Artificial Intelligence: Promise, Peril, and Power – A Swiss Perspective

Michael McKay sits down with Professor Marcel Salathé, joint director of the EPFL AI Center in Lausanne, to explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence—and what it means for us all.

Professor Salathé offers a rare combination of technical insight and clear communication, making this episode essential listening for specialists and non-specialists alike. From the ethics of AI warfare to the optimism of medical innovation, this wide-ranging conversation covers the most urgent topics at the intersection of technology, society, and geopolitics.

Together, they discuss:

• The speed of AI development—and whether society and policymakers can keep up

• AI as the new automation: what’s at risk, what’s gained, and what will change

• Why general and superintelligent AI raise concerns about control and safety

• The dual-use nature of AI in medicine and military strategy

• Geopolitics and AI: the CHIPS Act, US-China dynamics, and Switzerland’s positioning

• Robotics, education, and what Swiss precision can bring to the future of AI

• How to prepare the next generation without fear or overexposure

• Why Marcel believes Switzerland may be uniquely poised for the age of robotics

• Reflections on science communication, student potential, and personal fulfilment

An informed and forward-looking conversation about one of the most important forces shaping our future.