Panelists discuss Smart Cities at the TechEquity Ai Summit in Sunnyvale, November 7, 2025. From left: Ain McKendrick (Faction), Deborah Golden (Deloitte), Ben Calderon (Samsara), Blake Barber (Glydways) and William Santana Li (Knightscope). Photos by Alastair Goldfisher. Outside a corner store in San Francisco’s Mission District, flowers, candles and KitKat candy bars mark the spot […]
What’s Inside AI is helping, not replacing, frontline workers Real-world examples from logistics, safety and insurance Why coaching beats automation in high-pressure environments A warehouse worker on shift. AI tools like coaching dashboards and machine vision are showing up on the floor to help, not replace, them. When Tehzin Chadwick describes AI’s role at UNFI, […]
What’s Inside How a husband-and-wife team built a 170-member LP network DVC’s AI-enabled venture model and early bet on Perplexity AI Founder resilience matter more than ever in the AI era Nick and Marina Davidov were founders long before they became fund managers. When they launched DVC, they didn’t hire analysts or build a big […]
What’s Inside AI tools are leaving the office and reaching the frontline Startups like WorkWhile and Teambridge are redefining hourly work Investors see a new market where AI meets the real economy AI’s promise and glow isn’t confined to corner offices. It’s moving into warehouses and on the streets where real work happens. Drive on […]
What’s Inside How Prem Akkaraju sees AI reinventing storytelling Storytelling is still the most powerful tech ever invented What the “storyteller’s gap” means for startup founders The TED AI stage in San Francisco last week wasn’t short on predictions. But Prem Akkaraju’s talk stood apart. It wasn’t about AI in healthcare, enterprise or mathematical models. […]
What’s Inside Why I’m taking The Venture Variety Show to the TechEquity Ai Summit What could possibly go wrong recording at a crowded conference? The kinds of AI stories I hope to report on Welcome back to In the Viewfinder, where I share a behind-the-scenes look at how my stories and podcasts take shape. Next […]
What’s Inside Meta’s Connect demo fail shows how unpredictable AI can be Why Reprise’s AI demo paradox turns a recurring problem into an opportunity Trust and storytelling still matter more than automation in enterprise sales AI may make product demos smarter, but also riskier. It happened so quickly. There was a live demo taking place, […]
What’s Inside Kai-Fu Lee believes AI agents will redefine work by 2026 How leadership is now the biggest gap in AI adoption Skepticism still matters when everyone’s predicting the same future Kai-Fu Lee on screen during his TED AI conversation with Steven Levy. The Herbst Theatre behind San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza was packed. Sunlight […]
I’m pausing my regular Media Shot column this week to share something a little different but also focused on storytelling. I recorded a podcast with Christina Farr to talk about her new book and storytelling. The episode matches the spirit of Media Shot, just in podcast form. The regular column will return next Monday. Christina […]
Welcome back to In the Viewfinder, where I share behind-the-scenes activity and how my stories and podcasts take shape. This week felt like I was buried under an avalanche of pitches. My inbox filled up with potential podcast guests — founders, investors, authors, futurists, thought leaders, you name it — all hoping to get on […]
