Daphne Koller

Co-Founder, Coursera

Search every verified Daphne Koller interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Daphne Koller, co-founder of Coursera and founder and CEO of insitro, has recently discussed the intersection of artificial intelligence and biomedicine in several public appearances. In a June 2026 interview at Semafor Tech: First Principles, Koller stated that the field is at "the cusp of a transformation" due to advances in computational and experimental tools. She argued that only 22% of named diseases have any approved drug and that the number of novel mechanisms pushed into the clinic has declined, while expressing optimism that AI can help address unmet medical needs. Koller also advocated for allowing individuals to donate their healthcare data to research, comparing it to organ donation. In a May 2026 interview, Koller reflected on her early exposure to computers at Palo Alto High School and discussed Coursera's evolution toward focusing on career-oriented learners. She described the current era as one where "the currency of success now is imagination, perseverance, and judgment" regarding what to build. Koller noted that insitro printed over 12 billion motor neurons from different genetic backgrounds and used AI to identify a "first ever ALS disease axis." She also expressed caution about the GLP-1 drug model, stating it may not be replicable for diseases that are not mass-market or where patients cannot afford out-of-pocket costs.