Best Jeff Hwang Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 19 - Spaghetti Delivery by AI Agents 24:44

4M ago24:44

24:44

Jeff and Seymour kick off 2024 with a discussion of the three phases of generative AI. Phase 1: The launch of ChatGPT in November, 2022. Phase 2: The rise and fall of AI wrapper companies during early- to mid-2023. Phase 3: The current emergence of AI Agents that can automatically chain together multiple steps that drastically change the kinds of p…

1
“We Defined Each Other:” MAP Celebrates 25 Years with Jeff Lozon, Stephen Hwang & Ahmed Bayoumi 28:17

6M ago28:17

28:17

In 1998, St. Michael’s Hospital’s past CEO Jeff Lozon founded MAP during a turbulent time. The hospital was facing a major financial crisis. A forced and highly controversial merger sparked fears and protest among incoming staff and physicians. Yet these two challenges ultimately defined MAP’s mission and unique value, and pushed St. Michael's to e…

1
Episode 18 - OpenAI Over Board 27:28

7M ago27:28

27:28

We re-examine the swirl of events at OpenAI in November, starting with the Nov 6th Dev Day in San Francisco. Then the tumultuous firing and re-hiring of CEO Sam Altman, President Greg Brockman, and related Board ups and downs. Links: History of OpenAI Board. Board as of Nov 1, 2023: Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Helen Toner, Tasha McCa…

1
Episode 17 - Ten years from Her (2013) to Humane 28:55

8M ago28:55

28:55

Jeff and Seymour discuss interplay among sci-fi movies, speculative fiction, and 'real world AI' through the lens of Spike Jonze's 2013 movie Her. Also some conversation about the upcoming Humane Ai Pin. Links: Biden's Executive Order and related AP article quoting White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed on impact of Tom Cruise's recent Missio…

1
Episode 16 - Midjourney vs Google SGE vs OpenAI DALL-E 3 23:45

8M ago23:45

23:45

Seymour and Jeff discuss the recently announced updates from OpenAI, especially regarding image generation in GPT-4 and DALL-E 3. Our ranking of image generation AI's from best to worst: (1) Midjourney, (2) Google Search Generative Experience (SGE), and finally (3) DALL-E. Jeff closes by talking about the recent LLM workshop he conducted for junior…

1
Episode 15 - The "Who Is Jeff Hwang?" Test 28:45

9M ago28:45

28:45

We discuss the September 2023 AI Conf in San Francisco, Anthropic AI and Claude, and how to test LLMs with "Who Is Jeff Hwang?". Links: 2023 Google Pixel Launch Event news from The Verge. 2023 Facebook Connect on Metaverse, Quest VR hardware, and AI. Schedule of speakers and talks at AI Conf in SF, September 2023. Amazon invests $1.25B in Anthropic…

1
Episode 14 - End of Microsoft PC, beginning of Microsoft CP (Co-Pilot) Era 27:10

9M ago27:10

27:10

(Episode originally recorded September 21, 2023) Jeff and Seymour discuss the Microsoft September 2023 Surface hardware event which was mostly about AI, Llama-2 and open-source LLMs, and Elad Gil's 4 Waves of AI adoption. Links: Round-up of news from Microsoft September 21st event from The Verge. Info about Panos Panay's departure from MS and some …

1
Episode 13 - Thoughts on MosaicML, Neeva, and InflectionAI. Plus Apple Vision Pro. 27:20

12M ago27:20

27:20

(Episode originally recorded June 30, 2023) We're back! Summertime is slow; Stepfunction episodes will appear more regularly again in the fall. Topics: Jeff and Seymour discuss the launch of the Apple Vision Pro in early June. Databricks bought MosaicML in June and comparison with earlier Snowflake acquisition of Neeva in late May. Profile of the N…

1
Episode 12 - Leaked Google Strategy Memo, Open Source, AI Value Chains 33:59

1y ago33:59

33:59

Jeff and Seymour briefly discuss Google I/O which happened last week including the release of PaLM 2. Most of the episode is spent on the strategic and ecosystem implications of an internal Google strategy memo and the impact of open source. They also discuss AI Supply Chains in the context of a series of MIT blog posts from April. Finally, they dr…

1
Episode 11 - Google vs. Apple vs. Meta AI: Who has the right approach? 26:32

1y ago26:32

26:32

Jeff and Seymour look briefly at earnings and layoffs from 2023 Q1 for the Big 5 Tech giants which leads to further pessimism about Google BARD. This sparks a larger conversation about how best to organize internal research groups. Which extreme works best–Google or Apple? Links: The Information published a detailed article on April 27th about Appl…

1
Episode 10 - BARD Just Blorps It Out 26:43

1y ago26:43

26:43

Jeff and Seymour mention a framework of 3 personas: (1) end-users; (2) technical builders like EPD teams, i.e., Engineering-Product-Design; and (3) business leaders. Topics discussed: End-user experience: what it's like to use the free and paid versions of ChatGPT, compared with other LLM user experiences like Google's Bard, Microsoft's Bing Chat, …

1
Episode 9 - Have You Ever Questioned the Nature of Your Reality? 24:19

1y ago24:19

24:19

Jeff and Seymour mention audio generation technology which leads to a larger conversation about how we can tell if audio, text, images, and other media is a Deepfake. They end with questions about media gatekeepers, social polarization, and how do we know what's real? Links: Vim is Jeff's favorite text editor and 10 reasons you should learn it. And…

1
Episode 8 - Moore's Law, Exponential Improvements, AI Chips, Emergent Behavior 29:13

1+ y ago29:13

29:13

The news that Gordon Moore passed away broke last Friday just as we were recording the previous episode. Today, Jeff and Seymour discuss Moore's legacy, the past and future of Moore's Law, and how advancements in microchips have been the foundation of deep learning for more than a decade. Links: NY Times obituary for Gordon Moore and a remembrance …

1
Episode 7 - Bigger than Prometheus? 23:28

1+ y ago23:28

23:28

Jeff and Seymour debate the significance of the generative AI revolution relative to the invention of the WIMP interface, the web, and even the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions. Prometheus refers to the humans learning how to control fire; is gen AI bigger than that?! Articles referenced: Bill Gates "The Age of AI Has Begun" Thomas Friedman …

1
Episode 6 - Where Will Generative AI Startups Win and Lose? 26:39

1+ y ago26:39

26:39

Jeff and Seymour start with another major week of news, including GPT-4, Microsoft and Google adding generative AI to their office suites, and LLaMA breaking out into the wild and onto Raspbery Pi and smartphones. Simon Willison's 3-day history of LLaMA developments this past weekend. Potentially bigger news than the dramatic collapse of Silicon Va…

1
Episode 5 - Lightbulbs or Lava Lamps? DALL-E in The New Yorker 21:35

1+ y ago21:35

21:35

Jeff and Seymour dig further into image generators like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion. What is the role of the visual artist as generative AI tools continue to evolve? How might it replicate the relationship between a great writer and a trusted magazine editor? Additional links: Adam Gopnik's piece on DALL-E 2 in a recent issue of The Ne…

1
Episode 4 - Typeface and Cezanne's Card Players 23:15

1+ y ago23:15

23:15

Jeff and Seymour discuss the launch of a new marketing company using generative AI called Typeface. This leads to a conversation about copyright consent, compensation, and credit. We discuss how the history of photography, Napster, and Paul Cézanne's The Card Players might help us understand the future of image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney, a…

1
Episode 3 - Elevators Up, Stairways Down 20:30

1+ y ago20:30

20:30

Jeff and Seymour use stories and analogies to explain the two main approaches to AI: Bottom-Up and Top-Down. The recent wave of AI success is mostly based on the bottom up path which includes machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning. Related links: The case of the construction worker with a nail in his boot Murray Shanahan's excellent D…

1
Episode 2 - Who Opened The Floodgates? 22:17

1+ y ago22:17

22:17

Jeff and Seymour discuss the unexpected impact of ChatGPT and how Bing Chat may not be ready for prime time. Did OpenAI unintentionally open Pandora's Box because they were worried someone else would beat them to it? Plus some reassurances that Sydney is definitely not sentient or emotional. Kevin Roose's article in The New York Times and transcrip…

1
Episode 1 - What is ChatGPT? 25:38

1+ y ago25:38

25:38

Jeff and Seymour kick off the podcast with an exploration of ChatGPT. What is it and how might it impact our careers and lives? They use ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs) as an entry point to the larger topic of generative AI. Questions and comments? Talk to us.By Jeff Hwang and Seymour Duncker

1
Searching for Home with Naomi Thulien & Catie Lamer 26:09

1+ y ago26:09

26:09

The short documentary 'Searching for Home' follows three young people as they transition out of homelessness. An intimate portrayal of young people on the margins, the 26-minute film is a companion to the MAP Transitioning Youth Out of Homelessness study, led by MAP scientist Naomi Thulien. In this special episode of MAPmaking, we spoke with Naomi …

1
Pharmacare and Access to Benefits with Linda Silas & Nav Persaud 22:52

2y ago22:52

22:52

Despite ongoing political promises for pharmacare in Canada, the status quo persists: Canada remains the only high-income country where health-care services are publicly insured but medications are not. The pandemic propelled temporary sick leave protections, however many of these protections are now coming to an end. In this episode, Nav Persaud (…

1
Evictions and Access to Justice with Douglas Kwan & Nav Persaud 26:22

2y ago26:22

26:22

In 2020, the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board switched from in-person to online-only hearings. This has had grave consequences for tenants, many of whom do not have access to the necessary technology, resources or privacy to participate meaningfully – or sometimes participate at all – in remote hearings. In this episode, Nav Persaud (MAP scientist…

1
The Right to Housing with Gautam Mukherjee & Stephen Hwang 28:36

2+ y ago28:36

28:36

Gautam Mukherjee is the Executive Director of Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing, the largest supportive housing provider in Ontario. Gautam has worked in the housing and homelessness sector for 20 years and is a passionate advocate for social justice, inclusion and housing for all. In this episode, Gautam and MAP Director Stephen Hwang discu…

1
#12 - How Should Business Schools Prepare Students for Startups? - Jeff Bussgang and Michael Seibel 33:52

4y ago33:52

33:52

Jeff Bussgang is a lecturer at Harvard Business School and General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners.Michael Seibel is CEO of YC.By ycombinator

1
#11 - At The Intersection of AI, Governments, and Google - Tim Hwang 39:14

4y ago39:14

39:14

Tim Hwang is the Global Public Policy Lead on AI and Machine Learning for Google.Read the transcript on our blog.By ycombinator

1
#10 - Office Hours with Ali Rowghani 24:28

4y ago24:28

24:28

Ali Rowghani is CEO of Y Combinator Continuity, where he invests in and advises growth-stage startups. Ali directly contributed to the growth of two great companies -- at Twitter, as CFO then COO, and at Pixar as CFO and SVP of Strategic Planning.Read the transcript on our blog.By ycombinator

1
#9 - Sam Altman and Reid Hoffman - From Startup to Scaleup 40:56

4y ago40:56

40:56

Sam Altman and Reid Hoffman discuss the key changes founders should think about as they scale their company. The conversation was recorded at The Scaleup Offsite, a private event hosted by Y Combinator Continuity and Greylock Partners in April 2017.By ycombinator

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jeff Hwang Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Stepfunction Podcast

Jeff Hwang and Seymour Duncker

1
ycombinator

ycombinator

1
MAPmaking

MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions

1
Episode 19 - Spaghetti Delivery by AI Agents 24:44

1
“We Defined Each Other:” MAP Celebrates 25 Years with Jeff Lozon, Stephen Hwang & Ahmed Bayoumi 28:17

1
Episode 18 - OpenAI Over Board 27:28

1
Episode 17 - Ten years from Her (2013) to Humane 28:55

1
Episode 16 - Midjourney vs Google SGE vs OpenAI DALL-E 3 23:45

1
Episode 15 - The "Who Is Jeff Hwang?" Test 28:45

1
Episode 14 - End of Microsoft PC, beginning of Microsoft CP (Co-Pilot) Era 27:10

1
Episode 13 - Thoughts on MosaicML, Neeva, and InflectionAI. Plus Apple Vision Pro. 27:20

1
Episode 12 - Leaked Google Strategy Memo, Open Source, AI Value Chains 33:59

1
Episode 11 - Google vs. Apple vs. Meta AI: Who has the right approach? 26:32

1
Episode 10 - BARD Just Blorps It Out 26:43

1
Episode 9 - Have You Ever Questioned the Nature of Your Reality? 24:19

1
Episode 8 - Moore's Law, Exponential Improvements, AI Chips, Emergent Behavior 29:13

1
Episode 7 - Bigger than Prometheus? 23:28

1
Episode 6 - Where Will Generative AI Startups Win and Lose? 26:39

1
Episode 5 - Lightbulbs or Lava Lamps? DALL-E in The New Yorker 21:35

1
Episode 4 - Typeface and Cezanne's Card Players 23:15

1
Episode 3 - Elevators Up, Stairways Down 20:30

1
Episode 2 - Who Opened The Floodgates? 22:17

1
Episode 1 - What is ChatGPT? 25:38

1
Searching for Home with Naomi Thulien & Catie Lamer 26:09

1
Pharmacare and Access to Benefits with Linda Silas & Nav Persaud 22:52

1
Evictions and Access to Justice with Douglas Kwan & Nav Persaud 26:22

1
The Right to Housing with Gautam Mukherjee & Stephen Hwang 28:36

1
#12 - How Should Business Schools Prepare Students for Startups? - Jeff Bussgang and Michael Seibel 33:52

1
#11 - At The Intersection of AI, Governments, and Google - Tim Hwang 39:14

1
#10 - Office Hours with Ali Rowghani 24:28

1
#9 - Sam Altman and Reid Hoffman - From Startup to Scaleup 40:56

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