In this episode of Reid Riffs, Reid and Aria explain why "compute" is the new oil powering the cognitive industrial revolution. They argue that the United States must urgently expand domestic data centers and energy infrastructure to remain globally competitive. The conversation explores how rapid data center construction is transforming blue-collar labor markets, driving significant wage growth for electricians, HVAC technicians, and skilled trades while dispelling misinformation about data centers' impact on rising electricity costs. Reid warns that China's aggressive energy expansion is also widening the global competitiveness gap, underscoring the need for stable, long-term U.S. energy policy spanning nuclear, natural gas, solar, and wind. Reid and Aria also discuss how America's next era of prosperity hinges on how decisively it builds the physical backbone of AI and why keeping AI infrastructure on U.S. soil is critical for jobs, intellectual property, and national security.

In this special live episode of Possible, Reid and Aria sit down with Wispr Flow founder and CEO Tanay Kothari to explore a post-keyboard future where voice becomes the primary way humans interact with computers. From building one of the world’s first voice assistants as a child to creating a product now used the world over (with, as of publish, 70% user retention after one year and daily users at over half of the Fortune 500), Tanay shares how Wispr Flow removes the cognitive friction of typing and restores natural communication to our digital world. The conversation touches on increasing accessibility to AI, emotional tone in digital communication, and why speaking to computers may ultimately be more human than typing ever was. And shortly into the conversation, Tanay puts his tech to the test in a live demo that pits a 110-words-per-minute typist against Wispr Flow in a dramatic battle of speed and accuracy. This episode showcases what is possible in a future where technology fades into the background and nudges people to become more present in the real world.

A big thanks to Sean Mendy and the Westbound Equity Partners, and David Stiepleman and the Sixth Street Partners for hosting the conversation. And a shout to Isabella Sikaffy and the Florabella Studios team, Marshall Potter and the Push Record team, and Marcus Chua and the Wispr Flow team.

This week, Reid and Aria dive into three central AI stories that have been dominating the headlines: Pope Leo XIV issues a powerful call for moral discernment in an AI-driven world, Anthropic reveals that state-sponsored hackers used agentic AI to automate a sophisticated cyberattack, and Disney considers a radical shift as it weighs opening its IP vault to fan creators. Reid reflects on what it means when spiritual, civic, and technological institutions all step into the AI conversation and how the race between offensive and defensive AI will define the next era of security. Reid and Aria also break down what Disney's creative signals mean for IP ownership, storytelling, and the relationship between mega-studios and their audiences. The overarching question that runs through this episode: how does society stay anchored in human dignity as AI reshapes everything from faith to culture?

Software is eating the world, but will it start eating us? On this episode of Possible, Aria Finger and Reid Hoffman sit down for an encore conversation with Aza Raskin that dives deep into how AI and engagement-driven tech are reshaping our lives, our democracies, and our sense of truth. From unpacking the present challenge around social media feeds to AI systems competing for our time, intimacy, and attention, no technology topic is out of bounds. Along the way, they also debate AI pause letters, why incentives always eat intentions, and how to design new institutional frameworks for a future where AI truly elevates human agency, compassion, and wisdom. If everything breaks humanity’s way, what becomes possible? Tune in to find out.

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

In this episode of Possible, Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore how AI is colliding with real-world regulation, responsibility, and even civility. As states like Utah, California, and Illinois roll out new AI laws governing everything from chatbot disclosure to bans on AI-driven therapy, Reid breaks down the logic that’s driving these policies. The conversation dives into OpenAI’s self-imposed limits on medical, legal, and financial advice, the challenge of providing access while managing liability, and why safe harbor laws could unlock life-saving potential for AI. From there, the discussion zooms out to the global stage, where China is pushing for an international AI governance body and the U.S. risks losing moral and technical leadership. Finally, Aria and Reid end on a human behavior note: a study showing AI performs better when users are rude. What does that say about how we train these models? But mostly, what does it reveal about us? From transparency to civility, what kind of intelligence do we really want to build?

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

This week Reid and Aria break down the global AI race from Nvidia’s $5 trillion valuation and the U.S.–China chip rivalry to what happens when AI starts reshaping industries like medicine. Reid explains why the future of innovation depends on how we deploy AI, not just how we build it, and why doctors, scientists, and creators will need to redefine their expertise in a world of intelligent tools. Later in the episode, Reid responds to new calls to “pause” AI development and shares why he believes safety and progress must advance together. The conversation ends with a look at the future of healthcare and why, in Reid’s view, AI won’t replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace those who don’t.

What does it take to turn tragedy into advocacy, and advocacy into lasting change? This week, Reid and Aria are talking to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Kris Brown, president of Brady, the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization. Together, they explore how sports, storytelling, and civic engagement can move the needle on one of America’s most polarizing issues: guns.

In the first part of this episode, Steve and Kris share the personal and political roots of their partnership. They also dive into the movement for safer gun storage, smart firearm technology, and the bipartisan momentum that’s possible when we lead with empathy over fear.

In the second part, the conversation turns to the future of basketball and leadership. Steve reflects on lessons from Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, the power of authenticity and collaboration, and how AI, analytics, and even robotics are reshaping the NBA. 

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

Topics:

01:14 - Hellos and intros

03:28 - Collaboration is the cornerstone of Steve’s leadership philosophy 

04:22 - Imposter syndrome, playing under Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich, and coaching Draymond Green 

06:02 - Steve’s personal experience with gun violence and using his platform to drive change

07:17 - Lessons Kris learned from working on the Brady Bill 

10:43 - Gemini explains the landmark Brady Bill and how it passed

11:48 - Origins of Steve and Brady’s partnership 

16:55 - Building bipartisan support for gun violence prevention, like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

21:21 - Smart gun technology, gun safes, and other technological solutions

25:27 - “Shut up and dribble” comment and the pushback athletes receive when they speak up

27:29 - Social media as a tool to create cultural change 

29:39 - Kris answers the last rapid-fire question and says her goodbyes

32:33 - Midroll

32:38 - Steve digs deeper into Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich’s coaching styles

34:40 - Inspiration v. comparison

35:22 - Hiring staff who bring specific strengths helps form a stronger team

36:21 - Endgame instincts as a coach

39:37 - Helping players navigate modern-age attention and public opinions on social media

42:01 - Internal leadership from players is crucial and Steph Curry as an example

44:33 - How NBA analytics have evolved

46:52 - The Warriors are planning to implement AI-powered robots into their training

47:56 - Players wear monitors that analyze their performance data

49:17 - Discoveries from players’ performance data 

50:46 - Analyzing game footage with AI, facial recognition technology, and learning that Steph Curry logs the most miles ran per game in the league

52:56 - Using game footage data to learn opponents’ patterns and build game plans

54:05 - Correlating physical condition and shot success percentage for each player

56:19 - Rapid-fire questions 

Select mentions: 

Phil Jackson

Greg Popovich

Brady Bill

Uvalde school shooting

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

End Family Fire Campaign

Maxwell Frost

Matthew McConaughey

Dan Grunfeld

Lopez Twins

Maverick: More than a Game by Phil Jackson and Charley Rosen

Daryl Morey

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

March for Our Lives

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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

Can AI help us better understand animals and, if it could, what might we discover? This week’s episode was recorded live at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit where Reid and Aria sat down with Aza Raskin, co-founder and CEO of the Earth Species Project. Aza and his team are using AI to decode the languages and cultures of non-human species. From dolphins that invent new tricks together to crows that raise each other’s young in communal “villages,” Aza reveals the startling complexity of animal communication and what it teaches us about our own. During the course of their conversation, Reid, Aria and Aza explore why recognizing the intelligence of the animal kingdom might spark a new Copernican Revolution, one that changes not just science, but who we believe ourselves as a species to be. It’s a thought provoking journey through language, empathy, and the limits of human perspective that will make you listen to the natural world a little differently.

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

Topics:

00:00 – Live introduction from the Masters of Scale Summit

00:58 – Aza Raskin explains the Earth Species Project and its mission

03:03 – How AI can decode animal language and culture

05:18 – Crows, whales, and dolphins—evidence of communication and community

07:32 – What we’ve missed by only “hearing the shouts” of other species

08:30 – Dolphins learning to innovate together and what it reveals about intelligence

09:57 – Elephants’ overlapping calls and the idea of “communal grammar”

12:33 – From speaking to listening: the ethics of interspecies understanding

14:23 – Names, self-awareness, and identity across dolphins, elephants, and belugas

16:05 – Animal rituals, drum languages, and AI’s early attempts at conversation

18:10 – Animal Language Processing as science’s next frontier

20:38 – The moral shift: what animals teach us about empathy, AI, and responsibility

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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

In this week's episode, Reid and Aria unpack why trust is a practical skill, not just a feeling. Reid riffs on the importance of hands-on investor-founder relationships, boardroom decisions that can make or break a company, and investor behaviors that build durable trust. They also discuss what product teams and policymakers must do to earn user confidence in an age of AI. Along the way, Reid shares personal anecdotes regarding his work with OpenAI, crisis leadership, and bridging Silicon Valley policy with the rest of the globe.

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

How can AI really help advance medicine? Should patients and care teams be seeking second opinions from LLMs? This week, Reid and Aria sit down with physician-scientist Dr. David Fajgenbaum, who repurposes existing drugs to save lives—including his own. David shares his journey from receiving last rites as a young medical student to co-founding Every Cure, a nonprofit using AI to come up with ways existing drugs can be repurposed to treat every disease and every patient possible. On this special episode, filmed live in New York City, David, Reid, and Aria explore the circuit of hope, action, and impact that drives medical discovery; the technical and ethical challenges around accelerating AI in healthcare; “agent optimization” as the new “search engine optimization;” and what a future of faster diagnoses and treatment could look like. The result is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and unlocking cures that are already within our reach.

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

Topics:

3:00 - Hellos and intros

3:29 - A promise to his mother and the origin of AMF

6:23 - From grief support to medical school

9:18 - Near-death experiences and founding a research network

14:38 - What kept David going at death’s door

16:19 - Discovering a potential treatment and testing it on himself

19:42 - Why drug repurposing is a faster, cheaper complement to drug discovery

22:14 - Co-founding Every Cure and scaling discovery with AI

25:20 - Demo: Building MATRIX and how the algorithm makes predictions

28:41 - Breast cancer and Lidocaine as a case study

30:07 - Why human review is essential in AI for medicine

34:08 - Car exhaust fumes example and FDA pathways

37:31 - Reid’s surprise million-dollar donation for Every Cure compute

39:24 - What AI can unlock across healthcare

41:46 - Building an impact team to close the repurposing loop

47:32 - Improving systemic incentives for generics

54:58 - FDA approval pathways and label change challenges

57:21 - Three life-saving repurposing stories

1:02:20 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Chasing My Cure by Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Every Cure 

David’s TED Talk: https://youtu.be/sb34MfJjurc?si=GcVleWHZuJ9MqLgS

Manas AI

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. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

This week, Reid and Aria dive into the debate over new $100,000 fees on H-1B visas, and discuss how immigration powers U.S. innovation and how to ensure startups aren’t shut out. They also cover developers’ mixed feelings about using AI in coding, the leap from 60% to 85% accuracy in medical AI predictions, and what it will take to bring regulators and clinicians on board. Plus, Reid shares why he’s skeptical of a three-day work week and reflects on the Trust in American Institutions Challenge, highlighting some inspiring finalists.

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