Malcolm Gladwell on Tesla, RFK, and Why AI Could Save Us

Can generative AI help us close the gap between expertise and access?

This week on a special episode of Digital Disruption, we're joined by New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, recorded live in Las Vegas at Info-Tech Research Group's LIVE tech conference.

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of eight New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and one of Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers, he is renowned for his unique perspective on the forces shaping human behavior and society. An extraordinary speaker, Gladwell combines eloquence, warmth, and humor to both entertain and challenge audiences. Through masterful storytelling, he unpacks complex and often misunderstood ideas, from decision-making in Blink and the roots of success in Outliers, to our underestimation of adversity in David and Goliath, and the missteps we make when interacting with strangers in Talking to Strangers.

Malcolm Gladwell sits with Geoff Nielson for an engaging conversation on the future of AI, the power of storytelling, and the evolving forces that shape society. From AI’s role in closing the expertise gap to how unexpected narratives drive lasting cultural change, Gladwell offers his signature perspective: thoughtful, contrarian, and always surprising. He talks about why the most transformative uses of AI may be the simplest, how generative tools can elevate human capability, and why culture never changes in ways we expect. Malcolm provides insight into how the media, brands and politics are changing and what that could mean for leadership, while touching on the surprising truth about misinformation, expertise, and AI as a corrective tool.

In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:24 AI's biggest promise? Strengthening weak links
1:33 AI in developing vs developed countries
2:12 Should AI replace or empower teachers?
3:13 Closing the expertise gap with AI
4:18 AI as a safe place to learn without embarrassment
5:08 The human side of AI
5:32 AI in surprising places
6:15 Malcolm’s personal use of AI
7:57 Where Malcolm finds ideas and why AI can’t replicate them
9:52 Why creativity can’t be automated
12:42 Will AI ever replace storytellers and thinkers?
14:24 Paul Simon’s genius explained
17:27 What makes a great story? Tesla example
22:26 Are people the new brand? Apple vs Chevy
25:13 The power of "overstories" in shaping behavior
26:57 We live in multiple narratives at once
29:26 Can organizational culture be changed?
30:37 How cultural narratives evolve
31:37 Politics, power, and social media’s new role
35:07 We’re still figuring out what tech is for
38:10 Why AI disruption might not be as bad as we fear
39:34 Is Malcolm an optimist or just realistic?
41:22 Can AI restore trust in expertise?
43:43 The power of narrative over facts
44:15 Poking the bear

Connect with Malcolm:
Website: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/
X: https://x.com/Gladwell
Instagram:   / malcolmgladwell  



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