The Next Stage podcast by Web Summit

Geoffrey Hinton aka the Godfather of AI pioneered the neural networks that power today’s artificial intelligence revolution. But where does AI go from here? Geoffrey digs into the big questions like whether robots will take our jobs and if AI could someday outsmart humans. While those working in roles involving repetitive tasks are in danger of being replaced by automation, Geoffrey recommends young people train for hands-on jobs that require dexterity and skill such as custom carpentry or plumbing. Geoffrey Hinton, the Godfather of AI, was in conversation with Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic on Centre Stage at Collision 2023. "The best technology conference on the planet".Follow us on ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Linkedin⁠.

Could artificial meat be the new normal? In this episode of the Next Stage, we learn from three entrepreneurs working to create meat alternatives using plants, fungi, and cell cultivation.  They discuss the products and technologies that enable them to replicate the taste, texture and nutrition of conventional meat, as well as the challenges involved in scaling up production. The founders share their visions for making alt meat ubiquitous, affordable, and enthusiastically adopted by meat-eaters – all in order to significantly reduce the climate and health impacts of our meat consumption. With several companies poised to launch artificial meat products commercially in the next year, we may soon witness these meatless options become the default choice for consumers. SciFi Foods co-founder and CEO Joshua March, Prime Roots co-founder and CEO Kimberlie Le, and New School Foods founder and CEO Chris Bryson were in conversation with Toby Heaps, co-founder and CEO of Corporate Knights, on planet:tech at Collision 2023

There are a lot of fears about AI and killer robots. But what if AI is more safety-net than Skynet when it comes to climate change? In this episode of the Next Stage podcast, join ClimateAI co-founder and CTO Maximilian Evans in conversation with Bell Media weather anchor, co-host and producer Michelle Jobin, as they discuss how AI could save humanity.  Drawing from personal experience growing up in Ecuador, Maximilian shares valuable insights into how AI, machine learning and data science can be used to identify and mitigate climate risks, fostering climate resilience on a global scale. Maximilian Evans, co-founder and CTO at ClimateAI, was in conversation with Michelle Jobin, weather anchor, co-host and producer at Bell Media, on planet:tech at Collision 2023. 

Is the tech industry ignoring an untapped resource by excluding people with criminal records? People with criminal records are often shut out of the labour market. But some companies have recognised that so-called 'second chance' and 'fair chance' hiring can help them find more workers.  In this episode of the Next Stage podcast, Checkr co-founder and CEO Daniel Yanisse joins Sojourner Elleby, editorial producer at Bloomberg Quicktake, to find out just how much people with criminal records have to offer businesses and society. Checkr practises what it preaches. According to Daniel, “[Checkr] started hiring people directly from prison about five or six years ago. And when we gave them some opportunities, they really succeeded, flourished and became our best employees.”  Daniel Yanisse, co-founder and CEO at Checkr, was in conversation with Sojourner Elleby, editorial producer at Bloomberg Quicktake, on Remote at Collision 2023.

In the second episode of our new bonus series – The Next Stage Sessions – host Casey Lau sat down with Emily ‘pplpleasr’ Yang, co-founder of Shibuya, a Web3 content studio and creator platform. Emily’s work has inspired the formation of the prolific investment group PleasrDAO. The founder has also helped define the aesthetic of the decentralised finance movement, and has collaborated with Steve Aoki and Sotheby’s, to name a few. In 2022, Emily was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and was ranked in the top-five of Fortune’s NFTy 50, a list of the most influential figures in the NFT space. As of today, Emily has donated more than US$1.5 million from her NFT sales to charity.

Hello and welcome to our brand new bonus episode series – The Next Stage Sessions – where our host, Casey Lau, settles in for a deep dive conversation with founders and innovators from across the tech world. This episode was broadcast live on May 25 and features special guest Pascal Gauthier, the CEO of crypto hardware device provider Ledger. "The best technology conference on the planet".Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.

The term ‘bot’ often evokes a sense of annoyance, scepticism, or even dread. Whether it’s trending hashtags manipulated by an army of automated accounts, or your X (fka Twitter) feed being inundated with political propaganda, bots have gained a reputation as digital pests.  But what if they could be used for good in cybersecurity? In this episode of the Next Stage, Signifyd co-founder and CEO Rajesh Ramanand and Avery Pennarun, co-founder and CEO of Tailscale, talk about employing bots as a proxy for the user and doing automated tasks on their behalf, including fighting scam bots. When it comes to detecting and deterring increasingly convincing AI-generated phishing attacks, Rajesh says, “it's not a human versus AI anymore … it's now AI versus AI”. Rajesh Ramanand, co-founder and CEO of Signifyd, and Avery Pennarun, co-founder and CEO of Tailscale, were in conversation with Sam Sabin, cybersecurity reporter for Axios, on FullSTK at Collision 2023.

How close are we to fully functional, error-corrected quantum computers? In this episode of the Next Stage, Christian Weedbrook, CEO of quantum computing company Xanadu, explains the company’s mission to build photonic quantum computers and make them useful and accessible through Pennylane (the company's proprietary software stack). Christian outlines the hardware, software and applications needed to reach the key milestone of a million qubits, including designing next-generation batteries. Though major challenges remain, the CEO is optimistic about achieving fault-tolerant quantum computers within years that could revolutionise materials science, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and more. Christian Weedbrook, founder and CEO of Xanadu, was speaking on FullSTK at Collision 2023.

Beyond the indulgences of tech billionaires including Bryan Johnson – who has spent millions on longevity interventions (including plasma infusions from a teenage son) – can the rest of us expect to live into our hundreds? Amol Sarva, founder of a venture fund investing in longevity research, and Joel Jackson, co-founder and president of a healthtech company trying to extend lifespans, discuss how tech advances including AI and personalised medicine could help extend life spans to 150 years or more. Amol and Joel explore recent progress in targeting diseases of ageing, as well as fundamental biological ageing. While human immortality in 20 years seems unlikely, breakthroughs that slow the ageing process are possible. But ethical questions remain around fair access. Amol Sarva, managing partner at Life Extension Ventures, and Joel Jackson, co-founder and president of Lifeforce, were in conversation with Yuliya Sotska, chief brand and communications officer for Viseven, on HealthConf at Collision 2023.

How are generative AI tools like ChatGPT transforming education? We hear horror stories of students using these tools to write entire essays and pass them off as their own. But, these education experts think there is potential for positive applications. From making personalised learning widely accessible to providing feedback loops for students, Joshua Wöhle, co-founder and CEO of edtech startup Milestone, thinks GenAI has a place in the classroom. But these experts also caution about maintaining human connection in classrooms (rather than replacing facetime with AI tutors) and teaching AI literacy.  While the K-12 space (5-18 year olds) may need more careful oversight, they see huge potential for AI to help train skills such as communication, provide interactive learning, and ultimately revolutionise education. Mindstone CEO Joshua Wöhle, Roots of Empathy founder Mary Gordon, and ApplyBoard co-founder and CEO Meti Basiri were in conversation with freelance technology journalist Alyssa Newcomb on Future Societies at Collision 2023.