Many game studios and developers are aware of the toxicity and harassment happening in their games and have put what’s known as “reactive moderation” measures in place as a response. Built on advanced machine learning technology and designed with player safety and privacy in mind, ToxMod triages voice chat to flag bad behavior, analyzes the nuances of each conversation to determine toxicity, and enables moderators to respond quickly to each incident by supplying relevant and accurate context.

In this episode, we sit with Mike Pappas, CEO/Co-founder of Modulate. Mike shares his journey from studying physics and applied mathematics in college to working in the hedge fund industry, before eventually co-founding Modulate.

He discusses the importance of math in the development of artificial intelligence and the unique experience he had during his interview with Bridgewater Associates, emphasizing the significance of openness and transparency in the hiring process. Throughout the conversation, Darius and Mike dive into the potential risks and benefits of AI, its impact on various industries, and the importance of culture and diversity in the tech industry. They also touch on Mike's passions for group dynamics and video games, providing a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and human experience.

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Founder Bio:

Mike Pappas is the CEO/Co-founder of Modulate, which uses machine learning to help make online voice chat safe, inclusive, and more immersive. Mike’s work at Modulate ranges from developing new partnerships within the industry, monitoring trends and new opportunities for Modulate’s unique technology to have a positive impact, and reinforcing an internal and external culture of passion, respect, and personal growth. Mike graduated from MIT with a BS in Physics and Applied Mathematics in 2014. Before Modulate, Mike spent time at Bridgewater Associates working on cloud technology until joining Lola Travel as an early employee to learn more about building a startup from an experienced entrepreneur (CEO Paul English, who co-founded Kayak.com.) Outside of work, his passions include philosophizing about group cultures and dynamics, video games, and creating experimental cocktails.

Show Notes:

02:00 Mike Pappas background and career paths

04:12 Role of applied mathematics in AI development

05:37 The importance of math in ai startups

09:03 Possibilities of real-time voice changing in online games

14:07 Exploring voice moderation solutions for gaming platforms

18:55 Discussion on go-to-market strategies

21:33 Understanding the complexities of selling to businesses

24:02 Benefits of AI-powered voice moderation for game studios

28:17 The challenges of building an ML team

30:26 Exploring the value of AI in moderating online platforms

34:22 Transformative potential of AI-powered voice chat moderation

36:42 Analysis of speech attacks and moderation of online games

42:16 Modulate early hiring and funding journey

44:32 Challenges of raising funding for an AI SaaS company

48:00 How to get in contact with the Modulate team

Resources:

Company website: https://www.modulate.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modulate-ai/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/modulate_ai