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Possible

Possible

Reid Hoffman

What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
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Top 10 Possible Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Possible episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Possible for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Possible episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

This week, Reid veers toward science fiction, tackling big questions including: Is a single mentally-linked network in our future? Can and should humans create other sentient beings?

Select mentions:

David Brin

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How many lives will be saved with the help of AI over the next decade?

Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective on how far humanity has come and what our potential—and timelines—for meaningful change really look like. He gets granular on everything from cows (5% of global emissions) to disease reduction and eradication (Guinea worm disease). At each turn, he has data at his fingertips to ground his beliefs. So, what current set of innovations is Bill most excited about? And what is realistically on the horizon for AI, climate change, energy, global health, and education?

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Topics:

03:18 - Hellos and intros

03:24 - Projects Bill is most excited about

05:46 - Bill’s recent Netflix series

08:14 - Technology that will change what’s possible

10:41 - Solutions for malnutrition

12:09 - Cow-based solutions for climate change and nutrition

17:06 - What Bill is working toward for climate change

19:19 - Viable alternative energy sources

23:80 - What will make solar work?

26:47 - Nuclear fission and fusion

29:30 - How AI will help mitigate climate change

32:38 - What to focus on in global health

37:24 - AI and drug discovery

39:52 - What else will AI unlock in public health?

42:28 - Personalized medicine: is it worth it?

44:02 - Conditions on the ground in the poorest countries

47:29 - AI in education

51:24 - Khanmigo and early GPT-4

54:59 - Non-tech levers for change in education

56:34 - What would Bill ask someone from 2100?

58:25 - AI in 3-5 years, and what comes next for work

01:03:05 - Rapid-fire Questions

Select mentions:

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Nature

What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxhYr4gbQE

Bill Gates Visits First Avenue School: Commends Innovative Use of Technology

https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/first-avenue-school/bill-gates-visits-first-avenue-school-commends-innovative-use-of-technology/

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

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Possible - Ashton Kutcher on AI and investing
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07/24/24 • 41 min

This week, Reid and Aria are joined by Ashton Kutcher. While you might know him as the actor and producer who rose to fame on That ‘70s Show, Dude, Where’s My Car, and MTV’s Punk’d, Ashton is also an accomplished venture capitalist. He is co-founder of the VC firm Sound Ventures, and he has been investing in AI for more than a decade. Ashton, Reid, and Aria discuss the future of AI software and hardware, startups, and the AI revolution’s impact on society.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Topics:

3:00 - Hellos and intros

3:56 - Ashton and Reid’s trip to the South Pole

8:20 - What’s exciting about AI for investors

13:31 - How Ashton brings AI into his daily life

19:02 - Changes to the job market in an age of AI

22:01 - How people can maintain their agency and find more time in the age of AI

26:37 - AI and talent-sourcing

30:40 - How to be a “tryer”

35:14 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Dædalus

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

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Possible - Introducing: Possible season two
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10/23/23 • 3 min

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

The first episode is out this Wednesday, October 25th.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jimenez. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer and Editor.

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What role might artificial intelligence play in making the perfect meal? How will AI transform food creation—and creation more generally? Massimo Bottura—legendary Italian chef and entrepreneur—joins Possible to talk about the future of food, human creativity, and how technology factors in. Massimo, Aria, and Reid discuss the roles of joy and innovation in fine dining, technology’s potential to enhance human connection, and Food For Soul, the nonprofit Massimo and his wife Lara created to turn surplus food into incredible community meals for people in need around the world.

Plus, Massimo reacts to a few AI surprises, including: Reid’s avatar speaking Italian; Pi’s predictions about restaurants of the future; and a customized copy of Reid’s book, Impromptu, that includes a personalized section for Massimo.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Topics:

3:36 - Hellos and intros

4:24 - Reid’s AI avatar has a message for Massimo

7:02 - The relationship between invention and human connection

13:14 - Joy and innovation in fine dining

20:16 - Discussing Massimo’s custom copy of Impromptu

27:32 - Massimo’s work for the next generation

31:03 - Food for Soul

38:32 - Slow Food, Fast Cars

21:46 - Pi’s thoughts on restaurants 50 years in the future

41:34 - Rapidfire Questions

Select mentions:

Food for Soul

Slow Food, Fast Cars by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore

Reid’s 2023 Bologna Business School commencement speech

Gastromotiva founder David Hertz

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

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What is the connection between the future of humanity and the future of technology? Science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson (The Mars trilogy, Ministry for the Future) joins the podcast to speculate about how we might evolve as a civilization. Science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson joins the podcast to speculate about how we might evolve as a civilization. His books, such as The Mars trilogy or Ministry for the Future to name a few—address issues like economic inequality, governance, and the ethical dilemmas posed by technological advancements. Reid, Aria, and Stan discuss Stan’s books and characters, how he builds his science fiction worlds, and the shifting pace of human acceleration. Plus, Stan explains the way that humans have organized themselves in the past and how AI may change how humans organize themselves in the future.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

Promotional image credit: Gage Skidmore.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

3:40 - Hellos and intros

6:00 - Stan’s story development process

9:00 - Where we are on the narrative arc of humanity

14:07 - The pace of human progress

19:35 - Science fiction and the political realm

23:54 - How humans organize themselves

29:23 - The strength of AI programmers

34:44 - How Ministry of the Future applies to the real world

43:53 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer and Editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, and Little Monster Media Company.

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Possible - Sal Khan on the future of K-12 education
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01/10/24 • 55 min

What if every learner on the planet had access to a world-class education? This week’s guest has an impressive track record of using technology to make that dream a reality. Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, an education nonprofit whose pioneering digital tools support K-12 students everywhere, along with parents, teachers, and school districts. In this episode, Sal discusses how technology widens access to education and creates more meaningful learning experiences. He also shares his experience helping train Chat-GPT and speaks to why, 15 years after launching Khan Academy, he has decided to go all in on AI.

Plus, a special guest joins the podcast to demo Khan Academy’s new AI chatbot tutor, Khanmigo.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

5:26 - Hellos and intros

7:51 - What has changed in education technology in the past 15 years

13:24 - Khan Academy’s new AI guide, Khanmigo

18:59 - Khanmigo demonstration

21:37 - How teachers can incorporate AI into their classrooms

29:15 - AI in the classroom in North Ward, Newark, NJ

33:13 - How to make remote learning engaging

37:01 - How education technology in the U.S. compares to other countries

42:43 - How the use of AI in the classroom will expand in the future

47:28 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our executive Producer and editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Stacey Olson, and Little Monster Media Company.

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How can technology change—and actually deepen—human connection?

Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning, SAG-and-Golden Globe-nominated actor. She’s also a director, and producer, and New-York-Times-bestselling author of the memoir Thicker Than Water. She joins the podcast to talk about how AI and other technology can transform our most important relationships. She, Reid, and Aria also discuss AI’s impact on the entertainment industry; her use of social media to elevate the hit TV show “Scandal;” and how a DNA test evolved her definition of family. Plus, Kerry reacts to an AI avatar of Reid, and to some Olivia-Pope-related brainstorming support from Inflection’s Pi.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

4:10 - Hellos and intros – travel memories

7:33 - Kerry explains the title of her memoir

9:43 - How technology transformed Kerry’s relationship with her parents

14:17 - Kerry’s found family from Scandal

16:44 - How technology made Scandal a hit

24:24 - Kerry meets Reid’s AI avatar

26:23 - Consent and compensation when using AI in Hollywood

29:58 - Why Kerry is excited about AI

32:34 - Pi’s lessons from Olivia Pope

35:35 - How AI can amplify creativity and connection

42:43 - Transparency and AI

45:38 - What a post-AI world means for a 9-year-old

48:22 - Rapid-fire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our executive Producer and editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Rae Steward, Tamer Mokhtar, Nicole Butler, Katie Greenthal, Haley Asofsky, Braden Thole, Blair Nelson, Huy Q. Nguyen, Jon Giardiello, Hour One AI, and Little Monster Media Company.

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Possible - Van Jones on AI, disruption and inclusion
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01/03/24 • 56 min

What would it look like to build coalitions to disrupt poverty, pollution, and the prison system? This week’s guest received a $100 million grant to do just that. Van Jones is a CNN host, New-York-Times-bestselling author, and the co-founder of multiple social enterprises to address issues of criminal justice, climate change, and social equity. Aria and Reid spoke with Van about what it will take to rethink our social systems and build fair, balanced coalitions for change. How can we disrupt the profit-driven prison system? How can underserved communities better contribute their talent and resources? And how can we change our news, media, and even sci-fi comic books to reflect a better future?

Read the transcript of this episode here.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all of the episodes, visit www.possible.fm/podcast.

Topics:

04:35 - Hellos, intros, and Van’s comic book ideas

09:00 - Make Wakanda Real and plans for change

12:12 - How to build a coalition for change

17:15 - How to build trust with vulnerable people

20:31 - Bringing people with power and purpose together

21:15 - Using the Bezos grant to disrupt poverty and the prison industry

27:29 - How organizations like Codepath make change

31:09 - What does addressing climate change look like

37:07 - What is the role of media for change

40:00 - How might AI change media?

42:41 - How to address political division

48:55 - Rapidfire questions

The award-winning Possible podcast is back with a new season that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future.

This season, hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, are speaking with a new set of ambitious builders and deep thinkers about everything from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion.

Possible is produced by Wonder Media Network and hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger. Our showrunner is Shaun Young. Possible is produced by Edie Allard, Sara Schleede, and Paloma Moreno Jiménez. Jenny Kaplan is our executive producer and editor. Special thanks to Katie Sanders, Surya Yalamanchili, Saida Sapieva, Ian Alas, Greg Beato, Ben Relles, Rae Steward, Gus Alexander, Andi Lichtenfeld, Belicia Montgomery, Kalia Lydgate, Didier Morais, Chantel Muentes, Felicia Shand, and Little Monster Media Company.

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What does AI mean for the leaders of tomorrow? On this bonus episode of Possible, Reid talks about the role of AI in shaping the future, the importance of beauty in technology, AI as a tool for amplification, and the responsibility of us all in using AI as a tool to benefit humankind.

This speech was originally delivered by Reid Hoffman in English on September 8, 2023 at the Bologna Business School at the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the Western world.

The transcript of the speech is here: https://www.reidhoffman.org/bologna-business-school-commencement-speech/

We’ve used AI—no human editing in this case to show what’s possible with the technology—to translate this speech into over 100 languages. View those versions here.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Possible have?

Possible currently has 66 episodes available.

What topics does Possible cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts and Technology.

What is the most popular episode on Possible?

The episode title 'Ashton Kutcher on AI and investing' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Possible?

The average episode length on Possible is 40 minutes.

How often are episodes of Possible released?

Episodes of Possible are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Possible?

The first episode of Possible was released on Mar 14, 2023.

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