60/40 Podcast: AI’s coming. Asia’s not waiting

Ronnie Chatterji has gone from Duke professor to White House wonk to OpenAI’s chief economist – a trajectory that most can only dream of. In this episode, we get Ronnie’s unfiltered takes on some of the biggest questions in AI.

Some gems we uncovered:

• Asia’s edge in the AI race? Optimism. In Ronnie’s words: “Young people in Southeast Asia see the world as up for grabs,” and AI is the black-swan event that could help leapfrog development.

• Want to win with AI? Nail the infrastructure (hello, data centers) and rethink education (yes, critical thinking still matters).

  AD. Remove this ad space by registering for a free basic account. Enjoy an ad-free experience when you're logged in.

• What’s next for OpenAI? Keep building better models – and make them dead simple to use.

His bottom line: AI is already transforming how we work, learn, and grow. The future isn’t just about building AI, it’s about figuring out how humans can use it to become better versions of themselves.

This episode has it all, from policy rules to personal AI usage to what it’s like to have Sam Altman as your boss. Listen on YouTube | Spotify | Apple.

Timestamps
00:00 – “We need smarter models”
Ronnie kicks things off by stating OpenAI’s not-so-secret sauce: better models in products people actually want.

01:00 – Professor to policy to OpenAI: How did he get here?
Ronnie shares his career path, from academia to the White House to the bleeding edge of AI.

07:45 – Why Southeast Asia’s AI optimism is different
Asia’s younger, hungrier, and way more bullish on AI than the West. Ronnie explains why.

11:00 – Advice for governments: educate, build infra, pick your lane
Ronnie discusses three things leaders in emerging markets should do to prep for AI.

14:00 – Is there really an AI race? Spoiler: It’s not zero-sum
Ronnie breaks down why “US vs. China” is too simplistic – and where Southeast Asia fits in.

18:30 – Chips, supply chains, and Econ 102
We dig into semiconductors and national security, as well as how Ronnie helped architect the CHIPS Act.

21:20 – Which jobs are safe? Which aren’t?
From classrooms to call centers, Ronnie predicts where AI will hit hardest and where it won’t.

24:00 – Will robots replace Steph Curry?
We talk robotics, blue-collar disruption, and why humans still matter – especially in the NBA.

27:00 – Should we regulate AI now?
Ronnie makes the case for adaptive regulation and cross-sector collaboration.

30:00 – Inside OpenAI: culture, speed, and 12 products in 12 days
What’s it really like working at OpenAI? Hint: it’s a bit like finals week, every week.

32:45 – What OpenAI must get right next
Ronnie lays out the two things OpenAI has to nail to stay ahead.

34:30 – Ronnie’s personal AI use case: calorie tracking FTW
The economist logs his meals with ChatGPT. Yes, really. Also: AI as an executive coach?

37:20 – Teaching kids critical thinking in an AI world
Ronnie the dad explains how to balance screen time, schoolwork, and AI exposure at home.

39:00 – A hopeful future: what Ronnie wants AI to unlock
A surprisingly sweet closer: better tools, deeper curiosity, and more meaningful work for the next generation.

Give us feedback or nominate topics & speakers at 6040podcast@techinasia.com.

60/40 is co-hosted by: Prashanth Ranganathan, Peter Bithos, and Maria Li. Special thanks to our guest, Ronnie Chatterji, chief economist of OpenAI.

A podcast by Tech in Asia, a member of The Business Times.