S1E86: Ex-Google chairman Eric Schmidt says Singapore is perfect technology partner for the US: Asian Insider

  • 15 Jun 2022

Synopsis: In this special episode, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar speaks with Mr Eric Schmidt, the former Google chairman who started the philanthropic initiative Schmidt Futures.

Mr Schmidt, 67, was chief executive of Google (2001-11) and executive chairman of the firm and its successor Alphabet (2011-17). The billionaire now runs Schmidt Futures, a New York-based philanthropic organisation that he co-founded with his wife in 2017 with the ambitious idea of building "a network of the sharpest minds on earth to solve hard problems in science and society".

He was in Singapore last week for his foundation's Asia-focused initiative, which included the S. Rajaratnam Endowment Dialogue jointly presented by his foundation, Temasek Foundation, the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and The Straits Times.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:08 Why the US should win the technology rivalry with China

02:43 Schmidt on how the US needs to lead in semi conductors, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and why Singapore is the perfect partner because of its knowledge economy

05:08 Ensuring artificial intelligence is not abused, or used for evil

06:50 Schmidt Futures funding programmes to resolve problems in AI now, and why China and the West are not ready to debate uncomfortable issues

Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg) & ST Video

Edited by: ST Video 

Subscribe to the Asian Insider Podcast channel and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Websites: 

https://www.moneyfm893.sg/

http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s stories: https://str.sg/whNo

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#STAsianInsider

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.