Latest Interviews
Showing 16–30 of 1,410 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist9 min
Why America is stepping away from the institutions it built | The Economist
U.S. foreign policy is undergoing a structural shift from values-based engagement to a transactional approach, driven by a bipartisan consensus that the post-World War II order has failed to deliver sufficient economic returns or strategic advantages. Former President Trump's 2015 platform catalyzed this pivot by framing the abandonment of multilateral institutions as a correction to decades of free-riding, leading to increased reliance on tariffs and coercive trade rather than traditional alliances. Experts project three potential futures for this realignment: a renegotiated U.S. hegemony, a fragmented status quo, or a chaotic descent into systemic collapse triggered by unchecked military coercion.
- Milken Institute36 min
The AI Investment Cycle: Platforms, Infrastructure, and Markets | Global Conference 2026
Yun-Hee Kim, Dennis Gada, Tony Kim, Lily Liu, Scott Rubner
This event analyzes the current trillion-dollar trajectory of global AI capital expenditure, which is driving a structural market shift away from traditional SaaS models toward a three-layer stack dominated by compute and intelligence providers. Key figures from Citadel, BlackRock, and the Solana Foundation discuss the emergence of machine-to-machine financial rails, the geopolitical bifurcation of sovereign AI, and the impending influx of trillion-dollar AI valuations into public markets. The discourse concludes by projecting long-term economic rewiring that will necessitate new frameworks for human capital, cognitive preservation, and decentralized ownership models.
- Milken Institute55 min
The European Opportunity | Global Conference 2026
Gillian Tett, Martin Blessing, Hendrik Brandis, Thomas Buberl, Pascal Cagni, Anne-Christine Champion, Michele Giddens
Key European financial and political leaders are driving a comprehensive reform agenda to bridge the US-Europe productivity gap by establishing a €500 billion German defense fund, transitioning Germany toward a funded pension model, and accelerating France's software entrepreneurship through a simplified "28th regime." To unlock trapped savings and scale unicorns, proponents like AXA CEO Thomas Buhl are advocating for a rapid Capital Markets Union and "military-style" project execution to redirect hundreds of billions into growth investments. Simultaneously, the region is pivoting its technological advantage from abstract AI models to physical industrial applications while leveraging sovereign defense initiatives to create new dual-use supply chains independent of US reliance.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Author Talk: Arthur C. Brooks, "The Meaning of Your Life" | Global Conference 2026
Arthur C. Brooks, Conrad Kiechel
Arthur Brooks, the author of a recent bestseller and former Harvard professor, addresses a psychogenic epidemic of mental distress by attributing rising loneliness and anxiety to a societal over-reliance on technology and "left-brain" complexity at the expense of human connection and "right-brain" meaning. Drawing on neurobiological research and logotherapy, Brooks advocates for a three-step digital detox and a shift toward vertical and lateral transcendence to reclaim fulfillment, arguing that lasting satisfaction stems from managing desire and cultivating relationships rather than chasing the elusive goal of happiness. His analysis further distinguishes between the damaging pursuit of "specialness" and the liberating reality that love is an unearned gift, offering a framework for individuals to navigate the AI-driven economy by prioritizing complex human problems over complicated technical solutions.
- Milken Institute57 min
Rewriting the Rules: Scaling Innovation for Rare Diseases | Global Conference 2026
Becky Quick, Nicola Blackwood, David Fajgenbaum, Michael Hund, Neil Kumar, William H. Lewis
Panelists including David, Will Osborn, and Michael discussed how AI-driven repurposing of generic drugs and patient-led "venture cure" models are accelerating the discovery of treatments for the over 300 million people globally affected by rare diseases. The dialogue highlighted transformative regulatory shifts, such as the UK's newborn sequencing trials and FDA-authorized umbrella CRISPR studies, which aim to bypass traditional trial inefficiencies while addressing barriers like pricing models that stifle global drug launches. Ultimately, the event concluded that converging data infrastructure with proactive patient advocacy is essential to de-risk development and deliver rapid therapeutic interventions for currently untreatable conditions.
- Stanford Online49 min
Stanford MS&E435 Economics of the AI Supercycle | Spring 2026 | Applications, Coding AI
Guillermo Rauch, Apoorv Agrawal
Vercel, a $9.3 billion infrastructure firm founded by Guillermo Rauch, is pivoting its business model from standard web pages to "agentic infrastructure" to support the exponential growth of AI coding agents and token-based consumption. The company leverages a full-stack approach anchored in open source frameworks like Next.js, enabling enterprises such as Meta and Notion to deploy self-driving cloud capabilities that automate software configuration and security. This strategic shift, which has driven a threefold growth rate since October 2024, positions Vercel as the dominant platform for high-velocity, agent-generated code while redefining industry pricing and deployment standards.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
The New Macro Playbook | Global Conference 2026
Stephanie Ruhle, André Esteves, George Goncalves, Karen Karniol-Tambour, Seema Shah, Jeffrey Solomon
Global capital flows are shifting from a U.S.-centric model to diversified inflows in emerging markets and resource economies, driven by a transition from efficiency-based globalization to sovereign security-focused supply chains. This structural change, characterized by modern mercantilism and massive AI infrastructure spending, has created a bifurcated economy where fiscal deficits and geopolitical fragmentation fuel persistent inflation while prompting investors to seek physical assets over traditional equities. As nations fragment into isolated economic blocks and governments face rising risks of financial repression, investors must navigate these divergent currency zones to identify opportunities in captive markets protected by national industrial policies.
- Milken Institute59 min
Breakthroughs Reshaping Aging and Longevity | Global Conference 2026
Richard Lui, Joe Betts-LaCroix, Tom Hale, Richard Isaacson, Carina Kern, John Whyte
Leaders from Retro Biosciences, Aura Health, Link Jevity, and the AMA convened to discuss accelerating longevity medicine through therapies targeting necrosis and autophagy alongside continuous health monitoring. The panel identified critical systemic barriers including outdated reimbursement models and fragmented disease silos while highlighting breakthroughs like generative AI-driven drug discovery and home-based neuro-insight testing. With a predicted market readiness of 3 to 6 out of 10, the group anticipates the first anti-aging therapeutics will reach consumers within five years as the industry shifts from reactive sick care to proactive aging reversal.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
India Ahead: Growth, Investment, and Global Ambition | Global Conference 2026
Karan Bilimoria, Haigreve Khaitan, Vivek Lall, Ajay Piramal, Suneeta Reddy
India's economy, now the world's fourth or sixth largest with a $4 trillion GDP, targets third-place status by 2031 through aggressive manufacturing incentives, digital infrastructure expansion, and a robust legal framework that recently restored its Triple-B+ credit rating. Driven by a youthful demographic, rapid financial inclusion via the Aadhaar system, and strategic shifts in defense and space sectors, the nation has lifted 300 to 400 million people out of poverty while attracting significant foreign investment despite challenges regarding energy security and workforce upskilling. With stable democratic institutions and ambitious reforms in taxation and bankruptcy codes, India is positioning itself as a global innovation hub capable of sustaining long-term growth even as it navigates currency fluctuations and climate resilience needs.
- a16z42 min
The New Media Advantage with Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen
Ben Horowitz, Marc Andreessen, Erik Torenberg, Gaby Goldberg
The event details a fundamental shift from restricted legacy media to an offense-oriented, direct-to-audience strategy where founders must prioritize the "person as brand" over corporate abstraction. Speakers argue that traditional journalistic gatekeeping is obsolete, urging executives to adopt an "outside-in" narrative framework that links their companies to macro-trends like geopolitics and supply chain crises, as exemplified by Alex Karp and Ryan Peterson. To succeed, founders are advised to reject scripted media training in favor of authentic, polarizing communication and to build teams skilled in long-form storytelling rather than traditional public relations.
- Milken Institute52 min
Investing in the Resiliency of HBCUs | Global Conference 2026
Ayesha Rascoe, Melissa Bradley, Bill Bynum, Bobbie Knight, Todd McDonald
With a combined $16.5 billion annual economic impact and a $146 billion lifetime earnings contribution from graduates, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are emerging as critical economic engines through strategic partnerships with corporate giants like NVIDIA and AWS rather than traditional charitable giving. Organizations such as Hope Enterprise Corporation and Liberty Bank have deployed approximately $200 million to restructure balance sheets, upgrade research facilities at institutions like Tuskegee, and unlock real estate potential on HBCU land. Consequently, policymakers and investors are increasingly viewing these 45 Deep South institutions as a distinct asset class, leveraging initiatives like R1 research status elevations and a proposed federal clearinghouse to attract the capital necessary to close the funding gap with predominantly white peers.
- The Economist7 min
Can Donald Trump secure a deal with Cuba? | The Economist
Donald Trump, Dr Christopher Sabatini, David Rennie, Sarah Birke, Christopher
A proposed transactional framework seeks to secure Cuban economic relief, including lifting the oil embargo, in exchange for a credible multi-party election plan. Key figures like Marco Rubio and Donald Trump aim to satisfy the Cuban-American voting bloc by offering a political roadmap that prioritizes economic liberalization over immediate regime change. Despite skepticism regarding the administration's long-term commitment, proponents argue that even a flawed agreement could dismantle the current stagnant leadership structure.
- Milken Institute53 min
Catalyzing Capital, Innovation, and Impact to Advance Women's Health | Global Conference 2026
Esther Krofah, Jill Biden, Diana Ramos, Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Afton Vechery
The Women's Health Network, comprising 170 organizations, launched a $1 billion funding initiative led by Merck's Health Catalytic Fund to address century-old data gaps and the $2 billion annual productivity loss caused by menopause. Driven by strategic partnerships like California's PRIMA screening tool and private sector innovations such as Modern Fertility, the coalition is leveraging artificial intelligence and capital to de-risk early-stage commercialization while targeting a 50% reduction in maternal mortality. This convergence of philanthropic resources and consumer demand aims to shift medical research from male-centric models to comprehensive care for the 51% of the global population that women represent.
- Milken Institute53 min
The Legacy Play: How Global Sport Shapes Cities, Economies, and Culture | Global Conference 2026
Willow Bay, Jack Alexy, Chris Brearton, Breezy Johnson, Lindsay Taylor, Trisha Worthington
The "Legacy Play" panel convened media leaders, philanthropists, and Olympic gold medalists to analyze the commercial disparities and technological advancements reshaping global sports. Discussion highlighted the United States' unique reliance on private funding compared to state-backed peer nations, while detailing how AI integration and evolving media strategies are democratizing access and enhancing athlete branding. Participants further emphasized the critical role of mental health support and sustainable venue legacies in ensuring long-term career viability and equitable growth for women's sports.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Why Africa, Why Now: Investing in the World's Next Growth Engine | Global Conference 2026
British Robinson, Runa Alam, Qahir Dhanani, Courtney Powell, Ethiopis Tafara, Meg Whitman, Samaila Zubairu
A diverse panel of experts from the World Bank, IFC, and leading private equity firms outlines Africa's shift from a resource-dependent economy to a consumer and technology-driven powerhouse with a projected workforce of 2.5 billion by 2050. Participants highlight that superior recovery rates, decoupled sovereign risk, and undervalued assets make the continent a high-return destination, prompting a strategic pivot toward private equity, green energy supply chains, and fintech. Consequently, institutional investors are urged to bridge local capital gaps through Public-Private Partnerships and to align pension fund mandates with infrastructure projects that address the urgent need to employ the continent's massive youth population.