Shape of Tomorrow

Hosted by Michael Ianni-Palarchio

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

A personal podcast that focuses on innovation, education and the impact on the future of all of things. Technology is one of the driving forces that are creating a time of exponential change and opportunities, and these podcasts are my reflecting and sharing to raise awareness and spark conversation amongst a broad base of listeners. Thanks for joining in on these important and exciting conversations. All thoughts in this podcast are my own and are not directly affiliated with where I work.

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60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 19942 min

Episode 199 - AI Is Becoming an Organizational Design Question

Artificial intelligence is entering a more consequential phase. The most important developments are no longer confined to models, benchmarks or chatbots. They are beginning to reshape how physical work gets done, how young people enter professions, and how organizations establish trust when the boundary between human and machine-generated work becomes increasingly difficult to see. In today’s episode of Shape of Tomorrow, I examine three signals: humanoid robots moving into commercial environments, evidence that AI may be disproportionately affecting entry-level employment, and the emerging battle over watermarking AI-generated text. Each raises a different concern, but together they suggest that the AI conversation may be shifting in a much bigger way. What connects robots in factories, shrinking opportunities for young workers and the difficulty of identifying AI-generated content? That is the question I explore in this week’s episode, and I believe the answer should matter to every leader thinking seriously about what comes next.

August 14, 2026Episode 19850 min

Episode 198 - The New Economics of AI: Productivity, Context and Accountability

Artificial intelligence is creating extraordinary new capabilities, but are organizations actually capturing the value? In Episode 198 of Shape of Tomorrow , I explore the emerging AI productivity paradox and why trust, incentives, and leadership may matter as much as the technology itself. I also unpack three important AI signals: the rise of context-aware AI, the rapidly changing economics of the AI industry, and the emergence of “tokenomics” as organizations begin asking a much harder question: what business value are we actually getting for every dollar we spend on AI? The AI conversation is shifting from what can the technology do? to what can our organization do differently because of it?

August 7, 2026Episode 19732 min

Episode 197 - What Business Are You Really In?

What will make an independent school indispensable ten years from now? In this episode, I explore how AI, changing expectations and new models of learning could challenge schools to rethink what it really means to prepare students for the future. Then, a completely different signal from the edge: foldable phones. After years as a niche category, are they finally approaching their mainstream moment, and what might Apple have to do with it? Two very different topics connected by one question: How do you recognize the future while it’s still taking shape? Stay curious. Stay innovative.

July 31, 2026Episode 19633 min

Episode 196 - Escapes, Bubbles, and the Future of AI

Some weeks, the biggest AI stories aren't the ones everyone thinks they are. This week's episode explores two headlines that have dominated conversations: an OpenAI model that reportedly "escaped" its testing environment, and growing concerns that artificial intelligence may be entering bubble territory. But I think both stories point to something much deeper. One reveals a leadership lesson that every organization will need to understand as AI becomes more autonomous. The other offers a perspective on today's AI investment frenzy that history suggests we should approach with both caution and confidence. If you're looking beyond the headlines to understand what these events really mean for leaders, innovators and organizations, I hope you'll join me for Episode 196 of *Shape of Tomorrow*. I think you'll come away seeing both stories a little differently.

July 24, 2026Episode 19524 min

Episode 195 - The Best Leaders Are Designers

Before recording this week's episode, I found myself wandering the quiet streets of Québec City just after sunrise. It was one of those rare moments where a simple observation turned into a much bigger question. We often think leadership is about making better decisions. But what if that's only part of the story? What if the most effective leaders aren't simply decision makers at all? In this episode, I explore a different way of thinking about leadership. One that has become increasingly important in the age of AI, where execution is becoming abundant and the real competitive advantage lies somewhere else entirely. If you lead a team, a school, a business, or simply want to build better organizations, I think this conversation will give you a new lens through which to view your work. I hope you'll join me.

July 17, 2026Episode 19424 min

Episode 194 - When Intelligence Becomes Abundant

Every week I try to make sense of what's happening beyond the AI headlines, and this week there was plenty to think about. Instead of focusing on who released the latest model or feature, I explore the bigger pattern emerging across the industry and why I believe it's telling us something important about the future of work, leadership, and competitive advantage. In the second half of the episode, I shift gears and speak directly to school leaders. As another academic year approaches, I've been reflecting on a question that I think deserves far more attention: What should schools be preparing students for when intelligence itself is becoming abundant? I share why I believe the answer has less to do with technology and more to do with learning, judgment, and the kinds of humans we're helping shape. I hope this episode challenges a few assumptions, sparks a few new questions, and leaves you thinking differently about where we're headed. Thanks for listening.

July 10, 2026Episode 19322 min

Episode 193 - Three Signals of What's Next

This week I'm exploring three stories that I think reveal much bigger shifts than the headlines suggest. We look at OpenAI's new approach to AI work, a remarkable breakthrough from Stanford that could change the pace of scientific discovery, and Anthropic's new Reflect feature that made me rethink my own relationship with AI. None of these stories is really about technology. They're about how work, innovation, and even our thinking are beginning to change. I hope you'll join me as we look beyond the news and explore the signals shaping tomorrow.

July 3, 2026Episode 19227 min

Episode 192 - The Forces Beneath AI

This week I'm connecting three stories that reveal the deeper forces shaping the future of AI. From energy becoming AI's hidden constraint, to frontier models emerging as geopolitical assets, to vendors embedding AI teams inside customer organizations, I explore what these signals mean for leaders, strategists, and anyone trying to make sense of where AI is really headed. Join me as we look beyond the headlines and connect the dots.

June 26, 2026Episode 19119 min

Episode 191 - Teaching AI About Reality

Everyone is focused on making AI better at talking. I think the bigger story is teaching AI to understand. In this episode, I explore the rise of world models, why some of the brightest minds in AI believe they represent the next major breakthrough, and what they could mean for robotics, autonomous vehicles, digital twins, and the future of intelligent systems.

June 19, 2026Episode 19027 min

Episode 190 - AI Isn’t Creating One Future for Work. It’s Creating Two.

This week on Shape of Tomorrow, I explore a fascinating new report from PwC that challenges one of the biggest assumptions about AI and the future of work. Rather than creating a single outcome for workers and organizations, the data suggests AI is driving the emergence of two very different paths. What does this mean for leaders, educators, and anyone thinking about talent, growth, and competitive advantage? Join me as I unpack the findings and discuss the critical question every organization should be asking right now: Which future are you building toward?