AI, Critical Thinking, and Geopolitical Risk: Inside DisrupTV’s Deep Dive on Gemini, Multimodal AI, and Global Resilience | DisrupTV Ep. 426

AI, Critical Thinking, and Geopolitical Risk: Inside DisrupTV’s Deep Dive on Gemini, Multimodal AI, and Global Resilience

On the latest episode of DisrupTV, co-hosts Vala Afshar, Chief Evangelist at Salesforce, and R "Ray" Wang, CEO and Founder of Constellation Research, convened a timely conversation at the intersection of AI innovation, critical thinking, and geopolitical risk.

Joining them were Peter Danenberg, Distinguished Software Engineer at Google and a key contributor to the Gemini AI platform, and Dr. David Bray, Distinguished Chair at The Stimson Center and CEO of LDA Ventures. Together, they explored how multimodal AI, community-driven innovation, and geopolitical awareness are becoming essential capabilities for leaders navigating the Age of Intelligence.

Inside Google Gemini: From Demos to Developer Communities

Peter Danenberg offered a behind-the-scenes look at Google’s Gemini AI platform, including emerging capabilities like Code Canvas and Computer Use, which move AI beyond chat interfaces and into real-world workflows.

A central theme of Danenberg’s work is community engagement. What began as a small Gemini Meetup with roughly 20 attendees has grown into a thriving forum of more than 600 participants—developers, builders, and AI practitioners experimenting at the edge of what’s possible.

These meetups aren’t just technical demos; they serve as a feedback loop between users and platform builders, allowing insights from real-world experimentation to flow directly back to Google’s leadership. According to Denenberg, this user-driven model is critical for shaping AI tools that are both powerful and practical.

Multimodal and Ambient AI: The Next Evolution

Looking ahead, Danenberg highlighted the shift toward multimodal and ambient AI systems—models that can process text, images, sound, and contextual signals simultaneously, and operate continuously in the background of human activity.

These systems aren’t meant to replace human judgment, but to augment decision-making, creativity, and problem-solving. The challenge, he emphasized, is ensuring that humans remain active participants rather than passive recipients of AI-generated outputs.

AI and the Risk to Critical Thinking

Drawing from his widely viewed TED Talk, Denenberg addressed a growing concern: the potential erosion of critical thinking in an era of increasingly capable large language models.

He cited research comparing brain activity when people rely on AI tools versus when they actively create or reason through problems themselves. The takeaway isn’t to avoid AI—but to design systems that challenge users to think, test assumptions, and maintain a sense of ownership over their work.

His experiments with Socratic-style AI learning environments reflect this philosophy: AI should ask better questions, not just provide faster answers.

Geopolitical Risk, AI, and the New Reality for Global Enterprises

Dr. David Bray expanded the conversation beyond technology into geopolitical and cybersecurity realities facing enterprises today. As global supply chains become more fragmented and nation-state actors increasingly weaponize AI, companies must rethink how they manage risk.

Bray emphasized that AI-driven cyber threats now operate at machine speed, requiring equally adaptive and responsive defenses. Traditional, static security models are no longer sufficient when adversaries can rapidly tailor attacks using AI tools.

AI, Cybersecurity, and Board-Level Accountability

One of Bray’s strongest messages was the need for board and executive awareness. AI risk is no longer confined to IT departments—it spans legal, operational, geopolitical, and reputational domains.

He stressed tighter collaboration between CIOs, CISOs, and General Counsel, particularly for organizations operating across borders. Boards must understand not just where AI is deployed, but how geopolitical shifts can amplify technical vulnerabilities.

Human–AI Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage

Despite the risks, both speakers were clear: the future belongs to organizations that master human–AI collaboration.

Denenberg envisions AI systems that help organizations model worldviews, anticipate risk, and explore scenarios—enhancing human foresight rather than automating it away. Bray reinforced this view, noting that resilience comes from pairing machine-scale intelligence with human judgment, ethics, and strategic context.

Key Takeaways from DisrupTV Episode 426

• AI is moving beyond chat into multimodal, ambient systems embedded in daily workflows

• Community-driven AI development accelerates innovation and improves real-world adoption

• Critical thinking must be protected through intentional AI design, not blind automation

• Geopolitical risk and AI security are inseparable, especially for global enterprises

• Human–AI collaboration, not replacement, is the defining advantage in the Age of Intelligence

Final Thoughts: Intelligence With Intention

This DisrupTV episode made one thing clear: AI’s true value isn’t found in raw capability alone, but in how thoughtfully it’s integrated with human expertise, organizational culture, and global awareness.

As Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang underscored in closing, leaders who invest in community, critical thinking, and contextual intelligence won’t just keep pace with AI—they’ll shape how it responsibly transforms business and society.

In an era defined by rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty, intelligence with intention may be the most important innovation of all.

Related Episodes

If you found Episode 426 valuable, here are a few others that align in theme or extend similar conversations:

• Disrupt Yourself: Personal Growth, Leadership, and Designing Work That Thrives | DisrupTV Ep. 424
• Why AI Pilots Fail, Why 2026 Matters, and How Entrepreneurs Win in the Age of Agents | DisrupTV Ep. 425
• Leadership in the Age of AI-Driven Cyber Threats | DisrupTV Ep. 423