technology

Feudal Future Podcast — AI and the Future of Governance

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 20:05:03 -0400

The technological revolution of artificial intelligence isn't just changing how businesses operate—it's transforming how they're governed. In this riveting conversation, we're joined by Dean Yoost, former senior partner at PWC, and Ashwin Rangan, CEO of DoubleCheck, to explore their groundbreaking book "Governance in the Age of AI: A Director's Handbook."

Listen on Apple Podcast
More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch this Episode

Support Our Work

The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.

Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.

For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director of the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu

Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism

Learn more about Joel’s book ‘The Coming of Neo-Feudalism‘

This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

Feudal Future Podcast — AI Intentionality: Who's Really in Control?

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:23:16 -0400

What happens when we give machines the power to think without ensuring they share our values? This riveting conversation dives deep into one of humanity's most pressing challenges: controlling artificial intelligence as it grows increasingly powerful.

Joined by Roni Abovitz, founder of groundbreaking companies Mako Surgical and Magic Leap, and neuroscientist Dr. Uri Maoz from Chapman University, we explore the profound question of AI intentions.

Listen on Apple Podcast
More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch this Episode

Support Our Work

For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, sponsored project analyst for the Office of Research, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu.

Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism

Learn more about Joel’s book ‘The Coming of Neo-Feudalism‘

Feudal Future Podcast — The Future of Social Media: Trends and Impact

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 19:11:36 -0400

Global connectivity or fragmented realities? Professor Vicki Katz from Chapman University joins us to unpack the complex impact of social media on media literacy. This episode promises to illuminate how social platforms, while bridging distances, also fracture our information landscape. Curious about how this affects our ability to discern truth and the role of legislation in this dynamic? Listen in as we examine Section 230's influence on accountability and the shifting trust in mainstream media, guided by Dr. Katz’s expertise and the experiences of Jewish American students navigating diverse media worlds.

Listen on Apple Podcast
More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch this Episode

Support Our Work

For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, sponsored project analyst for the Office of Research, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu.

Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism

Learn more about Joel’s book ‘The Coming of Neo-Feudalism‘

Feudal Future Podcast: Israel's Innovation Reshaping Global Landscapes

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:06:01 -0400

What if a small nation could reshape the global landscape through sheer innovation and resilience? In this compelling episode of the Feudal Future Podcast, we welcome George Gilder, a visionary thinker and author, to illuminate how Israel’s technological prowess is revolutionizing industries worldwide. Gilder provides fascinating insights from his book, “The Israel Test: How Israel’s Genius Enriches and Challenges the World,” exploring groundbreaking contributions in computing, AI, and defense systems like the Iron Dome, which are not only transforming industries but also enhancing U.S. defense capabilities. We delve into Israel’s remarkable achievements in agriculture, turning barren deserts into fertile lands, becoming a leading agricultural exporter, and significantly reducing water consumption.

Listen on Apple Podcast
More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch this Episode

Support Our Work

For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, sponsored project analyst for the Office of Research, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu.

Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism

Learn more about Joel’s book ‘The Coming of Neo-Feudalism‘

Feudal Future: Reviving U.S. Semiconductor Supremacy

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Wed, 08 May 2024 17:55:36 -0400

Unlock the secrets behind the United States reclaiming its semiconductor sovereignty in the latest Feudal Future Podcast episode. Dr. John Berry and Ashwin Rangan, two trailblazers in the tech and education sectors, join us to dissect the urgent need for reshoring this pivotal industry. You’ll gain exclusive insights into the CHIPS Act’s role in this mission and the formidable obstacles we face, from cutting-edge technological requirements to cultivating a skilled workforce primed for innovation and growth.

Listen on Apple Podcast
More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch this Episode

Support Our Work

The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.

For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, sponsored project analyst for the Office of Research, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu.

Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism

Learn more about Joel’s book ‘The Coming of Neo-Feudalism‘

Feudal Future Podcast: Industrial A.I.

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 11:38:14 -0400

On this episode of Feudal Future, hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky are joined by robotics engineer, Wyatt Newman, and executive director of the Digital Twins Institute, Michael Grieves, to discuss industrial artificial intelligence.

WATCH THE EPISODE:

DOWNLOAD OUR NEWEST REPORT HERE:
Housing Report: Blame Ourselves, Not Our Stars

Find more Feudal Future Podcast episodes at joelkotkin.com

Space Reimagined: Exploring the Universe of Opportunity

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:21:43 -0400

On this episode of Feudal Future, hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky are joined by Ashwin Rangan, CIO of ICANN, and Rand Simberg, aerospace engineer to discuss the future of space.

Watch this episode

Feudal Future Podcast — The Crisis on Labor

Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 12:48:44 -0400

On this episode of Feudal Future hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky are joined by Robyn Domber, DCI’s Vice President of Research, Lane Windham, Associate Director at Georgetown University‘s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, and Michael Bernick, Director of California’s labor department. The panel discusses the root causes of labor shortages and solutions for the future.

For more information click here:

www.chapman.edu/asktheexperts

To register for the event click here:

chapman.zoom.us

[02:50] Defining remote work

[05:29] Occupancy in suburban offices

[18:45] Geography of offices

[35:58] Threats with commercial real estate

Learn more about Marshall Toplansky.
Learn more about Joel Kotkin.

Join the Beyond Feudalism Facebook group.
Read the Beyond Feudalism report.
Learn about Joel’s book, The Coming of Neo-Feudalism.

Listen on Apple Podcast

Listen on Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

More podcast episodes & show notes at JoelKotkin.com

Watch Episode Video

Big City Talent Markets Were Getting Hit Pre-Pandemic

Aaron M. Renn — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:08:04 -0500

One impact of the coronavirus has been to accelerate some trends that were already present in the marketplace beforehand. One of these has been the accelerating flow of people into new talent magnet communities and the relative stagnation of some of the larger, established coastal cities.

This is evident in the new Talent Attraction Scorecard 2020 from EMSI, which largely draws on data up through 2019. They find states like Texas, Florida, and Arizona having many of the most robust talent attraction markets as ranked based on a basket of measuring including migration, job growth, and new job openings.

Among counties with a population greater than 100,000, Maricopa, AZ (Phoenix) and Clark, NV (Las Vegas) finished at the top. There were four Texas suburban counties in the top 10, and there were 12 counties in Florida in the top 40.

Many of the winners were mid-sized, suburban counties, though some more urban counties like Fulton, GA (Atlanta) have surged in the rankings.

Again, this is based on pre-coronavirus data. It confirms that the performance of America’s largest superstar city markets had fallen off towards the end of the decade. With the economic and demographic fallout from the coronavirus hitting these markets hard, these places look likely to stay at the bottom of the charts for at least the near-term future.

Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. He focuses on urban, economic development and infrastructure policy in the greater American Midwest. He also regularly contributes to and is cited by national and global media outlets, and his work has appeared in many publications, including the The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Silicon Valley Exits California for Texas

Tory Gattis — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 12:11:03 -0500

The big news this week is all the different tech companies announcing their moves to Texas.

The big one for Houston is the announcement that HP Enterprise is moving its HQ from Silicon Valley to Spring just north of Houston - a long-term legacy benefit of Compaq Computer (which was acquired by HP and kept substantial operations here).

WSJ story: Hewlett Packard Enterprise to Leave Silicon Valley for Texas - Tech giant, which traces its roots to the origins of Silicon Valley, is latest company to move away from area long considered hub of innovation

“Houston is also an attractive market for us to recruit and retain talent, and a great place to do business,” Mr. Neri said, adding that as one of the largest and most diverse cities in the country, “Houston provides the opportunity over time to draw more diverse talent into our ranks.”

And some more detail from their press release: (hat tip George)

"Why Houston?

Houston has long been our largest U.S. employment hub, and construction has been underway since the beginning of the year on a new, state-of-the-art campus in the area. Houston is also an attractive market for us to recruit and retain talent, and a great place to do business. The most diverse city in America and the fourth largest, Houston provides the opportunity over time to draw more diverse talent into our ranks – a key priority for HPE as we work to be unconditionally inclusive.

We also anticipate long term cost savings associated with this move that we can reinvest in key areas of our business and innovation."

And finally a repost from Facebook that digs into what that increased affordability really means for employees:

"Hewlett-Packard announced its leaving Palo Alto for Houston.
$1,100 is the average rent in Houston.
$3,350 is the average rent in Palo Alto.

Just to give a concept of how much the extra $2,250 a month that saves is.
$530 is the average monthly payment on a car.
$460 is the monthly individual cost of health insurance.
$400 is the average monthly cost of food.
$145 is the average monthly spending on gas for a car.
$130 is the average monthly cost of car insurance.
$1,665 a month total.

Those 5 things which are just as essential for people in Palo Alto as Houston and cost about as much in both places cost that much.

If an HP employee moved to Houston and cut rent cost down, but chose to save $585 more a month and put it in a 401k paying 5% for 10 years, they’d have $92,700 or 7 years average rent in Houston.

Those 5 things are also essential, so let’s just say an HP employee moved to Houston and saved the entire $2,250 a month for 10 years.
$27,000 saved a year.
$357,000 saved over 10 years.
27 years worth of rent in Houston.
9 years worth of rent in Palo Alto.

A lot of people have a lot of different reasons for companies leaving, but I think the rent factor and how it’s extremely hard for employees to live is the problem.

Hewlett-Packard was the birth of Silicon Valley and it’s leaving.

I don’t see it as unlikely a future where Facebook, Uber, Google and more could join."

Then there are the other stories on Elon Musk's and Oracle's moves to Austin:

NYT: ‘Welcome to Texas!’: Musk’s California Departure Stokes the States’ Rivalry - Several companies have followed the same path to Texas, which has aggressively advertised lower taxes and fewer regulations.

"California, with its steep housing costs, raging wildfires and strict business regulations, has been losing residents to other states, with Texas as the most popular exodus destination. Of more than 653,000 people who left California last year, about 82,000 went to Texas, more than any other state, according to census figures.

Or, as The Stanford Review wrote in a nod to the native Texan George Strait, “All of California’s Exes Are Moving to Texas.” (????) ...

California and Texas — two economic powerhouses, one led by Democrats and the other by Republicans, with respective populations of 40 million and 29 million — are in many ways natural frenemies. It is a rivalry made up of In-N-Out versus Whataburger, of Disneyland versus the State Fair of Texas, of tacos versus, well, other tacos."

The Verge: Elon Musk says he has moved to Texas, calls California overly ‘complacent’ - ‘California has been winning for a long time, and I think they’re taking it for granted’
Techcrunch: Oracle is headed to Texas now, too

"Taxes, a more affordable cost of living for employees, a lower cost of doing business, and less competition for talent are among the top drivers for the companies’ moves, though there is also a growing sense that culture is a factor, as well."

WSJ: Covid-19, Remote Work Make Austin a Magnet for New Jobs - Texas’ capital is attracting corporate jobs and remote workers, lured by lower costs and lower taxes

All in all a very good week for Houston and Texas! Let's hope this is just the beginning of a much larger tech exodus from California to Texas...

This piece first appeared on Houston Strategies Blogspot.

Tory Gattis is a Founding Senior Fellow with the Urban Reform Institute and co-authored the original study with noted urbanist Joel Kotkin and others, creating a city philosophy around upward social mobility for all citizens as an alternative to the popular smart growth, new urbanism, and creative class movements. He is also an editor of the Houston Strategies blog.