In a world of endless noise, we create live experiences that connect, inspire, and transform.
In a world of endless noise, we create live experiences that connect, inspire, and transform.
In a world of endless noise, we create live experiences that connect, inspire, and transform.
In a world of endless noise, we create live experiences that connect, inspire, and transform.
MAY 29, 2025 — CONVERSATION — SAN FRANCISCO
MAY 29, 2025 — CONVERSATION — SAN FRANCISCO
The Great Progression: Building What Comes Next
The Great Progression: Building What Comes Next
Last week, Freethink and Peter Leyden launched a new quarterly salon series at Shack15 called The Great Progression. The idea was straightforward: bring together Bay Area technologists, scientists, and creative leaders to dig into how emerging technologies might shape the next 25 years.
Last week, Freethink and Peter Leyden launched a new quarterly salon series at Shack15 called The Great Progression. The idea was straightforward: bring together Bay Area technologists, scientists, and creative leaders to dig into how emerging technologies might shape the next 25 years.
The evening unfolded at the iconic Ferry Building overlooking the bay, where cocktails flowed and an eclectic crowd of innovators mingled—think tech world veterans, Cerebral Valley entrepreneurs, academics, and beyond. It was equal parts salon and party, designed to get people talking and thinking big.
Freethink CEO Chandler Tuttle kicked things off by reflecting on Peter Leyden's influential "Long Boom" essay in Wired, calling it a foundational inspiration for Freethink's vision. Then Leyden took the stage with a compelling keynote that set the tone for the entire series: we're witnessing the collapse of 20th-century systems and the emergence of a new technological era that could usher in a golden age—if we navigate it thoughtfully.
The evening unfolded at the iconic Ferry Building overlooking the bay, where cocktails flowed and an eclectic crowd of innovators mingled—think tech world veterans, Cerebral Valley entrepreneurs, academics, and beyond. It was equal parts salon and party, designed to get people talking and thinking big.
Freethink CEO Chandler Tuttle kicked things off by reflecting on Peter Leyden's influential "Long Boom" essay in Wired, calling it a foundational inspiration for Freethink's vision. Then Leyden took the stage with a compelling keynote that set the tone for the entire series: we're witnessing the collapse of 20th-century systems and the emergence of a new technological era that could usher in a golden age—if we navigate it thoughtfully.
The heart of the evening was Leyden's conversation with three remarkable guests who are shaping the future in their respective fields.
The heart of the evening was Leyden's conversation with three remarkable guests who are shaping the future in their respective fields.
Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri and VP of AI Experience at Airbnb, shared his amazement at how generative AI has evolved beyond anyone's expectations. "The holy grail of common-sense reasoning just... fell out," he said, describing how large language models unexpectedly cracked problems that had stumped AI researchers for decades.
Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri and VP of AI Experience at Airbnb, shared his amazement at how generative AI has evolved beyond anyone's expectations. "The holy grail of common-sense reasoning just... fell out," he said, describing how large language models unexpectedly cracked problems that had stumped AI researchers for decades.
Steven Johnson, bestselling author and Editorial Director of Google Labs, talked about recognizing early on that large language models represented something genuinely transformative. "The mistake would be thinking this is hype," he said, explaining how his initial reporting on OpenAI's GPT-3 eventually led him to help build NotebookLM, a tool that helps people explore complex ideas by grounding AI in curated research. His favorite question to ask it? "What's the most surprising fact in this material? And sometimes it shows me something I never would've found on my own."
Steven Johnson, bestselling author and Editorial Director of Google Labs, talked about recognizing early on that large language models represented something genuinely transformative. "The mistake would be thinking this is hype," he said, explaining how his initial reporting on OpenAI's GPT-3 eventually led him to help build NotebookLM, a tool that helps people explore complex ideas by grounding AI in curated research. His favorite question to ask it? "What's the most surprising fact in this material? And sometimes it shows me something I never would've found on my own."
Ryan Phelan, co-founder of Revive & Restore, brought a different but equally compelling perspective with synthetic biology. She explained how the same genomic tools that revolutionized healthcare are now being applied to conservation—rescuing endangered species and potentially reviving extinct ones. "Why shouldn't we use the same genomic innovations that revolutionized healthcare to restore the natural world?" she asked, framing bioengineering as a hopeful force for conservation rather than just disruption.
Ryan Phelan, co-founder of Revive & Restore, brought a different but equally compelling perspective with synthetic biology. She explained how the same genomic tools that revolutionized healthcare are now being applied to conservation—rescuing endangered species and potentially reviving extinct ones. "Why shouldn't we use the same genomic innovations that revolutionized healthcare to restore the natural world?" she asked, framing bioengineering as a hopeful force for conservation rather than just disruption.
After the formal talks wrapped up, guests moved back into the main space where conversations continued over music and drinks. It was clear people were energized by what they'd heard—you could see new connections forming and ideas being exchanged well into the evening.
The goal of The Great Progression is to create ongoing conversations about how we might thoughtfully navigate this moment of technological change. If the first event was any indication, there's real appetite for these kinds of discussions in the Bay Area community.
After the formal talks wrapped up, guests moved back into the main space where conversations continued over music and drinks. It was clear people were energized by what they'd heard—you could see new connections forming and ideas being exchanged well into the evening.
The goal of The Great Progression is to create ongoing conversations about how we might thoughtfully navigate this moment of technological change. If the first event was any indication, there's real appetite for these kinds of discussions in the Bay Area community.
