Paradigm Shock

Navigating the AI Safety and Governance Labyrinth with Andrew Harrison

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:21:25 GMT

Anjon Roy welcomes AI Governance expert Andrew Harrison to Paradigm Shock to discuss the complex challenges of AI Safety and Governance. Harrison shares insights from his multidisciplinary educational and professional journey, emphasizing the importance of synthesizing perspectives from psychology, data science, technology and international relations. The discussion spans emerging risks associated with the wide distribution of agent deployment, model scheming, technical solutions like mechanistic interpretability, the pivotal role of constitutional AI frameworks, and cyber risks from potential uplift scenarios. The episode underscores the transformative potential and risks of AI and the necessity of understanding its impacts on economic systems, international relations, and organizational dynamics. Harrison calls for a nuanced understanding of emergent risks, advocating for a balanced approach that draws from both technical and policy-driven perspectives to address AI's potential and perils.

Links

Andrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipharrison/

BlueDot Impact AGI Course: https://bluedot.org/courses/agi-strategy

Contact Show

New Substack- https://aiuncertainty.substack.com/

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Bracing for Impact: AI and The Future of Jobs with David Timis

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:08:09 GMT

In the Paradigm Shock podcast, Anjon Roy and guest David Timis delve into the complex dynamics of AI's impact on the labor market. As a leading advocate in workforce development, Timis shares insights from his roles across various global organizations. They tackle critical questions about AI's potential to either diminish or redistribute employment opportunities. Highlighting both theoretical debates and on-ground realities, the discussion focuses on the current and future effects of AI on job availability, particularly for vulnerable communities and younger workers entering the job market. They also discuss potential catastrophic risk scenarios, such as the extreme power concentration that could result from mass labor displacement, and the potential limits of Jevons Paradox.

Show Notes

David’s website: https://www.davidtimis.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtimis/

David’s WEF Page: https://www.weforum.org/stories/authors/david-timis/

Concepts discussed:

https://davidoks.blog/p/why-the-atm-didnt-kill-bank-teller

https://stayathomemacro.substack.com/p/a-year-with-no-jobsbut-no-recession

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VhTO6HGkS-k

Contact Show

New Substack- https://aiuncertainty.substack.com/

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Unlocking Global Trade Disruptions: Bergstrand's Insights

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:54:47 GMT

In this episode of Paradigm Shock, host Anjon Roy welcomes Notre Dame Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Bergstrand, a leading figure in international trade economics. Bergstrand shares his journey from aspiring disc jockey to renowned economist, highlighting his influential Gravity Equation model, which transformed the study of international trade by explaining trade flows through economic mass and distance. He also reflects on the evolving views of globalization, examines modern disruptions such as tariffs, trade wars and the current oil price shock and discusses artificial intelligence's impact on the labor market. They also share thoughts about the new nominee for US Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh.

Show Links

Jeffrey Bergstrand University Website

Google Scholar Page

Book: Understanding Globalization Through the Lens of Gravity

Contact Show

New Substack- The Age of Uncertainty

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Shared Wisdom and localized Sovereign AI with Sandy Pentland

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:23:42 GMT

In a fascinating discussion on Paradigm Shock, legendary computational social science Professor Sandy Pentland joins the show to unpack the geopolitical and social implications of advanced AI. Fresh off his discussions on AI Sovereignty, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's ground breaking speech, and open source initiatives such as the India Citizen Stack at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Sandy finds mid-sized nations seeking to reclaim digital sovereignty from American and Chinese tech giants.

We also dive into the core thesis of his latest book, Shared Wisdom, exploring how humanity's true superpower lies in our collective cultural intelligence rather than individual intellect. Building on this, we discuss the urgent need to design AI systems that augment human deliberation, autonomy, and contextual specificity —acting as a vital countermeasure to over-centralized, Soviet-style tech monopolies and extractive platforms. The discussion concludes with a brief discussion on actionable governance approaches and understudied risks.

Show links

Sandy Pentland’s MIT Page: https://www.media.mit.edu/people/sandy/overview/

Shared Wisdom Book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262050999/shared-wisdom/

Article on 2026 Davos Meetings: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/big-changes-in-the-world-davos-2026/

Sandy Pentland’s Stanford HAI Page: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/person/sandy-pentland/

LinkedIn page

Contact Show

New Substack- The Age of Uncertainty

Parshock2025@gmail.com

AI and Human Touch: Balancing Automation in Fintech with Evan Kaldelis

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:49:45 GMT

Evan Kaldelis, Global Deputy CEO of Fintech firm 3S Money, discusses his approach to integrating AI and human interaction within the fintech sector on Paradigm Shock. Emphasizing a personalized strategy for SMEs, Evan elaborates on why human-led processes are essential in specific areas of fintech, such as customer service, while AI is embraced for operational tasks. He argues for a human-centered model in regulated financial environments where determinism and risk minimization are crucial. This podcast episode is an insightful look into how fintech can leverage technology while still prioritizing the quality of human connection. This episode concludes with a brief discussion on the complexities of global payment systems.

Show links

Evan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evangelos-kaldelis/

Company Website: https://3s.money/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Behind the Scenes of AI Coding Assistants with Nicholas Arcolano

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:30:25 GMT

Nicholas Arcolano, Head of Research at Jellyfish joins Paradigm Shock to discuss the intersection of AI and software engineering, highlighting findings from recent research on AI-enabled coding assistants. The episode provides a unique look at how he leverages comprehensive data analysis to derive meaningful insights about AI’s impact on software engineering. Arcolano's reflections illuminate the necessity of simplifying complex models to understand multifaceted human and technological interactions. The insights shared extend beyond software engineering, offering a broader perspective on AI governance, adoption, and transformation within organizations, setting a path for future advancements in managing AI systems.

Show links

Nicholas LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arcolano/

Articles and Papers Mentioned:

Paper - AI In The Firm: https://jellyfish.co/blog/harvard-jellyfish-ai-is-making-developers-faster/

Bloomberg Odd Lots podcast on Claude Code: https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/why-the-tech-world-is-going-crazy-for-claude-code/id1056200096?i=1000745716909

The Atlantic: Move Over Chat GPT: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/claude-code-ai-hype/685617/

Mckinsey Paper: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/unlocking-the-value-of-ai-in-software-development

METR Paper: https://metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Vasant Dhar on Paradigm Shifts in Artificial Intelligence

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:12:34 GMT

Dr. Vasant Dhar joins Paradigm Shock to discuss pivotal shifts in artificial intelligence. Known for bridging academia and practice, Dhar outlines AI's journey from expert systems, reliant on human-specified knowledge, to the advent of machine learning, deep learning and general intelligence, driven by data availability. He shares personal anecdotes, including early successes in uncovering data patterns that reshaped trading strategies on Wall Street. His narrative emphasizes AI's trend towards predictive modeling and its transformative role across sectors. Dhar's book, 'Thinking with Machines,' serves as a guide to understanding these developments, urging readers to navigate AI's opportunities and challenges thoughtfully.

This episode is part of a series of episodes on Artificial Intelligence planned over the next several months. Please subscribe to stay updated.

Show Links

Book: Thinking With Machines

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasant_Dhar

Brave New World Podcast: https://bravenewpodcast.com/

NYU Page: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/vasant-dhar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasant-dhar-931175/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Biocomputing: Merging Neuroscience with Technology

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:34:12 GMT

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, a neuroscientist with the firm Final Spark, features on the Paradigm Shock podcast. We discuss her transition from academia to commercialization of revolutionary biocomputing technology, where living neurons function as processors. Emphasizing the energy efficiency of neurons over traditional silicon chips, Dr. Curtis explains the process and potential of programming neurons for computation. By encompassing various disciplines like biotechnology, neuroscience, and AI, this episode explores the potential benefits and future applications of this emerging field, along with risks and ethical considerations.

Show Notes:

Final Spark Website: https://finalspark.com/

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys Website:

Dr. Kurtys LinkedIn

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Paradigm Shock Podcast LinkedIn

Beyond the Silos: Paul Sheard's Unique Economic Perspectives

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:38:17 GMT

The latest episode of Paradigm Shock features Dr. Paul Sheard, former Vice Chairman and Chief Economist at Standard and Poor's, a former advisor to two Japanese prime ministers, a senior official at multiple global institutions, and the author of numerous papers and books, including his latest "The Power of Money", a WSJ Best Seller. Listeners delve into why popular economic narratives, especially regarding monetary policy, have often missed the mark post-2008 global financial crisis. Sheard's varied experiences, from studying Japanese industrial systems to navigating global economics at S&P, allow him to address complex topics with depth. His analysis of monetary systems, particularly his work on quantitative easing, reveals misunderstandings about inflation post-2008. Dr. Sheard advocates for examining the finer details and institutional mechanics that traditional economic models often ignore, offering listeners a richer perspective on global financial challenges and the potential future disruptions to global economic architectures.

Show Links

Paul’s Wall Street Journal Bestseller: The Power of Money

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Sheard

His famous paper discussed: Repeat After Me: Banks Cannot And Do Not “Lend Out” Reserves

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sheard-060988264/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Catherine Bracy and the World Eaters: Venture Capital's Monoculture Impact

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 21:19:00 GMT

Catherine Bracy, author of 'World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy,' discusses her journey from civic tech to challenging the current venture capital system. Arguing that VC investment models impose a narrow business monoculture and problematic uniformity, Bracy highlights the risks of current funding models to innovation and the broader economy. She suggests that a diverse range of business models and funding mechanisms is crucial for sustaining growth and innovation in the tech sector, advocating for venture capital to revert to its original supportive, innovation-friendly role in fostering more varied types of business success. They also discuss this pattern potentially repeating itself in the current AI investment boom with potentially grave consequences to AI Safety.

Show Links

Her book: World Eaters: How Venture Capital Is Cannibalizing the Economy

Tech Equity: https://techequity.us/

Catherine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinebracy/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

From Bozeman to Fintech Fame: Alex Johnson's Journey

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:11:00 GMT

This unique episode of Paradigm Shock features Alex Johnson, author of the FinTech Takes newsletter, discussing the road less traveled in fintech analysis. They explore Alex's career trajectory from growing up in Bozeman, Montana, to becoming a leading fintech expert. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adaptability and leveraging the Internet's power to reach niche audiences. Their conversation delves into the challenges of maintaining independence amidst industry pressures and the joy of transforming a passion into a thriving career. Alex inspires listeners to pursue what excites them, sharing valuable lessons on finding opportunities in unexpected places. The latter portion of the discussion focuses on the continued fallout from JP Morgan’s shocking announcement that they will be charging for access to consumer data and the impact on consumers, future AI and agentic finance and Open Banking more broadly.

Alex’s Fintech Takes: https://fintechtakes.com/

Some of Alex’s Favorite Sources:

Simon Taylor’s Fintech Brainfood: https://www.fintechbrainfood.com/

Jason Mikula’s Fintech Business Weekly: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/

Kiah Haslett https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaslett/

Cards for the Win by Matthew Goldman: https://www.cardsftw.com/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Aftershocks with Fintech lawyer Jesse Silverman: Open Banking in the Crosshairs with JP Morgan’s data announcement

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 23:42:05 GMT

In an unprecedented move, JPMorgan Chase announced plans to charge fintech companies for accessing consumer data, igniting significant debate within the fintech community. This decision follows the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's announcement to rescind Rule 1033, which previously mandated free data access under consumer consent. The decision has profound implications for open banking and the fintech sector, with potential alterations in partnerships and strategies. Industry players face uncertainty as they navigate technical, legal, and ethical challenges, balancing infrastructure costs with consumer rights and business interests. The outcome is uncertain, with ongoing litigation possibly influencing the landscape.

Bloomberg Story referenced:

Jesse’s Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebsilverman/

Fintech Takes:

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Peeking Inside 'Anatomy of the Swipe': A Payment Revolution with Ahmed Siddiqui

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 16:49:17 GMT

Ahmed Siddiqui, the best-selling author of 'Anatomy of the Swipe,' joins Paradigm Shock to unravel the complexities of the payment system. Through his famous book, Siddiqui breaks down the mechanics behind every credit card swipe, explaining the sequence of events occurring within seconds of the transaction. With a visual and story-driven approach, Siddiqui aims to educate both novices and industry insiders on the intricate world of payments, offering insights into his career, and highlighting the areas ripe for fintech innovation including open banking and tokenization. He also announces a new initiative towards the end of this episode. Note: Recorded on Thursday July 10, 2025.

Show Links:

Order Anatomy of the Swipe

Core Graphic from his book

Ahmed's LinkedIn page:

Academy of the Swipe Course:

Podcast Contact:

Contact Paradigm Shock: ParShock2025@gmail.com

Tackling the Credit Time Bomb: A New Paradigm with Martin Kleinbard

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:30:59 GMT

In a captivating episode of Paradigm Shock, host Anjon Roy interviews fintech expert Martin Kleinbard on his recent report about the potential 'Credit Time Bomb' in consumer credit assessments. The discussion centers on the limitations of traditional credit scoring models like FICO in today's AI-driven world, presenting another potential AI Alignment challenge. Martin proposes a shift towards cash flow-based underwriting to better evaluate credit risk, leveraging the capabilities of open banking. This approach could mitigate current threats in consumer lending while aligning credit assessments with modern financial behavior, potentially paving the way for a more inclusive and accurate credit evaluation system.

Show Links:

Report: How Cash Flow Data Can Diffuse the Credit Time Bomb

Martin’s LinkedIn Profile

Alex Johnson’s Fintech Takes Podcast and Newsletter

Credit Worthy by Josh Lauer

Behind the Headlines: Steven Ehrlich on Covering Crypto's Wild Ride

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 01:08:35 GMT

In this episode, veteran journalist Steven Ehrlich discusses his unexpected journey into crypto journalism. Originally a DoD contractor, Steven transitioned to the digital asset sphere through various roles at Forbes and Unchained. Throughout his career, he has witnessed the boom and bust cycles of cryptocurrency, reflecting on both its potential and its speculative excesses. In this discussion, he highlights critical phases in the crypto world, such as the ICO craze, DeFi summer, and NFT boom. Steven critically analyzes the speculative nature of these trends while expressing hope for crypto's future practical potential, aiming to balance exuberance with realistic expectations and real world impact.

Key Links:

Bits and Bips Newsletter

Steven's Unchained Page

Steven's Forbes Page

Twitter

Bits and Bips Podcast

Unchained Podcast

The NVIDIA Revolution: From Gaming to Global Dominance with "The Thinking Machine" Author Stephen Witt

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:39:28 GMT

In this episode of 'Paradigm Shock,' host Anjon Roy engages with author Stephen Witt to discuss the rise of NVIDIA under the leadership of Co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang. Witt's new book, 'The Thinking Machine,' leverages an amazing level of access to explore how Huang transformed NVIDIA from a struggling gaming company into the dominant player in the semiconductor sector. They delve into the years of struggle and strategic reinvention that led to NVIDIA's groundbreaking advancements in Parallel computing with it's GPU chips, highlighting how these innovations have significantly influenced and enabled the current boom in Artificial Intelligence and reshaped global tech markets, making NVIDIA the most consequential company today.

Stephen's Website: http://stephenwitt.info

Check out his book

Saving the Cycles: Blockchain's Role in Obligation Clearing and Netting Systems with Tomaž Fleischman

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:16:29 GMT

In this episode of Paradigm Shock, host Anjon Roy engages with Tomaž Fleischman from the Cycles Protocol to explore the profound potential of blockchain technologies in revolutionizing financial systems with multilateral clearing and netting systems. Through an engaging narrative, they delve into netting and obligation clearing, illustrating how these processes can significantly impact both local economies and the global financial landscape. Fleischman, an expert in this field, shares his journey from computer systems engineering to pioneering blockchain projects like the Cycles Protocol. The discussion highlights blockchain’s capacity to enable decentralized peer-to-peer multilateral clearing systems, offering a transformative approach to liquidity savings and systemic risk reduction.

Cycles Protocol Website: https://cycles.money/

Cycles White Paper: https://cycles.money/whitepaper.pdf

2020 LSM Paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13120295

Crypto's early interest from Ethan Buchman: https://ebuchman.github.io/posts/local-money-liquidity-saving/

Other Research from Tomaž:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387951277_Neutral_Settlement_Layer_for_Interoperability_between_Different_Forms_of_Local_Financial_Expression

ttps://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14090452

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349917124_Pub_-_Liquidity-saving_through_Obligation-Clearing_and_Mutual_Creditpdf

Revolutionizing Economics: The Steve Keen Episode

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:01:16 GMT

Professor Steve Keen joins Paradigm Shock's Anjon Roy to discuss the enduring dominance of neoclassical economics despite its failures, notably the 2008 financial crisis. Keen shares insights from his education in mathematical economics, which sparked his skepticism towards equilibrium models and led him to explore non-equilibrium and endogenous money frameworks, extending the work of the late great Hyman Minsky. The discussion revisits pivotal moments in economic thought, such as the Cambridge capital debates, while questioning why significant paradigm shifts remain elusive. Keen advocates for an interdisciplinary approach to better address the complexities of modern economies, urging listeners to develop innovative, critical perspectives on economic issues.

Dr. Steve Keen’s material and courses: https://book.stevekeenfree.com/

Dr Steve Keen’s contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steve-keen-a476a77/

Other Sources Steve Likes:

Entropy Economics: https://www.levyinstitute.org/news_items/entropy-economics-the-living-basis-of-value-and-production/

Ergodicity Economics: https://ergodicityeconomics.com/

Review of Political Economy: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/crpe20

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

From Courtrooms to Startups: Jesse Silverman’s Adventures as a Fintech Lawyer

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:54:50 GMT

Paradigm Shock welcomes Jesse Silverman, a fintech lawyer, who walks us through his career, detailing roles from a budding lawyer in Connecticut to serving at state and national regulatory bodies. Jesse shares firsthand experiences as a financial regulator during the 2008 crisis, exposing widespread fraud and systemic issues, to his experience standing up the Consumer Financial Protection Agency's Enforcement Division. He candidly discusses the challenges faced by regulators and those in industry. The conversation also touches on the transformation of financial regulation and innovations like open banking and AI, emphasizing the importance of ongoing vigilance and privacy for consumers in this evolving landscape.

Summary of topics covered:

Experience standing up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Enforcement team and some life lessons.
How actors in various fields such as state government regulators, federal regulators, tech, and finance firms differ in perspectives, incentives, and priorities.
Thoughts on Open Banking and the revocation of Rule 1033, and its impacts on citizens regarding privacy, user sovereignty, and data rights.
Final thoughts on AI and consumer finance.

Some of Jesse’s favorite sources:

Fintech Takes: https://fintechtakes.com

Fintech Brainfood: https://www.fintechbrainfood.com

Fintech Business Weekly: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/

Other items discussed or referenced:

CFPB Rule 1033 is finalized

CFPB Kills rule 1033

Open Finance is Hanging by a thread

Boiler Room Movie Trailer

Jesse’s Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebsilverman/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

Where History Meets Finance: Daniel Peris on Paradigm Shifts in Dividend Investing and Beyond

Tue, 27 May 2025 02:45:58 GMT

Daniel Peris joins Paradigm Shock host, Anjon Roy, to discuss his unconventional path from history academia to asset management. Peris reveals how historical knowledge can provide unique insights into financial markets, challenging the status quo and outdated methodologies. His book, 'The Ownership Dividend,' forecasts a major paradigm shift regarding dividend investing in the U.S. Stock Market and beyond.

Daniel’s Latest book:

The Ownership Dividend: The Coming Paradigm Shift in the U.S. Stock Market

See also his previous book also referenced:

Back to Business: Why Modern Portfolio Theory Fails Investors

Daniel’s Substack:

https://danielxperis.substack.com/

Select Substack Links:

https://danielxperis.substack.com/p/when-total-return-isnt

https://danielxperis.substack.com/p/philosophy-not-finance

Paradigm Shock Email:

ParShock2025@gmail.com

Rethinking Global Economics with Matthew C. Klein: How Class Conflicts Lead to Trade Conflicts through Capital Flows

Sat, 17 May 2025 03:58:00 GMT

Welcome to this special inaugural episode of Paradigm Shock! We are honored to welcome Matthew C Klein. He is the co-author with Michael Pettis of the famous book “Trade Wars are Class Wars” which won the 2021 Lionel Gelber Book Prize. He’s also a former writer for Bloomberg View, the Financial Times, The Economist and Barrons. He currently authors his newsletter The Overshoot.

Matthew is read across the world by central bankers, chief economists, academics, policymakers, and investors. Klein has given background presentations to U.S. Treasury officials, White House economic advisers, national security and intelligence staff, officials at the European Commission, and U.K. Parliament staffers.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

Their broad thesis on how internal domestic imbalances and conflicts within countries can drive global imbalances and conflicts between countries.
How do global capital flows interact with global trade flows? Which drives which?
The great debate between the “Exorbitant Burden” versus “Exorbitant Privilege” regarding the US dollar’s role in global finance and the (somewhat) paradox of being on the receiving end of global saving and capital flows
Assessing efforts and proposals by the current US administration to address these imbalances.
Conclusions and ways forward

Matthew’s information below:

Trade Wars are Class Wars https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300261448/trade-wars-are-class-wars/

The Overshoot: https://theovershoot.co

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcklein/

Speaker Booking: https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/matthew-klein/

Contact the Paradigm Shock team at ParShock2025@gmail.com

Opening Trailer

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:02:53 GMT

Introducing the exciting new podcast, Paradigm Shock