E556 'Unlocking AI's Potential in Group Communication' with Continua's David Petrou

Today's guest is David Petrou, Founder & CEO at Continua AI. Founded in 2023, Continua has brought the power of LLMs to group chat. Most AI tools today operate in “single-player” mode, but we’re social creatures, inspired and motivated through group conversation. So Continua asked: what if AI could be a quiet, helpful member of the group? That question led to Social AI - technology that fades into the background, acting not as a demanding interface but as a shared layer of intelligence that strengthens human connection. David and his team are building AI that helps people feel more connected, not less. He believes technology should strengthen empathy and relationships, not compete for attention. Previously, David was a Distinguished Software Engineer (L9) at Google, where he helped create Google Goggles and Google Glass, and led efforts to bring machine intelligence to Pixel and Android. His career centers on exploring how technology can understand context and quietly enhance meaningful human connection. In this episode, David talks about: 0:00 His journey from Google veteran to AI entrepreneur founding Continua AI 2:20 How AI has evolved from single-user tools to collaborative group intelligence 5:58 How Continua adds socially intelligent AI to everyday group chats 10:23 Expanding from group chat AI to real-time group collaboration 13:10 Simplifying coordination and strengthens real-world social connections 15:51 Building complex group-AI tech through strong, collaborative teamwork 18:41 How Continua pursues social AI toward AGI, with strong team and hiring