Minerva Tantoco on AI, New York City, and Leading Into the Unknown
Minerva Tantoco, the first CTO of New York City and a pioneer in AI since 1985, shares how curiosity and the courage to solve undefined problems shaped her career. She recounts founding an AI startup in the 1980s by simulating human thought with early programming, then transitioning into public service to build a tech-forward city. Her leadership redefined what a city’s 'product' could be—focusing on safety, equity, and accessibility through technology like IoT, predictive analytics, and citywide Wi-Fi. She argues that the future of roles, especially in AI, isn’t about executing tasks but about solving real problems with human insight. Her core message: in an age of automation, subject matter expertise, ethical foresight, and the ability to invent new roles are the ultimate differentiators. She now advises startups and governments on AI strategy, emphasizing that human knowledge remains the most powerful engine of innovation.
The most valuable skill in the AI era is not coding—it’s understanding the real problem you’re solving, not just automating the wrong one.
When you’re the first in a role, you’re not just filling a job—you’re defining it. Use your curiosity to build the blueprint.
A city’s 'product' isn’t a software app—it’s outcomes: safety, equity, education, and access, all delivered through technology.
AI won’t replace human expertise—it will amplify it. The most powerful AI systems are built on deep domain knowledge.
Create psychological safety in teams by institutionalizing 'What Could Go Wrong?' meetings to surface risks early.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The First CTO of New York City
“I'm doing this in school right now. So I joined them.”
From Pre-Med to AI Pioneer in 1985
“I gave up my plans to go to medical school, much to my parents' chagrin.”
Building the First Expert System
She details her work on an early expert system for financial forecasting, which ran on 13-dimensional models and later became Manageware, a successful exit five years later.
Why a City Needs a CTO
“You get to do the blueprint, right? So, you know, architects love making the blueprints of things and defining what needs to be built.”
The Product of a City
She reframes a city’s 'product' as outcomes—safety, equity, education—not software. Technology is the tool, not the goal.
“And if I had to say one thing, it's really human knowledge is the most important piece of this in my 41 years since starting my artificial brain company.”
“And so the number one thing that I always ask is, what problem am I trying to solve? That's true of AI and any new tool.”
“You don't always get a blank page of what your role is, but you do. It's up to you to understand what business are we in?”
Host
Guest
Minerva Tantoco
person
New York City
organization
Manageware
product
Palm
organization
LinkNYC
product
Eliza
product
City Strategies
organization
Humanist Ex Machina
other
Vention
organization
EY
organization
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