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...
Dana Griffin on AI, belonging, and intergenerational connection
Loneliness is a public health crisis affecting people of all ages.This week on Possible, Reid and Aria sit down with someone using AI to bridge generational gaps and combat the loneliness epidemic.
Dana Griffin is co-founder and CEO of Eldera, a global platform using AI to foster intergenerational connections. Raised by her grandparents and mentored by older adults throughout her life, Dana is on a mission to help people see aging as an asset. Dana shares how Eldera uses AI to safely and meaningfully connect kids with older mentors, addressing loneliness, declining mental health, and lost wisdom. They explore how technology can support human connection—rather than replace it—along with what an "age-integrated society” could unlock.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
1:20 - Episode introduction
3:37 - Dana’s early life and how it shaped her perspective on intergenerational bonds
6:09 - How ageism creates a waste of human potential
9:01 - Policy and tech solutions can help reintegrate older adults
12:11 - Social media worsens isolation, but AI can help foster real connection
14:31 - Eldera’s mission of bridging generations through AI-powered mentorship
18:52 - Opposite backgrounds create stronger bonds when matching mentors and mentees
22:44 - Intergenerational mentorship as a form of healthcare
26:34 - Using AI to map and amplify generational knowledge
30:26 - Midroll ad break
30:35 - AI enhances, but never replaces, human connection
34:05 - Encouraging confidence among older adults through Eldera’s wisdom portrait
37:26 - Scaling Eldera and working towards a society where we value the impact of elders
41:17 - The barriers and opportunities of scaling Eldera
44:34 - How cultural perspectives and global views on aging shape intergenerational ties
48:33 - Rapid fire
Select mentions:
Fei-Fei Li on spatial intelligence and human-centered 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. Each episode seeks to advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
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56:55
Reid riffs on AI wearables, quantum, and Deep Research
Reid reacts to the news of HP acquiring Humane Ai Pin and weighs in on the future of wearable tech, quantum, and copyright law. Plus, AI whiz Parth Patil (formerly Clubhouse’s first data scientist) joins the show to discuss why he’s excited about OpenAI’s Deep Research tool, “vibe coding,” and coding copilots.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
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26:44
Latanya Sweeney on AI, trust, and privacy
How does the rise of AI impact our sense of what’s true? How can humans maintain a degree of individual privacy and unlock the benefits of AI while mitigating potential harms? In this episode, Reid and Aria sit down with data privacy pioneer Latanya Sweeney, Professor of Government and Technology at Harvard; former Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission; and founder of Harvard’s Public Interest Tech Lab and Data Privacy Lab. They discuss the future of privacy protection, technocracy vs. democracy, teaching in the age of AI, governance, content moderation, and more.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
0:55 - Episode introduction
3:05 - Lessons from Latanya's grandparents
4:30 - Latanya's early days at MIT
5:38 - Re-identification and Governor William Weld example
10:50 - Historical arc of AI
12:24 - The Third Industrial Revolution
15:11 - Technocracy vs. democracy
18:38 - Making technological literacy a federal priority
21:03 - Divisiveness in AI
26:20 - Exploring humanity's "cultural dream" of AI
27:17 - Midroll ad break
27:49 - What will it take to build trust in AI at scale?
31:11 - Inflection's Pi lists key elements for a tech-conscious social contract
32:04 - Latanya responds to Pi and talks LLM truth-telling
34:20 - The best of public interest technology
37:02 - Improving content moderation
43:24 - Democratizing public interest technology
44:24 - Feedback and improvements for LinkedIn
47:53 - What does AI mean for education?
49:35 - Insights from Latanya's Harvard students
51:08 - Rapid-fire questions
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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56:48
Reid riffs on the AI race with China and if the US should regulate AI
Following last week’s chat with former diplomat and author Anja Manuel, Reid talks about the potential benefits of an FDA for AI, the current status of the global race for artificial intelligence, and predicting what’s to come from American AI companies.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
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13:29
BONUS: Pioneers of AI: Love in the Age of AI
Love, dating, and AI — what could go wrong? Or right? In this Valentine’s Day special, Rana el Kaliouby and a series of expert guests explore how AI is reshaping romance. First, Will Wu, Chief Technology Officer at Match Group, gives us a peek at how AI is already at work in apps like Tinder and Hinge, helping users choose their best profile pictures and refining match recommendations. Next, the team at Gottman Inc. shares how AI is being used to improve relationships. Their AI-powered tools analyze conversations and help therapists guide couples. The goal? Better communication, healthier relationships, and maybe even fewer breakups. Finally, we meet Violeta and her AI husband. Her story challenges how we think about love, connection, and what it means to feel truly understood. Swiping, coupled up, or AI-curious? This episode is for you.
About Pioneers of AI
Pioneers of AI is your guide to the latest technological frontier. Each week, host Rana el Kaliouby (AI scientist, investor, author, co-founder of Affectiva) is joined by the leading creators, critics, and thinkers behind mind-blowing technology and asks the important questions about how artificial intelligence is changing the way we live. As we venture together into the unknown, Pioneers is your tool to understanding and anticipating what comes next.
Subscribe to Pioneers of AI on YouTube: youtube.com/@pioneersofai
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.