Humans&: Bridging IQ and EQ in Machine Learning with Eric Zelikman

Humans&: Bridging IQ and EQ in Machine Learning with Eric Zelikman

Author: Conviction October 9, 2025 Duration: 36:58
The AI industry is obsessed with making models smarter. But what if they’re building the wrong kind of intelligence? In launching his new venture, humans&, Eric Zelikman sees an opportunity to shift the focus from pure IQ to building models with EQ. Sarah Guo is joined by Eric Zelikman, formerly of Stanford and xAI, who shares his journey from AI researcher to founder. Eric talks about the challenges of building human-centric AI, integrating long-term memory in models, and the importance of creating AI systems that work collaboratively with humans to unlock their full potential. Plus, Eric shares his views on abunance and what he’s looking for in talent for humans&. Sign up for new podcasts every week. Email feedback to show@no-priors.com Follow us on Twitter: @NoPriorsPod | @Saranormous | @EladGil | @ericzelikman Chapters: 00:00 – Eric Zelikman Introduction 00:29 – Eric’s Early Interest in AI 01:29 – Challenges in AI and Automation 02:25 – Research Contributions 06:14 – Q-STaR and Scaling Up AI 08:14 – Current State of AI Models 15:23 – Human-Centric AI and Future Directions 22:08 – Eric’s New Venture: humans& 35:33 – Recruitment Goals for humans& 36:57 – Conclusion

Elad Gil and Sarah Guo guide conversations in No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups that cut straight to the core of what's happening now. This isn't about abstract futures; it's grounded in dialogues with the very people building and shaping the field-leading AI engineers, pioneering researchers, and the founders turning theory into reality. Each episode tackles the pressing, often daunting questions that define this technological inflection point. You'll hear them explore the practical pathways and hurdles toward AGI, debate which industries are genuinely poised for transformation, and examine how the state-of-the-art in research translates into real-world products and societal shifts. The discussions naturally span the impact on commerce, culture, and the very structure of how we live and work. Produced by Conviction, this podcast serves as an essential, clear-eyed resource for anyone looking to move beyond the hype and understand the forces driving the AI revolution. Sarah Guo, a startup investor, and Elad Gil bring their direct experience to these conversations, ensuring every interview provides substantive insight you can use.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
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