What does it mean to study the future for a living?
In this installment of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?, Michael Conniff sits down with Paul Saffo—technology forecaster, Stanford educator, Silicon Valley insider, and longtime observer of how innovation transforms society.
Paul traces his journey from Harvard’s pioneering Computers in Society courses to the heart of Silicon Valley, sharing stories from the early days of personal computing, the rise of the internet, and his encounters with some of the most influential figures in technology. Along the way, he reflects on the cultural forces that drive innovation, the importance of embracing uncertainty, and why being wrong is an essential part of understanding what comes next.
The conversation explores artificial intelligence, quantum computing, the evolution of Silicon Valley, and the challenge of navigating a world where technology is reshaping institutions, economies, and everyday life at an unprecedented pace.
Insightful, humorous, and thought-provoking, this episode offers a rare look into the mind of someone who has spent decades helping organizations and individuals make sense of an uncertain future.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.