The Big Interview 2025: Key Insights from Tech, Business, and Cultural Leaders

WIRED's annual Big Interview event has established itself as a premier forum for substantive dialogue with the innovators and leaders shaping our future. Returning to The Midway in San Francisco on December 4, 2025, the event assembled an impressive roster of CEOs, creators, scientists, and advocates for a series of revealing conversations led by WIRED journalists. Beyond the mainstage interviews, the event featured a modern science fair with interactive demonstrations, creating a dynamic environment for exploring the cutting edge of progress across multiple disciplines.

Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

A dominant theme throughout the day was the current state and future trajectory of artificial intelligence. Leaders from both established tech giants and ambitious startups shared their perspectives on where the field is headed and the challenges it faces.

Confidence in AI's Sustainable Growth

AMD CEO Lisa Su addressed concerns about a potential AI bubble, arguing that such fears are overblown. Her commentary suggested a belief in the technology's foundational and enduring value, pointing to its integration across industries from healthcare to computing as evidence of substantive, rather than speculative, growth. This sentiment reflects a broader industry confidence in AI's capacity for sustained innovation.

The Business Case for AI Safety

From the startup world, Anthropic cofounder Daniela Amodei presented a compelling argument that the market will ultimately reward the development of safe and responsible AI. This perspective positions ethical considerations not as a constraint on innovation, but as a competitive advantage and a prerequisite for long-term, widespread adoption. It highlights a maturing conversation within the tech ecosystem about building trust alongside capability.

Intersections of Technology, Culture, and Governance

The Big Interview's speaker list underscored how technological advancement does not occur in a vacuum, but is deeply intertwined with cultural expression and public policy.

Technology in the Creative Arts

Director Jon M. Chu, known for films like Wicked, offered a nuanced view on technology's role in creativity. He noted that while AI is a powerful tool, some of the most impactful artistic moments still rely on irreplaceable human emotion and vision. This dialogue bridges the often-separate worlds of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, exploring how new tools are adopted and adapted within creative processes.

Policy and Platform Responsibility

The discussions also ventured into the practical and regulatory challenges of the digital age. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince revealed a staggering statistic: his company has blocked over 416 billion AI bot requests since July 1 alone. This figure quantifies the immense scale of automated traffic and malicious activity that infrastructure companies must manage, raising critical questions about security, resource allocation, and the responsibilities of platform providers in an AI-saturated internet.

A Forum for Diverse Leadership

Beyond specific technologies, the event served as a showcase for diverse leadership models. The stage featured figures transitioning between sectors, such as a former DOGE software engineer returning to government service, and advocates like March For Our Lives cofounder David Hogg applying organizational energy to new causes. This reflects a modern leadership landscape where expertise and influence flow between the public, private, and advocacy spheres. The inclusion of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Omidyar Network President Michele L. Jawando further emphasized the essential connection between technological progress and civic engagement.

The 2025 Big Interview successfully provided a snapshot of the ideas and individuals currently driving global conversation. By bringing together voices from AI research, corporate leadership, filmmaking, and public policy, WIRED facilitated a holistic examination of our technological moment. The key takeaway is that progress is multifaceted, requiring not just breakthrough engineering but also thoughtful leadership, ethical frameworks, and creative vision. As these conversations continue to evolve, forums like The Big Interview will remain critical for understanding the complex interplay between innovation and its impact on society.