Mo Gawdat, Former Chief Business Officer of Google X | Challenging Mo Gawdat

The episode of history where humanity was the apex intelligence is about to end. That is how Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X and author of Scary Smart, sees it. Kayvan interviewed him on stage at the Love Tomorrow Summit in front of thousands of people, with one plan: challenge him instead of agreeing with him. In the second episode of White Box Rodeo, Robert Valentine and Kayvan Nikjou talk about how that interview came about, from journalism school and Forbes to two hours backstage with Mo. Then the full conversation from the Love Tomorrow stage: AI as the ultimate equalizer, America and China in the AI race, where Europe stands, what our children should still learn, and questions from the audience. Back in the studio we go through what Mo told Kayvan off camera, AI and warfare, DeepSeek and intellectual property, and his ten-year timeframe. Interview footage: Love Tomorrow Summit 2026, used with permission of Love Tomorrow. New episode every Friday. Recorded at Berghaus, Amsterdam. Chapters 0:00 Cold open 0:27 Kayvan's interview with Mo Gawdat 2:55 Tomorrowland and the Love Tomorrow Summit 6:27 From journalism school to Forbes 14:03 Invited to challenge Mo Gawdat 15:02 Two hours backstage with Mo 17:22 Friend or opponent on stage 19:58 The Love Tomorrow interview 21:44 The viking chant 24:48 Who is Mo Gawdat? 33:08 The end of humans as the apex intelligence 34:14 America, China and the AI race 38:33 Where is Europe? 39:12 AI as the ultimate equalizer 42:14 What should our children study? 45:41 Memorising, boredom and a disagreement 50:31 Questions from the audience 1:02:26 Two questions at the end of a life 1:03:10 Back in the studio 1:09:35 What Mo said off camera 1:13:26 AI, warfare, China and Europe 1:16:11 America's role 1:17:18 DeepSeek and intellectual property 1:18:48 Ten years 1:19:50 Next: Jürgen Ingels Correction: at 1:11:10 Robert mentions a US Air Force simulation in which an AI drone turned against its operator. The US Air Force has said no such simulation took place, and the colonel who described it later called it a hypothetical thought experiment. White Box Rodeo is for information and entertainment only and is not investment advice. The hosts may hold interests in companies they discuss. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PEh9t2kSu0 White Box Rodeo: https://whiteboxrodeo.com Hosts: Robert Valentine and Kayvan Nikjou