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Silicon Valley Front Row

Silicon Valley Front Row

By: Steve Ispas and David Lam
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Silicon Valley Front Row. Join us as we talk tech from a dialectical lens. You will hear about innovations, developments, and the other side too: addictions and potential problems. You’ll also join the conversation as we bring in experts, look at trends, and solutions to issues that shape how we live.© 2025 Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Scientists Explore Star Trek Inspired Warp Drive Research
    Dec 13 2025

    Advanced technology from Star Trek has inspired fans and scifi enthusiasts for decades. After more than 50 years since its inception, how close to reality are some of its futuristic technology?

    Samir Kumar, co-founder and general partner at Touring Capital (and Star Trek enthusiast!), shares how some Star Trek tech is starting to become possible.


    Chapters

    Intro
    Warp drive, universal translator and Star Trek technology
    Quanting computing
    The holodeck and its feasability
    Pioneering spirit and exploration, cultures
    Investing perspective from a technology enthusiast
    Star Trek IV and material science
    Questions for viewers


    More about Samir Kumar
    https://touringcapital.com/samir-kumar/

    Link:
    https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a69663990/scientists-say-physical-warp-drive-now-possible/

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    David Lam and Steve Ispas on Silicon Valley Front Row (SVFR)
    Is STAR TREK Technology Possible?
    #startrek #warpdrive #scifi

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    19 mins
  • Dead Internet Theory: 51% of Internet Traffic is Now Bots
    Dec 10 2025

    A shocking 2024 cybersecurity study revealed that 51% of internet traffic is now bot-generated, not human. That's right. More than half of all clicks, posts, and engagement online comes from AI and bots, not real people. Both Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and OpenAI's Sam Altman have raised alarms about this phenomenon.


    What We Cover:

    The 2024 Imperva study showing 51% of internet traffic is bots
    The viral ""Pound Cake"" story: An obese cat's weight loss journey that devastated thousands of followers - only to be revealed as completely AI-generated
    Why Sam Altman (creator of ChatGPT) is concerned about AI-generated content taking over
    How AI bots farm engagement on social media platforms
    Swiss researchers confirm people can't tell the difference between human and AI content anymore
    46% of young Australians get their news primarily from social media. What if it's all fake?
    The vicious cycle: AI bots creating content, other AI bots reposting it, with no humans involved
    Cyber attackers using AI tools to deploy malicious bots at unprecedented scale

    The Scary Reality:
    Social media has shifted from connecting humans to simply consuming AI-generated content designed to trigger dopamine hits. As one study from the University of Melbourne found: we're witnessing a cycle of artificial engagement that no longer involves humans.

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    David Lam and Steve Ispas on Silicon Valley Front Row (SVFR) podcast
    #aicontent #deadinternettheory #ai

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    15 mins
  • Real vs AI Voice - Testing ElevenLabs Celebrity Voice Generator
    Dec 6 2025

    We test out the ElevenLabs AI voice technology by recreating our own podcast intro and exploring what this means for actors, filmmakers, and content creators. With celebrities like Michael Caine, Matthew McConaughey, Liza Minnelli, and Dr. Maya Angelou signing deals to have their voices used by AI, we ask the big question: Why are they doing this?

    Topics covered:

    Live demo of ElevenLabs AI voice generator
    Why celebrities like Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey are licensing their voices
    The cost and convenience of AI voices vs hiring real actors
    SAG-AFTRA concerns about AI in the entertainment industry
    Potential use cases: audiobooks, manuals, translations, and accessibility
    The ethical debate: Is an AI voice still ""real"" even if it sounds perfect?


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    David Lam and Steve Ispas on Silicon Valley Front Row (SVFR) podcast
    #elevenlabs #Aivoice #michaelcaine

    Silicon Valley Front Row. Join us as we talk tech from a dialectical lens. You will hear about innovations, developments, and the other side too: addictions and potential problems.

    You’ll also join the conversation as we bring in experts, look at trends, and solutions to issues that shape how we live.

    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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