Strange Loop Podcast

The founding father of quantum computing David Deutsch sits down with Spotify's Co-President Gustav Söderström and Sana's founder and CEO Joel Hellermark at David's home in Oxfordshire to discuss the nature of knowledge, creativity, AGI, and what truly makes humans unique in the universe.

Subscribe to get the full episode as soon as it launches.

Garry Kasparov knows what it means to play at the edge of human potential. In this episode of Strange Loop, the legendary chess champion and human rights advocate joins Sana founder and CEO Joel Hellermark to explore how chess became the proving ground for AI, why intuition and creativity still matter, and what happens as machines begin to outpace their creators.

Together, they dive into the psychological drama of elite competition, the dangers and opportunities of AI in the real world, and the lessons chess offers for the future of knowledge, work, and human agency.

What’s in this episode

• How chess became the original proving ground for artificial intelligence

• The psychological edge that separates champions from the rest

• Why human creativity and intuition still matter in an AI-powered world

• The risks and rewards of rapid technological progress

• Lessons from Kasparov’s own reinvention beyond chess

• What the history of chess vs. machines reveals about the future of knowledge work

• Defining the human advantage in an age of superhuman computation

• Why freedom and adaptability are essential for progress

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Transcript: https://sanalabs.com/strange-loop/garry-kasparov

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About Strange Loop

Strange Loop is a podcast about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the systems we live and work in. Each episode features deep, unscripted conversations with thinkers and builders reimagining intelligence, leadership, and the architectures of progress. The goal is not just to follow AI’s trajectory, but to question the assumptions guiding it.

Subscribe for more conversations at the edge of AI and human knowledge.

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Timestamps

(00:00) Why chess became AI’s proving ground

(04:22) Competing against machines—and the end of an era

(09:18) Lessons from defeat, and reinvention beyond the board

(15:10) The geopolitics of AI and the risk of misuse

(22:35) Human strengths: intuition, adaptation, and meaning

(28:40) Progress, risk, and the meaning of life

(34:20) What comes next for human agency in the AI age

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Where to find Garry

• • Website: https://kasparov.com/
  • X: https://twitter.com/Kasparov63

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Where to find Joel

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-hellermark/

• X: https://x.com/joelhellermark

This episode is part of our “Summer Selects” series—curated archival episodes that shifted our perspective and are worth revisiting.

Most people think of AI as a tool for experts and big tech. Andrew Ng argues that the real revolution begins when “AI coding is the new literacy”—and building AI moves from the hands of a few "high priests" to everyone.

In this archival episode of Strange Loop, AI pioneer and educator Andrew Ng joins Sana founder and CEO Joel Hellermark for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what it means to democratize AI creation. Together, they explore why most of AI’s creative potential remains untapped, how the application layer will drive the next wave of innovation, and the urgent need to make AI literacy as universal as reading and writing.

What’s in this episode

• Why “AI coding is the new literacy” and what that means for society

• How the future of AI will be shaped by democratizing creation, not just consumption

• The untapped creative potential in AI’s application layer

• Lessons from past tech waves: moats, defensibility, and building lasting businesses

• The economics and competition behind the large language model boom

• How AI is transforming knowledge work, productivity, and who benefits

• The real risks: bias, misinformation, concentration of power, and what to do about them

• The future of AI education: personalized learning, AI tutors, and beyond

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Transcript: https://sanalabs.com/strange-loop/andrew-ng

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About Strange Loop

Strange Loop is a podcast about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the systems we live and work in. Each episode features deep, unscripted conversations with thinkers and builders reimagining intelligence, leadership, and the architectures of progress. The goal is not just to follow AI’s trajectory, but to question the assumptions guiding it.

Subscribe for more conversations at the edge of AI and human knowledge.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Are we still in the “radio show on TV” era of AI?

(00:03:20) Why application is AI’s biggest creative opportunity

(00:07:10) AI economics: cost, competition, and the new infrastructure

(00:12:45) Who wins in the age of AI-augmented knowledge work?

(00:17:15) The real risks: bias, misinformation, and concentrated power

(00:21:05) AI literacy and the democratization of building

(00:25:00) The future of AI education and what’s next for society

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Where to find Andrew

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewyng

• X (Twitter): https://x.com/AndrewYNg

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Where to find Joel

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-hellermark/

• X: https://x.com/joelhellermark

This episode is part of our “Summer Selects” series—curated archival episodes that shifted our perspective and are worth revisiting.

NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang reveals the leadership philosophies and management practices that have made NVIDIA a powerhouse of AI and accelerated computing.

Jensen discusses why first-principles thinking is at the core of his decision-making, how he shapes company strategy through action—not words—and why he believes in empowering teams to pursue “barely possible” challenges. He shares his approach to building an organization that attracts exceptional talent, values deep domain expertise, and maintains a flat hierarchy where information travels quickly and everyone contributes.

Jensen also reflects on how leadership means creating an environment for others to thrive, why flat organizations win, and how empowering employees at every level leads to breakthrough innovation.

Whether you’re a founder, manager, or aspiring leader, this interview is packed with actionable wisdom and inspiration from one of technology’s most respected CEOs.

What's in this episode

• How Jensen challenged classic management playbooks to create a nimble, empowered organization

• The value of direct communication, transparency, and learning from everyone in the company

• Why NVIDIA avoids siloed structures, status reports, and commodity work

• The “top five things” system for keeping a pulse on the company and aligning action with strategy

• Why continuous, adaptive planning beats rigid five-year plans in fast-moving industries

• The importance of humility, adaptability, and changing your mind as a leader

• Insights on creating a culture where people can do their life’s best work—and walk away from the wrong work

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Transcript: https://sanalabs.com/strange-loop/jensen-huang

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About Strange Loop

Strange Loop is a podcast about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the systems we live and work in. Each episode features deep, unscripted conversations with thinkers and builders reimagining intelligence, leadership, and the architectures of progress. The goal is not just to follow AI’s trajectory, but to question the assumptions guiding it.

Subscribe for more conversations at the edge of AI and human knowledge.

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Timestamps

(00:04) Staying current in tech as a leader  

(01:14) Building intuition for industry change  

(03:22) Running a company on first principles  

(04:25) Attracting, empowering, and organizing top talent  

(07:31) Leadership style: direct, inclusive, evolving  

(10:21) "Top Five Things" and transparent communication  

(13:16) Continuous planning and true empowerment  

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Where to find Jensen

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenhsunhuang/

• Blog: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/author/jen-hsun-huang/

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Where to find Joel

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-hellermark/

• X: https://x.com/joelhellermark