a16z Podcast
Could AI break the cryptography protecting everything from crypto wallets and banking to private messages? Recent advances in AI-driven mathematical research have sparked new warnings about the security of today’s encryption systems, but how much of the concern is supported by evidence?
a16z crypto’s Liz Harkavy is joined by Stanford cryptographer Dan Boneh, a16z crypto General Partner Eddy Lazzarin, and Research Partner Justin Thaler to separate what we know from what remains speculation. They explain why modern cryptography relies on mathematical assumptions, what OpenAI’s recent results do and don’t demonstrate, and how the potential threat from AI differs from quantum computing.
They also discuss why existing security practices and cryptographic alternatives offer reasons for confidence, the importance of building systems that can adapt if an assumption fails, and how AI could ultimately help researchers and developers make software more secure.
Resources:
Watch the original a16z crypto discussion:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CoOoDsZ5Y
Follow Eddy Lazzarin on X:https://x.com/eddylazzarin
Follow Dan Boneh: https://x.com/danboneh
Follow Justin Thaler: https://x.com/SuccinctJT
Follow Liz Harkavy: https://x.com/liz_harkavy
Learn more about a16z crypto:https://a16zcrypto.com/
Stay Updated:
Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube
Find a16z on X
Find a16z on LinkedIn
Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify
Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts
Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
-
The CISO Playbook for AI Agents | Datadog
a16z’s Joel De La Garza is joined by Emilio Escobar, Chief Information Security Officer at Datadog, to discuss what it takes to secure a company where nearly every employee is using AI and more than…
-
The Self-Improving Company | Kavak’s AI Playbook
Angela Strange and Gabriel Vasquez are joined by Alejandro Maza Ayala, Chief Product & AI Officer at Kavak, to unpack how the Latin American used-car marketplace rebuilt itself around AI agents, with 96% of customer…
-
The Reality of AI-Powered Cyberattacks | Truffle Security & Socket
Joel De La Garza is joined by Dylan Ayrey, co-founder and CEO of Truffle Security, and Feross Aboukhadijeh, founder and CEO of Socket, to discuss one of the biggest shifts happening in cybersecurity: AI models…
-
The Engine Powering Open-Source AI
Elena Burger and Matt Bornstein are joined by Simon Mo, co-founder and CEO of Inferact, the open-source inference engine powering many of today’s most advanced AI applications. Together, they explore how open-source AI evolved from…
-
Three Startups Reinventing Critical Infrastructure
This week, a16z American Dynamism Films premiered three short documentaries highlighting companies tackling some of America’s biggest industrial challenges: Ulysses, Mariana Materials, and Radiant. Before watching those films, we’re revisiting conversations with the founders behind…
-
OpenAI’s Joshua Achiam: Did We Already Reach AGI?
Theo Jaffee is joined by Joshua Achiam, Chief Futurist at OpenAI, for a conversation on AI cybersecurity, frontier model capabilities, and why he believes society may have already crossed the threshold into an AGI-era without…
-
Ruby Thelot on Internet Culture, AI, and the Future of Taste
Sophia Dew and Sofia Puccini are joined by Ruby Thelot, designer, artist, cyberethnographer, professor at NYU, and founder of 13101401, for a wide-ranging conversation about internet culture, AI, digital communities, and how technology is reshaping…
-
Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon: What’s at Stake in Crypto Regulation
Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, and Robert Hackett discuss one of the most consequential policy debates facing the crypto industry: the push for comprehensive U.S. market structure legislation and what regulatory clarity could mean for innovation,…
-
How Enterprise AI Really Gets Deployed
Sarah Wang and Kimberly Tan are joined by Jesse Zhang and Ashwin Sreenivas, co-founders of Decagon, to discuss the evolution of enterprise AI agents, why the company increasingly relies on open-source models, and how it…
-
AI for America’s Small Businesses | Lassie
Alex Rampell and Olivia Moore speak with Lassie cofounders Steijn Pelle and Frédéric Renken about bringing AI to one of the most overlooked parts of the economy: small businesses. Inspired by time spent working inside…