“That’s the literal term several CISOs have used with me unprompted: ‘ticking time bomb.’ There’s no world in which this doesn’t explode the way it’s done right now.”
Tailscale CEO Avery Pennarun thinks the AI revolution has put a gun to the head of CISOs: embrace unsafe data practices or get fired. They’ve told him the cybersecurity risks are a “ticking time bomb.” Pennarun joins The BetaKit Podcast to explain how his company has evolved from a programmable mesh network to air traffic control for AI agents, and why he needs other startups to build new tools to make sure the planes land safely. Recorded live at ALL IN 2025.
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CADSI: the national voice of Canada’s defence, security, and emerging technology sectors, representing more than 1,000 companies from innovative SMBs to global primes.
CADSI advocates for a resilient and sustainable defence and security sector by engaging government, shaping policy, and strengthening Canada’s role with global partners. We create platforms that connect industry with decision-makers, foster collaboration, and reinforce Canada’s position as a reliable partner in international security.
Visit defenceandsecurity.ca to grow your defence business with CADSI.
“It actually allows us an opportunity to build sovereign capability and leapfrog to get our armed forces where they need to be by taking advantage of leapfrog Canadian technologies.”
US President Donald Trump opened his mouth and suddenly Canada needed a defence tech sector. The Icebreaker’s Matthew Lombardi was conscripted by the federal government to help map that sector; he joins to explain why many of the technologies Canada currently develops have a dual use in defence.
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CADSI: the national voice of Canada’s defence, security, and emerging technology sectors, representing more than 1,000 companies from innovative SMBs to global primes.
CADSI advocates for a resilient and sustainable defence and security sector by engaging government, shaping policy, and strengthening Canada’s role with global partners. We create platforms that connect industry with decision-makers, foster collaboration, and reinforce Canada’s position as a reliable partner in international security.
Visit defenceandsecurity.ca to grow your defence business with CADSI.
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“There’s a really good chance that a young person’s parents—or even their friends—don’t even know that this individual is building a relationship with these chatbots. And that’s where the danger exists.”
Tech expert Amber Mac is on the advisory board of Rally, a new tech festival in Toronto dedicated to digital wellness for teens. She desperately wants parents to know the reasons why their kids are talking to AI, and the dangers of manipulative chatbots pretending to be their friends.
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The BetaKit Podcast is presented by K-GLOBE 2025: Be part of the global innovation exchange. Meet 18 of Korea’s top startups in AI, Deep Tech, Smart City, and ESS as they land in Toronto for K-GLOBE 2025. Featured at the Elevate Festival and an exclusive investor showcase, this is your chance to connect with the next wave of world-changing companies.
Learn more and register today at thewaycompany.ca.
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“We’re going to find in the next year or two that the amount of leakage actually goes up quite a bit because I think the focus on AI is just moving really, really fast. But I don’t see the same energy going into the security aspects.”
Forget vibe coding and Nvidia chips: if you want to understand how AI is changing tech, look at how it is being applied to a heavily regulated industry in need of digital transformation. PolicyMe sibling co-founders Laura McKay (COO) and Jeff McKay (CTO) join to share how the insurtech startup is deploying AI, adopting AI tools internally, and working to prevent things from going horribly wrong.
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by K-GLOBE 2025: Be part of the global innovation exchange. Meet 18 of Korea’s top startups in AI, Deep Tech, Smart City, and ESS as they land in Toronto for K-GLOBE 2025. Featured at the Elevate Festival and an exclusive investor showcase, this is your chance to connect with the next wave of world-changing companies.
Learn more and register today at thewaycompany.ca.
“ That's also quite daunting as an investor to be able to put money into something that is perfect for now, but will it last three to five years? Will it even last three to six months?”
Ripple Ventures managing partner and podcaster Matt Cohen joins to discuss the insane revenue numbers generated by the new cohort of AI startups, and how VCs are navigating the froth by updating their evaluation criteria (and hoping the growth continues). Grab your calculator and let’s dig in.
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Innovation Leaders program: designed for incubators, accelerators, and innovation orgs across Canada.
Members gain access to monthly media training, weekly office hours, and ongoing brand recognition on BetaKit. You’ll also receive strategic promotional support: sponsored content, newsletter amplification, and event marketing, to help your stories reach the right audience.
If you’re looking to better support the innovators in your network, learn more at betakit.com/innovation-leaders.
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