Pivotal Clarity | An AI Podcast
AI isn't new. It's been lurking in labs since the '50s, with bursts of enthusiasm and funding followed by "AI winters." But something's different now. In the last couple of years, AI has exploded into the mainstream in a way that feels both thrilling and overwhelming. Every day brings new breakthroughs, products, and predictions. It's hard to keep up. You might start your morning marveling at some new AI demo, only to end the day feeling lost in a sea of jargon and competing claims. That's why I started Pivotal Clarity. We talk to the people who are actually building and researching this stuff - the founders, engineers, and scientists who are a few steps ahead of the hype cycle. Our goal is simple: to cut through the noise and give you a clear picture of what's really happening in AI. We're not here to cheerlead or fearmonger. We just want to understand this technology that's reshaping our world, and help you understand it too. Whether you're building the next big AI startup or just trying to figure out what all this means for your job, Pivotal Clarity is for you. Each episode, we'll dive deep into one aspect of AI, guided by someone who knows it inside and out. No buzzwords, no fluff - just honest conversations and real insights. The world is changing fast. Let's try to see clearly where it's going
Part 1: How Autonomous GTM Will Replace CRM Forever with Amit Pande
December 12, 2024 • 53 MIN
Rapid tech advancements and the increasingly competitive landscape are pushing businesses to rethink their strategies to effectively reach their target markets. AI stands at the forefront of this transformation, offering innovative solutions that enable companies to optimize their go-to-market (GTM) strategies. We wanted to dive more into the intersection between AI and GTM. To help us with that, we have Amit Pande. In part 1 of the conversation, Amit shares: Why the future of CRM lies in AI-driven systems How AI is empowering buyer enablement Cross-border GTM challenges
How AI Makes Ad Personalization Fast, Easy, and Cheap with Jiajun Lu
November 28, 2024 • 25 MIN
Creating high-quality AI-generated video ads has always been a challenge. However, Akool is changing the game. How? By mixing AI with human creativity. The result? Cheaper, faster, and personalized ad creation. At the forefront of this transformation stands Jiajun Lu, a veteran in AI and computer vision, who joined us in the latest episode of Pivotal Clarity. Jiajun dives into: How Akool combines AI with human creativity in ad creation How to know if your ads are actually working The biggest tech challenges in generative AI Ethical considerations in AI-driven advertising #pivotalclarity #ai #artificialintelligence
When Laws Meet AI, with Laura Carr
November 14, 2024 • 17 MIN
Most people think the government is too complex to change. Except it isn't. Laura Carr discovered this after years in politics - working in DC, the Texas Senate, and lobbying firms. She saw how AI could make legislative research 100x faster. The interesting part isn't the AI itself. It's what happens when someone who deeply understands politics figures out how to make AI work on laws. USLege started with Texas, the most complex state legislature. If AI can handle Texas laws, it can handle anything. This isn't just about making the government more efficient. It's about turning political processes into programmable components. The implications are bigger than most people realize. In this episode, Laura explains: How they found a wedge into government Why lobbyists were their surprising first users What happens when laws become data Why starting with the hardest problem worked If you want to understand how software is finally eating the government because of AI, this conversation is a good place to start.
Robotics Inflection Point: Arshad Hisham on The AI-Robotics Stack & Traditional Labor Markets
October 31, 2024 • 27 MIN
Welcome to Pivotal Clarity. While the AI field has cycled through booms and busts since the 1950s, today's convergence of compute, data, and market demand marks a distinct break from the past. We cut through typical AI coverage by going deep with the technical builders and researchers who are shipping, not speculating. This week, InGen Dynamics CEO Arshad Hisham ($150M+ in commitments) breaks down why robotics is hitting its AWS moment. We dissect: Why previous robotics platforms failed to scale How Origami's abstraction layer changes robot unit economics Where the next wave of automation value will accrue Contrarian thesis: why mass automation creates more jobs than it kills How Futurenauts is rebuilding the technical talent stack Required listening for founders working on robotics infrastructure, applied AI, or the future of technical labor markets.
The Surprising Upside of AI Regulation with Maya Sherman
October 17, 2024 • 33 MIN
Welcome to Pivotal Clarity, an AI Podcast. AI isn't new. It's been lurking in labs since the '50s, with bursts of enthusiasm and funding followed by "AI winters." But something's different now. That's why I started Pivotal Clarity. We talk to the people building and researching this stuff - the founders, engineers, and scientists who are a few steps ahead of the hype cycle. Our goal is simple: to cut through the noise and clearly show what's happening in AI. I’m your host, Rajan Maruthavanan. In this Pivotal Clarity AI Podcast episode, Maya Sherman, an AI policy researcher, advisor, ethicist, at Embassy of Israel, joins host Thiyagarajan M (Rajan) to discuss the intersection of AI, regulation ethics, and climate change. They explore the role of ethics as an enabler of responsible innovation, the role of regulation in tech development, and the future of AI in addressing climate challenges.
AI’s Leverage - Timing, Data and Human Relationship: Insights from Aravind Krishnaswamy
October 10, 2024 • 37 MIN
Welcome to Pivotal Clarity, an AI Podcast. AI isn't new. It's been lurking in labs since the '50s, with bursts of enthusiasm and funding followed by "AI winters." But something's different now. That's why I started Pivotal Clarity. We talk to the people who are actually building and researching this stuff - the founders, engineers, and scientists who are a few steps ahead of the hype cycle. Our goal is simple: to cut through the noise and give you a clear picture of what's really happening in AI. I’m your host, Rajan Maruthavanan. Joining me today is Aravind Krishnaswamy, or Arvi, for everyone, is the Director, Product Management for Cisco’s Contact Center & Customer Experience. We discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the shift towards AI in product management and startups. We cover topics such as the evolution of technology, optimizing for distribution and proximity to users, the role of probabilistic systems, and the importance of data and geopolitics in the AI space. This conversation provides valuable insights for Indian founders and product managers looking to leverage AI for their startups.
How AI Is Actually Changing Accounting with Dr Mfon Akpan
October 3, 2024 • 33 MIN
AI isn't new. It's been around since the 50s, cycling through bursts of excitement and funding, then lulls. But now it feels different. That's why I started this podcast. I talk to people actually building AI - founders, engineers, scientists. Those doing the work. The goal is simple: show what's really happening in AI. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Mfon Akpan, who teaches accounting. We discuss how AI is changing accounting, what this means for jobs, and how to use AI well. We also get into ethics and making sure AI helps everyone, not just a few. Listen in to learn more.
What’s Real in AGI: A Conversation with Peter Voss
September 26, 2024 • 31 MIN
Welcome to Pivotal Clarity, an AI Podcast. AI isn't new. It's been lurking in labs since the '50s, with bursts of enthusiasm and funding followed by "AI winters." But something's different now. That's why I started Pivotal Clarity. We talk to the people building and researching this stuff - the founders, engineers, and scientists who are a few steps ahead of the hype cycle. Our goal is simple: to cut through the noise and clearly show what's happening in AI. I’m your host, Rajan Maruthavanan. In this Pivotal Clarity AI Podcast episode, Peter Voss, Founder and CEO of Aigo.ai, discusses the evolution of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with host Rajan. He highlights AGI's origins, current misconceptions, and the need to focus on real-time learning and adaptability over the narrow AI applications currently at play. Peter critiques reliance on large language models and advocates for a cognitive approach that mimics human learning. He also introduces his company, Aigo, and its dedication to advancing AGI, offering insights into the challenges and future of the field.
Pivotal Clarity | An AI Podcast - Trailer
September 25, 2024 • 1 MIN
Introducing our brand new podcast! 🚀 AI is changing everything, but most people don't see it yet. The real action isn't in flashy consumer apps or big tech PR. It's in obscure papers and github repos that are quietly redefining what's possible. I'm starting a podcast to explore this. It is called Pivotal Clarity. Not to hype AI, but to understand it. We'll dig into the technical details that matter and ignore the fluff. Each episode will dissect one key development in AI. We'll talk to the researchers and founders actually building these systems, not just commentators. The goal isn't to predict the future, but to spot the trends that will shape it. What are the smartest hackers excited about? What hard problems are suddenly becoming tractable? If you want to understand how AI will transform business and society, this podcast is for you. No buzzwords or hand-waving - just clear analysis of the ideas that matter. The first episode drops tomorrow. Subscribe if you're curious.