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TechFirst with John Koetsier

John Koetsier
Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Apple Vision Pro
Automation
Artificial General Intelligence
Labor Market
Cleaning Industry
Atmospheric Water Generators
Customer Service
Hospitality
Bio-Monitoring
Water Quality Monitoring
Tesla
Robotlab
Agriculture Technology
Innovative Technology
Enterprise Adoption Of VR
Security
Privacy
Virtual Reality

Deep tech conversations with key innovators in AI, robotics, and smart matter ...

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes367Founded6 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Can we give an AI human emotions? A soul? Can AI truly feel, or will it just act like it does?

In this episode of TechFirst, I talk with Vishnu Hari, founder and CEO of Ego AI (backed by Y Combinator and former AI product manager at Meta), about bui... more

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Is your AI agent running a restaurant — or a factory — while you sleep?

In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier sits down with Jensen Teng, CEO and co-founder of Virtuals, to unpack one of the boldest (or craziest) visions in tech today: a hybri... more

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Is AI killing creativity ... or just making it easier to be average?

94% of creatives now use AI. But only 11% believe it actually makes them more creative. So what’s really happening?

In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier sits down with Saee... more

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AI is moving faster than anyone predicted.

In a massive new study analyzing 1,000 jobs and nearly 20,000 tasks, Cognizant found that 93% of jobs are already impacted by AI ... with $4.5 trillion in U.S. labor value potentially automatable today.

Bu... more

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Recent Guests

Vishnu Hari
Founder and CEO of Ego AI
Ego AI
Episode: Giving AI a human soul
Jensen Teng
CEO and co-founder of Virtuos
Virtuos
Episode: AI, agents, robots: our insane WestWorld future
Professor Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen
A design engineering researcher leading projects at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Episode: AI killing creativity: this scientist proved it
Babak Hodjat
CTO of Cognizant
Cognizant
Episode: 93% of jobs will be hit by AI .... $4.5 trillion at stake
Ben Luria
Working on machine unlearning at Hirundo.
Hirundo
Episode: Machine unlearning: AI's missing link?
Andy Markus
SVP and Chief Data and AI Officer at AT&T
AT&T
Episode: SLMs vs LLMs: 10% of the cost, 100% of the accuracy?
Jan Liphardt
Founder and CEO of OpenMind and Stanford bioengineering professor.
OpenMind
Episode: Robots won't do chores?
Larry Namer
Founder of E! Entertainment Television and chairman of the World Film Institute
E! Entertainment Television
Episode: Generative Hollywood: E! founder Larry Namer on AI
Ali Farhadi
Head of the Allen Institute for AI and prominent computer vision researcher
Allen Institute for AI
Episode: Robot reasoning: why data is not enough

Host

John Koetsier
Host of tech-focused interviews with leaders and innovators in AI, robotics, and technology.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • TechFirst is #1 🏅

    I genuinely can't believe such an incredible resource is FREE! What better way to keep up with the latest in the world of tech than to hear directly from leaders and innovators shaping the industry? It's seriously a must-listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arlie K
    United States4 years ago
  • Avoid special characters, misspellings, abbreviations, and punctuation.

    Relationships are like a living thing; they need to be nurtured in order to thrive, and poor care brings them to an early end. However long your bond lasts, the good news is that every relationship is a learning experience. And if you're dating, happily single but looking, getting over a breakup, or simply seeking tips on how to become a better

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Donna35C
    United States4 years ago
  • Amazing podcast

    I follow the tech

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TechFirst
    United States4 years ago
  • TechFirst - Technology and Your Life, Must Listen

    TechFirst is an insightful podcast casting well balanced conversation on the biggest topics of contemporary technology.

    John is a great host at steering the discussion to unique perspectives that really engages the listener. Superb guests as well.

    TechFirst is a great window into the depths of futurist technology and John does a good job of relating it to the current times and potential implications.

    Must check this out if you’re into Tech! 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Drifter9llll9
    United States5 years ago
  • Amazing way to learn about cutting edge tech

    I follow plenty of tech blogs and subscribe to dozens of podcasts, but TechFirst is regularly the show where I discover new tech that most people haven’t even heard of yet. I love learning about this stuff, plus get to sound super informed when I can tell a friend “have you heard about these new contact lenses with this crazy tech in them…” Awesome podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chrisc920
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sound quality and host-led direction are frequently praised, with guests offering diverse viewpoints on future tech.
Listeners appreciate the high-caliber guests and the cutting-edge tech discussions.
Episodes are consistently engaging, with practical takeaways for implementing AI and robotics in business.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#129
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#214
Italy/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#17
Taiwan/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#38
Argentina/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#116
Japan/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#136
Switzerland/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Giving AI a human soul
Q: What is emotionally intelligent AI according to Vishnu Hari?
Emotional intelligence in AI comes from having an internal life or model of the world that can be simulated, allowing the AI to draw on experiences and memories to respond in a way that feels authentic.
SLMs vs LLMs: 10% of the cost, 100% of the accuracy?
Q: Where have you found SLMs useful?
SLMs have been useful in evaluating large data repositories, managing contracts, and network analytics among various applications.
SLMs vs LLMs: 10% of the cost, 100% of the accuracy?
Q: What is an SLM?
An SLM is a small language model that is cost-effective, efficient, and surprisingly effective when fine-tuned for specific purposes.
Machine unlearning: AI's missing link?
Q: What do you focus on to eliminate hallucinations?
Addressing hallucinations involves detecting behavioral patterns in the model's output and grounding the model in accurate information.
Machine unlearning: AI's missing link?
Q: How do you find what you don't want there and remove it?
The process involves detecting unwanted elements, isolating them, and remediating the model to remove those problematic aspects.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About TechFirst

What is TechFirst about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show explores the practical and strategic implications of AI, automation, and robotics in business and society. Key themes include the economics of AI adoption, enterprise-ready AI tooling (from small language models to open-source reasoning), responsible AI and machine unlearning, and the evolving role of humans alongside autonomous agents and humanoid robots. Conversations frequently bridge technical detail with real-world applications — from enterprise deployments and job impact to consumer robotics, entertainment AI, and the design of agent-based systems — making it a useful resource for product teams, marketers, and executives evaluating AI strategy, vendor partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities. A stand... more

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1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Daily
3. News Connect あなたと経済をつなぐ5分間 #ニュースコネクト
4. WSJ What’s News
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How many episodes of TechFirst are there?

TechFirst launched 6 years ago and published 367 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on TechFirst?

Recent guests on TechFirst include:

1. Vishnu Hari
2. Jensen Teng
3. Professor Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen
4. Babak Hodjat
5. Ben Luria
6. Andy Markus
7. Jan Liphardt
8. Larry Namer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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