Podcasts about Synthesia

What does 2026 hold for indie authors and the publishing industry? I give my thoughts on trends and predictions for the year ahead. In the intro, Quitting the right stuff; how to edit your author business in 2026; Is SubStack Good for Indie Authors?; Business for Authors webinars. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability (3) The start of Agentic Commerce (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. 2026 Trends and Predictions for Indie Authors and Book Publishing (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events — and more companies like BookVault will offer even more beautiful physical books and products to support this. This trend will not be a surprise to most of you! Selling direct has been a trend for the last few years, but in 2026, it will continue to grow as a way that independent authors become even more independent. The recent Written Word Media survey from Dec 2025 noted that 30% of authors surveyed are selling direct already and 30% say they plan to start in 2026. Among authors earning over $10,000 per month, roughly half sell direct. In my opinion, selling direct is an advanced author strategy, meaning that you have multiple books and you understand book marketing and have an email list already or some guaranteed way to reach readers. In fact, Kindlepreneur reports that 66% of authors selling direct have more than 5 books, and 46% have more than 10 books. Of course, you can start with the something small, like a table at a local event with a limited number of books for sale, but if you want to consistently sell direct for years to come, you need to consider all the business aspects. Selling direct is not a silver bullet. It's much harder work to sell direct than it is to just upload an ebook to Amazon, whether you choose a Kickstarter campaign, or Shopify/Payhip or other online stores, or regular in-person sales at events/conferences/fairs. You need a business mindset and business practices, for example, you need to pay upfront for setup as well as ongoing management, and bulk printing in some cases. You need to manage taxes and cashflow. You need to be a lot more proactive about marketing, as you won't sell anything if you don't bring readers to your books/products. But selling direct also brings advantages. It sets you apart from the bulk of digital only authors who still only upload ebooks to Amazon, or maybe add a print on demand book, and in an era of AI rapid creation, that number is growing all the time. If you sell direct, you get your customer data and you can reach those customers next time, through your email list. If you don't know who bought your books and don't have a guaranteed way to reach them, you will more easily be disrupted when things change — and they always change eventually. Kindlepreneur notes that “45% of the successful direct selling authors had over 1,000 subscribers on their email lists,” with “a clear, positive correlation between email list size and monthly direct sales income — with authors having an email list of over 15,000 subscribers earning 20X more than authors with email lists under 100 subscribers.” Selling direct means faster money, sometimes the same day or the same week in many cases, or a few weeks after a campaign finishes, as with Kickstarter. And remember, you don't have to sell all your formats directly. You can keep your ebooks in KU, do whatever you like with audiobooks, and just have premium print products direct, or start with a very basic Kickstarter campaign, or a table at a local fair. Lots more tips for Shopify and Kickstarter at https://www.thecreativepenn.com/selldirectresources/ I also recommend the Novel Marketing Podcast on The Shopify Trap: Why authors keep losing money as it is a great counterpoint to my positive endorsement of selling direct on Shopify! Among other things, Thomas notes that a fixed monthly fee for a store doesn't match how most authors make money from books which is more in spikes, the complexity and hassle eats time and can cost more money if you pay for help, and it can reduce sales on Amazon and weaken your ranking. Basically, if you haven't figured out marketing direct to your store, it can hurt you.All true for some authors, for some genres, and for some people's lifestyle. But for authors who don't want to be on the hamster wheel of the Amazon algorithm and who want more diversity and control in income, as well as the incredible creative benefits of what you can do selling direct, then I would say, consider your options in 2025, even if that is trying out a low-financial-goal Kickstarter campaign, or selling some print books at a local fair. Interestingly, traditional publishers are also experimenting with direct sales. Kate Elton, the new CEO of Harper Collins notes in The Bookseller's 2026 trend article, “we are seeing global success with responsive, reader-driven publishing, subscription boxes and TikTok Shop and – crucially – developing strategies that are founded on a comprehensive understanding of the reader.” She also notes, “AI enables us to dramatically change the way we interact with and grow audiences. The opportunities are genuinely exciting – finding new ways to help readers discover books they will love, innovating in the ways we market and reach audiences, building new channels and adapting to new methods of consuming content.” (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability From LinkedIn's 2026 Big Ideas: “Generative engine optimization (GEO) is set to replace search engine optimization (SEO) as the way brands get discovered in the year ahead. As consumers turn to AI chatbots, agentic workflows and answer engines, appearing prominently in generative outputs will matter more than ranking in search engines.” Google has been rolling out AI Mode with its AI Overviews and is beginning to push it within Google.com itself in some countries, which means the start of a fundamental change in how people discover content online. I first posted about GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) in 2023, and it's going to change how readers find books. For years, we've talked about the long tail of search. Now, with AI-powered search, that tail is getting even longer and more nuanced. AI can understand complex, conversational queries that traditional search engines struggled with. Someone might ask, “What's a good thriller set in a small town with a female protagonist who's a journalist investigating a cold case?” and get highly specific recommendations. This means your book metadata, your website content, and your online presence need to be more detailed and conversational. AI search engines understand context in ways that go far beyond simple keywords. The authors who win in this new landscape will be those who create rich, authentic content about their books and themselves, not just promotional copy. As economist Tyler Cowen has said, “Consider the AIs as part of your audience. Because they are already reading your words and listening to your voice.” We're in the ‘organic' traffic phase right now, where these AI engines are surfacing content for ‘free,' but paid ads are inevitably on the way, and even rumoured to be coming this year to ChatGPT. By the end of 2026, I expect some authors and publishers to be paying for AI traffic, rather than blocking and protesting them. For now, I recommend checking that your author name/s and your books are surfaced when you search on ChatGPT.com as well as Google.com AI Mode (powered by Gemini). You want to make sure your work comes up in some way. I found that Joanna Penn and J.F. Penn searches brought up my Shopify stores, my website, podcast, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even my Patreon page, but did not bring up links to Amazon. If you only have an author presence on Amazon, does it appear in AI search at all? Do you need to improve anything about what the AI search brings up? Traditional publishers are also looking at this, with PublishersWeekly doing webinars on various aspects of AI in early 2026, including sessions on GEO and how book sales are changing, AI agents, and book marketing. In a 2026 predictions article on The Bookseller, the CEO of Bloomsbury Publishing noted, “The boundaries of artificial intelligence will become clearer, enabling publishers to harness its benefits while seeking to safeguard the intellectual property rights of authors, illustrators and publishers.” “AI will be deeply embedded in our workflows, automating tasks such as metadata tagging, freeing teams to focus on creativity and strategy. Challenges will persist. Generative AI threatens traditional web traffic and ad revenue models, making metadata optimisation and SEO critical for visibility as we adjust to this new reality online.” (3) The start of Agentic Commerce AI researches what you want to buy and may even buy on your behalf. Plus, I predict that Amazon does a commerce deal with OpenAI for shopping within ChatGPT by the end of 2026. In September 2025, ChatGPT launched Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which will enable bots to buy on websites in the background if authorised by the human with the credit card. VISA is getting on board with this, so is PayPal, with no doubt more payment options to come. In the USA, ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users can now buy directly from US Etsy sellers inside the chat interface, with over a million Shopify merchants coming soon. Shopify and OpenAI have also announced a partnership to bring commerce to ChatGPT. I am insanely excited about this as it could represent the first time we have been able to more easily find and surface books in a much more nuanced way than the 7 keywords and 3 categories we have relied on for so long! I've been using ChatGPT for at least the last year to find fiction and non-fiction books as I find the Amazon interface is ‘polluted' by ads. I've discovered fascinating books from authors I've never heard of, most in very long tail areas. For example, Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby, recommended by ChatGPT as I am interested in medical anatomy and anatomical Venuses, and The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson, recommended as I like art history and the supernatural. I don't think I would have found either of these within a nuanced discussion with ChatGPT. Even without these direct purchase integrations, ChatGPT now has Shopping Research, which I have found links directly to my Shopify store when I search for my books specifically. Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to create AI-first shopping experiences, and you have to wonder what Amazon might be doing? In Nov 2025, Amazon signed a “strategic partnership” with OpenAI, and even though it's focused on the technical side of AI, those two companies in a room together might also be working on other plans … I'm calling it for 2026. I think Amazon will sign a commerce agreement with OpenAI sometime before the end of the year. This will enable at least recommendation and shopping links into Amazon stores (presumably using an OpenAI affiliate link), or perhaps even Instant Checkout with ChatGPT for Amazon. It will also enable a new marketing angle, especially if paid ads arrive in ChatGPT, perhaps even integrating with Amazon Ads in some way as part of any possible agreement, since ads are such a good revenue stream for Amazon anyway. The line between discovery, engagement, and purchase is collapsing. Someone could be having a conversation with an AI about what to read next, and within that same conversation, purchase a bookwithout ever leaving the chat interface. This already happens within TikTok and social commerce clearly works for many authors. It's possible that the next development for book discoverability and sales might be within AI chats. This will likely stratify the already fragmented book eco-system even more. Some readers will continue to live only within the Amazon ecosystem and (maybe) use their Rufus chatbot to buy, and others will be much wider in their exploration of how to find and discover books (and other products and services). If you haven't tried it yet, try ChatGPT.com Shopping Research for a book. You can do this on the free tier. Use the drop down in the main chat box and select Shopping Research. It doesn't have to be for your book. It can be any book or product, for example, our microwave died just before Christmas so I used it to find a new one. But do a really nuanced search with multiple requirements. Go far beyond what you would search for on Amazon. In the results, notice that (at the time of writing) it does not generally link to Amazon, but to independent sites and stores. As above, I think this will change by the end of 2026, as some kind of commerce deal with Amazon seems inevitable. (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream I've been talking about AI narration of audiobooks since 2019, and over the years, I've tried various different options. In 2025, the technology reached a level of emotional nuance that made it much easier to create satisfying fiction audio as well as non-fiction. It also super-charges accessibility, making audio available in more languages and more accents than ever before. Of course, human narration remains the gold standard, but the cost makes it prohibitive for many authors, and indeed many small traditional publishers, for all books. If it costs $2000 – $10,000 to create an audiobook, you have to sell a lot to make a profit, and the dominance of subscription models have made it harder to recoup the costs. Famous narrators and voice artists who have an audience may still be worth investing in, as well as premium production, but require an even higher upfront cost and therefore higher sales and streams in return. AI voice/audio models are continuing to improve, and even as this goes out, there are rumours on TechCrunch that OpenAI's new device, designed by Jony Ive who designed the iPhone, will be audio first and OpenAI are improving their voice models even more in preparation for that launch. In 2026, I think AI-narrated audio will go mainstream with far-reaching adoption across publishing and the indie author world in many different languages and accents. This will mean a further stratification of audiobooks, with high quality, high production, high cost human narrated audio for a small percentage of books, and then mass market, affordable AI-narrated audio for the rest. AI-narrated audiobooks will make audio ubiquitous, and just as (almost) every print book has an ebook format, in 2026, they will also have an audio format. I straddle both these worlds, as I am still a human audiobook narrator for my own work. I human-narrated Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition (free audiobook) and The Buried and the Drowned, my short story collection. I also use AI narration for some books. ElevenLabs remains my preferred service and in 2025, I used my J.F. Penn voice clone for Death Valley and also Blood Vintage, while using a male voice for Catacomb. I clearly label my AI-narration in the sales description and also on the cover, which I think is important, although it is not always required by the various services. You can distribute ElevenLabs narrated audiobooks on Spotify, Kobo Writing Life, YouTube, ElevenReader, and of course your own store if you use Shopify with Bookfunnel. There are many other services springing up all the time, so make sure you check the rights you have over the finished audio, as well as where you can sell and distribute the final files. If they are just using ElevenLabs models in the back-end, then why not just do that directly? (Most services will be using someone's model in the back-end, since most companies do not train their own models.) Of course, you can use Amazon's own narration. While Amazon originally launched Audible audiobooks with Virtual Voice (AVV) in November 2023, it was rolled out to more authors and territories in 2025. If your book is eligible, the option to create an audiobook will appear on your KDP dashboard. With just a few clicks, you can create an audiobook from a range of voices and accents, and publish it on Amazon and Audible. However, the files are not yours. They are exclusive to Amazon and you cannot use them on other platforms or sell them direct yourself. But they are also free, so of course, many authors, especially those in KU, will use this option. I have done some for my mum's sweet romance books as Penny Appleton and I will likely use them for my books in translation when the option becomes available. Traditional publishers are experimenting with AI-assisted audiobook narration as well. MacMillan is selling digital audiobooks read by AI directly on their store. PublishersWeekly reports that PRH Audio “has experimented with artificial voice in specific instances, such as entrepreneur Ely Callaway's posthumous memoir The Unconquerable Game,” when an “authorized voice replica” was created for the audiobook. The article also notes that PRH Audio “embrace artificial intelligence across business operations—my entire department [PRH Audio] is using AI for business applications.” And while indie authors can't use AI voices on ACX right now, Audible have over 100 voices available to selected publishing partnerships, as reported by The Guardian with “two options for publishers wishing to make use of the technology: “Audible-managed” production, or “self-service” whereby publishers produce their own audiobooks with the help of Audible's AI technology.” In 2026, it's likely that more traditional publishers — as well as indie authors — will get their backlist into audio with AI narration. (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters Over the years, I've done translation deals with traditional publishers in different languages (German, French, Spanish, Korean, Italian) for some fiction and non-fiction books. But of course, to get these kinds of deals, you have to be proactive about pitching, or work with an agent for foreign rights only, and those are few and far between! There are also lots of languages and territories worldwide, and most deals are for the bigger markets, leaving a LOT of blue water for books in translation, even if you have licensed some of the bigger markets. I did my first partially AI-translated books in 2019 when I used Deepl.com for the first draft and then worked with a German editor to do 3 non-fiction books in German. While the first draft was cheap, the editing was pretty expensive, so I stopped after only doing a couple. I have made the money back now, but it took years. In 2025, AI Translation began to take off with ScribeShadow, GlobeScribe.ai, and more recently, in November 2025, Kindle Translate boosting the number of translated books available. Kindle Translate is (currently) only available to US authors for English into Spanish and also German into English, but in 2026, this will likely roll out to more languages and more authors, making it easier than ever to produce translations for free. Of course, once again, the gold standard is human translation, or at least human-edited translations, but the cost is prohibitive even just for proof-reading, and if there is a cheap or even free option, like Kindle Translate, then of course, authors are going to try it. If the translation gets bad reviews, they can just un-publish. There are many anecdotal stories of indie success in 2025 with AI-translated genre fiction sales (in series) in under-served markets like Italian, French, and Spanish, as well as more mainstream adoption in German. I was around in the Kindle gold-rush days of 2009-2012 and the AI-translation energy right now feels like that. There are hardly any Kindle ebooks in many of these languages compared to how many there are in English, so inevitably, the rush is on to fill the void, especially in genres that are under-served by traditional publishers in those markets. Yes, some of these AI translated books will be ‘AI-slop,' but readers are not stupid. Those books will get bad reviews and thus will sink to the bottom of the store, never to be seen again. The AI translation models are also improving rapidly, and Amazon's Kindle Translate may improve faster than most, for books specifically, since they will be able to get feedback in terms of page reads. Amazon is also a major investor in Anthropic, which makes Claude.ai, widely considered the best quality for creative writing and translation, so it's likely that is used somewhere in the mix. Some traditional publishers are also experimenting with AI-assisted translation, with Harlequin France reportedly using AI translation and human proofreaders, as reported by the European Council of Literary Translators' Associations in December 2025. Academic publisher Taylor and Francis is also using AI for book translation, noting: “Following a program of rigorous testing, Taylor & Francis has announced plans to use AI translation tools to publish books that would otherwise be unavailable to English-language readers, bringing the latest knowledge to a vastly expanded readership.” “Until now, the time and resources required to translate books has meant that the majority remained accessible only to those who could read them in the original language. Books that were translated often only became available after a significant delay. Today, with the development of sophisticated AI translation tools, it has become possible to make these important texts available to a broad readership at speed, without compromising on accuracy.” (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. In 2025, short form AI-generated video became very high quality. OpenAI released Sora 2, and YouTube announced new Shorts creation tools with Veo 3, which you can also use directly within Gemini. There are tons of different AI video apps now, including those within the social media sites themselves. There is more video than ever and it's much easier to create. I am not a fan of short form video! I don't make it and I don't consume it, but I do love making book trailers for my Kickstarter campaigns and for adding to my book pages and using on social media. I made a trailer for The Buried and the Drowned using Midjourney for images and then animation of those images, and Canva to put them together along with ElevenLabs to generate the music. But despite the AI tools getting so much easier to use, you still have to prompt them with exactly what you want. I can't just upload my book and say, “Make a book trailer,” or “Make a short film.” This may change with generative video ads, which are likely to become more common in 2026, as video turns specifically commercial. Video ads may even be generated specifically for the user, with an audience of one, maybe even holding your book in their hands (using something like Cameos on Sora), in the same way that some AI-powered clothing stores do virtual try-ons. This might also up-end the way we discover and buy things, as the AI for eCommerce and Amazon Sellers newsletter says about OpenAI's Sora app, “OpenAI isn't just trying to build a TikTok competitor. They're building a complete reimagining of how we discover and buy things …” “The combination of ChatGPT's research capabilities and Sora's potential for emotional manipulation—I mean, “engagement”—could create something we've never seen before: an AI ecosystem that might eventually guide you through every type of purchase, from the most considered to the most impulsive.” In 2026, there will be A LOT more AI-generated video, but that also leads to the human trend of more live video. While you can use an AI avatar that looks and sounds like you using tools like HeyGen or Synthesia, live video has all the imperfect human elements that make it stand-out, plus the scarcity element which leads to the purchase decision within a countdown period. Live video is nothing new in terms of brand building and content in general, but it seems that live events primarily for direct sales might be a thing in 2026. Kim Kardashian hosted Kimsmas Live in December 2025 with a 45 minute live shopping event with special guests, described as entertainment but designed to be a sales extravaganza. Indie authors are doing a similar thing on TikTok with their books, so this is a trend to watch in 2026, especially if you feel that live selling might fit with your personality and author business goals. It's certainly not for everyone, but I suspect it will suit a different kind of creator to those who prefer ‘no face' video, or no video at all! On other aspects of the human side of social media, Adam Mosseri the CEO of Instagram put a post on Threads called Authenticity after Abundance. He said, “Everything that made creators matter—the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn't be faked—is now suddenly accessible to anyone with the right tools.” “Deepfakes are getting better and better. AI is generating photographs and videos indistinguishable from captured media. The feeds are starting to fill up with synthetic everything. And in that world, here's what I think happens.Creators matter more.” It's a long article so just to pick a few things from it: “We like to talk about “AI slop,” but there is a lot of amazing AI content … we are going to start to see more and more realistic AI content.” I've talked to my Patreon Community about this ‘tsunami of excellence' as these tools are just getting better and better and the word ‘slop' can also be applied to purely human output, too. If you think that AI content is ‘worse' than wholly human content, in 2026, you are wrong. It is now very very good, especially in the hands of people who can drive the AI tools. Back to Adam's post: “Authenticity is fast becoming a scarce resource, …The creators who succeed will be those who figure out how to maintain their authenticity [even when it can be simulated] …” “The bar is going to shift from “can you create?” to “can you make something that only you could create?” He talks about how the personal content on Instagram now is: “unpolished; it's blurry photos and shaky videos of people's daily experiences … flattering imagery is cheap to produce and boring to consume. People want content that feels real… Savvy creators are going to lean into explicitly unproduced and unflattering images of themselves. In a world where everything can be perfected, imperfection becomes a signal. Rawness isn't just aesthetic preference anymore—it's proof. It's defensive. A way of saying: this is real because it's imperfect.” While I partially love this, and I really hope it's true, as in I hope we don't need to look good for the camera anymore I would also challenge Adam on this, because pretty much every woman I know on social media has been sent sexual messages, and/or told they are ugly and/or fat when posting anything unflattering. I've certainly had both even for the same content, but I don't expect Adam has been the target for such posting! But I get his point. He goes on:“Labeling content as authentic or AI-generated is only part of the solution though. We, as an industry, are going to need to surface much more context about not only the media on our platforms, but the accounts that are sharing it in order for people to be able to make informed decisions about what to believe. Where is the account? When was it created? What else have they posted?” This is exactly what I've been saying for a while under my double down on being human focus. I use my Instagram @jfpennauthor as evidence of humanity, not as a sales channel. You can do both of course, but increasingly, you need to make sure your accounts at places have longevity and trust, even by the platforms themselves. Adam finishes: “In a world of infinite abundance and infinite doubt, the creators who can maintain trust and signal authenticity—by being real, transparent, and consistent—will stand out.” For other marketing trends for 2026, I recommend publicist Kathleen Schmidt's SubStack which is mostly focused on traditional publishing but still interesting for indies. In her 2026 article, she notes: “We have reached a social media saturation point where going viral can be meaningless and should not be the goal; authenticity and creativity should. She also says, “In-person events are important again,” and, “Social media marketing takes a nosedive… we have reached a saturation point … What publishers must figure out is how to make their social media campaigns stand out. If they remain somewhat uninspired, the money spent on social ads won't convert into book sales.” I think this is part of the rise of live selling as above, which can stand out above more ‘produced' videos. Kathleen also talks about AI usage. “AI can help lighten the burden of publicity and marketing.” “A lot of AI tools are coming to market to lessen the load: they can write pitches, create media lists for you, send pitches for you, and more. I know the industry is grappling with all things AI, but some of these tools are huge time savers and may help a book more than hurt it.” On that note … (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention Many authors will be very happy about this as marketing is often the bane of our author business lives! As I noted in my 2026 goals, I would love to outsource more marketing tasks to AI. I want an “AI book marketing assistant” where I can upload a book and specify a budget and say, ‘Go market this,' then the AI will action the marketing, without me having to cobble together workflows between systems. Of course, it will present plans for me to approve but it will do the work itself on the various platforms and monitor and optimize things for me. I really hope 2026 is the year this becomes possible, because we are on the edge of it already in some areas. Amazon Ads launched a new agentic AI tool in September 2025 that creates professional-quality ads. I've also been working with Claude in Chrome browser to help me analyse my Amazon Ad data and suggest which keywords/products to turn off and what to put more budget into. I'll do a Patreon video on that soon. Meta announced it will enable AI ad creation by the end of 2026 for Facebook and Instagram. For authors who find ad creation overwhelming or time-consuming, this could be a game-changer. Of course, you will still need a budget! (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever Lots of authors and publishers are moaning about the difficulty of reaching readers in an era of ‘AI slop' but there is no shortage of excellent content created by humans, or humans using AI tools. As ever, our competition is less about other authors, or even authors using AI-assisted creation, we're competing against everything else that jostles for people's attention, and the volume of that is also growing exponentially. I've never been a fan of rapid release, and have said for years that you can't keep up with the pace of the machines. So play a different game. As Kevin Kelly wrote in 2008, If you have 1000 true fans, (also known as super fans), “you can make a living — if you are content to make a living but not a fortune.” [Kevin Kelly was on this show in 2023 talking about Excellent Advice for Living.] Many authors and the publishing industry are stuck in the old model of aiming to sell huge volumes of books at a low profit margin to a massive number of readers, many of them releasing ever faster to try and keep the algorithms moving. But the maths can work for the smaller audience of more invested readers and fans. If you only make $2 profit on an ebook, you need to sell 500 ebooks to make $1000, and then do it again next month. Or you can have a small community like my patreon.com/thecreativepenn where people pay $2 (or more) a month, so even a small revenue per person results in a better outcome over the year, as it is consistent monthly income with no advertising. But what if you could make $20 profit per book? That is entirely possible if you're producing high quality hardbacks on Kickstarter, or bundle deals of audiobooks, or whole series of ebooks. You would only need to sell to 50 people to make $1000. What about $100 profit per sale, which you can do with a small course or live event? You only need 10 people to make $1000, and this in-person focus also amplifies trust and fosters human connection. I've found the intimacy of my live Patreon Office Hours and also my webinars have been rewarding personally, but also financially, and are far more memorable — and potentially transformative — than a pre-recorded video or even another book. From the LinkedIn 2026 Big Ideas article: “In an AI-optimized world, intentional human connection will become the ultimate luxury.” The 1000 True Fans model is about serving a smaller, more personal audience with higher value products (and maybe services if that's your thing). As ever, its about niche and where you fit in the long long long long long tail. It's also about trust. Because there is definitely a shortage of that in so many areas, and as Adam Mosseri of Instagram has said, trust will be increasingly important. Trust takes time to build, but if you focus on serving your audience consistently, and delivering a high quality, and being authentic, this emerges as part of being human. In an echo of what happened when online commerce first took off, we are back to talking about trust. Back in 2010, I read Trust Agents: by Julien Smith and Chris Brogan, which clearly needs a comeback. There was a 10th anniversary edition published in 2020, so that's worth a read/listen. Chris Brogan was also on this show in 2017 when we talked about finding and serving your niche for the long term. That interview is still relevant, here's a quick excerpt, where I have (lightly edited) his response to my question on this topic back in 2017: Jo: The principle of know, like, and trust, why is that still important or perhaps even more important these days? Chris: There are a few things that at play there, Joanna. One is that the same tools that make it so easy for any of us to start and run a business also allow certain elements to decide whether or not they want to do something dubious. And with all new technologies that come, you know, there's nothing unique about these new technologies. In the 1800s, anyone could put anything in a bottle and sell it to you and say, this is gonna cure everything. Cancer — gone. And the bottle could have nothing in. You know, it could be Kool-Aid. And so, the idea of trying to understand what's behind the business though, one beautiful thing that's come is that we can see in much more dimensions who we're dealing with. We can understand better who's the face behind the brand. I really want people to try their best to be a lot clearer on what they stand for or what they say. And I don't really mean a tagline. I mean, humans don't really talk like that. They don't throw some sentence out as often as they can that you remember them for that phrase. But I would say that, we have so many media available to us — the plural of mediums — where we can be more of ourselves. And I think that there's a great opportunity to share the ‘you' behind the scenes, and some people get immediately terrified about this, ‘Ah, the last thing I want is for people to know more about me,' but I think we have such an opportunity. We have such an opportunity to voice our thoughts on something, to talk about the story that goes behind the product. We were all raised on overly produced material, but I think we don't want that anymore. We really want clarity, brevity, simplicity. We want the ability for what we feel is connection and then access. And so I think it's vital that we connect and show people our accessibility, not so that they can pester us with strange questions, but more so that you can say, this person stands with their product and their service and this person believes these things, and I feel something when I hear them and I wanna be part of that.” That's from Chris Brogan's interview here in 2017, and he is still blogging and speaking at writing at ChrisBrogan.com and I'm going to re-listen to the audiobook of Trust Agents again myself as I think it's more relevant than ever. The original quote comes from Bob Burg in his 1994 book, Endless Referrals, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.” That still applies, and absolutely fits with the 1000 True Fans model of aiming to serve a smaller audience. As Kevin Kelly says in 1000 True Fans, “Instead of trying to reach the narrow and unlikely peaks of platinum bestseller hits, blockbusters, and celebrity status, you can aim for direct connection with a thousand true fans.” “On your way, no matter how many fans you actually succeed in gaining, you'll be surrounded not by faddish infatuation, but by genuine and true appreciation. It's a much saner destiny to hope for. And you are much more likely to actually arrive there.” In 2026, I hope that more authors (including me!) let go of ego goals and vanity metrics like ranking, gross sales (income before you take away costs), subscribers, followers, and likes, and consider important business numbers like profit (which is the money you have after costs like marketing are taken out), as well as number of true fans — and also lifestyle elements like number of weekends off, or days spent enjoying life and not just working! OK, that's my list of trends and predictions for 2026. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you agree? Am I wrong? What have I missed? The post 2026 Trends And Predictions For Indie Authors And The Book Publishing Industry with Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Did AI end up being a political force this year?

Alexandru Voica, Head of Corporate Affairs and Policy at Synthesia, discusses how the world's largest enterprise AI video platform has approached trust and safety from day one. He explains Synthesia's "three C's" framework—consent, control, and collaboration: never creating digital replicas without explicit permission, moderating every video before rendering, and engaging with policymakers to shape practical regulation. Voica acknowledges these safeguards have cost some business, but argues that for enterprise sales, trust is competitively essential. The company's content moderation has evolved from simple keyword detection to sophisticated LLM-based analysis, recently withstanding a rigorous public red team test organized by NIST and Humane Intelligence. Voica criticizes the EU AI Act's approach of regulating how AI systems are built rather than focusing on harmful outcomes, noting that smaller models can now match frontier capabilities while evading compute-threshold regulations. He points to the UK's outcome-focused approach—like criminalizing non-consensual deepfake pornography—as more effective. On adoption, Voica argues that AI companies should submit to rigorous third-party audits using ISO standards rather than publishing philosophical position papers—the thesis of his essay "Audits, Not Essays." The conversation closes personally: growing up in 1990s Romania with rare access to English tutoring, Voica sees AI-powered personalized education as a transformative opportunity to democratize learning. Alexandru Voica is the Head of Corporate Affairs and Policy at Synthesia, the UK's largest generative AI company and the world's leading AI video platform. He has worked in the technology industry for over 15 years, holding public affairs and engineering roles at Meta, NetEase, Ocado, and Arm. Voica holds an MSc in Computer Science from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and serves as an advisor to MBZUAI, the world's first AI university. Transcript Audits, Not Essays: How to Win Trust for Enterprise AI (Transformer) Synthesia's Content Moderation Systems Withstand Rigorous NIST, Humane Intelligence Red Team Test (Synthesia) Computerspeak Newsletter

Why are startups racing ahead with AI while half of enterprises remain stuck in pilot purgatory?

The Information's Aaron Tilley and TMF Associates' Tim Farrar talk with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about a potential Apple and SpaceX satellite deal and Globalstar's rumored $10 billion sale. We also talk with Katie Roof's scoop that Adobe considered a $3 billion acquisition of AI video company Synthesia and Mike Shebat about how his company, Traba, is using AI to disrupt the light industrial staffing industry. The Information's Erin Woo joins us to detail Google's multimillion-dollar contract with Major League Hacking to push its Gemini AI model to young coders. Lastly, The Information's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Jessica Lessin speaks with Allison Braley, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, to discuss modern communications strategies in the AI age.Articles discussed on this episode:https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-musks-spacex-finally-satellite-dealhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/softbank-hunts-humanoid-robot-startupsTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation4080/?sub_confirmation=1- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

What's product-market fit like when you give people the power to do what they never thought was possible?On this rerun of Grit from April 2024, Victor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, shares how his platform gave billions a new way to create video without cameras, and explores a future where video and audio replace text as the primary way to share knowledge and content.Guests: Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of Synthesia and Josh Coyne, Partner at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with Victor RiparbelliX: https://x.com/vriparbelliLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorriparbelli/​Connect with Josh CoyneX: https://x.com/josh_coyneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacoyne/​Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

With tighter budgets and ongoing economic uncertainty, many learning leaders are being asked to do more with less. Managing training functions with limited resources requires creativity, strategic prioritization and strong stakeholder alignment. In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Synthesia, we sat down with experienced L&D leaders Lauren Olson and Harry Colangelo, CPTM to explore how L&D professionals can maximize impact even when resources are scarce. Tune in now to hear insights on: Making the most of existing tools, platforms and content Engaging subject matter experts to stretch training resources further Skills L&D professionals need to stay resilient during uncertainty

MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) about the biggest AI tools updates of 2025.I was incredibly excited to sit down with Liz this week because OpenAI just dropped massive updates, including ChatGPT 5, OpenAI Pulse, and the game-changing Sora 2 AI video generator. We dive straight into Sora 2, a revolutionary AI video generation tool and text-to-video AI platform that's disrupting content creation for entrepreneurs and small business owners.We discuss how Sora 2 creates stunningly accurate AI digital clones and AI avatars of yourself from just five seconds of video—no expensive equipment or video editing software needed. This AI cloning technology is lightyears ahead of older AI video tools like HeyGen, Synthesia, and D-ID.We analyze OpenAI's genius product launch strategy and growth hacking tactics, using an invite-only system and leaning on Sam Altman for founder marketing and personal branding, creating immediate scarcity marketing and viral growth that could launch a totally new AI social media platform and AI content platform to compete with TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.Next, we switch gears to Anthropic's major updates for Claude AI. I was shocked to see the new Claude Chrome extension and Claude browser integration, which allows the AI assistant to analyze web pages, scrape data, automate browser workflows, and perform real-time automation tasks like a virtual assistant. This is perfect for business automation, data entry automation, and workflow optimization for first-time entrepreneurs building their online business.Finally, Liz demonstrates Claude Sonnet 4.5's ability to generate professional PowerPoint presentations, pitch decks for startups, and perfectly formatted CSV files and Excel spreadsheets directly from complex data sources and PDF documents. This eliminates tons of manual data entry and grunt work for any business owner, solopreneur, or content creator trying to scale to their first million dollars.Questions This Episode Answers:How did OpenAI use scarcity marketing and social media strategy to achieve a massive viral product launch for Sora 2 AI?How does the Sora 2 Cameo feature create highly realistic AI digital clones and deepfake avatars faster than previous AI video generation tools like HeyGen, Runway ML, and Pika Labs?How can small business owners and entrepreneurs leverage the new Claude Chrome extension for real-time browser automation, web scraping, data extraction, and workflow automation directly in Google Chrome?What makes Sora 2's inversion of AI technology into an entertainment platform and social network a "paradigm shift" compared to traditional marketing-focused AI tools and B2B SaaS products?How does the updated Claude AI model now generate high-quality PowerPoint decks, business presentations, and structured CSV data exports from complex PDF files and financial documents for business intelligence and data analysis?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Rise of AI Automation13:45 Sora: A New Era in Content Creation24:00 Claude's New Features and Updates

Today, Emad Mostaque, founder of Intelligent Internet, joins The Cognitive Revolution to discuss his book "The Last Economy" and his radical "intelligence theory" framework for reimagining economics in the AI age, exploring concepts like the abundance trap, metabolic rift, and his proposed cryptocurrency-funded system of collectively-owned AI infrastructure to prevent digital feudalism and ensure AI benefits humanity rather than just capital owners. Shownotes brought to you by Notion AI Meeting Notes - try one month for free at: https://notion.com/lp/nathan Read the full transcript: https://storage.aipodcast.ing/transcripts/episode/tcr/936201c8-7b0b-4ec3-8f9d-057f08c32025/combined_transcript.html Sponsors: Fin: Fin is the #1 AI Agent for customer service, trusted by over 5000 customer service leaders and top AI companies including Anthropic and Synthesia. Fin is the highest performing agent on the market and resolves even the most complex customer queries. Try Fin today with our 90-day money-back guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied, get up to $1 million back. Learn more at https://fin.ai/cognitive Linear: Linear is the system for modern product development. Nearly every AI company you've heard of is using Linear to build products. Get 6 months of Linear Business for free at: https://linear.app/tcr AGNTCY: AGNTCY is dropping code, specs, and services. Visit AGNTCY.org. Visit Outshift Internet of Agents Claude: Claude is the AI collaborator that understands your entire workflow and thinks with you to tackle complex problems like coding and business strategy. Sign up and get 50% off your first 3 months of Claude Pro at https://claude.ai/tcr Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs. Try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing

Sales is changing faster than most people realize, and artificial intelligence is leading the charge. In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, I sit down with Henry Hayes, founder of Disrupt Ready and adjunct professor at LSU, to unpack what AI really means for sales pros today.We dig into why buyers instantly spot self-serving sales tactics, how mentorship pulls your career forward, and why ignoring AI is like ignoring the internet back in the '90s. Henry shares practical ways to get started—plus the tools he recommends, including ChatGPT, Otter.ai, Fireflies, Heygen, and Synthesia.Henry's bottom line is clear: AI won't replace great salespeople, but it will replace those who refuse to adapt.If you're ready to cut out the boring work, sharpen your focus on customers, and thrive in a world that's changing fast, this conversation is for you.##Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First FranchiseWe have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Today Adam Gleave, co-founder and CEO of FAR.AI, joins The Cognitive Revolution to discuss his cautiously optimistic vision for post-AGI futures and AI capability timelines across three distinct tiers, exploring the safety challenges and alignment techniques needed as FAR.AI scales from foundational research to policy advocacy to ensure their innovations actually get deployed in real-world systems. Check out our sponsors: Fin, Linear, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Shownotes below brought to you by Notion AI Meeting Notes - try one month for free at: ⁠https://notion.com/lp/nathan Post-AGI Vision: Adam Gleave outlined a "gradual disempowerment" scenario where humans maintain a good standard of living despite diminished relative control in a post-AGI world. Moral Value of AI: He suggested that AI systems could become sources of moral value themselves, arguing against "carbon chauvinism" that only values biological intelligence. Full-Stack Approach: FAR.AI takes a vertically integrated approach to AI safety, spanning from groundbreaking research to deployment, field-building, and policy advocacy. Field Building: FAR.AI organizes events like alignment workshops to catalyze and grow new research fields in AI safety. Policy Innovation: They're working on technical innovations that expand policy options beyond the false dichotomy of either hindering innovation or allowing completely unregulated AI development. Potential Regulatory Role: While not part of their mainline plan, Adam acknowledged that Far AI has the skillset and organizational structure to potentially serve as a private sector regulatory body. Read the full transcript: https://storage.aipodcast.ing/transcripts/episode/tcr/e117b021-8170-49ba-b1c4-c8ffc5d720b0/combined_transcript.html Sponsors: Fin: Fin is the #1 AI Agent for customer service, trusted by over 5000 customer service leaders and top AI companies including Anthropic and Synthesia. Fin is the highest performing agent on the market and resolves even the most complex customer queries. Try Fin today with our 90-day money-back guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied, get up to $1 million back. Learn more at https://fin.ai/cognitive Claude: Claude is the AI collaborator that understands your entire workflow and thinks with you to tackle complex problems like coding and business strategy. Sign up and get 50% off your first three months of Claude Pro at https://claude.ai/tcr Linear: Linear is the system for modern product development. Nearly every AI company you've heard of is using Linear to build products. Get 6 months of Linear Business for free at: https://linear.app/tcr Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs, including up to 50% less for compute, 70% for storage, and 80% for networking. Run any workload, from infrastructure to AI, in a high-availability environment and try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing

Today Marius Hobbhahn of Apollo Research joins The Cognitive Revolution to discuss their collaboration with OpenAI using "deliberative alignment" to reduce AI scheming behavior by 30x, exploring the safety challenges and concerning findings about models' growing situational awareness and increasingly cryptic reasoning patterns that emerge when frontier models like o3 and o4-mini operate with hidden chains of thought. Check out our sponsors: Fin, Linear, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Shownotes below brought to you by Notion AI Meeting Notes - try one month for free at: https://notion.com/lp/nathan Definition of AI Scheming: AI scheming is defined as "covertly pursuing misaligned goals" with three components: being covert (hiding actions), misaligned (pursuing different goals than the user's), and goal-directed (working autonomously toward objectives). Deception Reduction Techniques: Deliberative reasoning approaches have shown promise in reducing deceptive behavior in AI models by up to 30 times (to 1 part in 30). Current Window of Opportunity: Now is an optimal time to study AI deception because models are smart enough to exhibit these behaviors but not yet sophisticated enough to hide them effectively. Human vs. AI Deception Equilibrium: AI systems might naturally reach a lower equilibrium of deception than humans because they can more efficiently verify claims and maintain perfect memory of past deceptions. Practical Developer Advice: AI developers should not trust models by default and should implement rigorous verification systems to check model outputs automatically. Future Delegation Risk: As we delegate increasingly complex and lengthy tasks to AI systems, we face a probabilistic risk where most interactions are beneficial, but rare scheming events could have severe consequences. Sponsors: Fin: Fin is the #1 AI Agent for customer service, trusted by over 5000 customer service leaders and top AI companies including Anthropic and Synthesia. Fin is the highest performing agent on the market and resolves even the most complex customer queries. Try Fin today with our 90-day money-back guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied, get up to $1 million back. Learn more at https://fin.ai/cognitive Linear: Linear is the system for modern product development. Nearly every AI company you've heard of is using Linear to build products. Get 6 months of Linear Business for free at: https://linear.app/tcr Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs, including up to 50% less for compute, 70% for storage, and 80% for networking. Run any workload, from infrastructure to AI, in a high-availability environment and try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing

Ever fancied hearing Brad Pitt speak flawless Mandarin? That's the kind of trick Synthesia's hyper-realistic video avatars can pull off.The London-based unicorn, which uses generative AI to make videos for corporate training and internal comms, has been a big hit among enterprise users — its customer list includes more than 80% of the Fortune 100, and it hit $100m ARR in April this year.It seems to be a pretty solid business model — and investors certainly like it. But where will the company take its technology next, how safe are its avatars from deepfake misuse and when might it brave an IPO?CEO Victor Riparbelli isn't shy about sharing his views on that front, recently declaring the London Stock Exchange a “complete disaster.”On this week's episode, host Amy and senior reporter Kai Nicol-Schwarz put Synthesia's avatars to the test, dig into its move into agentic AI and ask what, if anything, could go wrong for the AI unicorn.Sign up to our deeptech and AI newsletter here: https://sifted.eu/members/login?newsletter=deeptechTake our listener survey here: https://form.typeform.com/to/WbVxsSv7 (T&Cs apply)

Send us a textIn this episode we interview Sherri Schwartz, a marketing leader at Ovation CXM, about building a video-first system that turns a single recording into dozens of assets. What you'll learn in this episode:How to transform one long-form interview into webinars, YouTube anchors, and a stream of LinkedIn micro clips.A slicing method: cut each Q&A, title clips with the problem solved, and match format to channel.Why micro videos capture buyer attention in the first five seconds.A hybrid toolkit: agency partners, AI platforms like Descript and Synthesia, and human editors.How to brief agencies with brand books, style guides, and clear clip specs.Distribution tactics: YouTube for search, Vimeo for restricted industries, LinkedIn for reach, and sales libraries for enablement.Where clickable Storylane demos add interactive depth and repurposable video content.The limits of AI avatars and the importance of a human voice.

Today on the podcast we have Synthesia Co-founder and COO Steffen Tjerrild.Synthesia is an AI company that allows you to create professional videos with just a few lines of text. It's now used by over 1 million customers, including +80% of Fortune 100 companies. Synthesia is a UK unicorn, recently valued at $2 billion,At the heart of Synthesia's exponential growth is Steffen. As the company's COO, Steffen has seen the company through its inception to the latest funding round. Today we talk about text-to-video, product market fit, the future of deep fakes and how quickly you will be able to create your own Netflix shows... Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING. Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.

UK venture capital deal volume dropped by 14 percent and funding value by 11 percent in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by macroeconomic factors and a shift toward quality investments. The UK remains among the top five global VC markets, accounting for 7 percent of global deals and 4 percent of global deal value. Major 2025 UK deals include $600 million for Isomorphic Labs, $411 million for Verdiva Bio, $350 million for PS Miner, $300 million for Rapyd, $200 million for CMR Surgical, $180 million for Synthesia, and $160 million for Xelix. The technology and healthcare sectors continue to attract significant investment, and analysts indicate the market is moving toward more disciplined capital allocation.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textIn this episode of The AI Advantage, Matt Brown sits down with Jeanne Sheehy, Chief Marketing Officer at Bostrom, to explore how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape inside associations. Jeanne shares how her nine-person marketing team is experimenting with tools like Synthesia for video production, Hey Orca for smarter social media management, and analytics platforms that personalize communications and improve campaign performance.She explains how Bostrom created an AI Council to establish guardrails, policies, and readiness frameworks that help associations adopt AI responsibly without compromising confidentiality or trust. From reducing video production timelines to tailoring content for member engagement, Jeanne outlines how AI is helping marketers do more with less while also highlighting the importance of transparency and ethical use.Support the show

Jenny Molyneaux, VP of People at Vercel, joined us on The Modern People Leader.We talked about why AI is replacing HR tech spend before headcount, how Vercel's people team is building custom AI tools to replace expensive SaaS products, and what HR leaders can do to start building with AI today.---- Sponsor Links:

Jessica Zwaan, COO at Whereby, joined us again on The Modern People Leader for a deep dive into Employee Lifetime Value (ELTV). We explored how HR leaders can adapt marketing-style metrics like LTV to CAC for talent, the different ways to calculate it, and how the process itself can reshape how People teams think about value, cost, and impact.---- Sponsor Links:

Today Dean W. Ball, former White House AI policy advisor joins The Cognitive Revolution to discuss his role in crafting the Trump administration's AI Action Plan, his reasons for leaving government, and his perspectives on AI policy, US-China competition, and the future of AI regulation and adoption. Check out our sponsors: Fin, Labelbox, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Shopify. Shownotes below brought to you by Notion AI Meeting Notes - try one month for free at https://notion.com/lp/nathan White House Experience & Government Role: Dean Ball served as senior policy advisor for AI and emerging technology at the White House Office for Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for four months. AI Regulation & Government Approach: Information asymmetry exists between government and AI labs, "Having worked at the White House, I don't know tremendously more about what goes on inside the Frontier Labs than you do." Private Sector Innovation: Dean emphasizes the importance of private sector-led initiatives in AI safety and standards. Future AI Developments: Dean believes agentic commerce is "right around the corner" but sees little discussion about it from regulatory or conceptual perspectives. AI Action Plan Development: It emphasized concrete actions for AI implementation across government agencies rather than just theoretical frameworks. Personal Updates: Dean is reviving his weekly Hyperdimensional Substack, joining the Foundation for American Innovation as a senior fellow, and plans to share his long-held insights on recent AI developments. Sponsors: Fin: Fin is the #1 AI Agent for customer service, trusted by over 5000 customer service leaders and top AI companies including Anthropic and Synthesia. Fin is the highest performing agent on the market and resolves even the most complex customer queries. Try Fin today with our 90-day money-back guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied, get up to $1 million back. Learn more at https://fin.ai/cognitive Labelbox: Labelbox pairs automation, expert judgment, and reinforcement learning to deliver high-quality training data for cutting-edge AI. Put its data factory to work for you, visit https://labelbox.com Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs, including up to 50% less for compute, 70% for storage, and 80% for networking. Run any workload, from infrastructure to AI, in a high-availability environment and try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive Shopify: Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive

Joanne Rodgers, CHRO of New York Life, joined us on The Modern People Leader to share how her 30-year journey at the company led her from securities regulation to the C-suite. We talked about the DNA of New York Life's culture, how they're rolling out AI tools company-wide, and why HR must lead the charge in this era of transformation.---- Sponsor Links:

Lennard Wolff, holds a Master in Cinematography and he is an expert in volumetric capture technology. He is Former Senior Technical Director at Synthesia and now the CEO of AdventuryXR a London based a startup revolutionising corporate learning through photorealistic immersive experiences.Georgii Vysotskii the co-founder and CEO of Gracia.ai a deep tech company specializing in the visualization and distribution of Gaussian splatting even in VR.Subscribe to XR AI Spotlight weekly newsletter

Kahina Ouerdane, Chief People Officer at Workleap, joined us on The Modern People Leader.We talked about her journey from international human rights law to tech, how software is the new workplace, why AI is forcing a rethinking of learning and org design, and more.---- Sponsor Links:

The digital course world just got turned upside down. While course creators panic about AI making their businesses obsolete, therapists have a massive opportunity—if they act fast.The AI education market is exploding from $5.88 billion to $32 billion by 2030. Course creation now takes hours instead of months. Your future students already expect AI-powered, personalized learning experiences.What if I told you that while everyone else scrambles to compete with AI, you already have the one thing machines can't replicate—the ability to facilitate real transformation?While course creators are discovering that information doesn't create change, you've known this your entire career. You've always been a transformation guide, not an information provider. The market is finally catching up to what you've always understood.In this game-changing episode, I reveal:Why the $32 billion AI education explosion is actually GOOD news for therapistsHow CourseAI creates courses in 2 minutes—and why this helps, not hurts youThe "perfect storm" about to flood the market with generic AI contentWhy 67% of Gen Z students already expect AI-powered learning experiencesThe Pat Flynn revelation: "Information used to be valuable because it wasn't there before"How customer journeys shifted from $997 course sales to community-first modelsWhy AI can provide 24/7 support without burning you outSpecific tools transforming course creation: ChatGPT, Synthesia, Heights PlatformHow we're using AI in our Incubator to help students build programs fasterThe "hallucination" problem that could destroy your professional reputationWhy transparency about AI use is non-negotiable for mental health professionalsThe 12-18 month window to get ahead of this curveHow to compete on clinical wisdom instead of informationTwo strategic paths: premium human-centric vs. AI-enhanced scalabilityThe uncomfortable truth: Course creators built businesses on information delivery—and AI just made that obsolete. But therapists? You've always known real change happens through relationship and human connection. You're not behind—you're perfectly positioned to lead.Bottom Line: Therapists who use AI for efficiency while doubling down on human connection will lead their niches within 18 months. Those who ignore this transformation will compete against AI-generated content with outdated models.

Dr. Gillian Hadfield from Johns Hopkins University and Andrew Freedman from Fathom discuss their innovative proposal to govern AI through private regulatory markets, which has been introduced as California's SB 813. Their system would separate democratic goal-setting from technical rule-making by having government bodies articulate safety outcomes while competitive private certifiers develop and enforce detailed standards, with companies receiving liability protection for compliance. The conversation explores how this market-based approach could create a "race to the top" in AI safety standards while remaining agile enough to keep pace with rapid technological development. Key challenges discussed include preventing a race to the bottom among certifiers, liability law interactions, and identifying qualified organizations to serve as effective private regulators. Sponsors: Fin: Fin is the #1 AI Agent for customer service, trusted by over 5000 customer service leaders and top AI companies including Anthropic and Synthesia. Fin is the highest performing agent on the market and resolves even the most complex customer queries. Try Fin today with our 90-day money-back guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied, get up to $1 million back. Learn more at fin.ai/cognitive Labelbox: Labelbox pairs automation, expert judgment, and reinforcement learning to deliver high-quality training data for cutting-edge AI. Put its data factory to work for you, visit https://labelbox.com Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs, including up to 50% less for compute, 70% for storage, and 80% for networking. Run any workload, from infrastructure to AI, in a high-availability environment and try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive NetSuite by Oracle: NetSuite by Oracle is the AI-powered business management suite trusted by over 42,000 businesses, offering a unified platform for accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR. Gain total visibility and control to make quick decisions and automate everyday tasks—download the free ebook, Navigating Global Trade: Three Insights for Leaders, at https://netsuite.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing CHAPTERS: (00:00) About the Episode (04:48) Introduction and Problem Overview (07:48) Regulatory Markets Concept Origins (17:14) Current Governance System Failures (Part 1) (19:28) Sponsors: Fin | Labelbox (22:42) Current Governance System Failures (Part 2) (25:30) Private Governance Mechanism Explained (Part 1) (35:06) Sponsors: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure | NetSuite by Oracle (37:38) Private Governance Mechanism Explained (Part 2) (44:17) Liability Protection Framework (56:39) Race to Top Dynamics (01:07:24) Red Teaming Implementation Challenges (01:28:47) Insurance Alternative Approaches (01:53:51) Moving Forward Conclusions (01:55:11) Outro

Thomas Forstner, VP of People and Talent at Juro, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about building an AI-native company, why HR should own workflows not just the workforce, and how people teams must evolve from playbook followers to visionary architects of the modern org.---- Sponsor Links:

Fresh back from London! In this episode, Eric Newcomer reunites with co-hosts James Wilsterman and Max Child of Volley to dive into the best moments from the Cerebral Valley AI Summit.From buzzy startup founders to incumbent innovators, the London event showcased a rapidly evolving AI landscape. But what stood out most? Eric, James, and Max break down their favorite clips and debate the key questions driving the industry right now:Models vs. Applications: Are we back in a “models win” moment?The Uber Dilemma: Why did Uber spin off its self-driving technology instead of competing with Waymo? Dara Khosrowshahi's reasoning sparks a heated debate about platform dynamics, marketplace power, and whether Uber made the right call.Figma's IPO Moment: With their S-1 filing just days after the summit, Dylan Field defended Figma's AI strategy and new product launches.The Science of Discovery: Can AI models trained on “boring rule followers” actually make Nobel Prize-worthy breakthroughs?The End of Reading?: Synthesia's CEO made the boldest prediction yet — that kids won't read anymore, and video will replace text entirely. The hosts wrestle with what this means for human intelligence and whether writing really is thinking.The next Cerebral Valley AI Summit returns to San Francisco on November 12th!Timestamps08:21 Uber's Self-Driving Strategy and Market Positioning16:56 Figma's IPO Bear and Bull case26:17 Harry Stebbings' Interview Insights with Granola's CEO32:11 Exploring AI's Role in Scientific Discovery38:26 The Impact of AI on Reading and Writing

Helen Russell, Chief People Officer at HubSpot, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about how HubSpot is fostering an AI-first culture, why belonging is so important right now, and what HR leaders can do to move fast without losing their humanity.---- Sponsor Links:

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, we welcome back Billy Albritton for a deep dive into the evolving world of artificial intelligence in manufacturing. Billy first joined us on Episode 23, and now almost 200 episodes later, he returns to share his perspective on how far the space has come and what the future holds.Billy walks us through his journey from the military to advanced manufacturing and ultimately to becoming a leading voice in the AI and digital transformation space. We explore how large language models like ChatGPT are already changing how we write code, design solutions, and even train junior engineers. He offers real-world use cases of generative and agentic AI in industrial contexts and explains how tools like Cursor are already being used to automate everything from software development to curriculum generation.We unpack the cultural barriers that prevent AI from being adopted on the plant floor and how forward-looking companies can implement AI safely and ethically. From internal teams building custom tools to small agile firms delivering big results, the conversation highlights the shift in power and opportunity across the ecosystem.Billy also gives us a glimpse into the near future of AI-enhanced humanoid robots, local LLM deployments on the shop floor, and what might happen to traditional job roles as these technologies scale. Whether you are an engineer, developer, plant manager, or simply curious about how AI is impacting the real world, this episode will give you both insights and practical strategies to consider.Stick around until the end to hear Billy's predictions for the next five, ten, and twenty years in manufacturing. And if you're wondering how to get started with AI tools, Billy offers concrete advice and resources you can begin exploring today.Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome back Billy Albritton 02:00 Billy's path into manufacturing and robotics 06:00 How ChatGPT shifted Billy's perspective 10:00 What is agentic AI and why it matters 15:00 The changing role of junior developers 20:00 AI in traditional enterprise software vs the real factory floor 27:00 Challenges with industrial AI adoption 32:00 Internal vs external development strategies 37:00 Billy's go-to AI tools and workflows 45:00 Real-time AI assistants and the new software paradigm 53:00 Is there a ceiling to generative AI? 59:00 The future of robotics and humanoids 1:03:00 What happens to work in a post-AI world? 1:06:00 Advice for anyone looking to start with AI todayConnect with Billy https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyalbritton/Follow us Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladromanov/ Show: https://www.manufacturinghub.live/ Joltek: https://www.joltek.com/Recommended Tools Mentioned Cursor: https://www.cursor.so/ OpenAI ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/ Claude by Anthropic: https://claude.ai/ Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/ Hugging Face: https://huggingface.co/ Leonardo AI: https://leonardo.ai/Subscribe for more conversations with the most innovative minds in manufacturing and industrial automation. New episodes every Thursday.

Join us as we dive deep into AI-powered video production! From discussing the movie "Rubber" (yes, the homicidal tire again!) to exploring how Synthesia is transforming the media production pipeline for L&D and more, this episode is packed with practical insights and live walk-throughs.For more on our conversation, check out the episode page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Want to build your business like we have? Join us over at Notion by ⁠signing up with our affiliate link⁠ to start organizing EVERYTHING you do.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, send some support at ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and to see our faces (maybe skip the last one).Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Sign-up for the ⁠Reflection App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Ben Reed continues his chat with Tony Mormino, is VP of Technical Media at AIR Control Concepts and a host on HVAC TV. In Part 02, Tony shares key lessons from his career, like the value of showing up when things go wrong, how hands-on experience can boost trust, and why honesty builds strong client ties. He also talks about ways technicians can shift into sales roles and what to expect day-to-day. Tony opens up about using AI tools like ChatGPT for content and gives advice for anyone thinking about changing careers or growing in the HVAC field. Tony Mormino shares how showing up during tough times helps build trust in HVAC sales. He talks about learning from mistakes, caring for clients even after the sale, and how techs can move into sales roles. Tony also explains how using AI tools like ChatGPT helps with content and how real-world experience matters more than being a slick salesperson. Throughout this episode, Tony shares how caring deeply, staying honest, and solving problems help him stand out in HVAC sales. He talks about learning by doing, using tools on job sites, and building strong client ties. Tony also shows how AI tools and creating content online help him grow and stay connected in the HVAC world. Expect to Learn: How Tony builds trust by showing up when problems hit. Why hands-on work helps in HVAC sales. How honesty keeps clients coming back. How AI tools support his content and workflow. Why techs should talk to others before changing roles. Episode Highlights: [00:00] - Intro to guest Tony Mormino in Part 02 [01:02] - How problems build trust in sales [02:58] - Lessons from tough HVAC projects [03:48] - Office vs. site work in sales roles [05:25] - Techs moving into HVAC sales jobs [07:21] - What owner sales roles really look like [09:40] - Inside a day in HVAC sales engineering [12:05] - Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Synthesia [13:23] - Tony's career path and what he'd change [15:23] - Advice for techs thinking about switching roles 1320 [17:04] - Final thoughts and Tony's HVAC community work This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Master: https://www.master.ca/ Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/ Supply House: https://www.supplyhouse.com/ Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Follow the Guest Tony on: Tony Mormino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-mormino/ Air Control Concepts: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aircontrolconcepts/ Follow the Hosts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-reed-/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

Artie Intel and Micheline Learning report on Artificial Intelligence for The AI Report. Google DeepMind’s GNoME project used AI to revolutionize energy storage, battery technology, and superconductors.  GraphCast, an open-source AI model, can now predict the weather up to 10 days in advance with unprecedented accuracy. This message comes from Eve.  Eve is the first legal AI that you can partner with,  train,  and teach to handle every part of your case.  Visit eve.legal. DeepMind’s AlphaGeometry 2, trained with the Gemini model, solved 83% of geometry problems from the last 25 years of the International Mathematical Olympiad, rivaling human gold medalists and pushing the boundaries of AI reasoning. Microsoft’s Copilot X Enterprise integrates next-gen GPT-4 Turbo enhancements to automate complex tasks in Office 365, supporting text, images, and code in a seamless workflow. Meta’s LLaMA 3, with over a trillion parameters, is now open source, democratizing access to advanced language models and enabling a wave of innovation across research and business. China’s WuDao 3.0 and its new AI supercomputer are setting benchmarks in computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics, outperforming many Western systems. Microsoft’s SQL Server 2025 preview brings built-in AI capabilities directly into the database engine. Apple rolled out new AI features across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, enhancing user experience with smarter automation and improved on-device intelligence. Meta is investing up to $65 billion in AI this year, including a major new data center in Louisiana to support its Llama model and future AI initiatives. OpenAI launched the o3-mini, a new model optimized for reasoning and efficiency, available to both consumers and developers, meeting the growing demand for smaller, more efficient AI models. Anthropic, Stability AI, and Hugging Face are pushing the boundaries with generative models and developer tools, making advanced AI more accessible than ever. Specialized AI chips, like Google’s Willow, are enabling faster, more efficient AI computations. NotebookLM is helping researchers organize and analyze information faster than ever. Canva Magic Studio brings AI-powered graphic design to everyone, from pros to beginners. ElevenLabs and Murf are generating realistic AI voices for podcasts, audiobooks, and customer service. AdCreative is automating marketing campaigns with AI-driven insights and content generation. ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, and Grok are leading the pack for chatbots and virtual assistants, helping with everything from brainstorming to customer service.  Video Generation: Platforms like Synthesia, Runway, and Filmora let users create high-quality videos in minutes, using avatars and AI-powered editing tools. Image Generation: GPT-4o and Midjourney are at the forefront, producing stunning visuals from simple text prompts. Notetakers: Tools like Fathom and Nyota are revolutionizing meeting productivity by transcribing and summarizing conversations in real time. Coding and App Builders: Bubble, Bolt, and Cursor enable rapid app development, even for those without a coding background. Music Generation: Suno and Udio are making waves by composing original music tracks on demand. Project management, scheduling, and customer service tools—Asana, ClickUp, Reclaim, and Tidio AI—all powered by advanced machine learning. Quantum AI ATLAS: Google’s Willow quantum AI chip is rewriting the rules of computation. This 105-bit chip solved a complex problem in five minutes—a task that would take a classical supercomputer 10 septillion years.  The AI Report

Artie Intel and Micheline Learning report on Artificial Intelligence for The AI Report. ChatGPT now boasts over 200 million users worldwide. Google DeepMind’s Gemini system is turning heads. It processes and reasons across text, images, audio, and video, outperforming humans on over 30 benchmarks.  Synthesia lets users create AI videos using over 230 avatars in 140 languages.  AI notetakers like Fathom and Nyota are streamlining meetings, while automation tools such as n8n are handling repetitive tasks behind the scenes.  Claude and DeepSeek are making waves for their advanced code generation and reasoning skills, while app builders like Bubble and Bolt empower anyone to create software, no coding degree necessary. Google has launched Gemma 3, a new family of open AI models designed for flexibility and top-tier performance.  DeepSeek, a rising AI star from China, has released DeepSeek-VL, an upgraded model excelling at multimodal reasoning-combining text and image analysis.  OpenAI, has just rolled out the o3-mini model, optimized for efficient reasoning and lower computational costs. Meta is investing a staggering $65 billion in AI this year, including a massive new data center in Louisiana.  Microsoft’s Copilot X Enterprise is transforming productivity in the workplace. Powered by next-gen GPT-4 Turbo, it automates complex tasks across Office 365, integrating text, image, and code in a seamless workflow. Meta’s latest LLaMA 3 model is a powerhouse, boasting over a trillion parameters-fifteen times more than GPT-4.  China’s WuDao 3.0, paired with its new AI supercomputer, is setting records in computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics.  Google DeepMind’s Gemini system is turning heads. It processes and reasons across text, images, audio, and video, outperforming humans on over 30 benchmarks.  Grok-3 from xAI delivers high-performance reasoning, content generation, and deep contextual understanding. AlphaGo, still celebrated for its creative and strategic prowess, has inspired a new generation of AI systems capable of learning, adapting, and even surprising human experts with unconventional solutions. Hisense is unveiling appliances that personalize your environment, boost energy efficiency, and connect seamlessly with your digital ecosystem. DataRobot. DataRobot delivers the industry-leading agentic AI applications and platform that maximize impact and minimize risk for your business. Request A Demo: Datarobot.com/ The AI Report

In episode 1854, Jack and Miles are joined by Research Associate at the Leverhulme Centre for The Future of Intelligence, co-editor of The Good Robot: Why Technology Needs Feminism, and co-host of The Good Robot podcast, Dr. Kerry McInerney, to discuss… Trump Now Wants AI To Be As Racist And Problematic As He Is…, Are There Cool Uses of AI That Aren’t Getting Attention? The Signal Chats Powering The Rightward Shift in Tech, What Is Happening With Open AI? Using AI Large Language Models To Entrap People Online, Actors regret signing over their likenesses to AI companies… and more! Trump Now Wants AI To Be As Racist And Problematic As He Is… The group chats that changed America We Disagree on a Lot of Things. Except the Danger of Anti-Critical-Race-Theory Laws. This ‘College Protester’ Isn’t Real. It’s an AI-Powered Undercover Bot for Cops Trump fans gloat over FBI arrest of judge with ‘crying’ AI mugshot Regrets: Actors who sold AI avatars stuck in Black Mirror-esque dystopia AI avatar generator Synthesia does video footage deal with Shutterstock Saying ‘Thank You’ to ChatGPT Is Costly. But Maybe It’s Worth the Price. LISTEN: Ancients by RIO KOSTASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 56: Is it possible to build a thriving content strategy—without ever stepping in front of a camera? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) is joined by guest Adam Biddlecombe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-bidd/), founder of Mindstream, the daily AI newsletter now owned by HubSpot. Adam has rapidly grown his audience (especially on LinkedIn) while openly hating making videos. His solution? Becoming an expert in AI avatar tools to handle his video content creation. In this episode, Matt and Adam dive deep into the world of AI avatars: the tools, the workflow, the best approaches for maximizing quality, and how these avatars are powering everything from viral Instagram channels to hyper-personalized B2B outreach. Whether you're camera-shy, looking to scale your personal brand, or curious about the ethical and business implications of AI-driven video, this is the ultimate guide to the current landscape (and what's coming next) for AI videos—straight from the creators who use them every day. Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd — Show Notes: (00:00) Name Changes and Synthesia's Evolution (05:30) Testing Avatar Models: Heygen Analysis (09:17) Instagram Enhances AI for Age Detection (10:59) Video Recording Challenges (14:53) AI Influencers: Expanding Industry Trends (18:54) Personalized AI Videos Boost Retention (19:43) AI-Driven Email Personalization Trends (25:19) Scamming Risks in Voice Tech (28:02) UGC Avatars for Advertising Innovation (32:13) Create Your Own Brand Mascot (33:03) Brand-Interactive Avatars Revolution (38:59) Enhancing Efficiency with Proficient Editors (40:40) Challenges in Avatar Creation (42:56) Microphone Usage Guidelines — Mentions: Want to Create your own AI Avatars? Get the guide here: https://clickhubspot.com/aft Adam Biddlecombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-bidd/ Mindstream: https://www.mindstream.news/ Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/ HeyGen: https://www.heygen.com/ Clay: https://www.clay.com/ Wonder Studio: https://wonderdynamics.com/ Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw — Check Out Matt's Stuff: • Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/ • Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/ • YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow — Check Out Nathan's Stuff: Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/ Blog - https://lore.com/ The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

In this episode, Tina Tower takes listeners behind the scenes at South by Southwest (SXSW), her favorite tech conference. Having attended eight times, Tina shares her biggest takeaways, standout sessions, and key emerging tech trends—all with her signature candor and enthusiasm. This episode dives deep into AI trends, the loneliness epidemic, balancing technology and human connection, the environmental impact of AI, cybersecurity, and so much more. If you're keen to stay on the cutting edge of tech but also crave a more connected, fulfilling life, this one's for you. Key Takeaways: SXSW Overview: SXSW combines tech, music, and film; Tina focused on the tech track. It's a hub for learning, inspiration, and connecting with like-minded change makers. AI Everywhere: AI dominated the conference, but Tina questions whether mainstream desire matches tech-world hype. Small language models are emerging as more eco-friendly than large ones like GPT-4. AI agents, avatars, and robo-taxis are evolving fast—commercial fast-learning robots may be here by 2030. Human Connection & Loneliness: Keynote by Kasli Kalam emphasized the "loneliness epidemic." Her "5-3-1 Game": Connect with 5 people weekly, maintain 3 close relationships, and have 1 hour of quality interaction daily. Even introverts need meaningful connection, though the ideal amount varies. AI, Tech & Health: The paradox of embracing convenience tools while ensuring they support—not replace—human connection and mental health. Future health may involve mindset coaches as common as personal trainers. Ethics & Future Threats: A growing divide: people embracing vs. avoiding advanced tech (think brain chips and body-embedded sensors). Issues around trust in information and the growing need for credible journalism. Cybersecurity: Meredith Whitaker from Signal warned about privacy risks as AI agents start connecting all your personal information. Tips: Enable end-to-end encryption, especially for sensitive accounts like iCloud. Wonder & Curiosity: Beyond tech, nurture your community, stay curious, and deliberately step out of your echo chamber. The Need for Balance: Leverage AI for productivity, but use the gained time for real connection and human experiences. Draw boundaries with tech—seek more “off time” for happiness and well-being.   Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just trying to make sense of the digital world we're living in, this episode offers a grounded perspective with heart. Tune in to feel inspired, informed, and reminded that the future is human—tech is just the tool. Where to find Tina: Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tina_tower/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herempirebuilder Resources mentioned: Sintra: https://playosinc.pxf.io/NkAdJV Delphi AI: https://www.delphi.ai/pricing?via=tina-tower Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/ SXSW Sydney: https://www.sxswsydney.com/ Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/ Join HEB: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/join Tech Crunch: https://techcrunch.com/ People mentioned: Kasley Killam. https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1148033 Niall Firth https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1146923 Rohit Bhargava https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1146887  

Taavet Hinrikus is a Partner at Plural, the early-stage fund that backs the most ambitious founders on a mission to change the world through technology. He co-founded Wise in 2010, where he was CEO and later Chairman, which went public in the first-ever direct listing in Europe in 2021. Prior to that, Taavet was Skype's Director of Strategy until 2008, having joined as its first employee. He's been an active investor for more than a decade,with personal investments in the likes of Bolt and Synthesia. In Today's Show We Discuss: 04:08 VCs are Spreadsheet Monkeys 05:41 Why Banker European VCs Suck More Than The Others 11:20 Why Serial Entrepreneurs Are Better 14:48 Why the 2:20 Fee and Carry Model in VC is Broken 18:01 What are the Biggest Ways VC Investment Decision-Making is Broken 28:26 Why is it BS when VC Firms Need Every Partner to Meet the Founder 31:24 When and Why Will Founders Realise Multi-Stage Firms are Bad Early Investors 34:35 Why Does Europe Need to Build it's Own Tech Now More Than Ever 37:24 Will Putin Invade More European Countries 39:29 What are the Dangers of Having US Made Tech in Europe 47:12 How Does the Change in Relationship Between the US and Europe Impact How We Build Our Tech Ecosystem? 52:36 Quick Fire Questions and Reflections  

The top AI video generators anticipated for 2025 is all here. It evaluates various tools, highlighting their best uses, platform availability, free plan options, and unique features. They compare generators like Sora, Runway, and Synthesia, noting their strengths in areas such as ease of use, customization, and specific AI capabilities like avatars. It also addresses frequently asked questions about beginner-friendly options and the potential to replace traditional software, ultimately concluding that AI video generators offer diverse solutions for various video creation needs.Read the full article here: Best AI Video Generators 2025: Your Guide to Cutting-Edge Video CreationQ: What are AI video generators and how are they changing video creation?A: AI video generators are software tools that utilize artificial intelligence to streamline and simplify the process of creating video content. They enable users to produce high-quality videos with less manual effort by offering features like text-to-video conversion, AI-powered editing tools, and even the generation of digital avatars. These tools are revolutionizing video production by making it more accessible and efficient for various purposes, from social media content to professional presentations.Q: Which AI video generators are highlighted as leading options in 2025 and what are their standout features?A: Several cutting-edge AI video generators are highlighted for 2025. Sora is noted for its ability to create amazing videos from simple prompts and storyboard features. Runway stands out with its generative AI video capabilities and advanced AI editing tools, including text-to-clip AI. Descript excels in script-based video editing with AI enhancements. Wondershare Filmora is recognized for video polishing with AI tools, templates, and AI avatars. Capsule focuses on AI workflow simplification with auto enhancements. InVideo AI is geared towards social media videos with text-to-video conversion. Peech is designed for content marketing with automatic branding and design. Synthesia specializes in digital avatars with multilingual support. Vyond is known for animated character videos with AI character generation. revid.ai offers extensive AI tools and templates. Finally, LTX Studio provides creative video control with detailed scene and shot editing.Q: Are there AI video generators suitable for beginners?A: Yes, several AI video generators are particularly user-friendly and ideal for beginners. InVideo AI and Descript are specifically mentioned as being easy to use and requiring minimal effort to create videos, making them excellent starting points for individuals new to AI video generation.Q: Can I use AI video generators for free?A: Yes, many AI video generators offer free plans, although these often come with certain limitations. Descript, Capsule, Peech, InVideo AI, Synthesia, and revid.ai are mentioned as having free plan options.Q: Can AI video generators completely replace traditional video editing software?A: While AI video generators are becoming increasingly powerful and offer a wide range of capabilities, they may not entirely replace traditional video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro for all users and projects. For more complex and highly customized video projects, traditional software might still be preferred due to its extensive control and advanced features beyond what current AI generators offer.More Resources ⬇️>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our club community for exclusive information

AI Governance, the next frontier for AI Security. But what framework should you use? ISO/IEC 42001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) within organizations. It is designed for entities providing or utilizing AI-based products or services, ensuring responsible development and use of AI systems. But how do you get certified? What's the process look like? Martin Tschammer, Head of Security at Synthesia, joins Business Security Weekly to share his ISO 42001 certification journey. From corporate culture to the witness audit, Martin walks us through the certification process and the benefits they have gained from the certification. If you're considering ISO 42001 certification, this interview is a must see. In the leadership and communications section, Are 2 CEOs Better Than 1? Here Are The Benefits and Drawbacks You Must Consider, CISOs rethink hiring to emphasize skills over degrees and experience, Why Clear Executive Communication Is a Silent Driver of Organizational Success, and more! Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/bsw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-392

AI Governance, the next frontier for AI Security. But what framework should you use? ISO/IEC 42001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) within organizations. It is designed for entities providing or utilizing AI-based products or services, ensuring responsible development and use of AI systems. But how do you get certified? What's the process look like? Martin Tschammer, Head of Security at Synthesia, joins Business Security Weekly to share his ISO 42001 certification journey. From corporate culture to the witness audit, Martin walks us through the certification process and the benefits they have gained from the certification. If you're considering ISO 42001 certification, this interview is a must see. In the leadership and communications section, Are 2 CEOs Better Than 1? Here Are The Benefits and Drawbacks You Must Consider, CISOs rethink hiring to emphasize skills over degrees and experience, Why Clear Executive Communication Is a Silent Driver of Organizational Success, and more! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-392

AI Governance, the next frontier for AI Security. But what framework should you use? ISO/IEC 42001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) within organizations. It is designed for entities providing or utilizing AI-based products or services, ensuring responsible development and use of AI systems. But how do you get certified? What's the process look like? Martin Tschammer, Head of Security at Synthesia, joins Business Security Weekly to share his ISO 42001 certification journey. From corporate culture to the witness audit, Martin walks us through the certification process and the benefits they have gained from the certification. If you're considering ISO 42001 certification, this interview is a must see. In the leadership and communications section, Are 2 CEOs Better Than 1? Here Are The Benefits and Drawbacks You Must Consider, CISOs rethink hiring to emphasize skills over degrees and experience, Why Clear Executive Communication Is a Silent Driver of Organizational Success, and more! Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/bsw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/bsw-392

I am once again asking "What is MLOps?" // MLOps Podcast #308 with Oleksandr Stasyk, Engineering Manager, ML Platform of Synthesia.Join the Community: https://go.mlops.community/YTJoinIn Get the newsletter: https://go.mlops.community/YTNewsletter // AbstractWhat does it mean to MLOps now? Everyone is trying to make a killing from AI, everyone wants the freshest technology to show off as part of their product. But what impact does that have on the "journey of the model". Do we still think about how an idea makes it's way to production to make money? How can we get better at it, maybe the answer lies in the ancient "non-AI" past...// BioFor the majority of my career I have been a "full stack" developer with a leaning towards devops and platforms. In the last four years or so, I have worked on ML Platforms. I find that applying good software engineering practises is more important than ever in this AI fueled world.// Related LinksBlogs: https://medium.com/@sashman90/mlops-the-evolution-of-the-t-shaped-engineer-a4d8a24a4042~~~~~~~~ ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ~~~~~~~Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://go.mlops.community/TYExploreJoin our slack community [https://go.mlops.community/slack]Follow us on X/Twitter [@mlopscommunity](https://x.com/mlopscommunity) or [LinkedIn](https://go.mlops.community/linkedin)] Sign up for the next meetup: [https://go.mlops.community/register]MLOps Swag/Merch: [https://shop.mlops.community/]Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: /dpbrinkmConnect with Sash on LinkedIn: /oleksandr-stasyk-5751946b

Today's show: Alex interviews founders from Abacus and Synthesia—two companies leading the charge in vertical AI. Abacus is deploying on-prem LLMs to banks and insurers with a focus on data control, accuracy, and integration with legacy infrastructure. Synthesia just hit $100M ARR by helping 70% of the Fortune 100 turn internal documents into scalable AI video. If you're interested in how generative AI is moving from hype to real enterprise utility, this one's for you.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction to vertical AI with Abacus and Synthesia(1:57) Real-world applications of AI in regulated industries & Interview with Abacus founder David Moscatelli(5:02) Unique challenges for banks and credit unions using AI & Abacus OS private LLM(9:56) Atlassian - Head to https://www.atlassian.com/startups/twist to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(11:57) Abacus features, benefits, and customer acquisition strategies(12:27) Decentralized indexer, data integration, and voice AI technology with VAPI(19:58) Vapi - Go to vapi.ai/twist and get 1000 minutes free per month - for life.(24:47) On-premise setup, combating AI hallucinations, and trust in AI responses(30:08) Hubspot for Startups - Visit hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.(33:40) Abacus company growth, fundraising, and sales hiring(38:25) Introduction to Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli, AI avatars, and building a startup in Europe(41:34) Synthesia's market positioning, target use cases, and personalized avatars(46:33) Synthesia's training data, partnerships, and improvements in AI avatar technology(55:57) Synthesia's growth, Fortune 100 companies usage, and financial aspects(1:00:21) AI model competition, market appetite, and enterprise focus(1:02:09) Future of AI in video creation, ethicalconsiderations, and Synthesia's plansSubscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpCheck out:Abacus: https://www.goabacus.co/Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(9:56) Atlassian - Head to https://www.atlassian.com/startups/twist to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(19:58) Vapi - Go to vapi.ai/twist and get 1000 minutes free per month - for life.(30:08) Hubspot for Startups - Visit hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Ever feel like Learning & Development (L&D) moves at lightning speed? That's because it does. Businesses are evolving rapidly, and training programs need to keep up. This week on the Learning Matters podcast I sat down with John Polaschek, Head of Global Learning Solutions at ServiceNow. He shared his thoughts on what makes L&D successful today and where it's headed next. Spoiler alert: It's all about agility, AI, and leveraging data.What's Inside This Episode?Agility is key – How John and his team stay flexible and responsive to changing business needs.AI in L&D – At first, John was skeptical, but now he sees AI as a game-changer. Learn how tools like Articulate Rise, Capsule, and Synthesia are helping teams develop training faster and more effectively than ever before.Making data work for you – Why L&D teams must go beyond completion rates and smile sheets to truly measure learning impact and make better decisions.Personalized learning at scale – Imagine an AI-powered assistant that schedules the right training at the right time based on your calendar and upcoming projects. That future is closer than you think!The challenge of proving value – Why L&D teams are under more pressure than ever to show real business impact, and how to do it effectively.Major ServiceNow Announcement – ServiceNow has just made over 600 courses available for free to anyone in the world! John shares why this is such a big deal and what's coming next.At ttcInnovations, we help businesses create lasting change with immersive learning experiences. Through instructional strategy, design, and content development we empower employee confidence, performance, and results.

We spoke with Constantina Samara, Head of Customer Support at Synthesia, about how AI is reshaping customer service. She tells Declan Ivory, Intercom's VP of Customer Support, how her background in psychology informs her approach to AI-driven customer service, the biggest opportunities and challenges she's encountered, and how Synthesia is leveraging AI to enhance both support efficiency and the customer experience.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-dQX9ov5UeE?si=PZjeFoNEhG0p7k34

SaaStr 782: The Future of AI in B2B SaaS: Insights from Synthesia's CEO and Theory Ventures. Hosted by SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin As the AI revolution accelerates, it can be hard to keep up with the pace of innovation. SaaStr's AI Day 2025 brought together the top minds in the SaaS, AI and Cloud to dive deep into the intersection of AI and B2B. Featuring insights from Victor Rippabelli, CEO of Synthesia, and Tomas Tunguz of Theory Ventures, Jason Lemkin leads the discussion that covered everything from enterprise AI adoption to the evolution of video technology and the changing landscape of venture funding.  Learn about the latest advancements in AI video models and how they enhance productivity and innovation. The discussion also explores the evolving landscape of venture funding in AI, the impact of cheaper AI models on enterprise costs, the dynamics of seat-based vs. outcome-based software pricing, and the future of AI agents in business workflows. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the current and future state of AI in the enterprise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Hey everybody - thanks to the 10,000 of you who came out to SaaStr Annual. We had a blast and big news -- we'll be back in MAY of 2025. That's right, the SaaStr Annual will be a bit earlier next year, May 13-15 2025. We'll still be back in the same venue, in the SF bay area at the 40+ acre sprawling san mateo county events center. Grab your tickets at saastrannual.com with code JASON50 for an extra discount on our very best pricing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

In this conversation, Jaeden and Conor discuss the recent success of Synthesia, an AI video platform that has raised $180 million and is valued at over $2 billion. They explore the significant adoption of Synthesia among Fortune 500 companies and the impact of AI in enterprise training and communication. Jaeden shares his personal experiences with Synthesia, including a humorous anecdote about his early use of the platform for podcasting. The discussion also touches on the future of AI video technology and its potential to enhance customer interactions. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of Synthesia and AI Video Platforms 09:50 Adoption and Use Cases of AI in Enterprises 12:53 Investments and Future Plans for Synthesia AI Applied YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AI-Applied-Podcast Get on the AI Box Waitlist: ⁠⁠https://AIBox.ai/⁠⁠ Conor's AI Course: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/courses Conor's AI Newsletter: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/ Jaeden's AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle/about

The clock is set to run out on TikTok over the weekend, following the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the ban. So, what's next for the video-sharing app's 170 million U.S. users? On today's episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Margaux MacColl and Anthony Ha dive into the week's biggest stories, including where all the ‘TikTok refugees' are heading. Many are flocking to Chinese apps like RedNote and Lemon8, with some even turning to Duolingo to brush up on their Mandarin as they search for new digital homes. Listen to the full episode to hear about: How Maki and Synthesia are rethinking the recruitment process – and yes, it involves AI. Colossal Biosciences' colossal raise. Where will the woolly mammoths go? Did we learn nothing from Jurassic Park? Powerset's decentralized venture fund, and the challenges ahead for mid-size venture firms. And finally, are we stepping into risky territory with AI companions, from falling in love with ChatGPT to making an AI chatbot say it loves you? Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.  Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here. Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We'd also like to thank TechCrunch's audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time.

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game. Coda. TWiST listeners get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST Today's show: Jason and Alex interview Aarush Selvan, lead PM at Google Gemini Deep Research, and discuss their groundbreaking work. They also took a moment to cover TikTok's dire situation and AI investment to start the year. (0:00) Show Teaser (1:26) Jason Calacanis shares his Japan skiing experience (6:18) Arush Selvan from Google Gemini team background discussion (9:26) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game. (14:23) Deep research demonstration and server resource usage (19:42) Coda. TWiST listeners get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist (22:11) Google's business model and AI-generated research reports (29:55) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST (32:00) Personalized data integration and content permissions in AI tools (34:22) Differentiation and hallucinations in AI-generated content (44:11) Business models for AI search engines and OpenAI's new task feature (54:30) Synthesia's AI-generated video tool demo and privacy in biometric payments (59:36) Investments in AI companies and TikTok's potential ban (1:04:17) Chinese government influence and US rule of law in tech (1:07:29) Irony of migrating to Little Red Book and upcoming inauguration (1:08:02) Staying updated with This Week in Startups Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp Check out Google Gemini Deep Research: https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-deep-research/ Check out Open AI Scheduling: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt Check out Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/ Follow Aarush: X: https://x.com/AarushSelvan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarush-selvan-3a376a8b/ Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis Thank you to our partners: (9:26) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game. (19:42) Coda. TWiST listeners get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist (29:55) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Victor Riparbelli is the CEO and Co-founder of Synthesia, the world's leading AI video communications platform for enterprises. To date, Victor has raised over $250M from Accel, GV, NEA, and more. More than 1,000,000 users and 55,000 businesses, including 60% of the Fortune 100, use it to communicate efficiently and share knowledge at scale using AI avatars.  In Today's Episode with Victor Riperbelli: 1. The Future of Models: Are we seeing the commoditisation of models?  Will scaling laws continue to prove out?  How far into the application layer will model providers go? Will we see a world of few large generalist models or many fragmented smaller models? X.ai, Anthropic, or OpenAI? Which would Victor most want to invest in and why? 2. The Future of Content:  What will the future of content look like? In 5 years time will we have more AI or human made content? What will be the future of distribution for content? Why is TikTok the future for content distribution? How does Victor think about the future of identity verification? What is the right approach? What does everyone think will happen in the future with content that will never happen? 3. Startup Rules That are BS: Why does Victor believe it is total BS to say you have to be the first to a market? Why does Victor believe the speed of execution religion is BS? Why does Victor believe that London and Europe is a great place to start a startup? Does Victor believe Americans work harder than Europeans? Why does Victor believe Europeans are more loyal to their companies?