Inside Olympia--Ed Lazowska, Chair Emeritus, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington

On the season premiere of Inside Olympia, Austin Jenkins interviews Ed Lazowska, the Bill and Melinda Gates Chair Emeritus in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School, about his five-decade career and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Lazowska reflects on Washington’s ascent as a global software hub, driven by Microsoft, Amazon, and close ties between UW and industry. He contrasts the internet’s arrival in the 1990s with AI’s surprising breakthroughs, noting the unprecedented pace of change. Emphasizing optimism, he urges using AI to augment human capabilities. For education, Lazowska stresses three tiers of preparation: innovators, advanced users, and broad AI fluency for all students, coupled with informed skepticism to navigate an AI-driven world.