Garry Kasparov exposes the real risks and rewards of AI

Chess grandmaster and human rights advocate Garry Kasparov joins Sana founder and CEO Joel Hellermark for a candid conversation about intelligence, risk, and the future of human agency in the age of AI.

In this episode of Strange Loop, Kasparov reflects on his legendary chess career, the psychological edge of high-stakes competition, and what it means to reinvent yourself after decades at the top. He shares his perspective on how chess became the proving ground for artificial intelligence, why human intuition still matters, and what happens when machines outpace even the greatest human minds.

Kasparov and Hellermark discuss the parallels between chess and knowledge work, the real-world risks of AI in the hands of bad actors, and why progress demands both courage and humility. Together, they explore how free societies can harness technology without losing what makes us human—and why learning from both victory and defeat is more relevant than ever.

What’s in this episode
How chess shaped the development of artificial intelligence
The psychological dynamics of elite competition
Why human intuition and creativity still matter in an AI world
The risks and rewards of rapid technological progress
Lessons from Kasparov’s own reinvention beyond chess
What the history of chess vs. machines tells us about the future of knowledge work
Defining the human edge in a world of superhuman computation
Why freedom and adaptability are essential for progress

About Garry Kasparov and Joel Hellermark
Garry Kasparov is widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time and is recognized for his outspoken advocacy for human rights and democracy. Since retiring from professional chess, he has become a leading voice on the intersection of technology, politics, and society.

Joel Hellermark is the founder and CEO of Sana. An enterprising child, Joel taught himself to code at 13, launched his first company at 16, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30. Sana is recognized on the Forbes AI 50 for shaping the future of AI-powered knowledge platforms.

About Strange Loop
Strange Loop is a podcast about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the systems we live and work in. Each episode features deep, unscripted conversations with thinkers and builders reimagining intelligence, leadership, and the architectures of progress. The goal is not just to follow AI’s trajectory, but to question the assumptions guiding it.

Subscribe for more conversations at the edge of AI and human knowledge.

Interview chapters
00:00 - Why chess became AI’s proving ground
04:22 - Competing against machines—and the end of an era
09:18 - Lessons from defeat, and reinvention beyond the board
15:10 - The geopolitics of AI and the risk of misuse
22:35 - Human strengths: intuition, adaptation, and meaning
28:40 - Progress, risk, and the meaning of life
34:20 - What comes next for human agency in the AI age