Rewiring the American Edge

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool that answers questions—it is increasingly becoming a participant in the workplace. In this episode co-hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore the emergence of AI agents, the changing nature of work, and what happens when organizations can deploy digital workers capable of performing research, analysis, content creation, and operational tasks at sca...

On this episode of Rewiring the American Edge , co-hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas unpack the emerging “platform race” reshaping mobility, automation, and the future of transportation systems. What begins as a conversation about autonomous vehicles quickly expands into a deeper discussion about platform economics, capital strategy, infrastructure dependency, and the growing era of “coopetition” —...

In the wide ranging conversation of S2E3, Billy Riggs and longtime colleague and friend Bruce Appleyard unpack the concept of “wicked opportunities” — a framework for understanding the messy, uncertain, and deeply interconnected challenges surrounding autonomous vehicles, AI, and emerging technologies. Drawing from decades of research in urban planning, transportation, and policy, the conversation...

In the S2E2 dialogue on automation and systems complexity, Billy Riggs explores the intersection of institutional incentives, automation, and public policy through two seemingly unrelated stories: the transformation of college athletics and the public reaction to autonomous vehicle failures. Riggs opens with reflections on the evolving economics of NCAA athletics following the rise of Name, Image,...

In the Season 2 premiere of Rewiring the American Edge , hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas kick off 2026 not with predictions, but with signals—looking at the moments when systems are stress-tested and reveal how they actually function. The conversation explores several major institutional transitions shaping the American economy. The hosts examine the economics of big-time college athletics and ho...

Summary In this episode, hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas discuss the urgent need for the U.S. to keep pace with advancements in robotics and AI, particularly in light of China's rapid progress. They explore the implications of cultural distrust and political paralysis in the U.S. that hinder innovation, while also emphasizing the importance of building trust in technology. The dialogue highlights...

In this episode, Billy Riggs explores the intersection of autonomous vehicles and urban design, questioning whether these vehicles should be context-sensitive to their environments. As he says: "What if AVs weren’t just about moving people, but about placemaking? What if their design reflected the neighborhoods they serve and became part of the visual DNA of cities?" He discusses the current state...

In this episode of Rewiring the American Edge, host Billy Riggs talks with architect and professor Stefan Al about the intersection of artificial intelligence and architectural design. They explore how the biggest current use case for AI in architecture is conceptual visualization, and "how just one  text prompt can replace hours of modeling and rendering." Riggs and AI talk about how AI has the p...

In this reflective episode, Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas review the key themes and insights from their first 16 episodes of 'Rewiring the American Edge.' They discuss the importance of American cities as economic engines, the impact of automation and AI on labor, the concept of universal basic infrastructure, and the need for cities to adapt to global challenges. The conversation highlights the nece...

In this episode, the Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore the intersection of blockchain technology and urban planning with expert Justin Hollander . They discuss how blockchain can enhance community engagement, streamline public processes, and even influence future city planning on Mars. The conversation delves into the challenges of governance in space communities and makes bold predictions about...

This conversation explores the evolving landscape of education and the necessity of lifelong learning in the context of rapid technological advancements and changing workforce demands. Co-hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas discuss the importance of aligning educational outcomes with industry needs, the potential for decentralization in the workforce, and the challenges faced by existing educational...

In this conversation Henriette Cornet joins co-hosts William Riggs and Vipul Vyas to dive deeper into the evolving autonomous vehicles (AVs) and ride-sharing landscape, focusing on the technological advancements, infrastructure needs, and the importance of public-private partnerships. The experts discuss the shift from personal vehicle ownership to mobility as a service, technological advances, th...

In this conversation, co-hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas talk with Parker Huncilman from Huncilman Sheet Metal Fabrication / Nix Industrial about the evolution of Midwestern manufacturing. Parker discusses, the challenges of the capital environment and how chose to merge with another family business rather than accept a private equity buy-out in a recent leadership transition of his 5th generatio...

In this episode co-hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas engage in a conversation with Marci Harris , CEO of POPVOX, discussing the intersection of AI and legislation, emphasizing the importance of civic tech in enhancing policy development. She reflects on the evolution of POPVOX, the challenges of keeping democratic institutions aligned with rapidly advancing technology, and the potential of AI to im...

In this episode co-hosts Dr. Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore the complex dynamics of global shifts, focusing on tariffs, trade, and the impact of US policies on innovation and talent. They discuss the implications of isolationism, the role of Europe and China in shaping the future of automation, and the political dysfunction that hinders progress in the US. The dialogue emphasizes the need for...

In this episode, host Billy Riggs talks with Dr. John (Hans) Gilderbloom who shares his personal journey and insights on housing policy, community engagement, and the health impacts of pollution, along with his wife Carla Snyder who talks about their forthcoming documentary Climate of Hope. The conversation explores the intersection of climate change, urbanism, and social justice, emphasizing the...

In this episode, the hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas talk shop with special guest Lee Riggs and discuss the intersection of innovation, automation, and education in the context of the American economy. They explore the challenges posed by uncertainty and chaos, the role of technology in education, and the need for cities to remain competitive. The conversation emphasizes the importance of prepari...

In this conversation, Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore the intersection of automation, urban policy, and the future of cities. They discuss the intrinsic value of streets and urban spaces, the need for transformative land use, and the challenges facing public transportation systems. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of adapting to technological changes while ensuring inclusivity and communi...

In this episode hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas talk with Dr. Henriette Cornet (Autonomous Vehicles & the City co-director and founder of Urban Innovate ) about autonomous vehicles and sustainability, highlighting the importance of innovation in public transport. The discussion covers the differences between the US and Europe in terms of investment and development in autonomous vehicle techno...

In this episode of Rewiring the American Edge, hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas talk with special guest Ruth Whittaker Director of Civic Innovation Policy at the Chamber of Program discussing the future of labor in the context of automation and autonomous vehicles. They explore the potential for job creation, the importance of middle-skilled labor, and the need for workforce development. The conve...

In this conversation, Vipul Vyas and Billy Riggs discuss the erosion of trust in global institutions, particularly focusing on the implications of foreign affiliations and national security concerns. They explore the challenges faced by U.S. institutions like Harvard in navigating these issues, the impact of foreign student policies on academic freedom, and the balance between fostering innovation...

In this episode of Rewiring the American Edge, hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas discuss the future of cities in the context of automation and innovation. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, the importance of education and critical thinking, and the need for bold leadership to prepare for a rapidly changing world. Special guest Seneca Scott shares insights on community or...

In this conversation, Billy Riggs discusses the impact of automation on the economy, emphasizing the importance of redundancy in technology for resilience. He explores the concept of coopetition among tech companies and highlights the challenges and opportunities in public transportation, particularly regarding last mile solutions. Takeaways Automation and innovation are reshaping the economy. Red...

In this conversation, Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore various themes related to management strategies, the importance of having clear goals in leadership, the impact of automation and innovation on society, and the future of work. Billy also forgets the show name and calls it "Reimagining the American Dream". They discuss the need for infrastructure investment, the implications of trade policie...

In this conversation, Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas explore the challenges and opportunities facing cities in the new economy. They discuss the need for urban innovation, the importance of setting clear goals, and the role of competition in driving progress. The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of rewiring our thinking and strategies to adapt to rapid changes in the global landscape, while also lear...