What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and...
Artful Intelligence | Ep 2: Elise Swopes on Photography x AI
How can you shape the future with AI to create the world you want to live in?
Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore this question with Elise Swopes, a trailblazing visual artist and educator blending AI with photography. Currently an evangelist for Adobe, Elise has been a creative force since the early days of Instagram, crafting surreal visuals for brands such as Adidas, McDonald’s, Casamigos, and Sony. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. From online harassment to personal struggles, she’s faced adversity with resilience, using her art to shape a brighter, more inclusive future.
Join us as we traverse her path—while Reid reflects on AI’s evolving role in fostering creativity and meaningful human expression. Can AI ever replace human style, or will the future of art always require a human touch?
Time Stamps:
02:14 - Chris McLeod intros the series
Part 1: Shape Your Tools Because They Will Shape You and Your Future
07:07 - How Elise discovered AI and overcame early backlash
09:26 - Building websites and creating digital art as a kid
11:26 - Teaching creativity online and the power of sharing knowledge
17:03 - Reid: How can we foster more constructive conversations about AI?
Part 2: The Right Networks Will Amplify Your Voice Without Losing It
17:13 - Using AI tools to redefine creative possibilities
19:29 - Elise’s journey from public school to creative entrepreneurship
21:26 - Brand collaborations with Nike, McDonald’s, and Casamigos
23:36 - Navigating higher education on her own terms
25:12 - Reid: What would a “better future with AI” look like for artists?
Part 3: Taste and Style Are Your Competitive Advantage in Shaping the Era of AI
27:50 - How artists can shape AI’s future through experimentation
31:31 - Elise’s creative process with Adobe Firefly and AI-generated art
33:52 - Reid: Could AI make human artistic style obsolete?
41:16 - Elise reflects on personal growth and creative freedom
Links:
Swopes’ Website:
https://www.swopes.info/
Swopes on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/swopes
Swopes AI piece discussed in the episode:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5D0rFJOEzf/?igsh=MWgwNDU1cms1a3I2
Swopes’ TEDx Talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joWNKJlf8N0
Show Description:
Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?
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49:28
Introducing: Artful Intelligence | Ep 1: Malick Lombion on Hyperlapse x AI
What if you could create the impossible with AI?
In this debut episode of Artful Intelligence, Chris McLeod introduces us to Montreal-based filmmaker Malick Lombion, whose groundbreaking technique, Hyperlapse X AI, is redefining video art. Malick combines hyperlapse cinematography with cutting-edge AI tools like DALL-E to compress time, space, and reality into surreal and mesmerizing visuals.
Malick pushed AI to its creative limits, proving that human ingenuity and machine learning can work in tandem to unlock new dimensions of art. Reid Hoffman and Chris explore what it takes to innovate at this level: the right partnerships, a willingness to fail publicly, and a commitment to going all in.
Discover how Malick’s work inspired a new wave of video creators—and what it says about the future of creativity in an AI-driven world.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Time Stamps:
Introduction
00:01 – Artful Intelligence introduction.
02:36 – Chris and Reid discuss the central question: Can AI amplify human creativity?
04:08 – A brief history of cinematic breakthroughs, from Georges Méliès to hyperlapse.
08:13 – Malick explains Hyperlapse x AI.
Part 1: The Right Humans Are Required
10:01 – Malick discovers DALL-E 2 and its potential for groundbreaking visuals.
10:55 – Malick teams up with Manuel Sainsily to create Hyperlapse x AI.
12:26 – A long and tedious process.
13:35 – Reid Hoffman on the value of diverse collaborators in AI innovation.
Part 2: Plan on Failure in a Public Way
18:39 – Malick gets an offer to work with Insta360.
20:45 – Public experimentation on Instagram leads Malick to hyperlapse videos.
23:08 – Trial and error with a 10-foot selfie stick.
26:39 – Reid Hoffman on iterative deployment and learning from failure.
Part 3: Once You Know Where You’re Going, Go All In
31:26 – Malick begins transforming his 360 footage into a Hyperlapse x AI video.
32:16 – Malick moves from Guadeloupe to Montreal, fully committing to his passion for video creation.
37:09 – Malick completes his breakthrough video.
40:33 – Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video goes viral.
Outro
49:19 – Chris reflects on Malick’s journey and previews the next episode in the series.
Links:
Malick Lombion’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/malick.fr?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video with the Insta360 camera
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiPyY1VAv6I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
An updated version of Malick’s and Manuel Sainsily’s first Hyperlapse x AI video
https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChNyS6iAEA8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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51:30
Spencer Hyman on flavor and chocolate
Would the world be a better place if we all paused to enjoy a square of sustainably-sourced craft chocolate every day? In honor of the Thanksgiving season, Reid and Aria treat Possible listeners to a discussion about chocolate, flavor, and sustainability. Joining them is Spencer Hyman, whose company, Cocoa Runners, sells craft chocolates from sustainability-minded artisan makers around the world. He gets into the difference between flavor and taste, along with the future of personalized nutrition and the art of savoring everything from chocolate to friendship.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
2:33 - Hellos and intros
4:20 - Spencer’s journey into the world of chocolate
6:25 - The language of flavor
8:01 - How AI could impact taste
10:23 - Inflection’s Pi describes flavors in creative ways
13:03 - Leading a sustainable business that combines capital and social good
15:17 - Making chocolate more social
16:08 - Why chocolate is water-intensive
18:32 - Waves of culinary trends and innovations
22:17 - Midroll ad break
22:24 - Can technology help us better savor food?
25:14 - The next potential innovations in the food industry
28:07 - Why the order you eat things in matters
30:50 - Building meaningful connection via chocolate
34:14 - A conversation with Spencer’s daughter about chocolate and relationship-building
38:18 - Rapid-fire questions
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45:24
Reid riffs on AI and public service technology
Following an inspiring conversation with JusticeText co-founder Devshi Mehrotra, Aria asks Reid about other opportunities for AI to support public infrastructure. Plus, Reid discusses the state of venture funding and OpenAI’s $6.6 billion round.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
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12:31
Devshi Mehrotra on AI, justice, and public defense
America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
3:10 - Hellos and intros
6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText
10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against
12:35 - How JusticeText can help
14:32 - On being a for-profit company
18:11 - Creating a new market
20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base
23:33 - Midroll
23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform
24:40 - Requests for new features
25:58 - JusticeText demo
28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs
30:23 - The intersection of government and technology
32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI
34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system
37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self
38:43 - The future of JusticeText
40:42 - Rapid-fire questions
What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
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