Facing the new normal
14:12: Future conflict between people and the state
15:15 The future of work is changing
23:06 Who are the new competitors?
25:35 AI on your device
Chief AI Architect at NYU Conor Grennan: How to Adopt AI Without Causing Chaos
Monday, March 10, 2025 • Duration 49:56
Is adopting AI more about behavior than technology?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern School of Business and a best-selling author.
At NYU Stern School of Business, Conor builds generative AI fluency across the institution. He is also CEO and Founder of AI Mindset, an AI consulting company that trains professionals, leaders and organizations on a new and effective framework for generative AI. Conor has worked with teams across industry, including OpenAI, McKinsey, NASA, Google, Amazon, and many more.
Conor sits down with Geoff to share his unconventional takes on successful change management in AI adoption. They discuss why integrating AI isn’t just about implementing new tools, it’s about changing behaviors, training senior leadership, adapting talent strategies, and redefining productivity.
He explains that AI adoption rates are low because AI itself doesn’t teach new skills but rather requires a change in behavior. Simply instructing employees to use AI isn’t enough; organizations need to recognize and address the psychological resistance to change.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:21 The importance of AI adoption and change management
0:38 AI is not like normal technology
1:55 AI doesn’t require you to learn anything
3:05 Use cases don’t really work
5:22 Organizational use of AI for managers and leaders
7:12 Train senior leaders first
9:33 Do we need to separate the AI from the person?
10:03 Laws and limitations
12:33 Helping organizations understand AI
14:44 Who is going to win
17:49 Use AI as a tool to attract the best talent
AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Work: Futurist Ian Beacraft Explains Why Jobs are Dead
Monday, April 14, 2025 • Duration 01:07:08
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Ian Beacraft, Chief Futurist and Founder of Signal and Cipher.
He is one of the leading voices in AI and the future of work. As Chief Futurist and Founder of Signal and Cipher, Ian helps organizations become AI-ready through strategic workforce transformation, training, and innovation. Ian has advised top global brands including Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and Nike. A former agency executive, he now pioneers immersive presentations that bring AI and extended reality to life. Ian is also the co-owner of a production studio designing virtual worlds and the first person ever to host a news segment as a synthetic human, streaming to over 100 million devices around the world. A classically trained musician and passionate educator, he champions the responsible, creative use of emerging technologies—and remains an optimist about the future of humanity in a tech-driven world.
Ian sits down with Geoff Nielson to unpack the real impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. They discuss why outdated leadership mindsets are more harmful than AI itself, how organizations must evolve beyond rigid roles and job descriptions, and why the future of work is less about replacing people and more about reshaping how we define value, productivity, and collaboration. Ian explains that it’s not about eliminating jobs, but about eliminating the artificial boundaries that confine people to specific roles within an organization.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:45 The real threat is not AI, but outdated leadership
2:15 The era of unending exponential growth
4:30 AI is changing the definition of work
8:15 Where leaders should begin with AI
12:35 Using AI tools to align leadership team
15:30 What AI really needs to succeed
17:00 The loss of job descriptions
19:02 The shift in career thinking
AI Expert Dr. Michael Littman: This is Why Everything You Know About AI is Wrong
Monday, April 7, 2025 • Duration 58:28
What if everything you thought you knew about AI was wrong?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Littman, Division Director for Information and Intelligent Systems at the National Science Foundation.
The Information and Intelligent Systems division is home to the programs and program officers that support researchers in artificial intelligence, human-centered computing, data management, and assistive technologies, as well as those exploring the impact of intelligent information systems on society. He is also University Professor of Computer Science at Brown University, where he studies machine learning and decision-making under uncertainty. He has earned multiple university-level awards for teaching and his research has been recognized with three best-paper awards and three influential paper awards. Littman is a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the Association for Computing Machinery. Summer of 2025, he will become Brown University's inaugural Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Michael Littman sits down with Geoff Nielson to explore the misconceptions about AI, its real-world applications, and what the future holds. Dr. Littman challenges common fears about AI replacing humans, emphasizing the importance of human-AI collaboration rather than competition. He talks about ethical considerations, the evolution of AI decision-making, and the balance between automation and human oversight. They unpack what is next in the world of artificial intelligence and why understanding the technology's limitations is just as important as embracing its potential.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:50 How AI technology has evolved
3:24 Is the public ready for AI
6:30 Sci-fi view of AI
7:46 The underlying fear
12:40 Society is adaptive
16:00 This current round of AI gives us new tools
20:15 New era of computer science
Dan Pink: What Society Gets Wrong About Work
Monday, March 31, 2025 • Duration 25:11
The future of work is changing, and organizations will need to rethink what an “office” truly means.
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Daniel Pink, New York Times best-selling author and workplace expert.
Daniel Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. His other books include the New York Times bestsellers When and A Whole New Mind — as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human. Dan’s books have won multiple awards, have been translated into 46 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world.
Daniel sat down with Geoff at Info-Tech LIVE 2024 in Las Vegas for an insightful conversation about the future of work — what’s next, what to expect, and where it’s all headed. Daniel shares his perspectives on the evolving world of work and the challenges leaders face in navigating uncertainty. He talks about the importance of experimenting with new approaches and discovering meaningful work. Dan challenges the notion that anyone has all the answers about the future of work and instead encourages leaders to try, learn, and adapt.
Interested in attending Info-Tech LIVE this year? We’re back in Vegas this June 10 - 12, and tickets are still available! Check the link to learn more. https://www.infotech.com/events/las-vegas-live-june-10-12-2025
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Info-Tech LIVE 2025
1:51 Time of uncertainty
2:20: Fundamental questions about work and the ‘office’
5:32: The importance of making progress
5:52: Uncomfortable behaviors as leaders
7:45 Burnout
10:50 Entering a world of permanent hybrid
14:41: The power of regret
Tech Start-Up Founder Is Treating Alzheimer’s with AI
Monday, March 24, 2025 • Duration 50:39
Will AI be able to reconstruct lost memories?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Pau Aleikum Garcia, media designer and founder of Domestic Data Streamers.
Pau is a media designer and the founder of Domestic Data Streamers, a Barcelona-based studio that has been creating immersive “info-experiences” and generative AI projects since 2013. His work spans over 45 countries, collaborating with institutions like the United Nations, Barcelona City Hall, and Citizen Lab. Pau is the chair of the Master in Data in Design program at ELISAVA University and is a guest lecturer at institutions including the School of Visual Arts (NY), the Hong Kong Design Institute, the Royal College of Art (London), and the Barcelona School of Economics. In 2021, he founded HeyHuman!, an artist residency program that merges music, journalism, and data to drive artistic research and social justice.
Pau sits down with Geoff to talk about how his organization is unlocking some of the most human experiences through synthetic memories. This initiative uses generative AI to recreate lost visual memories, particularly for refugees, migrants, and those affected by war or displacement.
They explain how AI is not just shaping the future but also helping to reclaim the past, as well as the conversation that led to the creation of this technology. They also discuss ethical considerations of working with vulnerable communities. The project is also being explored in dementia care, where AI-generated memories are being tested as a tool for reminiscence therapy.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:52 What are synthetic memories?
2:18 The making of Domestic Data Steamers
3:39 Why images and physical spaces matter for cultural identity
5:00 Dystopian, futuristic idea
8:33 Working with migrant communities
9:47 Where this technology is being deployed
12:11 Low-cost and accessible technology
CEO of Liquid AI Ramin Hasani Says a Worm is Changing the Future of AI
Monday, March 17, 2025 • Duration 57:03
A new era of intelligent technology is here.
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Ramin Hasani, co-founder and CEO of Liquid AI and a machine learning Scientist.
Ramin Hasani is the co-founder and CEO of Liquid AI and a machine learning scientist at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). Previously, he was a Principal AI & ML Scientist at Vanguard and a Research Affiliate at MIT. His work focuses on robust deep learning and decision-making in complex dynamical systems. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Vienna University of Technology, with his research on Liquid Neural Networks receiving global recognition with numerous nominations and awards such as TÜV Austria Dissertation Award nomination in 2020, and HPC Innovation Excellence Award in 2022. Ramin is also a frequent TEDx speaker.
Ramin sits down with Geoff to share his new and unique approach to AI, inspired by biological and physical systems that could redefine how businesses use machine learning.
Ramin shares insights from biology, specifically the neural structures of simple organisms that have led to the development of Liquid Neural Networks (LNNs). Unlike traditional neural networks, LNNs use differential equations to model dynamic decision-making processes, making them more adaptable for real-world applications. They discuss the advantages of these approaches and the scaling of these models. They also talk about the future of AI and how it may not just be about bigger models but smarter, biologically inspired intelligence capable of transforming how we interact with technology today and into the future.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:38 The story of Liquid AI technology
6:13 Transparent worm vs. traditional neural networks
14:15 Liquid AI’s mission to build powerful AI systems
18:12 Liquid AI will help you to develop the best kind ofmodels
20:03 Compelling use cases
22:12 Agentic behavior
The 6 Technologies That Will Define the Future with AI Futurist Steve Brown
Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 56:46
If you're not ready for the speed of change — you're already behind.
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Steve Brown, a leading voice in the field of artificial intelligence and a former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel.
Steve has delivered hundreds of engaging keynotes and AI innovation workshops across five continents. With over 25 years of experience in AI and emerging technologies, Steve helps organizations build winning strategies that drive innovation, boost productivity, and fuel growth. He has advised leading brands including Nike, JP Morgan, Samsung, Comcast, Audi, Bank of America, PepsiCo, and Disney. Steve is the co-founder of The Provenance Chain Network, a BCG Luminary, and an advisor to multiple AI startups. He has been featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. His book, The Innovation Ultimatum, explores how six strategic technologies will reshape every business in the 2020s. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Micro-Electronic Systems Engineering from Manchester University and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Steve sits down with Geoff Nielson to explore how AI, robotics, and automation are reshaping business, education, and the future of work. Steve reflects on the six emerging technologies he forecasted in The Innovation Ultimatum, where he got it right, and what surprised him — from the power of process orchestration and the quiet rise of blockchain, to the next potential “ChatGPT moment.” Steve also shares a preview of his upcoming book, The AI Ultimatum, and what business leaders need to know now to stay relevant and human in an AI-powered economy.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:42 Revisiting 2019's predictions
2:04 The Rise of process orchestration
3:11 Process orchestration
5:12 AI and sales enablement
Marty Cagan Explains How to Design a Product Like Steve Jobs
Monday, April 21, 2025 • Duration 56:06
What does it really take to build a product-driven organization in the age of AI, and are organizations ready for what's coming next?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Marty Cagan, product thought leader and founder of the Silicon Valley Product Group.
Before founding the Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG) to focus on helping others build successful products through writing, speaking, advising, and coaching, Marty Cagan served as a product executive at some of the world’s most successful technology companies, including HP Labs, Netscape Communications, and eBay. Through his work with SVPG, Marty is a sought-after speaker at major conferences and leading companies around the world. He is also the author of three influential books: Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love, Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products, and Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating Model.
Marty sits down with Geoff Nielson to discuss how generative AI is reshaping product management and why organizations need to rethink how they build and lead product teams. He outlines three key models of product management and explains how AI is disrupting each one differently. This conversation dives deep into modern product thinking, as Marty highlights what sets companies like Amazon, Apple, Tesla, and Netflix apart — emphasizing the importance of visionary leadership and product-centric thinking. Marty also gives a look into his latest book Transformed, which explains how even the most traditional organizations can adopt modern product practices.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:30 How generative ai is shifting product roles
01:20 The 3 models of product management explained
03:00 Why product owner roles are most at risk
05:00 Upskilling in the world of AI
06:25 What execution roles must to learn
07:30 The Feature Team Model and its vulnerabilities
09:00 Top product companies getting it right
27:18 Where the economy is going
28:56 The rise of passion projects
29:30 Disruption in the workforce
32:33 The Fortune 1000 heading towards dramatic change
35:36 T big negative space of AI
37:09 What AI is going to solve for and what it will not
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
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