What Will Usher in the Next Renaissance with Zack Kass, Author & Former OpenAI GTM Lead

In this episode of Modern CTO, Joel Beasley interviews Zack Kass, author of 'The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential' and former OpenAI go-to-market lead. Kass shares his journey of writing the book not just to clarify his own thoughts, but to provide reasoned optimism for parents navigating the AI-driven future. He argues that while AI will transform industries like healthcare and education, physical-world disruptions—such as autonomous vehicles and home robots—will be slower due to infrastructure, policy, and cultural resistance. Kass challenges the assumption that technology adoption is inevitable, emphasizing that utility, cost, and privacy concerns will dictate timelines. He predicts a 10–15 year window before physical AI significantly impacts most households, with early adoption limited to niche use cases. Kass also introduces Corza, a new tech services firm he co-founded to help mid-market and family-owned businesses become technology-driven without becoming dependent on AI tools that could eventually compete with them. The episode closes with a reflective tone on leadership, responsibility, and the balance between innovation and human values.