Things Have Changed

How Brevdev Is Making AI Development Accessible and Simple for Everyone with Nader Kahlil

When ChatGPT was launched in December 2022, few could have predicted the rapid transformation the world would undergo in the following months. It emerged as the fastest-growing consumer technology in history, catching many by surprise.  In the year since its launch, ChatGPT has revolutionized nearly every aspect of the tech industry. It enables computers to create articles, finish homework assignments, and generate art, fundamentally altering our understanding of work, creativity, and the v...

How Brev is Making AI Development More Accessible with Nader Kahlil

In February 2024, ChatGpt had 1.6 billion visits to its website and people have not stopped buzzing about “generative AI”. Basically, computers writing articles, doing homework or creating art. It’s kind of reshaping how we think about work, creativity, and even “search”.  As companies explore advanced AI, they often struggle with managing the necessary infrastructure, including the specialized chips that power these technologies, which can slow their progress. Brev, led by Nader Khalil off...

How Swyft Cities Is Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Jeral Poskey

Tech companies today are building bigger and bigger campuses. Think about Google's sprawling complex in Mountain View, Facebook's expansive headquarters in Menlo Park, and Amazon's new HQ2 in Arlington, VA. These are not just workplaces; they are mini-cities, pulsating with thousands of employees every day. Just trying to get around campus becomes a rather daunting task and that’s a problem that Jeral Poskey, founder of Swyft Cities, thinks about a lot: Swyft Cities was founded in 2019 by s...

How Swyft Cities Is Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Smart Gondolas

Tech companies today are building bigger and bigger campuses. Think about Google's sprawling complex in Mountain View, Facebook's expansive headquarters in Menlo Park, and Amazon's new HQ2 in Arlington, VA. These are not just workplaces; they are mini-cities, pulsating with thousands of employees every day. Just trying to get around campus becomes a rather daunting task and that’s a problem that Jeral Poskey, founder of Swyft Cities, thinks about a lot: Swyft Cities was founded in 2019 by s...

How Starlink Is Rewriting Connectivity and Its Global Implications

Picture this: You're kicking back, watching one of those jaw-dropping SpaceX rockets launch into the cosmos, carrying astronauts or top-secret cargo to the space station. Yeah, that's the same SpaceX we're talking about today on Things Have Changed. They've been lighting up the skies and our feeds with a whopping 96 launches last year alone. Impressive, right? But here's the kicker: even with all that rocket-fueled spectacle, we're left wondering, does all this bankroll Elon Musk's dream of...

How Stellar Is Perfecting the Internet while on the Go with Damien Garot & Hassan Aouisse

We've all been there: mid-conversation or deep into a work session, only for our digital lifeline to suddenly drop, leaving us stranded in a sea of silence. It's these moments of unexpected disconnection that highlight a pervasive gap in our modern, connected lives. Well, Today on Things Have Changed Podcast, we're joined by Damien Garot, CEO, and Hassan Aouisse, CTO of Stellar, a deep tech startup on a mission to perfect internet while on the move.  Through their innovative blend of cellu...

From Uganda to Mexico: Asaak's Inspiring Journey Unveiled with Dylan Terrill

Ever wondered how startups grow by buying other companies?   Today on Things Have Changed, we're delighted to host returning guest, Dylan Terrill, Chief Business Officer of Asaak, as he discusses his company's remarkable expansion, now spanning two continents.  Asaak, founded in 2016, is a fintech company offering loans for motorcycles and smartphones to people who couldn't get traditional bank loans. This approach not only addressed a critical financial gap but also spurred economic empow...

Drones, Data, and Dollars: Anduril's Disruptive Play in the Defense Industry

Palmer Luckey, once synonymous with the virtual reality revolution through the Oculus Rift, catapulted into tech stardom when Facebook acquired Oculus for an astonishing $2 billion. This pivotal moment not only validated VR's potential as the next major computing platform but also marked a turning point in Luckey's career. His journey from crafting immersive digital worlds to influencing tangible, real-world outcomes began here, setting the stage for an unexpected pivot towards a sector far ...

Why Tech Is Going After the Next Trillion Dollar Opportunity - Defense

In the past two decades, technology has dramatically reshaped numerous industries, from newspapers to travel agencies. Once thriving sectors have been disrupted, evidenced by the decline of traditional newspapers, which lost $6 billion in ad revenue to Craigslist alone between 2000 and 2006. Similarly, the rise of platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Airbnb reflects a significant shift in consumer behavior. Now, this wave of technological disruption is poised to redefine the defense indus...

How Bikes Are at the Forefront of Future Urban Mobility with Mikko Ampuja, Vapaus

E-bike sales outpaced EVs and hybrid cars in both 2021 and 2022. In fact, research shows that by 2030, E-Bike sales are expected to 3x, outpacing even the rapid growth of passenger cars! There is a Bike Revolution taking place across the world and it is not only reshaping personal commuting but also freight and last-mile delivery services. In today's episode of Things Have Changed Podcast, we dive into the world of urban mobility with Mikko Ampuja, the founder and former CEO of Vapaus, a He...

Taste the Revolution: The Wild Foods' Impactful Journey with Patrick Hardy

There is an alarming trend taking place in South America : the steady rise in obesity rates. Despite all the ads and talk about eating healthy, the truth is that getting  access to nutritious foods is still a struggle. In response to this growing health crisis, The Wild Foods has emerged as a game-changer. Our guest today is Patrick Hardy, the Chief Operating Officer of Wild Foods, is at the forefront of this revolution. Hailing from Chile, WildFoods is a consumer packaged goods company com...

How Dubai Emerged From the Desert to Become One of the World’s Leading Metropolises!

Join us on a captivating journey to the heart of the Middle East as we unravel the extraordinary transformation of Dubai. In this episode, we delve deep into the city's meteoric rise from a regional trading post reliant on oil to a buzzing global hub for investment, tourism, and technology. Discover how Dubai's strategic diversification efforts led to an economy where oil now contributes less than 1% to its GDP, a stark contrast to the 50% it once commanded. We'll explore the pivotal roles o...

Revolutionizing Nigeria: How Silicon Valley Dreams Are Transforming an Oil Giant

Over the past few weeks, we've delved deep into the stories of remarkable companies, visionary founders, and dynamic landscapes of emerging markets! So, where are we zooming in today? Nigeria, Africa. We're exploring the remarkable story of Nigeria, a nation that has emerged as the largest economy in Africa. With a diversified economy and abundant natural resources, Nigeria’s journey isn't just about oil anymore. It’s about tech, entertainment, and an entrepreneurial spirit that refuses to ...

From Black Gold to Silicon: Nigeria's Digital Evolution

GPS: The $100 Billion System That Transformed Aviation, Travel, and Exploration

Tech Journey Time Capsule: From the nostalgic dial-up buzz to today's quick digital clicks, this section reflects on the monumental moments and stories shaping our tech-dominated world. Remember when social media was just media? The series takes a nostalgic look back while connecting the dots to our present-day digital reality. The GPS Revolution: Think back to a time when handwritten directions were the norm and getting lost was part of the journey. Now, a $100 billion satellite system ens...

AI in Healthcare: Uncovering Future Breakthroughs with DeepMirror and Dr. Max Jakobs

Imagine compressing a decade of research into mere weeks or turning a failure rate of 90% in clinical drug development on its head. That's exactly what's on the horizon with the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of drug discovery, and the person leading this charge is none other than Dr. Max Jakobs, CEO and co-founder of DeepMirror. Prepare to be blown away as we navigate the potential AI holds for revolutionizing healthcare, making it possible to sift through massiv...

Connecting Continents: Journey with the Pioneers of the Internet

🌐 Embark on a Digital Odyssey with “Things Have Changed”! 🌐 Ever wondered how the maze of the internet came to be? Join us in our latest episode of “Things Have Changed” as we travel back in time to unveil the origins of the digital universe! 🚀 Featuring Voices from the Past: 🎙 Charley Kline: Hear from the young mind at UCLA in 1969, whose keystrokes would echo through time! 🎙 Bill Duvall: Listen to the collaborator from Stanford, making history alongside Charley! 🎙 Larry Roberts: Disco...

Transforming the Job Landscape: Insight from Dr. Seth Benzel

Are you prepared for the future? What if we told you that philosophers will play a key role in it? We had a fascinating conversation with the brilliant Dr. Seth Benzel, a Digital Economist from MIT and Assistant Professor at Chapman University. He shared his insights about the transformation of job market landscape, the rise of new types of jobs, and the profound impact of AI on jobs and productivity. We explored how universities are stepping up, investing in STEM education, and how they can...

How Vietnam Transformed into a Global Manufacturing Powerhouse

Ever wondered how a nation transforms from a war-torn past to a thriving economic powerhouse?  Vietnam's transformation has been nothing short of astonishing, as it deftly navigated through technological advancements and strategic partnerships to establish itself as a pivotal player in the global trade landscape. This Asian tiger, now a central hub for manufacturing, produces a wide range of goods, from shoes to cutting-edge technology, harnessing the potential of the internet, smartphones,...

Behind Brazil's Booming Economy: Agriculture, Tech, and Trade

Ready to embark on an enlightening journey exploring the economic evolution of Brazil? Strap in as we navigate through dramatic GDP growth, a thriving digital revolution, and Brazil's robust role in global agriculture and natural resources. This intriguing exploration uncovers the shifting landscape of globalization and how Brazil, as part of the BRICSA coalition, is carving its own path towards becoming a top five economy. As we traverse through Brazil's economic terrain, we'll cast a spot...

From East to West: How Mexico Is Forging the Next Chapter in Global Manufacturing

In the past few decades, it's been like watching the world shrink right in front of us. Globalization has turned our planet into this super connected place where everything's buzzing. Borders? They've become kinda blurry. Businesses? Oh man, they're popping up all over the globe. And tech? Well, it's like the ultimate game-changer, making even the most remote spots possible market hotspots. But winds of change are blowing once again. Enter: Slowbalization. While it might sound like we're hi...

The Startup Game Changer: How Carta Is Powering Startups to Triumph - with Peter Walker

Imagine navigating the often-complex world of equity management with ease. Picture illuminating the path to growth opportunities that you were previously oblivious to. That's exactly what our guest, Peter Walker, head of insights at CARTA, is here to discuss. CARTA is reshaping equity management and providing invaluable insights to companies like Slack, Coinbase, and Robinhood, enabling them to focus on their core mission - building their company. Peter stresses the importance of a clear cap...

Unraveling the Crash of the BNPL Revolution

On our previous episode, we spoke about the Buy Now Pay Later industry and the players that rode the pandemic to all time highs! But what we didn’t talk about was the chaos that ensued post covid!..Affirm's stock price dropped over 90% since November 2021, AfterPay fell more than 80%, and Klarna saw a decline of over 70%. So what's behind this turbulence? Rising interest rates, inflation concerns, and worries about consumer debt have left investors scratching their heads. But don't worry, w...

From Credit Cards to BNPL: Inside the Trend Shaping the Future of Shopping

Imagine this: you're browsing through an online store, eyeing that perfect item you've had your heart set on like the new iPhone 15 or a brand new Leather Couch to pass out on. In today’s world, you can bring it home today and pay later, without the hassle of upfront payments or credit checks. It's like having a financial genie granting your wishes! It’s called “Buy Now, Pay Later” or BNPL. This new form of payment, BNPL aims to disrupt traditional credit cards, by helping customers indulge...

How JP Morgan Grew From America's Biggest Bank to Even Bigger

In today's episode, we delve into the remarkable story of how JP Morgan Chase became the largest bank in the world. From its humble beginnings to its rise as a global financial powerhouse, we'll uncover the key milestones, strategic decisions, and factors that propelled this iconic institution to its prominent position in the banking industry. Join us as we explore the vision, innovation, and determination that shaped the legacy of JP Morgan Chase. JP Morgan Chase's journey begins in the la...

Inside Apple's Financial Empire: From Apple Pay to the Apple Card and Beyond

In episode 2 of the Company Spotlight series we explore the world of tech companies invading the finance industry, and specifically Apple, the tech giant that's not satisfied with just dominating the smartphone market. Apple decided to dive headfirst into the finance industry, and boy did they make a splash. With Apple Pay, you can now buy a coffee, a burrito, or even a new pair of sneakers with just a flick of your wrist. It's like magic, except it's technology. But what's even crazier is...

How Microsoft for Startups Is Helping Companies Scale - with Lahini Arunachalam

Starting and scaling a successful startup has never been easy, but in today's climate, it's more challenging than ever. With recent events, such as the collapse of SVB and the slowdown in venture capital, access to funding and resources has become increasingly difficult. For startups to survive, they must have access to the right support and resources. That's where Microsoft for Startups comes in, providing startups with a unique approach to help early-stage companies succeed. On today's ep...

Powering the Future: How Governments are Supporting Battery Production for Sustainable Energy and Electric Vehicles

Governments are going BIG on batteries! As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, Governments have recognized the importance of securing battery supply chains in the transition towards a more sustainable future! Some of the biggest government spending packages on battery production incentives include: The US Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program, which provides up to $25 billion in loan guarantees to support the development and...

Powering the Future: How Governments are Supporting Battery Production for Electric Vehicles

Governments are going BIG on batteries! As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, Governments have recognized the importance of securing battery supply chains in the transition towards a more sustainable future! Some of the biggest government spending packages on battery production incentives include: The US Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program, which provides up to $25 billion in loan guarantees to support the development and...

How About:Energy is Revolutionizing Battery Research & Development - with Gavin White

It seems like every electronic device these days involves some type of battery - your phone, your laptop, and even your CAR! We had another year of SuperBowls boasting new EV production cars from traditional manufacturers like GM, Honda, and Hyundai. The consumers have spoken and the demand for EV's cannot be stopped! But what's taking so long to get to an electrified future? Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to create battery technology? Traditionally, battery research has been a slo...

How Technology Is Transforming the $2 Trillion Shipping Industry - With Martin Verhaegen

Transporting people and cargo across the globe is almost as old as time itself! With shipping accounting for 90% of World Trade, it was surprising for us to learn how outdated the industry is with regards to technology! The maritime industry is still very manual, and highly regulated making it a herculean task to even propose bringing about change! But COVID flipped this entire narrative! The pandemic revealed how fragile the global supply chains of essential items are. Shortages in medi...

Why Using Credit Cards Is Getting More Expensive

In the past 2 years, inflation has been making headlines all over the world! To add to the higher grocery and utility bills, payments processing companies added on higher fees in 2022. Now, as an average consumer, you may not notice these increases so much! But small businesses, the backbone of the economy, is once-again feeling the squeeze.  For a business, it's almost impossible to succeed in today's world without accepting Credit cards. Merchants hand over $138bn in fees each year; acco...

How Visa Became the Biggest Financial Company in the World

In the previous episodes, we’ve chatted about currencies and how cash was increasingly playing a smaller role, even in fast growing countries like China & India! The disruptor, that helped transition countries into cashless economies: Credit Cards and Debit Cards. In 2021, transactions on these plastic cards hit $6.7 TRILLION USD. Like many other technology industries, COVID helped accelerate the shift from cash to cashless. For the average American, more than half of their transactions wer...

How UPI Revolutionized India's Economy

Technology is changing finance in developing countries. The Pandemic turbocharged it. With a staggering 650 million Internet users, India has been one of the biggest winners of digitization and by some degree! Just a decade ago, India’s millions of small business owners used only cash to transact. Now they use phones. This has been nothing short of a financial revolution, as Mobile payments, powered by a technology called the UPI, have more than doubled to a staggering $1 trillion in 2021 f...

The End of U.S. Dollar Dominance?

The dollar tumbled to a nine-month low against the euro this past week, after data showed U.S. inflation was easing, prompting bets that the Federal Reserve will be less aggressive with rate hikes going forward. But this isn’t new.. The greenback’s share of global foreign-exchange reserves has extended a two-decade decline, but it’s still used more than all other currencies combined.  For decades, the dollar has been the worlds most important currency. You buy energy in dollars, you pay bac...

Why the Pound Fell to a Record Low and What That Means for the UK Economy

Two months ago, the British government released a “Growth Plan” that talked about tax cuts worth about $45B. That led to a series of events that culminated in Lis Truss going into the history books as the shortest-termed Prime Minister in the UK. Things are not looking good for the UK economy, with interest rate hikes and soaring inflation! Add to that the Sterling Pound Specifically, Sterling Pound has fallen against the dollar by around 20% since the start of the year and inflation is at...

How the U.S. Dollar has Become a 'Wrecking Ball' for the Global Economy

In early 2021 the dollar was near its lowest level in more than five years against a broad basket of currencies Fast forward to July of 2022, the dollar reached parity with the euro for the first time since 2002! The dollar has been on a tear! climbing by around 20% over the past year against a basket of global currencies, and is at its highest level in 20 years. And this has been a wrecking ball to the global economy! Stock markets are bleeding, corporate bonds have been pummelled and cr...

How This Robot Will Make Your Dinner - with Rajagopal Natarajan

During the pandemic, the way you’ve eaten has likely changed. Either you ate out less, you cooked more, or you wholeheartedly embraced food delivery such as DoorDash, Deliveroo, Grab, Swiggy or Zomato based on where you live. The Food Service industry was worth over $900B in 2021 just in North America and it’s only getting bigger. It’s also changing.. you may have experienced it already - with all sorts of new experiences, like food delivery, home chefs, and even robot-made food! As robots...

How Sustainable Data Centers Can Help Us Achieve Our Climate Goals - with Dr. Bharath Ramakrishnan

One of the highest consumers of electric power are data centers. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the data center industry, accounts for approximately 4% of global electricity consumption and 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.  To top it off, the carbon dioxide emissions of data centers are comparable to that of the aviation industry.The data center industry is responsible for more greenhouse gases than commercial flights  🤯  And so the pressure is on for them to ach...

How Data Centers Are Guzzling up the World’s Electricity - with Dr. Bharath Ramakrishnan

Whether you’re streaming "House of the Dragon" on HBO or just chatting with your friends on Whatsapp, both cause a chain reaction and use energy. Today nearly all the world's Internet traffic goes through data centers or DCs for short. and it all the crazy things we do on the internet from cloud computing, AI, self driving to streaming your favourite shows on Netflix. There are big costs to running these massive servers! These DCs, need a huuuuge amount of electricity to run their equipment...

What Is Moore’s Law and Are We Coming to the End of It?

As of 2022, approximately 95% of organizations are using cloud computing for their work and nearly 85% of companies have deployed their workload on cloud in 2021. Furthermore, with the rising usage of internet and mobile phones & laptops, digitization is flourishing rapidly. Cloud computing is clearly here to stay.. and it's still growing.. but what drives the cloud in the physical space? To continuously expand the capabilities and the capacity of the cloud, we need to build data centers.....

Amazon AWS vs Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud

It’s happening. AWS is no longer the only cloud heavyweight doing business with the US Government. Azure has recently signed a $10 Billion deal with the DoD. Gartner reports that AWS is still a better product than most competitors, in terms of what they offer and the quality! But some ask if it's fair that the DoD is only doing business with Amazon, a representation of perpetuating the monopoly Amazon is clinging onto. Amazon and Oracle both raised questions about “political interference”. ...

How Cloud Computing Changed Business & Technology Forever

IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are all taking the helm for the cloud renaissance. Gartner says that in 2021, spending on public cloud services could go over $330B. All types of industries and even GOVERNMENTS are moving their infrastructure and technology to the cloud. There is tremendous opportunity to build on the infrastructure of the cloud. AWS has been the clear winner for a while now, spanning almost 14 years, the margins and scale are unlike any other business in the world, and t...

Gaming Is Bigger Than You Think.. And Its Growing!

Happy Labor Day Weekend for our American listeners! We hope you have a long and restful weekend! We're revisiting some of our episode favorites - and for this week - we're doing the gaming industry! In the last decade, the gaming industry has been smashing Hollywood’s earnings out of the park! Just in 2021, the Global “Games Market” had a whopping $180BN in revenue. In fact, Gaming is bigger than Hollywood and the music industry combined. Top games are earning more than the big blockbuste...

Why Batteries Are Extremely Important for the Renewable Energy Transition?

We're revisiting some of our favorite deep dives with industry experts from past episodes. A global transition to clean energy is underway.  What technologies will be essential to this zero emission future? Well, Battery costs have decreased significantly - Lithium battery costs have fallen by a STAGGERING 98% in 3 decades! All the growth and investments in renewable electricity are starting to add up, and now the battery industry is moving at a breathtaking pace. We speak to Nicholas Yi...

We Just Turned 2! So Do You Want a Free Pumpkin Spice Latte?

THC Turns 2  🎉🎉🎉 Hey THC listeners! Its been 2 years since we started Things Have Changed, and we just wanted to take this time to say thank you for all the love and support! We wanted y’all to be more involved with how we create our weekly show, and so, starting from today, we’re going to put out a 1-month challenge until September 15th for you to give us feedback on a couple things: New Podcast Ideas Like & Dislike about the show We’re going to choose the first 100 submissions on our...

We Just Turned 2! So Do You Want a Free Pumpkin Spice Latte?

THC Turns 2  🎉🎉🎉 Hey THC listeners! Its been 2 years since we started Things Have Changed, and we just wanted to take this time to say thank you for all the love and support! We wanted y’all to be more involved with how we create our weekly show, and so, starting from today, we’re going to put out a 1-month challenge until September 15th for you to give us feedback on a couple things: New Podcast Ideas Like & Dislike about the show We’re going to choose the first 100 submissions on our...

How TikTok Is Eating up All of Social Media

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been one app that has taken over Social Media. Tiktok is the most downloaded app in the App store & despite being the new kid on the block, the Chinese company is breaking records that the incumbents could only dream of. From launch to a billion users, Tiktok only took half the time that Facebook did to get there. It’s insane! The company has proven that it can grab attention like no other social media company - But can it also win the advertising...

From Feast to Famine: Why Tech Is Preparing For Hiring Freezes And Layoffs

With a historically tight labor market, why are some tech companies laying people off? With Inflation not slowing down and the economy showing signs of a possible recession, companies are preparing for the worst. Layoffs are sweeping across American businesses, specifically in growth companies in tech in 2022. Shopify, Netflix, Peloton, Tiktok, Robinhood, and Coinbase are only some of the companies that are starting to lay off their employees. But with our most recent episode, we just lea...

From Feast to Famine: Why Tech Is Preparing For Hiring Freezes And Layoffs

With a historically tight labor market, why are some tech companies laying people off? With Inflation not slowing down and the economy showing signs of a possible recession, companies are preparing for the worst. Layoffs are sweeping across American businesses, specifically in growth companies in tech in 2022. Shopify, Netflix, Peloton, Tiktok, Robinhood, and Coinbase are only some of the companies that are starting to lay off their employees. But with our most recent episode, we just lea...