Podcast Summary: Synthetic Humans & Quantum AI: The Future of Humanity

Title: Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson
Host/Author: Info-Tech Research Group
Episode: Synthetic Humans & Quantum AI: The Future of Humanity
Release Date: June 30, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Digital Disruption, Geoff Nielson sits down with Scott Likens, the Global Chief AI Engineer at PwC, to explore the transformative realms of synthetic humans and Quantum AI. The conversation delves into how these cutting-edge technologies are reshaping industries, redefining human-machine interactions, and paving the way for the next industrial revolution.

Scott Likens’ Journey and Current Role

Scott Likens provides an insightful overview of his career path, highlighting his extensive experience in software development and emerging technologies. Currently based in the US, Scott oversees AI engineering globally at PwC, managing a vast landscape that includes AI, quantum computing, blockchain, virtual reality, and synthetic reality. Reflecting on his early days building one of the first Internet browsers, Scott showcases his deep-rooted passion for technological innovation.

Scott Likens [00:42]: “I started early days of the Internet building the browser, transitioning into really just the next wave of everything... Now what seems to be more of an emerging tech and AI wave, which has just been amazing.”

Current Excitements in Technology

Scott emphasizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of technological discourse, finally demonstrating substantial value after decades of research. He discusses the symbiotic relationship between AI and other technologies like quantum computing and blockchain, which are enhancing AI’s capabilities and infrastructure.

Scott Likens [02:26]: “AI is the bulk of the conversation... We're seeing that value and with that investment, it's also supercharged innovation across the board.”

Synthetic Humans and Holographic AI

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on synthetic humans and holographic AI. Scott shares his personal experience of creating a synthetic version of himself, illustrating the advancements in AI-generated avatars that can mimic human appearance, voice, and interactions.

Scott Likens [04:58]: “We've created a synthetic version of me, synthetic Scott, almost two years ago... It's really changing the human machine interface quite quickly.”

Navigating the Uncanny Valley

Scott addresses the concept of the "uncanny valley," affirming that current AI avatars are now indistinguishable from real humans in many interactions. He highlights the challenges of real-time holographic interactions and the role of blockchain in authenticating synthetic identities.

Scott Likens [07:01]: “With anything beyond that, it gets to a point where humans won't tell the difference... We can authenticate and understand if this is an approved version.”

Authentication and Deepfake Concerns

The discussion shifts to the risks associated with deepfakes and the imperative of authenticating AI-generated content to prevent misuse. Scott underscores the importance of responsible technology use to mitigate threats like identity theft and misinformation.

Scott Likens [08:26]: “There has to be strong leadership from the top about the pace... Responsible use of the technology is critical.”

Balancing Optimism with Responsibility

Scott conveys a balanced perspective, maintaining optimism about AI’s potential while acknowledging the need for robust ethical frameworks. He stresses that unlike previous technological revolutions, responsible AI is being prioritized from the outset.

Scott Likens [09:44]: “I'm the ultimate optimist... Responsible AI as a fundamental pillar to everything they're building.”

Speed vs. Scale of Innovation

A key theme is the rapid pace of AI innovation versus traditional scaling methods. Scott argues that in the era of generative AI, speed of adoption and continuous innovation outpaces the conventional focus on scaling existing technologies.

Scott Likens [13:21]: “The innovation that gives you that roadmap, that view of what's coming next. You don't have to do every single thing, but you have to understand the trajectory.”

Research Horizons and Agent OS

Scott elaborates on PwC’s Horizon approach to technology research, categorizing projects into three horizons based on their readiness and impact. He highlights their development of Agent OS, a platform enabling AI agents to operate across various frameworks securely and efficiently.

Scott Likens [18:14]: “We have to think in Horizons... We've launched something called Agent OS, which is our ability to work across all the agent frameworks in any cloud in a much simpler way.”

Legacy Modernization with AI Agents

The conversation delves into how AI agents are revolutionizing legacy system modernization. Scott illustrates how AI can transform outdated mainframe systems by either modernizing the codebase or creating intelligent agents that bridge old and new systems without extensive redevelopment.

Scott Likens [34:49]: “We're using AI and agents to unravel something that's 40 or 50 years old and modernize it in a way that we trust the output.”

Workforce Transformation and Corporate IT

Scott addresses the critical role of corporate IT in adopting AI technologies. He emphasizes the necessity of upskilling existing staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and adapting organizational structures to integrate AI effectively.

Scott Likens [35:28]: “Corporate IT has to adapt the pattern and the way they approach these problems... It's about producing more products, getting to more markets, being more efficient than my competitor.”

Overhyped Technologies: The Reality of AI Agents

Despite his optimism, Scott candidly discusses technologies he believes are currently overhyped, specifically AI agents. He cautions against expecting AI agents to handle autonomous decision-making tasks prematurely, emphasizing the need for realistic expectations and gradual advancements.

Scott Likens [52:07]: “Ironically, AI agents I think are overhyped... the true power of agents is autonomy and action, and that's a ways off.”

Quantum AI and Post-Quantum Cryptography

Scott provides insights into the evolving landscape of Quantum AI and its implications for cryptography. He anticipates that the emergence of post-quantum cryptography will sooner than expected due to advancements in quantum optimization and inference capabilities.

Scott Likens [53:41]: “I think it's closer than people think... Quantum approaches to optimization could cause a new attack vector for cryptography.”

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a comprehensive understanding of how synthetic humans and Quantum AI are not just futuristic concepts but present-day realities transforming industries. Scott Likens’ insights underscore the importance of responsible innovation, the necessity of workforce transformation, and the relentless pace of technological advancement shaping the future of humanity.

Scott Likens [55:03]: “It's really starting this flywheel that we think is amazing for business.”

Key Takeaways:

• Synthetic Humans & Holographic AI: Advanced AI-generated avatars are becoming indistinguishable from humans, revolutionizing human-machine interactions.

• Responsible AI: Emphasizing ethical frameworks and authentication to prevent misuse of AI technologies.

• Innovation Speed: In the era of generative AI, rapid innovation and continuous adaptation are crucial for leveraging technological advancements.

• Workforce Transformation: Upskilling and restructuring corporate IT roles are essential to integrate AI effectively within organizations.

• Overhyped Technologies: Caution against unrealistic expectations of AI agents’ capabilities, advocating for gradual and responsible advancements.

• Quantum AI: Accelerating developments in Quantum AI necessitate proactive measures in cryptography to safeguard against emerging threats.

This episode provides a forward-thinking perspective on the convergence of AI, quantum computing, and emerging technologies, highlighting both the immense opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead in the digital revolution.