GAEA Talks

This episode features Ben Legg, former Google COO, and explores the AI revolution through the lens of work, value, leadership, and human identity. Drawing on Ben's decades of experience across the military, consulting, big tech, and global leadership, the conversation examines how AI is reshaping not just industries, but how humans define work, purpose, creativity, and status. The discussion moves beyond hype to address the deeper structural shifts underway - from the fractionalisation of jobs and the rise of portfolio careers, to AI-driven marketing, personalised economies, and the future role of CEOs and leaders. At its core, the episode asks a fundamental question: how do humans stay valuable, fulfilled, and adaptable in a world where intelligence and production approach zero marginal cost?Ben Legg is a seasoned technology executive and an expert on the future of work and artificial intelligence. His career spans leadership roles across the military, global consulting, consumer brands, and big tech - including senior positions at Google, Coca-Cola, and McKinsey. Today, Ben runs a portfolio career advising CEOs, boards, and investors, while also helping organisations understand how AI, data, and technology are reshaping business models and leadership. He is also the co-founder of the Portfolio Collective, a global community supporting professionals in building flexible, future-proof careers in an AI-driven world.The GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://gaealgm.ai

This episode explores how businesses should really think about artificial intelligence beyond hype, headlines, and fear-driven adoption. Jeremy Dalton, founder of XRHQ and a global expert in emerging technologies, breaks down why AI initiatives often fail - not because of the technology, but because organisations forget to anchor innovation to real business problems and human outcomes.Ultimately, this episode is about sustainable innovation: how leaders can avoid costly hype cycles, design smarter AI strategies, protect institutional knowledge, and build long-term competitive advantage by aligning technology, people, and purpose.Jeremy Dalton is a globally recognised expert in emerging technologies and the founder of XRHQ, an AI-powered platform that tracks how organisations across industries are adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and advanced automation.At PwC, Jeremy was Head of Immersive Technologies and he managed to establish and scale the firm’s Immersive Technologies team globally, delivering over 150 projects across 50 countries. The work brought together multiple emerging technologies, including AI, VR, drones, and 3D web-based experiences, supported by research partnerships and strategic consulting for business leaders.His work has been cited by the World Economic Forum, The Economist, The Financial Times, and other global institutions. As a published author, his books have been translated into several languages and used by businesses and universities worldwide. Jeremy has also served as an industrial supervisor for PhD-level research, contributing to academic studies in emerging technology.

This episode features AI strategist and policy expert Walter Pasquarelli (YouTube Channel:  ⁨@WalterPasquarelli⁩ ) diving deep into the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its effect on society, business, creativity, and the human mind. The conversation explores personal vs enterprise AI adoption, the rise of AI companions, the emotional impacts of synthetic relationships, robotics and humanoids, future hardware interfaces, and shifts in the labour market as AI amplifies high performers while reshaping entry-level roles. Walter provides rare, evidence-backed insights from advising governments, major tech firms, and global CEOs - painting a nuanced picture of opportunity, risk, and the mental, social, and economic transformations already underway.Walter Pasquarelli is a globally recognised writer, speaker, and expert on AI strategy and synthetic reality. He has advised Fortune 100 executives, world leaders, and royalty on the impact of generative technologies, shaping both business and government responses to AI.Previously, Walter led AI thought leadership and advisory programs at The Economist Group, influencing global policy, public, and business perceptions of AI. He has been at the forefront of the concept of synthetic reality since 2019, a term later adopted by a global consulting firm. His expertise was sought by a European presidential candidate following the first major deepfake attack on a political figure in the region.He has provided strategic AI policy guidance to major corporations, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola, as well as to government leaders across the UK, US, Canada, the European Commission, UAE, Colombia, India, Thailand, and Serbia.Find out more about Walter here, via his YouTube Channel or via his Website:https://www.youtube.com/@WalterPasquarelliwww.walterpasquarelli.comThe GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://www.gaealgm.ai

This episode is a deep, big-picture conversation with Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor and Former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI. The episode explores how AI is reshaping society, work, policy, human happiness, and our collective future. Zack breaks down the history of modern AI, explains why goalposts keep moving, and why society often misunderstands technological progress. Together, Zack and Graeme discuss attention economics, screen addiction, job displacement, political blockers, infrastructure bottlenecks, and the spiritual challenges that emerge once technology solves our material needs. At its core, the episode argues that AI is not a threat but an opportunity - one that can expand access, reduce the cost of essential goods, and spark a return to human connection, creativity, and meaning. Zack Kass is one of the leading voices in artificial intelligence and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, where he helped bring GPT-3, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4 into the global mainstream. With a decade-plus career focused exclusively on AI, Zack has worked across foundational model development, enterprise implementation, and frontier AI research. Before OpenAI, he led teams at Lilt, worked early in the data-labeling industry with CrowdFlower/Figure Eight, and has collaborated closely with innovators at Weights & Biases and CoreWeave.Today, Zack lectures at the University of Hong Kong, HKUST, and the University of Virginia, advising Fortune 500 and Global 5000 leaders on AI strategy, policy, and the future of work. His upcoming book explores how AI will reshape society over the next 30 years, emphasising access, progress, and human flourishing. Few people have been as close to the rise of modern AI as Zack, making him uniquely qualified to guide audiences through what’s coming next.

Artificial intelligence isn't just another technological shift - it's a fundamental restructuring of how society operates. In this episode, Tim Gordon explains why AI represents a deeper disruption than previous technological revolutions, and what that means for everyone navigating this transformation.Drawing on two decades of leadership across media, consulting, politics, and AI strategy, Tim explores how AI is reshaping the institutions we've relied on: the gatekeepers of information, the structure of work, the nature of creativity, and even the concept of truth itself. We discuss misinformation in the age of synthetic content, the rise of algorithmic power, why nations are racing to build sovereign AI capabilities, and how the "centaur model" of human-AI collaboration will redefine knowledge work.This conversation also tackles urgent questions: What happens when human-generated content becomes scarce? How do we preserve what makes us distinctly human? And what responsibility does this generation bear in shaping the rules that will govern AI for decades to come?About Tim GordonTim Gordon is co-founder of Best Practice AI (https://www.bestpractice.ai/), a leading advisory firm helping organizations navigate AI adoption and implementation. Over twenty years, he has led digital and data transformation across media, financial services, and campaigning, holding senior roles at the Financial Times, Boston Consulting Group, and private equity-backed ventures. He also served as Chief Executive of the Liberal Democrats.Tim advises everyone from startup founders to FTSE 100 executives and UK Cabinet Ministers. He's a trustee of Full Fact, the UK's leading fact-checking charity, and co-hosts the "Age of Intelligence" podcast with colleagues from INSEAD. His work sits at the intersection of AI ethics, economic strategy, and societal impact - making him one of the most thoughtful voices on how leaders can navigate AI's disruptive power.