AI in Hollywood (part ii), with Toonstar's John Attanasio and Luisa Huang

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwilser/

35:00

The healing power of fitness goes far beyond physical benefits—for today’s guest, it’s a form of self-expression and a celebration of what the body can do. In this episode, host Nora McInerny sits down with fitness personality Ivylis Rivera, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life with Chronic Migraine while holding onto her passion for movement. Ivylis opens up about the struggle of staying active while facing the fear of triggering a headache or migraine attack and the resilience it takes to keep pushing forward—a resilience that carried her through the challenging journey of finding a Chronic Migraine treatment plan that worked for her. Join Nora and Ivylis as they explore the concept of “soft living,” a philosophy Ivylis embraces—staying active, listening to your body, and building trust in oneself. Click here for Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, or visit https://abbv.ie/prescribing_info See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 34:24

MP3•Episode home

Happy Anniversary!
Exactly one year ago, we launched AI-Curious. We've published an episode every week since, rain or shine, work or holiday, human or AI. We've spoken with CEOs, philosophers, artists, inventors -- but it all started with a conversation with two Hollywood producers: John Attanasio and Luisa Huang, the cofounders of Toonstar studios.
Toonstar has been using AI for years to make technology -- particularly animation -- easier, cheaper, and faster for creators. This makes it more inclusive. And in the past year they have been VERY busy. So for our one-year anniversary, I wanted to invite John and Luisa back on the pod as our first-ever repeat guests.
Since we spoke, Toonstar launched the hit series StEvEn & Parker, which now has over 30 million weekly YouTube videos. AI is a big part of the story.
We get into the current vibes of AI and Hollywood (the good, the bad, and the contrarian), how projects like StEvEn & Parker help "expand the pie," and much of the nuance of how the industry is thinking about artificial intelligence.
Enjoy the episode and Happy Anniversary.
StEvEn & Parker
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT62Tu2qTUQUsHfo4E0X9_Q
Deadline's story on StEvEn & Parker
https://deadline.com/2024/03/steven-parker-random-house-toonstar-parker-james-deal-1235848736/
Toonstar
https://www.toonstar.com
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95 episodes

#Tech #Jeff Wilser #Artificial Intelligence

AI in Hollywood (part ii), with Toonstar's John Attanasio and Luisa Huang

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

• 🐦 Twitter/X
https://x.com/jeffwilser

• 💼 LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwilser/

• 🖥️ JeffWilser.com
www.JeffWilser.com

🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious:

• Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308

• Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b
• YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser

95 episodes

#Tech #Jeff Wilser #Artificial Intelligence

All episodes

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
Should AI Agents Be Trusted? The Problem and Solution, w/ Billions.Network CEO Evin McMullen 45:44

5 days ago45:44

45:44

What happens when an AI agent says something harmful, or makes a costly mistake? Who’s responsible—and how can we even know who the agent belongs to in the first place? In this episode of AI-Curious , we talk with Evin McMullen, CEO and co-founder of Billions.Network, a startup building cryptographic trust infrastructure to verify the identity and accountability of AI agents and digital content. We explore the unsettling rise of synthetic media and deepfakes, why identity verification is foundational to AI safety, and how platforms—not users—should be responsible for determining what’s real. Evin explains how Billions uses zero knowledge proofs to establish trust without compromising privacy, and offers a vision for a future where billions of AI agents operate transparently, under clear reputational and legal frameworks. Along the way, we cover: The problem with unverified AI agents (2:00) Why 50% of online traffic is now bots—and why that matters (2:45) The Air Canada chatbot legal fiasco (15:00) The difference between chatbots and agentic AI (13:00) What “identity” means in an AI-first internet (10:00) Deepfakes, misinformation, and the limits of user responsibility (22:00) Billions’ “deep trust” framework, explained (29:00) How platforms can earn trust by verifying content authenticity (34:00) Breaking news: Billions’ work with the European Commission (38:20) This one dives deep into the infrastructure of digital trust—and why the future of AI may depend on getting this right. Learn more: https://billions.network 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
Agentic AI Case Study: AI "Sales Agents" in Action, w/ Alta CEO Stav Levi-Neumark 47:09

13 days ago47:09

47:09

What exactly are AI agents doing out in the wild — and are they actually helping sales teams, or just adding noise? We explore the fast-evolving world of AI sales agents with a real-world case study from Alta, a startup deploying purpose-built AI agents named Katie, Alex, and Luna. In this episode of AI-Curious , we speak with Stav Levi-Neumark, Alta’s CEO and co-founder, about how agentic AI is already transforming sales workflows—from prospecting to pipeline generation to inbound response. We look under the hood to examine how these agents operate, what distinguishes them from chatbots, and how they interact with human reps. We also explore the ethics, limitations, and future of AI-human collaboration in business development—and what it means to build trust in AI systems. Whether you work in sales, lead a startup, or are just curious about how AI tools are functioning in the real world, this conversation offers a sharp, concrete look at the tech reshaping how companies grow. Topics and Timestamps: 00:00 — What are AI agents doing, really? 01:00 — Behind the scenes at HumanX and the rise of Alta 03:00 — Meet Katie, Alex, and Luna: AI sales agents with defined roles 08:00 — How AI agents qualify leads and determine buying intent 13:00 — The distinction between chatbots and agentic AI 18:30 — How AI agents can avoid becoming spammy LinkedIn bots 22:00 — Alex the calling agent: real-time inbound response and transparency 28:00 — What tools make an AI agent different from a workflow 31:00 — Autonomy, decision-making, and sales team augmentation 36:00 — The challenge of trust and how to begin using AI agents at low risk 39:00 — Stav’s journey as a founder and the four-generation Vegas trip 42:00 — How she uses AI personally: support agents, internal tools, and therapy 44:30 — Advice for sales professionals on embracing AI 46:30 — Predictions: what sales might look like in 5 to 10 years Let us know what you think—and whether Luna is getting the respect she deserves. About Alta: https://www.altahq.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
How "Generation AI" Will Reshape the World, w/ Futurist Matt Britton 28:52

20 days ago28:52

28:52

What does it mean to grow up in a world where AI is simply… normal? In this episode of AI-Curious , we're joined by Matt Britton, branding strategist and author of Generation AI: Why Generation Alpha and the Age of AI Will Change Everything , for a wide-ranging discussion about how artificial intelligence is transforming childhood, education, branding, healthcare, and the very fabric of society. We look at how Gen Alpha will interact with AI “sidekicks,” how the role of brands might erode in a world of personalized AI agents, and what this all means for marketers, parents, and future professionals. Matt also lays out why the traditional four-year college degree may collapse, how one-person billion-dollar companies are now within reach, and what core skills the next generation—and the rest of us—will need to thrive. We close with practical advice on how to future-proof ourselves in the age of intelligent agents, synthetic creativity, and AI-native consumers. Topics include: (0:00) Gen Alpha and the future of AI-native childhood (3:03) How AI will transform marketing and branding (7:04) LLMs, AI agents, and the death of traditional demographics (14:01) Rethinking education and the collapse of the knowledge economy (17:10) One-person billion-dollar companies and the new AI tech stack (21:40) Personalized healthcare, diagnostics, and AI as your doctor (25:21) One simple way to future-proof your life in an AI-powered world Let us know what you think, and if this episode gets your gears turning, share it with someone who’s curious about the future. Matt Britton: https://mattbritton.com/ The new book Generation AI: https://www.amazon.com/Generation-AI-Alpha-Change-Everything/dp/139430885X 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
The "Dean of AI" on AI and Education, AI vs. Academia, and What Students Actually Need to Know 27:44

27 days ago27:44

27:44

How is AI reshaping higher education? What do students actually need to learn in the age of large language models? And why might skills-based learning soon rival or even replace the traditional degree? In this episode of AI-Curious , we speak with Ben Tasker, "Dean of AI" at Southern New Hampshire University. Ben walks us through the structure of his “applied AI” curriculum, how his team uses AI to build courses in just 14 days, and why prompt engineering is becoming an essential literacy. We also break down the CREATE framework for prompting, designed to help users—students and professionals alike—level up their use of tools like ChatGPT. Other topics include: The tension between AI adoption and academic cheating Human skills vs. AI skills, and the World Economic Forum’s two-skill model The future of education: personalization, affordability, and AI-enabled scale How executives should rethink AI integration—with intention, not just experimentation Why OpenAI Academy’s recent pivot could signal a broader shift in how we teach AI Whether you’re a student, educator, or business leader trying to find your footing in the in-between era of AI, this conversation offers a grounded, pragmatic perspective. Ben Tasker: https://www.bentaskerai.com/bens-ai-portfolio-thought-leadership 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
Why You Should Break Up With Your AI Lover, w/ Book Author and Historian Jennifer Wright 47:50

6 weeks ago47:50

47:50

Millions of people are finding companionship -- or even love -- with AI bots. (The heart wants what the heart wants.) In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive into the strange, sticky, and sometimes surprisingly emotional world of AI romantic partners. We’re joined by author and historian Jennifer Wright, who recently wrote a sharp op-ed for The Washington Post titled “Please Break Up With Your AI Lover.” While millions are already turning to AI bots for companionship, Jennifer makes a compelling case for why this trend—though rooted in real loneliness—could be deeply damaging to our ability to connect, to grow, to give love. We unpack: The surface problems of AI boyfriends/girlfriends, from poor memory to the illusion of affection Why constant flattery from bots may feel good—but ultimately erodes something essential in real relationships The importance of sacrifice, caregiving, and challenge in human connection Whether AI companions, even with future upgrades, can ever replicate the messy magic of real love What AI fiction gets wrong—and why most AI-generated stories are (still) terrible Her take on AI and historical accuracy, and the troubling implications of getting facts wrong at scale Why creativity matters even when the output is bad—and what we lose when we outsource it Plus, Jennifer gives us a preview of her next book about America’s Gilded Age, and we swap war stories about terrible first novels, romantic relationships, and the puppy-induced joys of caretaking. Let’s get curious. Links from this episode: Jennifer Wright’s Washington Post op-ed: Please Break Up With Your AI Lover Jennifer’s latest book: Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist Jennifer’s upcoming book: Glitz, Glam, and a Damn Good Time: How Mamie Fish, Queen of the Gilded Age, Partied Her Way to Power . 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
LGMs are the New LLMs, w/ Spexi CEO Bill Lakeland 48:15

8 weeks ago48:15

48:15

LLMs are *so* 2024. Say hello to LGMs. In this episode of AI-Curious , we explore a side of AI that rarely gets the spotlight: Large Geospatial Models (LGMs). You’ve heard of LLMs — now meet their real-world counterpart. LGMs could power everything from autonomous vehicles and urban planning to smarter first-response systems and industrial logistics. We speak with Bill Lakeland, CEO of Spexi, a company building a decentralized fleet of self-flying drones that are actively mapping the planet — one 25-acre hex at a time. We dig into how these drones collect fresh, high-res data; how that data is authenticated and standardized; and how it could enable a new generation of real-world AI applications. Along the way, we discuss: • (5:00) What LGMs are, and how they differ from LLMs • (13:07) Why real-time geospatial data is crucial for first responders • (20:33) How drones fit into the LGM landscape • (25:12) How Spexi’s autonomous drone “specxagons” work • (31:43) Why their aerial data is 900x more detailed than Google Earth • (36:26) How they’re addressing privacy, regulation, and standardization • (40:02) What happens after the footage is collected — and how it’s turned into insights • (45:35) The future integration of LGMs and LLMs • (48:00) Speculative futures: how LGMs could change everyday life If you’re curious about AI in the physical world — not just on screens — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Spexi: https://www.spexi.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
How Leaders and the C-Suite are Using AI, w/ Sarah Franklin, the CEO of Lattice 43:04

9 weeks ago43:04

43:04

What's *actually* happening with AI in the halls of the C-suite? In this episode of AI-Curious , we speak with Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice and former CMO of Salesforce, about how business leaders are adapting to the rapid rise of AI in the workplace. We explore what it means to lead during a time of disruption, how AI agents and digital workers are already being deployed across organizations, and why the biggest challenge is often not the tech—but the mindset. Sarah shares her perspective on where AI is delivering real value today, from HR to sales to internal knowledge management, and she offers a candid take on how leaders can navigate change while maintaining trust, transparency, and human-centric values. We also dive into the future: digital twins, avatar-led meetings, and what it might mean to lead a team that includes both humans and AI agents. TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why we’re still early in understanding AI leadership 02:42 – Why past tech shifts (like cloud and mobile) don’t compare to AI 05:51 – Lattice’s mission and how AI fits into the HR stack 09:38 – Are AI agents real or still theoretical? 14:21 – Where AI agents are being used today (sales, service, HR) 20:02 – Digital twins and what leadership looks like with AI teammates 26:28 – How to address employee anxiety about AI and job security 30:19 – Sarah’s favorite personal and professional use cases for AI 34:59 – Prompting frameworks and why specificity matters 38:43 – A forecast for the future of AI and HR Lattice 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
Meet Flynn, the World's First AI Student... w/ the co-creator of Flynn 35:13

10 weeks ago35:13

35:13

What happens when an AI student enrolls in university? In this episode of AI-Curious , we explore the fascinating case of Flynn , an AI-artist and the first AI to be admitted as a student at the University of Applied Arts Vienna . We speak with Chiara Kristler , one of Flynn’s co-creators, and Anika Meier , the curator of The Second-Guess: Body Anxiety in the Age of AI , where Flynn makes its artistic debut. Flynn is more than just an AI chatbot —it engages in conversations, generates art, and even passed a verbal university admissions interview . But its presence raises big questions: Can AI be creative? How does AI challenge human artists? What does an AI student mean for the future of education? We discuss: • (00:00) Introduction to Flynn and why this is a breakthrough moment for AI • (03:15) How Flynn was created and what makes it different from other AI agents • (07:55) The university admissions process and how Flynn passed the interview • (12:30) Can AI actually be creative, or is it just mimicking human artists? • (18:04) The tension between AI and human artists—competition or collaboration? • (24:22) AI fatigue, digital exhaustion, and the ethics of AI in creative spaces Flynn’s journey raises deep questions about AI, creativity, and human identity . Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on what happens when machines start learning alongside us. 🔗 Talk to Flynn : https://i-am-flynn.web.app/ Flynn's 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
5 AI Takeaways from HumanX + AI Ethics w/ Defined.AI 32:42

11 weeks ago32:42

32:42

We’re reporting live from HumanX, one of the world’s largest AI conferences, where we’ve spent three intense days immersed in AI discussions, moderating panels, and speaking with some of the most influential voices in the industry. In this episode, we break down five takeaways from the conference, covering everything from AI’s growing role in politics to the future of AI-driven customer service and automation. Then, we sit down with Daniela Braga, CEO of Defined AI, a leader in ethically sourced AI training data. We discuss the urgent need for transparency in AI data sourcing, the dangers of bias in large language models, and the growing demand for differentiated AI solutions. 5 takeaways from HumanX: •AI is becoming political: Kamala Harris’s speech and the future of AI policy •The death of human customer support and the rise of AI customer support (hot take: this is a good thing!) •AI agents are finally getting real—how companies are deploying them today •Businesses are scrambling to implement AI automation at scale •Leaders are more AI-curious than ever—how executives are integrating AI into decision-making Interview with Daniela Braga (CEO of Defined AI): •The problem with AI training data: bias, legal concerns, and digital exploitation •Why most AI models sound the same—and how that could change •The myth that we’re “running out of data” and the future of AI training sets •What’s next? Predictions for AI regulation, ethical sourcing, and industry differentiation It’s a packed episode full of insights straight from the conference floor. Defined.AI: https://defined.ai/ 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
The Hype-Free Guide to AI and Business, w/ Industry Insider Peter Swimm 35:51

12 weeks ago35:51

35:51

There’s no shortage of hype about AI revolutionizing business, but what’s actually working right now? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Swimm, founder of the AI consultancy Toilville and former Principal Product Manager at Microsoft Copilot Studio, to cut through the noise and explore the real-world use cases of conversational AI. Peter has been working on AI-powered automation for over a decade, helping companies integrate chatbots, AI agents, and large language models into their workflows. Unlike many AI evangelists, he isn’t here to drink the Kool-Aid. Instead, he lays out the hard truths about what AI can and can’t do today—including why fully autonomous AI agents are still far from reality. We break down: 🔹 The most successful AI use cases in businesses today (hint: FAQ bots and automated customer support are actually delivering results) 🔹 The biggest misconceptions about AI agents and why they aren’t ready for prime time 🔹 How AI is transforming communication workflows, from email drafting to meeting summaries 🔹 The dangers of over-relying on AI for brainstorming and creative thinking 🔹 Practical tips for integrating AI into business operations without falling into the hype trap ⏱ Timestamps: 3:14 – Peter’s background in AI and Microsoft Copilot Studio 7:34 – What is Conversational AI and how has it evolved? 10:01 – The AI use cases that are actually delivering value in business 12:30 – AI’s role in communication automation and workflow efficiency 17:14 – The challenge of making AI-generated emails sound human 22:58 – Is AI actually good for brainstorming, or is it making us less creative? 29:36 – The truth about AI agents—why businesses aren’t adopting them yet 34:31 – Will AI agents ever work as promised? The barriers to real automation 38:36 – Smart ways to use AI for efficiency without giving up human oversight 40:26 – How Peter personally uses AI in his daily work Toilville: https://www.itstoilville.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
How AI is Transforming Drug Discovery (and Might Cure Cancer), w/ Moderna's VP of AI, Brice Challamel 57:37

13 weeks ago57:37

57:37

In this episode of AI Curious , we explore one of the most profound applications of artificial intelligence—drug discovery and the future of personalized medicine. AI is already transforming how we develop treatments, and at the forefront of this revolution is Brice Challamel , VP of AI Products and Platforms at Moderna . We dive deep into how AI is accelerating the discovery of life-saving drugs, including how mRNA technology —the foundation of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine—is shaping the next generation of treatments for cancer, rare diseases, and viruses. Brice shares insights on AI-powered protein design, how AI can give us an “evolutionary boost” in medicine, and what the future of personalized medicine looks like. Key Topics: • (3:50) Brice’s journey from Google to Moderna—why AI in biotech is his biggest passion • (8:56) How AI played a critical role in the rapid development of Moderna’s COVID vaccine • (12:28) The role of AI in drug discovery: understanding proteins and optimizing treatments • (17:18) The rise of personalized cancer treatments —could AI help cure cancer? • (30:10) The future of medicine: How AI is unlocking breakthroughs across multiple diseases • (39:59) The biggest challenges—clinical trials, regulatory frameworks, and operational hurdles • (46:02) AI’s impact on data security and patient privacy • (49:05) The future of AI-powered healthcare: a world of personalized treatments, AI-driven patient care, and faster drug development This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how AI is reshaping medicine , the ethics and challenges of deploying AI in healthcare, and what lies ahead for biotech, drug discovery, and personalized medicine .…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
New Pod from Jeff Wilser: "The People's AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast" 57:43

14 weeks ago57:43

57:43

aaaaaand... I'm launching a new podcast! Don't worry, fans of AI-CURIOUS -- that's not going anywhere. This is a second podcast with its own independent feed. I'll still be producing AI-Curious each week. The new pod is called THE PEOPLE'S AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast, presented by Vana. In the future, this will be available on all the usual podcast platforms (links to subscribe below.) But for this week, I'm dropping THE PEOPLE'S AI into the feed for AI-Curious. It's a good primer on what Decentralized A" is all about. AI-Curious will continue to be a general interest AI podcast. AI and Hollywood one week, AI and the military the next. The People's AI is a different beast... Subscribe to The People's AI on APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-peoples-ai-the-decentralized-ai-podcast/id1792518750?i=1000694109163 Subscribe to The People's AI on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLiYlJulQIcmvCjnVRYotw Subscribe to The People's AI on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3XFmg6Lqf7nnKwMkicBx8L?si=8c43eac26fd7445e The People's AI on Twitter/X: https://x.com/The_Peoples_AI Jeff Wilser on Twitter/X: https://x.com/jeffwilser ____________ In our debut episode of The People’s AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast, Presented by Vana , we dive into one of the most critical questions of the AI era: Who should own AI? As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, its ownership and governance will shape the future. Big Tech dominates AI development today, but a growing movement believes AI should be decentralized, open, and user-owned. We speak with Anna Kazlauskas, co-founder of Vana , and Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR , to explore how decentralized AI could shift power away from centralized corporations and into the hands of individuals. Key Topics Covered: • What decentralized AI means and why it matters • How AI models are built and trained—and who controls them • The intersection of AI, data sovereignty, and blockchain • The potential risks of centralized AI, from bias to economic concentration • How AI assistants, autonomous agents, and data unions are reshaping the internet • Predictions for the next 1-5 years in AI and decentralized technologies About Vana: Vana's vision is for user-owned AI through user owned-data. Its mission is to be the world's first open protocol for data sovereignty. Sign up for the first AI Data Summit, hosted by Vana, on Feb 28 in Denver. This will be the go-to event at Eth-Denver with leaders at the forefront of Decentralized AI tech and applications. AI Data Summit, hosted by Vana: https://lu.ma/aidatasummit More on Vana: https://linktr.ee/vanahq Vana on Twitter/X: https://x.com/vana Anna Kazlauskas on Twitter/X: https://x.com/anna_kazlauskas NEAR: The Blockchain for AI https://near.org/ NEAR on Twitter/X: https://x.com/NEARProtocol…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
AI Agents Are Here; Why Aren’t They Mainstream? w/ Fetch AI CEO Humayun Sheikh 41:07

15 weeks ago41:07

41:07

Imagine telling an AI Agent, “Book me a vacation to Tokyo—flights, hotels, dinner reservations—just take care of it.” That level of automation isn’t science fiction. It’s the future of AI Agents. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the AI Agent revolution with Humayun Sheikh, CEO of Fetch AI . Fetch AI has been working on autonomous AI systems since 2018—long before AI Agents became a buzzword. Humayun was also a founding investor in DeepMind , giving him a rare, insider perspective on the evolution of AI-driven automation . We explore the current landscape of AI Agents, and what it will take for them to go mainstream: ✅ What AI Agents can do today—and what’s still missing ✅ Why AI Agents aren’t yet mainstream despite the technology being ready ✅ The key roadblocks: lack of common protocols, interoperability, and infrastructure ✅ How Fetch AI is building a “Google for AI Agents” to solve these challenges ✅ The future of AI-powered automation and why the goal is invisible AI We also discuss blockchain’s role in AI , decentralized models, and why large language models are becoming a commodity. Towards the end of the episode, Humayun teases the launch of a new LLM designed specifically for AI Agents. 📌 Timestamps: [00:19] – The mission of Fetch AI: building an agent deployment framework [02:10] – Why we need a Google of AI Agents for discovery and interaction [04:29] – How intent translates into AI-driven task automation [08:34] – The biggest hurdle: lack of interoperability and standardization [13:20] – Real-world AI Agent applications today: software development, automation, and social media [19:02] – The roadblocks preventing widespread AI Agent adoption [25:15] – The philosophical shift: AI Agents should be invisible [33:56] – What Fetch AI is building next: the AgentVerse marketplace, decentralized compute, and Cortex LLM If you’re curious about the future of AI-driven automation, decentralized AI, and the next wave of digital assistants , this episode is a must-listen.🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious for deep dives into the world of AI. • Fetch AI : https://fetch.ai/ Humayun Sheikh https://x.com/HMsheikh4 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
A Deep Dive on Deep Seek and the Future of AI, w/ Dr. Steven Waterhouse 45:09

16 weeks ago45:09

45:09

Deep Seek’s new AI model, R1, sent shockwaves through the AI space. Built without Nvidia’s high-powered chips and at a fraction of the cost of models from OpenAI and Anthropic, R1 has been called China’s “Sputnik moment” in AI. Some panicked, the markets dipped, and doomsday predictions started flying. But what if this is actually a bullish moment for AI? What if this marks the beginning of a new era of efficiency, innovation, and broader access to cutting-edge AI? In this episode, we take a deep dive into what Deep Seek actually built, why it matters, and what it means for the future of AI. We’re joined by Dr. Steven “Seven” Waterhouse , a veteran in AI research, the former CEO of Orchid Labs, and now the co-founder of Nazare , a VC firm focused on AI infrastructure. Seven has been working in AI since the 1990s and has a unique perspective on what this breakthrough represents. We explore: • [00:00] The Deep Seek shockwave—why some called this a “Sputnik moment” • [04:16] What makes R1 different from OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s models? • [07:22] The role of Mixture of Experts (MoE) and how it optimizes AI efficiency • [09:41] Quantization: How Deep Seek reduced computational costs • [11:53] Reinforcement learning and its role in reasoning for AI models • [18:04] Theories and controversies: Did Deep Seek secretly use Nvidia chips? • [20:13] What does this mean for the AI ecosystem? The potential shift away from centralized Big Tech AI • [24:22] Nvidia’s stock drop and what Wall Street got wrong • [32:09] The future of open-source AI—why Deep Seek might be a turning point • [39:52] The risks of open models—should we be worried about AI safety? • [45:01] The next wave of AI development—why this could democratize AI innovation Seven argues that Deep Seek’s model is proof that real AI innovation still matters—it’s not just about throwing more compute and data at the problem. We discuss how this could lower the barrier to entry for AI development, making AI more accessible and accelerating progress in ways we haven’t seen before. If this is your first time listening to AI-Curious , make sure to subscribe , rate us five stars , and share the episode with a friend. Dr. Steven Waterhouse on Twitter/X: https://x.com/deseventral?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Nazare: https://nazare.io/ 🎧 Subscribe to AI-Curious: • Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-curious-with-jeff-wilser/id1703130308 • Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/70a9Xbhu5XQ47YOgVTE44Q?si=c31e2c02d8b64f1b • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser…

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

1
How AI is Changing the Career Landscape, w/ Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek and Stephanie Sindt 28:49

17 weeks ago28:49