Creative Intelligence

Can AI be Conscious? Anil Seth on Sentient Machines

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this thought-provoking episode, host Kartik Hosanagar, faculty co-director of Wharton Human-AI Research, sits down with Anil Seth — neuroscientist, TED speaker, and author of 'Being You' — to explore one of the most fascinating and complex questions of our time: Can machines ever be conscious?

Together, they unpack what consciousness really means, why it has puzzled philosophers and scientists for centuries, and how it relates (or doesn’t) to today’s AI systems. From the biological roots of consciousness to the ethical dilemmas of sentient machines, this conversation bridges neuroscience, philosophy, and cutting-edge AI research.

Learn more: https://ai.wharton.upenn.edu/creative-intelligence/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39rSsrrRwoYACKvOr19aDY

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Wharton Global Forum – Rethinking the AI Stack: Data, Agentic AI, and Organizational Design

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:19:09 GMT

At the 2025 Wharton Global Forum in San Francisco, host Kartik Hosanagar moderates a powerhouse panel on the future of AI. Leaders from Microsoft, T. Rowe Price, GrowthCurve Capital, NewFront, and HSG (formerly Sequoia China) share their perspectives on where AI is headed, what it means for business, and how organizations can prepare.

From bold claims about AGI arriving in just a few years, to the “Gen AI paradox” (adoption without clear ROI), to how products and teams must be reimagined in an AI-first world, this wide-ranging discussion dives into the questions every business leader is asking:

- Is AGI hype or reality?

- Why aren’t we seeing productivity gains yet?

- What does it mean to build thin products, thick models?

- How should startups and incumbents partner in the AI era?

- What happens when humans, agents, and organizations collide?

Speakers:

Prof. Kartik Hosanagar, Faculty Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research

Aparna Chennapragada, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft

Sajjad Jaffer (WG’01), Founding Partner, GrowthCurve Capital

Xing Liu (WG’04), Senior Partner, HSG (HongShan Capital Group)

Ramon Richards (WG’08), Chief Technology Officer, T. Rowe Price

Lin Yuan (WG’22), Chief AI Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Newfront

0:00 - Introduction

3:05 – Beyond AGI: Intelligence Overhang and the Infrastructure Gap

9:32 – ROI, Pattern Matching, and What Makes AI Valuable Today

15:45 – From Products to Systems: Rethinking Software in a Model-First World

23:28 – Data as Differentiator: Memory, Moats, and Domain-Specific AI

30:52 – Organizational Shifts: Data Culture, Change Management, and the New Stack

36:18 – One-Person Unicorns, Global Teams, and Agent Collaboration

39:50 – Competing in the Age of Giants: How Startups Can Win

43:04 – Regional Dynamics: Global Networks and the Open-Source Moment

46:05 – The Talent Revolution: Skills That Will Define the Next Decade

50:46 – Interoperability and the Cost of Lock-In

53:20 – Value, Risk, and Society: Who Gains, Who Loses?

57:48 – Closing Remarks & Conclusion

Learn more: https://ai.wharton.upenn.edu/creative-intelligence/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39rSsrrRwoYACKvOr19aDY

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-intelligence/id1813418349

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Shishir Mehrotra – Playing Offense and Defense in the Age of AI

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Creative Intelligence, host Kartik Hosanagar sits down with Shishir Mehrotra — CEO of Grammarly, founder of Coda, and former Head of Product at YouTube — to explore how AI is transforming work as we know it.

Shishir shares an inside look at Grammarly’s bold new vision: building an “AI superhighway” that brings intelligent agents directly to where people already work. From the acquisition of Superhuman to rethinking the productivity suite with Coda Brain, this conversation dives deep into how individuals and companies can play both offense and defense with AI.

Learn more: https://ai.wharton.upenn.edu/creative-intelligence/

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David Droga – Not All Creativity is Worth Saving

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Creative Intelligence, Kartik Hosanagar sits down with David Droga—CEO of Accenture Song and founder of the legendary agency Droga5—to explore how AI is reshaping the creative industry. From the evolving role of CMOs to the future of ad agencies, they discuss why creativity and technology must now move hand in hand. Droga shares why not all creativity is worth saving, how AI can elevate originality (not just efficiency), and why the best creative minds today must also be doers. This episode originally premiered on Where AI Works.

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Sangeet Paul Choudary – How AI Changes the Entire System of Work (Not Just Your Job)

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Creative Intelligence, author Sangeet Paul Choudary joins Kartik Hosanagar to unpack why the popular phrase “AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will” is a dangerous oversimplification. Instead of just changing tasks, AI is transforming the entire system of work—reshaping roles, workflows, and even the structure of organizations. If you want to stay relevant in the age of AI, this conversation is essential.

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Keith Ferrazzi and Gautam Tambay – Reskilling for an AI Era

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Kartik speaks with Keith Ferrazzi, author of numerous leadership books like Never Lead Alone, and Leading Without Authority, and Gautam Tambay, co-founder and CEO of Springboard, an online learning resource that helps learners gain relevant software skills for employment. They talk about the new role AI will play in helping teams engage in more open and productive communication, how to reskill workers for the new age, and which jobs might be replaced, augmented, or created as a result of AI.

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Cade Metz – The Founding Fathers of Modern AI

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:58:24 GMT

In front of a live audience at Wharton’s San Francisco campus, Kartik is joined by Cade Metz, a technology reporter for the New York Times, and author of the book Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World. The pair talk about the titans of modern AI, such as Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis, the role of AI in art and journalism, and the seemingly contradicting viewpoints of today's AI leaders.

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Sal Khan – How AI is Reshaping Education

Tue, 20 May 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Kartik Hosanagar, host of Creative Intelligence and Faculty Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research, is joined by Sal Khan, Founder of Khan Academy, an incredibly popular non-profit educational organization that helps learners around the world. Together, Kartik and Sal discuss how Sal got his start, Khan Academy’s AI assistant tool, Khanmigo, the role AI plays in education, and why Sal, in spite of what some might consider evidence to the contrary, remains optimistic about our AI future.

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Welcome to Creative Intelligence

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:39:06 GMT

Welcome to Creative Intelligence, a podcast where we explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI, creativity, and human potential. Hosted by Kartik Hosanagar, Faculty Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research, and the John C. Hower Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School. Our series premiere launches on May 20, 2025.

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