Gen AI Podcast
Read our essays and experiments on Substack
Gen AI Podcast is where Mark Kuczmarski and Shashank Bharadwaj talk through what’s happening in AI and what it means in practice. We cover new models, agents, research, and tools, drawing on hands-on experiments and interviews with the people building them.
Some episodes start with a new release or a big claim. Others follow a project, a surprising result, or a question we haven’t figured out yet. Along the way, we compare approaches, discuss what worked and what didn’t, and look at where the technology is useful today.
You don’t need to keep up with every paper or model release to follow along. Whether you’re building with AI or trying to understand it better, we explain the ideas behind the headlines and share what we’re learning as we go.
Watch on YouTube · Meet the community · Attend a meetup · Join our Discord · Sponsor: NovaCut
Episodes

Jan 4, 2025
Jan 4, 2025
1 hr 31 min
Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es03jKOsJpE
Arc Prize: https://arcprize.org/blog/oai-o3-pub-breakthrough
https://deepmind.google/technologies/veo/veo-2/Sora: https://openai.com/index/sora-is-here/New video modelspika2: https://pikartai.com/login/ - takes awhile to generate. A few minutessoraveo2https://www.deepseek.com/
In this episode of the Generative AI Meetup Podcast, Mark and Shashank return after the holidays with fresh insights. They discuss the state of generative AI video models like OpenAI's Sora, Pika Labs, and Google's Veo2, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and practical use cases. The duo dives into the current AI market landscape, questioning whether the rapid growth is sustainable or if we're heading toward an AI winter. They debate the economic impact of AI, its role in the stock market, and whether the "Magnificent 7" tech giants can justify their soaring valuations.
They also explore groundbreaking developments like DeepSeek's budget-friendly GPT-4 class model and the rise of agentic AI, which could redefine productivity. Wrapping up with actionable advice, they reflect on how listeners can adapt and thrive in a world being reshaped by AI.

Dec 8, 2024
Dec 8, 2024
1 hr 1 min
In this episode, Mark and Shashank dive into OpenAI's latest announcement, the $200/month GPT Pro model, and explore its capabilities, like self-reflection and handling complex reasoning tasks. They discuss how this new tier might impact researchers, developers, and knowledge workers, and compare it with advancements from Google, Amazon, and the open-source community. The conversation spans cutting-edge topics like agentic behavior, video generation models, multi-modal advancements, and the potential societal shifts as AI continues to evolve. From software engineering to the coffee-making "world model," this episode unpacks the state of generative AI and what lies ahead.

Nov 17, 2024
Nov 17, 2024
56 min
In this episode, Mark and Shashank dive into the transformative world of AI-generated music with tools like Suno and Oudio, exploring their implications for the music industry and creativity. They debate the strengths and weaknesses of leading generative AI models, including Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's GPT, and Elon Musk's ambitious X.AI. The duo also discusses the critical role of hardware in AI, from Intel’s challenges to OpenAI’s custom chip strategy, and how it could shape the future of computing. Packed with insights, industry trends, and a touch of humor, this episode is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and curious minds.

Oct 24, 2024
Oct 24, 2024
1 hr 3 min
This week, Shashank and Mark sit down with SambaNova Systems, a leading AI chip startup competing with tech giants like Nvidia and Cerebras. Joined by SambaNova's Director of Machine Learning, Urmish, and founding team member Raghu, they explore how SambaNova's reconfigurable data flow architecture is changing the game in AI inference and training. They discuss the company’s unique hardware, fast inference capabilities, memory optimizations, and what the future holds for AI chip innovation. Learn what it takes to build high-performance AI systems and where the industry is headed next!

Oct 19, 2024
Oct 19, 2024
1 hr 44 min
In this week's episode, Shashank and Mark dive deep into Nvidia's current dominance in the AI hardware space and the potential challengers on the horizon. As companies like AMD, Cerebras, and SambaNova work to chip away at Nvidia’s massive lead, is it time to reconsider your portfolio? Plus, we explore cutting-edge applications of generative AI in DNA analysis, gene therapy, and how AI agents could revolutionize everything from medical treatments to productivity tools.

Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
48 min
In this episode, Mark and Shashank sit down with Greg and Chris, co-founders of AI Maker Space, at a hackathon in Palo Alto at the offices of 500 startups. They discuss the mission of AI Maker Space to build a community for developing and deploying large language model applications. The conversation covers topics such as the use of retrieval augmented generation (RAG) versus fine-tuning, the role of agents in AI applications, the importance of traditional software engineering skills in AI development, and the future of AI—including vision-language models and embodied AI. Greg and Chris also share advice for newcomers interested in entering the AI field.
https://aimakerspace.io/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbDZFHUjTCCUKyXgcp3g50Q

Oct 3, 2024
Oct 3, 2024
38 min
In this episode, Mark and Shashank dive into OpenAI's latest updates from their Dev Day, including the new advanced voice mode for ChatGPT and the real-time API for developers. They share their hands-on experiences with the enhanced voice features, discussing improvements in emotion, speed, and interaction. The conversation also explores Meta's recent AR/VR announcements, particularly the Orion glasses and the integration of AI into everyday eyewear. They discuss the implications of these technologies on privacy, daily life, and the evolving competitive landscape between OpenAI and Meta. Tune in to hear their insights on the future of generative AI.

Sep 14, 2024
Sep 14, 2024
1 hr 55 min
In this episode Mark and Shashank delve into the intricacies of AI-driven decision systems with Lonnie Chrisman, CTO of Lumina Decision Systems. They explore the innovative product Analytica and its new AI extension, Assista, designed to enhance decision-making processes. Chrisman, an industry veteran, shares his journey from being the top electrical engineering student to spearheading technology that influences significant governmental and corporate decisions globally. This episode provides a profound understanding of the potential and challenges of integrating AI into complex decision environments.
Checkout Lonnie's talk as part of the Oct 10 Risk Awareness Week https://2024.riskawarenessweek.com/speakers/lonnie-chrisman/

Sep 12, 2024
Sep 12, 2024
1 hr 5 min
This week's episode of the Generative AI Meetup Podcast, hosted by Mark and Shashank, dives into the riveting discussions from the recent Don't Die Summit. The duo shares their firsthand experiences, including an interview with Alex Zhavoronkov, CEO of Insilico, who discusses the groundbreaking generative AI model, Presses GPT, aimed at extending human healthspan. Also featured are insights into the newly announced OpenAI o1 model, its capabilities in enhancing AI reasoning, and a look into the latest Apple Intelligence features and iPhone 16. Join us for a comprehensive overview of AI's expanding role in health and technology.

Sep 5, 2024
Sep 5, 2024
42 min
In this week’s episode of the Generative AI Meetup Podcast, join hosts Mark and Shashank as they delve into the groundbreaking developments from Cerebras. Discover how their new inference solution is setting new benchmarks for speed and efficiency in AI model responses. The episode features insights into the technology behind these advancements and explores potential impacts on various industries. Tune in to get a glimpse of the future of AI, made faster and more accessible than ever.








