Inspired with Alexa von Tobel
00:51:23 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker
[00:51:23] S0: Yeah. It feels like we're just really getting started in a way where, hopefully we can prove that we help our companies outperform, out execute, and especially at a time when I think it's never been more important to build towards where the future is headed. I want to end just asking a few questions about the future. I know, you know, just in the last, you know, few weeks, we've been talking about the future of AI and what that means. You're sitting in the Microsoft Boardroom, probably truly one of the most important companies on the planet around the future of what's happening. Give us just a sense of what it's like to be a fly on that wall and like what you get to learn. And again, you've been in the White House, you're on the board of Microsoft, etcetera. What can you see about the future, and what gets you excited? [00:52:18] S1: Well, I'm excited about... First of all, I think it's extremely important. I think Microsoft embodies this, which is is to know your values, and Microsoft really is committed to this idea of trust and being there for the enterprise, I. E, the customer as opposed to just existing for themselves. And so what I see is a... At a time when people are talking about the end of civilization because of AI, Microsoft is working on what's the bill of rights for individuals and for enterprises in in the world. We're going to... AI is in our world. It's not going away. So we need to create rules around that. And I don't mean rules that are self serving. I'm talking about rules that are truly in the best interest of our customer.
00:52:18 · Penny Pritzker, Alexa von Tobel
[00:52:18] S1: Well, I'm excited about... First of all, I think it's extremely important. I think Microsoft embodies this, which is is to know your values, and Microsoft really is committed to this idea of trust and being there for the enterprise, I. E, the customer as opposed to just existing for themselves. And so what I see is a... At a time when people are talking about the end of civilization because of AI, Microsoft is working on what's the bill of rights for individuals and for enterprises in in the world. We're going to... AI is in our world. It's not going away. So we need to create rules around that. And I don't mean rules that are self serving. I'm talking about rules that are truly in the best interest of our customer. [00:53:09] S0: Of humanity.
00:53:09 · Penny Pritzker
[00:53:09] S1: And of humanity. Yeah. First and foremost, humanity. And so I think that that is something that I am... Do we always get it right? No. But I think it's really an important endeavor to try and figure out and to work to build a common collective support for doing the right thing. I mean, one would hope that at some point there will be regulation and things like that, but it doesn't feel like that's coming. So the industry is kinda trying to figure out how to do it itself. And the problem with that is, of course, is we're also in a competitive race with China in terms of AI. And and really, truly, that's the job of the federal government, not any country, any company can't do that alone. But the other thing I'm struck by is the humanness of of the endeavor. In other words, I watch the CEO and and our president, and I watch them wrestle with what's the best approach. What is the... How do we serve our customer right? I watch them listen. We have... That boardroom has a ton of people who are customers of Microsoft, and they are not easy on the CEO in the sense of saying, hey. Here's what my team thinks. Here's what you need to get done. Here's how to improve. And the fact that that CEO invites that, doesn't wanna skirt it, doesn't want to skirt it, but instead is inviting in feedback is I think is setting a good example for all of us. We need to be closer to our customers. Now what do I think the future is? I think, you know, one of the things in talking to CEOs is they're beginning to realize that the org chart is changing. Yes. The org chart is going to be people and agents. Yes. The org chart is also gonna be less pure amount.
00:55:16 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker
[00:55:16] S0: Our amazing company Windmill, which is rapidly growing, is doing the exact [00:55:21] S1: job. The skills that we need are evolving. And so a young person is gonna be able to... And a person early in their career may be able to do so much more, but they're also realizing how do I get the judgment that we need? How do I make sure the wisdom isn't lost? And so I listened to thoughtful CEOs who are grappling with these questions. I talked to one today. He said, look, I'm not saying to anybody you're gonna lose your job because of AI. What I am saying is if you don't embrace AI, that's when you're at risk. And so all of us, it's incumbent, you know, all of us to learn and to push ourselves. I just went to MIT for three days and sat there and was doing coding with the professors and with my CEO and with our COO to really begin to understand what does this feel like and where are we going? Now, the challenge is the pace is fast. This is like nothing we've [00:56:28] S0: ever It like nothing we've ever seen.
00:56:28 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker
[00:56:28] S0: ever It like nothing we've ever seen. [00:56:29] S1: And so it's requiring of all of us as leaders to adapt quickly. But I think we have to be very thoughtful about the human being. We're pushing humans really hard to adapt, and we're gonna have to probably create more scaffolding for that. What the outcome looks like, there's many predictions, I don't really know. But what I do know is AI is not going away, so we've gotta figure out how to adapt. And for me personally, I'll just add this, Alexa, I'm very interested in this helping people get the skills they need. It's always been a passion of mine, but even more so now. [00:57:14] S0: I know. [00:57:14] S1: And so I've got a number of endeavors going on in that area. It goes with the business building. That's right. It's noble to help people find their opportunity. And it's something you do every day in leading this firm. And it's something I care deeply about.
00:57:14 · Penny Pritzker, Alexa von Tobel
[00:57:14] S1: And so I've got a number of endeavors going on in that area. It goes with the business building. That's right. It's noble to help people find their opportunity. And it's something you do every day in leading this firm. And it's something I care deeply about. [00:57:32] S0: As we think about the future, I know the team at Inspired wants to be known for huge bets, taking big, big, big swings. We always say we wanna solve the biggest problems facing humanity because we think the biggest innovators and the best businesses are going after huge problems. I often say, ideally, even touching a billion people. That big of an idea. We obviously touch every sector. So we have defense tech. We have AI, health care, consumer, robotics. I mean, we truly deep tech. Quantum. Quantum. And we really are here to find the best, the point 01%, the best and the brightest, solving some of the biggest, hardest, hairiest problems, or they want a team like us in the boat with them rowing really, really hard. And so I'm excited to see what we accomplish over the coming many years. I feel like we really are just getting our momentum fully kicking into gear here. And I just am so grateful for everything that you have done, for all the wisdom you bring. And as your friend, I'm grateful for everything that you've taught me. So thank you. [00:58:48] S1: Well, Alexa, thanks, first of all, for having me. Most important, thanks for being partners. We finally did this. We should have done [00:58:54] S0: this a long time ago. It is. We're so happy. It's a