Fetch.ai CEO Humayun Sheikh challenges crypto hype, calls for “substance over memecoins” on Quranium's Quantum Minds podcast
|What happens after you help build one of the world’s most legendary AI labs? If you're Humayun Sheikh – founding investor in DeepMind and CEO of Fetch.ai – you spark a new revolution at the intersection of AI and blockchain.
In a high-impact Episode 2 of Quantum Minds, a podcast by Quranium, Sheikh sits down with host Kapil Dhiman, CEO of Quranium, and co-host Olivia Karlsson for a candid conversation that challenges hype and gets to the heart of what truly matters: utility, sustainability, and agency in the age of AI.
“The problem you have is that most crypto projects don't have substance,” Sheikh states bluntly in the episode.
As the industry chases memecoins and fleeting trends, Sheikh delivers hard-earned wisdom from the frontlines of building both AI labs and multi-agentic systems that solve real-world problems. Fetch.ai, his open-source protocol, is creating the infrastructure for a new class of digital agents that can execute tasks autonomously on behalf of individuals, businesses, and institutions.
Highlights from the Episode
- From DeepMind to Fetch.ai: How Sheikh’s early work with DeepMind sparked his obsession with applied AI and commercial impact
- The Rise of Agentic Time: Why multi-agent systems are more than a buzzword, and what they actually mean for the future of software
- Where ChatGPT Falls Short: A breakdown of real agentic systems versus reactive AI
- Crypto Needs a Grown-Up Moment: Why memecoins aren’t the answer, and what real-world use cases must look like
- Purpose Over Hype: Why only meaningful work can survive in an industry built on volatility
“We haven’t seen the true value (of agentic system) yet, all we are seeing is a lot of gimmicky stuff.” He adds, “We are creating a search engine, a search infrastructure where you can actually connect business and influencers and everything.”
Episode 2, released on 12 August 2025, continues Quantum Minds’ mission to spotlight bold ideas from innovators at the edge. After a successful Season 1, heard in 35+ countries with over 500 hours of watch time, Season 2 delivers episodes of deep and unfiltered dialogue.
"We're thrilled to feature Humayun Sheikh this season, a founder whose vision bridges applied AI and decentralized infrastructure,” said Kapil Dhiman, host of Quantum Minds and CEO of Quranium. “This episode unpacks what it really means to build value and stay relevant in a post-hype world.”
Listeners can catch the episode across major platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@QuantumMindsPodcast
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