At a moment some are calling the “Mythos Moment” for artificial intelligence, the conversation around technology is shifting in real time. In this episode of Tools and Weapons, Brad Smith sits down with former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, now working at the center of global AI policy and innovation, to explore what happens when breakthroughs move faster than the systems built to govern them.

The discussion looks at the risks that could define this era, the policy choices shaping global AI development, and what leaders must do now to build trust while enabling innovation. From cyber threats to economic disruption, this conversation examines what it will take to navigate one of the most consequential technology moments in decades.

Listen to the full episode and join the conversation about how we shape the future of AI responsibly.

Juan Lavista Ferres, Microsoft Chief Data Scientist and Director of the AI for Good Lab, joins Brad Smith to unpack the latest AI diffusion report and what it reveals about how artificial intelligence is spreading around the world.

In this quarterly update, Juan shares new data on where adoption is accelerating, how AI is reshaping software development, and why emerging divides between regions and communities could shape what comes next.

From rising productivity to widening gaps between urban and rural communities in the United States, the conversation explores both the promise and the challenges of AI at scale and what it will take to ensure the benefits are broadly shared.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Where AI adoption is growing fastest around the world
• Why the U.S. is seeing an urban-rural AI divide
• How AI is changing software development and knowledge work
• What diffusion trends could mean for jobs, productivity, and growth

Links

• aka.ms/AIDiffusionReport2025
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlavista/
• aka.ms/toolsandweapons
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradsmi/

A lot of people are asking the same question right now: Will I be left behind?
In this episode, Brad Smith sits down with Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn and Executive Vice President at Microsoft, for a practical conversation about AI, the future of work, and what people can do now to stay ahead. Drawing on ideas from his new book, "Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI," Ryan shares a framework for thinking about careers in the era of AI that starts not with job titles, but with tasks.

Together, Brad and Ryan explore how work can be divided into three categories: tasks AI will automate, tasks AI can augment, and tasks that remain deeply human. They discuss why the most valuable skills may be the ones hardest to automate, including curiosity, courage, communication, and compassion. They also talk about how AI can become a genuine thought partner at work, helping people save time, sharpen ideas, and focus more energy on judgment, relationships, and creativity. Ryan explains why careers are no longer ladders but climbing walls, why cross-disciplinary roles are emerging, and why adapting to AI is as much a mindset shift as a technical one.

This is a conversation for anyone early in their career, mid-career, or helping the next generation navigate a changing workplace. It’s about turning anxiety into action and using AI to build a more meaningful future of work.