“Science of the AI Mind” & Ron Baron 9/16/26

Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, and Dario Amodei discussed AI guardrails at the Salesforce conference this week, each with a different perspective on safety and innovation. In a Wall Street Journal piece, Reciprocal Research director Cameron Berg argues that AI systems are being built faster than humans can understand them. He pushes for study of the “science of the AI mind” in this modern era of science fiction. Billionaire mutual funder Ron Baron made literal billions from his long-term bets on Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX companies. In an extended conversation, he discusses data centers in space, dystopian robots, and the potential tie-up of Tesla and SpaceX. Plus, bitcoin fell after the Clarity Act failed to pass the Senate, and diesel prices hit a record high.  Ron Baron - 15:54Cameron Berg - 48:52 In this episode:Ron Baron, @BaronCapitalCameron Berg, @camhbergJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Seven weeks away from the midterm elections, Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) discusses his own reelection campaign, the future of the Democratic Party, and rumors of his own run for President. Gov. Moore also weighs in on regulating data centers and their energy consumption. Manufacturing company Flex is spinning off its power and cloud business, and CEO Revaithi Advaithi explains her role in the AI infrastructure ecosystem and the long road of power development in the U.S. Plus, President Trump and Jensen Huang have weighed in on AI regulations, warnings, and guardrails.  Gov. Wes Moore - 14:06Revathi Advaithi - 30:59  In this episode: Gov. Wes Moore, @iamwesmooreRevathi Advaithi, @RevathiAdvaithiJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Leaders in AI have joined a refrain to slow the pace of innovation as fears of AI’s risk to humanity mount. Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Satya Nadella, and Elon Musk have all commented on the concerns, while President Trump insists that competing with China is paramount. Former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, now an Independent, calls on President Trump to use his executive power to pause AI IPOs until regulation is passed. CNBC’s Leslie Picker reports on the IPO timeline for Anthropic and OpenAI amid the calls for a slowdown. Plus, Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson considers methods for humans to maintain control of AI.  Leslie Picker - 19:36Joe Manchin - 24:49Walter Isaacson - 42:31 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Manchin, @Sen_JoeManchinLeslie Picker, @LesliePickerKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Squawk Box remembers those who were lost and those who rebuilt. KBW CEO Tom Michaud, spared that day by mere chance, remembers the third of his colleagues who were killed in the south World Trade Center tower. Michaud also celebrates the heroism and unity that came after that day and highlights ways to foster a resilient community in New York today. In 2026, AI is becoming a flashpoint for concern and for unity. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has suggested that cybersecurity companies stoking the fires of alarm, while President Trump dismissed AI fears and OpenAI’s Sam Altman held a company all-hands after AI researchers shared concerns publicly. Plus, August’s CPI report has raised the likelihood of an interest rate hike from the Fed.  Tom Michaud - 15:13Steve Liesman - 26:14 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Google Design Ethicist Tristan Harris is now co-founder and president of the Center for Humane Technology, and he explains the alarm from AI researchers, executives, and investors on rogue and “uncontrollable” AI. Harris comments on AI regulation, leadership, the new opinion piece from Paul Tudor Jones, and recent departures from frontier labs like Anthropic. Canada’s Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre discusses the U.S.-Canada trade relationship and the future of his country’s politics. Plus, President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Democrat Senator John Fetterman spoke at the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas. Tristan Harris              18:34Pierre Poilievre           37:39 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Microsoft has teamed up with the American Federation of Teachers to create guardrails for AI in classrooms. Microsoft President Brad Smith and AFT President Randi Weingarten discuss data protections for students using AI as well as the ongoing challenge of matching the paces of AI safety and AI innovation. A year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) has released his book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt.” Gov. Cox discusses the importance of bipartisan discussion in a healthy democracy, and addresses concerns about data center construction in his state. Plus, a report from the Telluride Film Festival and an Anthropic researcher has resigned in a surprising and scathing social media post.   Brad Smith & Randi Weingarten - 16:42Gov. Spencer Cox - 34:26 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods–including on U.S. steel and dairy–have taken effect as fallout continues from the collapse of trade talks last month. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is celebrating AGI after OpenAI released GPT-6 while the lab’s chief scientist issued a warning about AI scaling. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, discusses fraud in America’s healthcare system, global drug pricing and innovation, and the widespread impact of obesity drugs. Plus, a new documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was unveiled at Telluride, and investor Kevin O’Leary has taken possession of an $11 million Shohei Ohtani baseball card. He explains how he’s diversifying his own portfolio with collectible assets like this one.  Dr. Mehmet Oz - 12:47Kevin O’Leary - 31:02 In this episode: Dr. Mehmet Oz, @DrOzCMSKevin O’Leary, @kevinolearytvBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

: The long tail of the NBA’s shocking punishment of LA Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.  Podcaster Pablo Torre has been at the center of this story; he and Washington University’s Patrick Rishe discuss the latest reporting and the future options for the NBA. Rep. Greg Casar, the Texas Democrat who chairs the House progressive caucus, describes the need for legislation he’s introduced with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to ban artificial superintelligence, when concerns are high about hacks by rogue agents. Plus, diesel prices hit a new high, global bonds remain vulnerable and Vice President JD Vance wants to Fed to cut interest rates.   Pablo Torre & Patrick Rishe -17:17Greg Casar - 30:50  In this episode: Pablo Torre, @PabloTorrePatrick Rishe, @PatrickRisheRep. Greg Casar, (D-TX) @RepCasarBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nvidia has officially agreed to buy open-source artificial intelligence platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, as the chipmaker and world’s most valuable company moves into a future beyond hardware. The CEOs of both companies, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Hugging Face’s Clement Delangue,  join exclusively to discuss the terms of the courtship and the deal – and the future of artificial intelligence’s open source commitment. Plus, the NBA suspends Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer for violating terms of the league’s salary cap in signing Kawhi Leonard. And, New York City schools ban AI from elementary school classroomsJensen Huang and Clement Delangue - 13:32 In this episode: Jensen Huang, @JensenHuangClement Delangue, @ClementDelangueBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO Greg Abel is in Tokyo, where he’s discussing the firm’s stakes in Japanese trading houses. Abel also discusses Berkshire’s Alphabet stake, a portfolio shift spearheaded by Warren Buffett. Then, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joins the show from the G20 in North Carolina. Ahead of a fireside chat with Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Sec. Lutnick discusses the data center boom, semiconductor tariffs, American competitiveness, and his own perspective on the collapse of trade talks with Canada.  Greg Abel - 5:19 Sec. Howard Lutnick - 30:50  In this episode: Howard Lutnick, @howardlutnick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.