In today's episode Lady Ada delivers a rapid macro view of crypto markets as retail shifts into riskier tokens, altcoin season looms, and institutional flows drive ETF and tokenization trends. We cover major policy moves on stablecoin legislation and tokenized assets, security updates from Lido and Coinbase, and new gaming and oracle partnerships in the blockchain space.
What’s real in Crypto + AI—and what’s just noise? In this episode of THE PEOPLE'S AI podcast, presented by Vana, we sat down with two top investors to unpack the actual state of decentralized AI. These are the people who see all the decks, hear all the pitches, and are funding what they believe is the future of the space. So what’s legit, what’s frothy, and where’s it all headed?First, we talk with Alex Odagiu, Investment Director at YZI Labs. Alex gives a clear-eyed view of the current landscape, sharing insights on the wave of projects flooding the space, the use cases that excite him (think data markets, DeFi agents, and composable infrastructure), and the challenges of signal vs. noise. He also breaks down how he uses AI tools in his own VC workflow—practical, actionable insights for anyone trying to level up their research game.Then we shift to a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation with Daniel Barabander, GC and Investment Partner at Variant. We get into the big picture of how crypto and AI fit together, especially around agent composability, economic ownership, and verification layers. He walks us through why AI agents might need to spend cryptocurrency, where that thesis holds up, and where it doesn’t. We also explore what’s still broken in the space—and what’s needed for real breakthroughs.Topics include:[00:04:00] Why 75% of pitches Alex sees are Crypto + AI[00:10:00] Why blockchain incentives are well-suited for labeling scarce data[00:14:00] What’s broken in open-source model training—and how Web3 could fix it[00:18:00] Agents in DeFi: useful or meme coin mania?[00:21:00] How VCs vet AI x Crypto teams—and why founder ‘pivot mindset’ matters[00:25:00] Practical ways VCs use LLMs for diligence and synthesis[00:32:00] Daniel’s 3 pillars: Aggregation, Verification, and Self-Custody[00:36:00] Do AI agents really need to spend cryptocurrency?[00:44:00] Why economic ownership is crucial to decentralized AI[00:48:00] Composability as a path to superintelligence[00:55:00] What’s still broken: the “fuzzy verification” problem[01:00:00] The underrated promise of modular data layersWe close with a fun look at the modular vs. monolithic debate—Daniel makes the case for why the open, decentralized, and composable internet still has a shot.If you’re at Consensus and still in Toronto, swing by the AI Summit and say hello.Daniel Barabander:https://x.com/dbarabanderAlex Odagiu:https://x.com/odagiusAnd a big thanks to our partner, Vana, whose mission is to enable user-owned AI through user-owned data. Vana recently announced a collaboration with Flower Labs to build the world’s first user-owned foundation model. About Vana's collaboration with Flower:https://www.vana.org/posts/vana-flower-labs-partnershipAbout Vana:https://linktr.ee/vanahqVana on Twitter/X:https://x.com/vanaVana ecosystem: vana.comSubscribe to The People's AI on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLiYlJulQIcmvCjnVRYotwJeff Wilser on Twitter/X:https://x.com/jeffwilser
This is a recap of the top 10 posts on Hacker News on May 15, 2025.AlphaEvolve: A Gemini-powered coding agent for designing advanced algorithmshttps://deepmind.google/discover/blog/alphaevolve-a-gemini-powered-coding-agent-for-designing-advanced-algorithms/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43985489What is HDR, anyway?https://www.lux.camera/what-is-hdr/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43983871A server that wasn't meant to existhttps://it-notes.dragas.net/2025/05/13/the_server_that_wasnt_meant_to_exist/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43985971Databricks acquires Neonhttps://www.databricks.com/blog/databricks-neonhttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43982777Changes since congestion pricing started in New Yorkhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/11/upshot/congestion-pricing.htmlhttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43971515Humanhttps://quarter--mile.com/Humanhttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43991396How to Build a Smartwatch: Picking a Chiphttps://ericmigi.com/blog/how-to-build-a-smartwatch-picking-a-chip/https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43981680LLMs get lost in multi-turn conversationhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2505.06120https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43991256Git Bug: Distributed, Offline-First Bug Tracker Embedded in Git, with Bridgeshttps://github.com/git-bug/git-bughttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43971620Interferometer Device Sees Text from a Mile Awayhttps://physics.aps.org/articles/v18/99https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43945733
In this episode, I share my personal insights into solo travel, with a particular emphasis on navigating both short and long road trips. Join me as I explore the key differences between these two types of adventures, covering aspects like planning, packing, and the unique challenges each presents. Learn how to maximize your time on the road and embrace the freedom that comes with traveling alone. #RoadTrip #RoadTripPlanning #SoloTravel #RoadTripAdventures #TravelTipsArticle discussed: https://redsolotraveler.com/how-i-solo-travel-road-trip/Check out the website! www.redsolotraveler.comFollow Red Solo Traveler!X (@redsolotraveler)Pinterest (redsolotraveler)YouTube (@redsolotraveler) Please like, share and subscribe - on any of your favorite podcast platforms.
In this follow-up episode of Demystifying SAP S/4HANA, we continue our deep dive into the lessons learned from past S/4HANA transformations. Last time, we covered program and business-specific challenges. Listen how we shift our focus to the more IT-related challenges and lessons learned. Torsten Hübsch distills his extensive experience into key takeaways that are both memorable and actionable. From IT governance to system integration, these insights will help you navigate the technical complexities of your S/4HANA journey. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the pioneers in S/4HANA transformations. Subscribe now to stay updated with our latest episodes and ensure your transformation is a success!Subscribe and don't miss an episode - www.pwc.be/sappodcast
In the last episode of the current season, comedian and director Stuart Laws joins Aurie to discuss Goldeneye, Dig Dug, Theme Park and more!Watch full episodes on YoutubeFollow Us On InstagramAurie Styla's Replay Gang is produced by Matt Nida for Wild Ambitions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today I’m talking to Michael Gerlich about his recent study on the potential effects of AI on critical thinking. While much ink has been spilled discussing the value of the traditional essay in a post GPT landscape, much of the conversation has focused on assessment and questions of authorship. Perhaps unsurprisingly, less time has been given to the impact on the learning process itself. The phrase ‘I write to know what I think’ alludes to the value of putting one’s ideas under the microscope, and of sometimes having to rethink cherished beliefs as we spell them out to ourselves at sentence level. If we outsource this process to ChatGPT, are we losing something valuable? We talk through Michael’s data, his own interpretations, and continue the conversation on whether generative AI is ‘just another tool’, or something more.
Guest bio
Prof. Dr Michael Gerlich is Professor of Management and Head of Centre for Strategic Corporate Foresight and Sustainability at SBS Swiss Business School, a Swiss University of Applied Sciences Institute. His academic and professional work focuses on the societal implications of artificial intelligence, change management, and strategic foresight, with a particular interest in bridging research and practice in both policy and business settings.
With prior experience in government advisory and leadership roles across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, he has supported a range of public and private institutions in matters related to economic development, export strategy, and organisational transformation. His research on artificial intelligence has addressed topics such as cognitive offloading, critical thinking, and the ethical dimensions of technology in education and society. His work has been mentioned globally by media including Forbes, Financial Times, The Economist and many more.
Prof. Gerlich has contributed to academic and public debates through his writing and through speaking engagements at international conferences, including events hosted by the United Nations. He holds full, visiting and affiliated teaching roles in Zurich, London (LSE), and Cambridge (ARU), and remains actively involved in interdisciplinary work at the intersection of technology, sociology and human behaviour.
Further reading
Bunn, P.D. (2025). The AI Crisis in Higher Education: Or, on the importance of doing things badly. Everything was beautiful. https://everythingwasbeautiful.substack.com/p/the-ai-crisis-in-higher-education?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
Gerlich, M. (2025). AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking. Societies, 15(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006
Lee H.P, Sarkar A, Tankelevitch L, Drosos I, Rintel S, Banks R, Wilson N. (2025). The impact of generative AI on critical thinking: Self-reported reductions in cognitive effort and confidence effects from a survey of knowledge workers. Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf
Send us a textIs your AI being too nice?In this episode, I unpack the recent backlash against OpenAI after an update reportedly turned ChatGPT into a sycophantic yes-man—agreeing with everything from quitting your job to harming animals. Following user complaints, OpenAI rolled back the update and admitted the model had become “overly supportive [and] disingenuous.” If you’re using AI in your work—or plan to—you need to hear this. Need More Support? If you’re ready to explore how AI can make your marketing smarter and more efficient, check out my Professional Diploma in AI for Marketers. Or, if you’re looking for in-company training, I can help get your team up to speed. Use the code AISIX10 for a special discount just for podcast listeners. https://publicsectormarketingpros.com
This episode explores Wiz’s platform-driven approach to cloud security, emphasising its usability across multiple organizational roles — from developers to executives. Matt, a Principal Solution Engineer at Wiz, explains how the company provides comprehensive, real-time visibility into cloud environments (including multi-cloud and hybrid architectures), helping organisations identify high-risk vulnerabilities early in the software lifecycle — even before deployment.
Key Discussion Points
Wiz’s Core Value Proposition Wiz offers a cloud-native security platform designed to detect risks across infrastructure, applications, and configurations. The solution prioritises threats using risk context and attack path analysis, making security information relevant and actionable for both technical and business stakeholders.
Executive-Level Adoption Matt notes strong engagement from CISOs, CTOs, and CIOs due to Wiz’s rapid time-to-value, easy implementation, and support for tooling consolidation. Executives appreciate how Wiz enables faster, safer adoption of new technologies, such as AI services, while maintaining governance and compliance.
Developer Enablement A major focus is shifting security left by integrating it into developers’ workflows. Wiz provides clear guidance, risk prioritisation, and remediation suggestions, removing the need for developers to be security experts. This reduces friction between engineering and security teams, traditionally a major operational challenge.
Operationalisation and ROI Emphasis is placed on real-world usage and ROI. Matt shares insights from customers who evaluate tools based on actual usage metrics, such as platform login frequency, to ensure investments are delivering value.
Security Champion Models The discussion touches on the importance of embedded security roles, such as Security Champions within development teams. This model, pioneered by companies like Amazon, helps organisations scale secure development practices and manage the growing velocity of security threats in cloud environments.
Noise Reduction and Prioritisation Hosts and guests stress the importance of eliminating alert fatigue. Wiz’s platform contextualises vulnerabilities (e.g., IAM policy misconfigurations or outdated libraries in containers) to distinguish meaningful risks from benign issues. This “pragmatic security” approach builds credibility with developers and promotes a security-aware culture.