AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

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 tea...

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...

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 co...

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 organizatio...

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 arti...

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 an...

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 de...

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,...

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 t...

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 buzzwo...

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...

How is AI reshaping the job market—and what can you do to stay ahead? In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive into the real-world impact of AI on careers, hiring, and skill development. Instead of speculating about a distant future, we focus on the now —the practical ways AI is already influencing how people get hired, how companies are making staffing decisions, and how professionals can adapt. W...

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence can help you set, track, and achieve your goals. We’re joined by Aytekin Tank, founder of Jotform, host of the AI Agents Podcast, and author of the book "Do Less, Achieve More, and Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff." Aytekin shares his expertise in productivity, workflows, and AI tools, offering practical insights for anyone looking...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing and business strategy. Abby Kearns, CTO of Alembic (which just raised $14 million in Series A, backed by media icon Jeffrey Katzenberg), joins us to discuss how their marketing intelligence platform uses AI-powered insights to optimize campaigns and connect the dots on complex data. We explore how innov...

Happy New Year! I wanted an expert to predict where AI will be headed in 2025. So who better to ask... than AI? Drones, AI tutors, AI agents, and from "AI winning an Oscar" to "breaking up via AI," we've got some wild predictions for AI in the new year.

In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive into the transformative potential of AI agents, exploring their technical foundations, real-world applications, and implications for the future. AI agents, described by Sam Altman as “the next giant breakthrough,” have the potential to revolutionize how we interact with technology and reshape economies. We sit down with Lex Sokolin, managing partner at Gener...

In this special sequel episode of AI-Curious , we reconnect with Andy Ayrey, creator of the Truth Terminal, the world’s first AI millionaire. Together, they unpack the chaotic yet fascinating journey of Truth Terminal’s rise to creating $1 billion in wealth, starting with its foray into the Goatse Token memecoin.  The episode dives deep into: •[0:00] The Truth Terminal’s origins and unique persona...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive into the world of flying cars—technically known as electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (evTOL). Are we on the brink of a sci-fi future, or is the dream of flying cars still decades away? To answer these questions, we're joined by two leading experts: Angelo Collins , Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society, and Leo Kayali , CEO of...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive deep into the muck of the global waste crisis and explore whether artificial intelligence can be the solution. Joining us is Ambarish Mitra, co-founder and co-CEO of Greyparrot, a groundbreaking AI startup transforming the recycling industry. We unpack the challenges of recycling today, the inefficiencies in traditional waste management systems, and how AI-p...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we dive deep into the intersection of AI and creativity with Marcus “Bellringer” Bell, a legendary music producer turned AI pioneer. Known for working with global icons like Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, and Nicki Minaj, Marcus has now stepped into the world of artificial intelligence to create Ravyn Lyte , the world’s first AI pop star. With over a quarter million Instagr...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we speak with Gary Marcus, author of the new book "Taming Silicon Valley" and one of the most respected—and controversial—voices in artificial intelligence. Known as “AI’s leading critic,” Marcus shares his candid perspectives on the limitations of large language models (LLMs), the risks of concentrated power in Big Tech, and why the current AI landscape i...

In this episode of AI-Curious, Jeff Wilser sits down with AnhPhu Nguyen, one of the Harvard students behind the I-XRAY, a controversial pair of hacked Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that use facial recognition technology to identify people in real-time, revealing personal details like names and home addresses.    AnhPhu discusses the ethical motivations behind the project, emphasizing how it was desig...

In this episode of AI-Curious , Jeff Wilser dives into his experience at TechCrunch Disrupt (aka “DorkFest 2024”), exploring AI’s trajectory from hype to real-world impact. With 99% of companies showcasing some form of AI, Jeff unpacks the crowded landscape, from AI infrastructure to flashy generative AI tools. Here’s what you’ll hear: Main Topics Covered: TechCrunch Disrupt & AI’s Ubiquity •F...

In this episode of AI-Curious , we delve into the disconnect between businesses’ aspirations for AI and their practical implementation. Featuring insights from Anthony Batt and Shane Robinson, co-founders of Co-AI—a hub for AI knowledge and resources—this conversation explores how businesses can adopt AI more effectively. Jeff, Anthony, and Shane start by identifying two major challenges: finding...

In this episode of AI-Curious , host Jeff Wilser sits down with world-class magician, brand strategist, and AI educator Mike Jacobson, also known by his stage name, Magic Mike. Beyond his acclaimed magic performances, Mike has expanded his career into corporate strategy, marketing consulting, and AI education, making him a dynamic force across multiple industries. During this lively conversation,...