General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja joined Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun to discuss the ideas in his book Responsible Innovation and how businesses can unite profit with purpose. Taneja argued that capitalism must evolve beyond Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” ethos toward models that are intentionally inclusive, sustainable, and ethical. He emphasized that profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive, describing his philosophy as “responsible innovation”—a framework for scaling technology while accounting for all stakeholders and the broader societal impact. Aoun praised Taneja’s vision of “business with a soul,” which challenges the notion that ethics and profitability must conflict, particularly amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence and global instability.
In illustrating these ideas, Taneja highlighted his healthcare investments, most notably Hippocratic AI, founded by Munjal Shah. He described Hippocratic AI’s call-center platform as a transformative, patient-centric use of generative AI that can conduct outreach—such as checking on populations during public health crises or supporting elderly patients—with empathy and efficiency rather than focusing on cutting call times. Taneja noted that such innovation embodies the balance between technological progress and social responsibility, though he acknowledged AI’s disruptive potential for labor markets. His comments positioned Hippocratic AI as a flagship example of General Catalyst’s effort to build a “soulful” AI ecosystem—one that advances abundance and access in healthcare while navigating ethical and economic challenges with deliberate care.