Ep. 5, Eric Schmidt: Former CEO of Google – Gratitude, Human Values, AI, Hyper-Intelligence, & Throughput

In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Chairman of Google, to explore how gratitude and human values can coexist with rapid technological acceleration. From the role of AI in reshaping productivity to the dawn of hyper-intelligence, Eric shares his thoughts on how to remain grounded in an age defined by algorithms. The conversation touches on the ethical responsibilities of tech leadership, the importance of human freedom in a machine-driven world, and how embracing gratitude can offer clarity amid complexity. With a rare mix of philosophical depth and operational insight, Eric unpacks what it means to build and live intentionally in the future we’re all rushing toward. Filmed at Nobel LA’s Benedict property. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro ✨ (02:00) “Do you feel a sense of responsibility to act on knowledge and intellect that you have?” 📖🧠 (03:40) Scale the next generation 📈 (05:30) “What were those values that you were looking for in Larry and Sergey? 🔍🤝 (06:55) Principles of Command ✒️ 📜👉 (10:00) Having conversations with the aim of learning 💬📚🧠 (12:33) “I believe you can run your professional life through a commitment to detailed planning, detailed thinking, and command” 📆🤔👉 (13:29) “How do you reduce friction in your life?” 🚫🐌 (15:35) “Latency is the enemy of productivity”⏳🚀 (17:20) “We’ve shifted from economics of scarcity to scarcity of attention” 💰📊⚠️ (21:16) “Why was there never an in between of the “search” and the application of algorithms?”🔎💻🌐 (23:41) Gresham’s Law ⚖️ (25:22) “Would the Gstaad Guy be a good boyfriend?” 🇨🇭🏔️❤️ (28:00) “Do you find yourself managing to outsmart AI, and still make a conscious decision?” 🤓🤖 (32:16) “Do you see a world where instead of algorithms finding content to feed you, they actually make it for you? 💻🌐🎥 (34:29) Dude With Sign 🪧 (36:57) “Would you ever create a digital extension of yourself (Eric Schmidt), so people can ask you questions? 💻🤳❓ (40:12) “Doing consumer things that manipulate human behaviour” 🎭🙃 (41:03) “Will there be a change in hardware where conversations with phone will not be limited by thumb and speaking speed?” 🔄📱 (42:33) “How do you personally switch off? 🎚️📴 (44:08) The impact of the internet on the way people live and move 🌐😎 (45:57) “If you were to design a city, where would you start?” 🏙️🧑‍🎨 (48:11) The gift of the next generation 🎁⏭️🧑‍🧒 (50:45) “Should there be a maximum age to be a president?” 🔞👨‍💼 (52:17) “Should founders find a replacement after a certain period of time?” 👤🔁👤