The Brave Technologist Brave Software

David Kanter, Executive Director at MLCommons, discusses the work they’re doing with MLPerf Benchmarks, creating the world’s first industry standard approach to measuring AI speed and safety. He also shares ways they’re testing AI and LLMs for harm, to measure—and, over time, reduce—the potential harms of AI.

Key Takeaways: 
How they’re using research to help build public confidence in AI and emerging technologies
The types of questions enterprise customers should ask their system providers
AI safety, and the ways MLCommons is using benchmarks to offer standardized measurements about the potential harm of using AI
Unique applications of AI, human creativity as the only limit on where AI can go, and how we can make analog experiences more intelligent in the future
Guest Bio: 
David Kanter is a founder, board member, and the Executive Director of MLCommons where he helps lead the MLPerf benchmarks and other initiatives. He has 16+ years of experience in semiconductors, computing, and machine learning. David founded a microprocessor and compiler startup, was an early employee at Aster Data Systems, and has consulted for industry leaders such as Intel, Nvidia, KLA, Applied Materials, Qualcomm, Microsoft, and many others. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Mathematics and a specialization in Computer Science, and a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Economics, both from the University of Chicago.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte
 

Carissa Véliz, Associate Professor at the Institute for AI at the University of Oxford, discusses how our personal data is the currency of power for tech giants, and ways the balance can be tipped back in favor of individual rights. We also address the privacy implications of large language models, and consider whether OpenAI and tools like ChatGPT are complying with the GDPR.
Key Takeaways: 
How the erosion of privacy poses a real threat to our fundamental values of democracy
Why she advocates an end to the data economy, some alternative, and the companies leading the way in privacy-first business models
The analog world and its role in safeguarding our privacy, along with different ways to design AI that would require less of our personal data
The temptation to abuse power, and how we may navigate the intersection of technology, privacy, and ethics moving forward
Guest Bio: 
Carissa Véliz is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford. She is the recipient of the 2021 Herbert A. Simon Award for Outstanding Research in Computing and Philosophy. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed Privacy Is Power (an Economist book of the year, 2020), and the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. She is a member of UNESCO’s Women 4 Ethical AI, and she advises companies and policymakers around the world on privacy and the ethics of AI.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte
 

Ryan Brown (Filterset Engineer at Brave) and Peter Snyder (Senior Privacy Researcher at Brave) discuss the latest advancements in ad-blocking technology, and how Brave's control over its browser stack plays a crucial role in maintaining a private yet fully operational Web experience. They also reflect on the resilience of the ad-blocking community, especially in response to the looming changes of Manifest V3, and its potential to reshape the extension landscape.
Key Takeaways: 
How privacy tools have evolved over time as users have gotten more familiar with these tools, and more sophisticated in their usage.
The arms race between Big Tech and ad blockers, and the community-driven ad filtering that powers many of today's best privacy tools.
What the chromium Manifest V3 update is and how it will impact ad blocking.
What distinguishes Brave's privacy features from other competing browsers, and how Brave’s product principles influence product development.
Guest Bios: Ryan Brown is a Filterset Engineer at Brave and a List Author Maintainer for the Easylist project and Webcompat Fixer. Peter Snyder is a Senior Privacy Researcher and Filterset Engineer at Brave Software, who received a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on Web privacy, security, and measurement.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Josh Swihart, CEO at Electric Coin Co., discusses public perception of pseudonymity versus privacy, and how this impacts adoption of privacy preserving products. He also explores the increasing challenge of crypto wars—which impacts cryptographic and privacy rights worldwide—and why he believes encryption should be mandated for US citizens.
Key Takeaways:
Why physical cash should be treated/regulated differently than digital money
Examples of regulation and policy overreach, and how this slows progress and innovation 
Why user experience and ease of use needs to catch up with protocol 
The importance of the Zcash and Brave initiative
Guest Bio: Josh Swihart is CEO at Electric Coin Co. (ECC). Prior to ECC, he served as the SVP of Global Marketing for K2, leading global growth from start-up to acquisition by Francisco Partners. He began his career as a software engineer, and has served as a global practice principal for EMC, the CEO of Aspenware, and VP of software development for 3t Systems. Josh has received numerous global and national awards for leadership, marketing, and solution delivery. He’s an advocate for underserved and/or exploited people all over the world, most actively with those living in the slums of Mumbai and Pune, India.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte
 

Andy Yen, Founder & CEO at Proton, discusses how big tech is presenting a false sense of privacy to its users—and why this is dangerous. He also unpacks the confusion between privacy and anonymity, and how where you live impacts your right to each. 
Key Takeaways:
How Proton has attracted users and early adopters while sticking to a privacy-first marketing strategy.
What we can learn from the cultural shift to environmental responsibility as it relates to privacy, and to the future rules of the Internet.
Why being in control of your privacy starts with owning your identity.
Guest Bio: Andy Yen is the Founder and CEO of Proton, one of the fastest growing consumer tech companies in Europe. Proton offers the world's first privacy-by-default ecosystem, providing encrypted email, calendar, file storage, VPN, identity management, and more, all built on the principle of “your data, your rules.” Andy launched Proton's first product, ProtonMail—now the world's largest encrypted email service—in 2014 while working as a CERN scientist. Since then, Andy has become a leading voice in the global privacy movement. Today, Proton has more than 100M accounts and a team of more than 400 people worldwide.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte
 

Preston Byrne, Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, discusses the benefit of using public private keys as a solution to authenticate communication, and avoid both AI scams and fraud. He also shares his predictions for how AI and cryptocurrency will work together in the future, leaning on each other’s polar-opposite strengths.
Key Takeaways: 
The role that crypto and AI could play in the upcoming US elections
Challenges with achieving harmony in global regulations for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology
Why everyone should be trading their public private keys
Guest Bio: Preston Bryne, is a lawyer with the law firm of Brown Rudnick LLP where he advises cutting-edge technology startups in the crypto, AI, and consumer Internet sectors.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte