The Next Stage podcast by Web Summit

Geoffrey Hinton aka the Godfather of AI pioneered the neural networks that power today’s artificial intelligence revolution. But where does AI go from here? Geoffrey digs into the big questions like whether robots will take our jobs and if AI could someday outsmart humans. While those working in roles involving repetitive tasks are in danger of being replaced by automation, Geoffrey recommends you...

Could artificial meat be the new normal? In this episode of the Next Stage, we learn from three entrepreneurs working to create meat alternatives using plants, fungi, and cell cultivation.  They discuss the products and technologies that enable them to replicate the taste, texture and nutrition of conventional meat, as well as the challenges involved in scaling up production. The founders share th...

There are a lot of fears about AI and killer robots. But what if AI is more safety-net than Skynet when it comes to climate change? In this episode of the Next Stage podcast, join ClimateAI co-founder and CTO Maximilian Evans in conversation with Bell Media weather anchor, co-host and producer Michelle Jobin, as they discuss how AI could save humanity.  Drawing from personal experience growing up...

Is the tech industry ignoring an untapped resource by excluding people with criminal records? People with criminal records are often shut out of the labour market. But some companies have recognised that so-called 'second chance' and 'fair chance' hiring can help them find more workers.  In this episode of the Next Stage podcast, Checkr co-founder and CEO Daniel Yanisse joins Sojou...

In the second episode of our new bonus series – The Next Stage Sessions – host Casey Lau sat down with Emily ‘pplpleasr’ Yang, co-founder of Shibuya, a Web3 content studio and creator platform. Emily’s work has inspired the formation of the prolific investment group PleasrDAO. The founder has also helped define the aesthetic of the decentralised finance movement, and has collaborated with Steve Ao...

Hello and welcome to our brand new bonus episode series – The Next Stage Sessions – where our host, Casey Lau, settles in for a deep dive conversation with founders and innovators from across the tech world. This episode was broadcast live on May 25 and features special guest Pascal Gauthier, the CEO of crypto hardware device provider Ledger. "The best technology conference on the planet&quot...

The term ‘bot’ often evokes a sense of annoyance, scepticism, or even dread. Whether it’s trending hashtags manipulated by an army of automated accounts, or your X (fka Twitter) feed being inundated with political propaganda, bots have gained a reputation as digital pests.  But what if they could be used for good in cybersecurity? In this episode of the Next Stage, Signifyd co-founder and CEO Raje...

How close are we to fully functional, error-corrected quantum computers? In this episode of the Next Stage, Christian Weedbrook, CEO of quantum computing company Xanadu, explains the company’s mission to build photonic quantum computers and make them useful and accessible through Pennylane (the company's proprietary software stack). Christian outlines the hardware, software and applications ne...

Beyond the indulgences of tech billionaires including Bryan Johnson – who has spent millions on longevity interventions (including plasma infusions from a teenage son) – can the rest of us expect to live into our hundreds? Amol Sarva, founder of a venture fund investing in longevity research, and Joel Jackson, co-founder and president of a healthtech company trying to extend lifespans, discuss how...

How are generative AI tools like ChatGPT transforming education? We hear horror stories of students using these tools to write entire essays and pass them off as their own. But, these education experts think there is potential for positive applications. From making personalised learning widely accessible to providing feedback loops for students, Joshua Wöhle, co-founder and CEO of edtech startup M...

How are generative AI tools like ChatGPT transforming education? We hear horror stories of students using these tools to write entire essays and pass them off as their own. But, these education experts think there is potential for positive applications. From making personalised learning widely accessible to providing feedback loops for students, Joshua Wöhle, co-founder and CEO of edtech startup M...

How can we build more equitable and inclusive platforms and organisations? In this episode of The Next Stage, Janaye Ingram of Airbnb talks about how the platform conducted a civil rights audit to uncover biases and made product changes to combat discrimination. Kelly Burton, CEO of the Black Innovation Alliance, explains how they are supporting Black entrepreneurs through four pillars: research,...

Roblox YouTuber and livestreamer KreekCraft  joins a panel including Morgan McGuire, chief scientist at Roblox. The gaming experts discuss how user generated content (UGC) and streaming have made gaming social and mainstream. They also reflect on how the convergence of gaming, music, social media and streaming has created diverse content. With insights from top creators and executives, don't m...

Marc D'Amelio rocketed to fame managing the careers of teen influencer daughters, Charli and Dixie. Now Marc is launching D’Amelio Brands to partner with big companies on co-created consumer products endorsed by the TikTok superstars. In this episode of The Next Stage, Marc shares a vision for building a billion-dollar brand using Charli and Dixie’s digital stardom but also emphasises the impo...

LGBTQ+ people have long faced discrimination and gaps in access to competent, welcoming healthcare. In this episode of The Next Stage, Folx Health CEO Liana M Douillet Guzmán and Viseven’s Yuliya Sotska explore innovations in LGBTQ+ specific digital health services.  They also discuss how new patient-centric companies are helping provide the community with inclusive, identity-affirming care. Liana...

Drones are transforming public safety with capabilities far beyond hobbyist quadcopters. Blake Resnick’s company Brinc focuses on drones for high-risk scenarios like police raids, disaster response, and search and rescue operations. Investor Erin Price-Wright saw Brinc’s potential to tackle hard problems with deep tech. Listen on to learn how Resnick’s drones utilise AI to fly where humans can’t a...

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is emerging as a promising treatment for mental health conditions like anxiety, addiction, and PTSD.  In this episode of The Next Stage, Marik Hazan of psychedelics investment firm Tabula Rasa Ventures and Sherry Rais, CEO of psychedelic therapy provider Enthea discuss research showing psychedelics can treat root causes in ways traditional pharmaceuticals can’t, and ho...

In the third episode of our new bonus series – The Next Stage Sessions – host Casey Lau discussed all things social media with Gabor Cselle, co-founder and CEO of T2.T2 is a social media platform that aims to provide a better public square online. Before founding T2, Gabor worked as a product manager with both Google and Twitter (or X, as it’s now known). In this episode Gabor told us why he start...

Geoffrey Hinton aka the Godfather of AI pioneered the neural networks that power today’s artificial intelligence revolution. But where does AI go from here? Geoffrey digs into the big questions like whether robots will take our jobs and if AI could someday outsmart humans. While those working in roles involving repetitive tasks are in danger of being replaced by automation, Geoffrey recommends you...

2021 saw tech startups reach unicorn status in droves, but the easy money fueling billion-dollar valuations has dried up.  In this episode of The Next Stage, Vanta CEO Christina Cacioppo and investor Jai Das explore the end of the unicorn era and what it will take for startups to succeed in the new normal. Christina Cacioppo, co-founder and CEO of Vanta, and Jai Das, co-founder, president and part...

It started out as a Google Sheet shared on Twitter by Gabor Cselle, asking people to add their thoughts on how to make a kinder Twitter. After going viral, the former Twitter employee decided to build an alternative.   Gabor and co-founder Sarah Oh launched T2 just two weeks after starting to build it, following Y Combinator’s advice to launch early. Listen to this episode for the full story. Gabo...

What’s the next killer app? How will AI change our connected future? When – and in what key industries – will 5G and augmented reality’s promise show? Are there cybersecurity dangers the more software-defined our automobiles become? AT&T CTO Jeremy Legg, Forbes' Martine Paris and technology influencer Marques Brownlee answer these questions and more. "The best technology conference o...

Alex Collmer, the founder and CEO of analytics platform VidMob thinks that AI is a transformative force that will permanently change the way we live and operate. This, says Alex, goes for all kinds of jobs and skills including creativity. So, should marketing professionals be scared of AI coming for their jobs? Not according to Alex who says that all of these tools for data insights cannot be fed...

Twenty years ago Silicon Valley was at the epicentre of the global tech startup scene. This was the hunting ground for VC who tended not to look outside the area. The golden rule at the time, said Mathias Schilling, a co-founder and managing partner with VC firm Headline, was that you wouldn’t invest in a company that was further away than one hour from your office.  Things have changed of course....

Tim Draper, an investor known equally for his reality TV series as his VC skills, talks about the future of crypto. How long will the crypto winter last? Is it perhaps the beginning of the end? Having invested in successful companies including Skype and SpaceX, and spotted the value in Bitcoin as early on as 2014, one would think the VC’s instincts are well honed. Tim’s predictions are that Bitcoi...