Can We Achieve "Super Abundance" Without AI Doom? | with Sebastian Mallaby

Can We Achieve "Super Abundance" Without AI Doom? | with Sebastian Mallaby

Author: The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas April 29, 2026 Duration: 42:40
What happens when the person building the world's most powerful technology is just as worried about it as we are? Sebastian Mallaby, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of The Infinity Machine, joins host Zachary Karabell to pull back the curtain on Demis Hassabis, the founder of DeepMind who is currently leading the global charge into artificial intelligence. From the "Ender’s Game" mission that drives Hassabis to the chilling logic of why machines might accidentally develop a "survival instinct," this episode explores the mindset of the people shaping our future. Mallaby and Karabell discuss the "infinity" of data required to make these systems work and why the massive hunger for compute power is reshaping the global economy in real-time . Drawing a haunting parallel to Alan Greenspan and the 2008 financial crisis, Mallaby asks a difficult question: Can "the man who knew" the risks actually prevent the catastrophe he sees coming?. Together, they navigate the tension between pure scientific discovery and cutthroat Silicon Valley competition, the potential for a "Nuclear Non-Proliferation" style agreement with China, and the hidden dangers of the "open vs. closed" model debate.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgSubscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetworkFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrkSubscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/Follow him LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zacharykarabell

It’s easy to feel that everything is falling apart, but what if the dominant narrative of decline is missing a crucial piece of the story? What Could Go Right? asks that question directly, offering a necessary counterpoint to the daily drumbeat of crises. Hosted by The Progress Network’s Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, this podcast operates from a simple but radical premise: while the problems are real, so is the human capacity for ingenuity and constructive change. Each episode brings together a diverse group of thinkers, from scientists and activists to policymakers and cultural commentators, for conversations that go beyond diagnosing issues to exploring tangible solutions and underreported advances. You’ll hear nuanced discussions on everything from climate technology and economic innovation to the reshaping of governance and culture, all grounded in a realistic sense of possibility. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about engaged, evidence-based hope. Tuning in means joining a community that believes understanding what’s working is just as important as understanding what’s broken. If you’re weary of doomscrolling and looking for substantive dialogue that charts a path forward, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What Could Go Right?
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