(Super)charged by AI

"Burtual" Reality: AI in Healthcare Redux Megan and Nicole reunite the experts from their AI + Healthcare panel for the conversation they didn't get to have in front of the live crowd: no time limits, no audience questions, just Megan and Nicole finally getting to ask what they actually wanted to know. Joining them: Janet Johnson , founder of the AI Governance Group ; Dr. Arpi Chalia...

Last week was a full week. Like, genuinely full: mayors, panels, happy hours, and a revelation about cheese portions. Megan and Nicole are back to unpack a stretch that somehow included a civic tech incubation lab with the City of Portland and Oregon State University, a sold-out healthcare panel that had people fired up enough to walk out (we mean that as a compliment), and a happy hour collaborat...

It's been a week! A really, genuinely cool one: premieres, packed rooms, a hot tub time machine reference, and one very satisfying redemption story. Megan and Nicole are back to recap a stretch of AI Portland events that somehow all landed in the same seven days: an advanced screening of *The AI Doc* (yes, the Sundance documentary — yes, Nicole left halfway through, no judgment), a sold-out de...

If you’ve been feeling a little gaslit by your AI tools lately—one minute brilliant, the next minute chaos—you’re not alone. In this episode, Megan and Nicole sit down with longtime friend-of-AI-Portland Nicolle Merrill to talk about the real state of AI in late 2025: the mandates, the messiness, the disillusionment, and why everyone secretly wishes AI would just manage their calendar already. Nic...

If you ever hear someone yell “WHAT SUCKS ABOUT YOUR JOB?” at a meetup, there’s a good chance it’s us. In this episode, Megan and Nicole finally sit down after a long podcast break to debrief two big AI Portland events: an October session with David Long, VP of Digital and Innovation for the Portland Trail Blazers, and a very nerdy, very packed November deep dive into MCP (Model Context Protocol)....

We had too many sandwiches. We had too few proper nights of sleep. But we had just the right amount of AI Portland energy. In this episode, Megan and Nicole debrief a jam-packed week featuring AI Launchpad Northwest and AI Portland's AI for Public Good meet up. They cover the chaos and success of organizing their first definitely-not-a-conference, from small group Q&As with local experts t...

If you meet your soulmate at an AI Portland event, just know the officiants are already picked. (It’s in the fine print.) In this episode, Megan and Nicole debrief an absolutely wild Startup Week, complete with 400+ RSVPs, 11 hackathon teams (including a few surprises), and one very legit Cancun prize. They also dive into what’s coming next, from their most ambitious event yet to an AI-for-good se...

Someone might panic if you call it a conference. Someone else wonders if ChatGPT would tell her if she's dumb. And a certain French bulldog named Gary refuses to get off the mic. It’s another classic episode: part community update, part philosophical debate, part dog-induced chaos. In this episode, Megan and Nicole talk about what’s coming next for AI Portland: from a definitely-not-a-conferen...

Fresh off their latest event (literally - they walked in the door and hit record), Megan and Nicole cozy up for a late-night debrief on futures thinking in the age of AI. From why our brains are wired for dystopia to what we’d actually do with a two-day work week, they unpack what it means to imagine better futures, and why it’s so dang hard. Along the way:
 🧠 Why clarity of direction > certai...

In this conversation, Megan and Nicole recap March's AI Portland Event, discussing the challenges job seekers face, ageism in hiring, the importance of tailored applications, and how AI can be leveraged effectively in the job search process. The discussion highlights the need for human discernment in an increasingly automated world, emphasizing empathy for both job seekers and recruiters. Mega...

This is a special crossover episode in collaboration with Seth Fleischauer and the Make it Mindful podcast. This conversation recaps the February AI Portland event and explores the intersection of AI and education, highlighting diverse perspectives from educators on the implications of AI in the classroom. The discussion emphasizes the importance of teachers in navigating the complexities of AI, t...

In this episode, Megan and Nicole discuss DeepSeek and its implications in the AI landscape. The conversation shifts to their experiences at the Silicon Forest Tech Summit, highlighting the event's organization and the impressive speakers. They also discuss AI vertigo, being overwhelmed, and which tools are actually working for them right now. They emphasize the importance of finding the right...

In this episode of Supercharged by AI, hosts Megan and Nicole discuss the vibrant energy in Portland as the community enters 2025. They emphasize the importance of RSVPing for events to ensure better attendance and engagement. The episode features a recap of various presentations from a recent event, highlighting how individuals creatively use AI in their personal and professional lives. From enha...

In this episode, Megan and Nicole recap their recent collab event with TAO and Rose City Techies. They reflect on their journey throughout the year with AI Portland, reviewing accomplishments and lessons learned. They also discuss their recent participation at local events, including Design Month, the Oregon Semiconductor and AI Innovation summit and Portland's 2024 Digital Rights day event. They...

In this episode, Megan and Nicole discuss tips and tricks for developing an AI policy, the challenges of implementing AI tools in teams, and the importance of creating a culture of experimentation and accountability. They explore the messy middle of AI policy, the need for training and guidelines, and the role of humans in the AI process. The conversation emphasizes the importance of identifying s...

In this episode, Megan and Nicole recap an memorable event for the AI Portland community – a luncheon with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. The conversation covered a wide array of topics, from privacy in AI and federal regulations to the social and environmental impacts of AI technology. Megan and Nicole reflect on key moments from the day, including the insights from the Senator and how this conversation...

In this episode of (Super)charged by AI, Megan and Nicole discuss the integration of AI in product management, focusing on insights from a recent event featuring Lisa Orr from Zapier. They explore the evolution of AI tools, the importance of user feedback, and the role of prompt engineering in creating effective AI interactions. The conversation emphasizes the need for good design, collaboration,...

In this episode, Megan and Nicole discuss the first annual AI Portland Science Fair, highlighting the diverse projects presented by community members. They explore the practical applications of AI, creative uses in art and design, and technical innovations from academic contributors. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the inspiring potential of AI to enhance eve...

In this episode, Julia Stoops , a visual artist and UX/UI designer, discusses her creative process and how she incorporates generative AI into her artwork with cohosts Megan Notarte and Nicole Mors. She shares examples of her work, which includes blending images and using AI to create unique and surreal pieces. Julia also explores the concept of ownership and the value of physical artwork in the a...

In this episode, Nicole Mors and Megan Notarte dive deep into a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Donna Davis , director of the Oregon Reality Lab and the new Immersive Media Communication master's program at the University of Oregon in Portland. They explore the fascinating and sometimes unsettling intersection of AI and human interaction, discussing everything from media literacy to th...

In this episode, Nicole and Megan recap a recent AI Portland event that featured three speakers who discussed their experiences using AI in their creative processes. Elizabeth Goltz talked about using AI to tap into the collective unconscious and create artwork that served as a cultural exorcism. Sprk used AI to create an immersive AR/VR experience that took users through a specific time period. J...

Does generative AI help or hinder creativity? Are we destined to live in a world of sameness? Nicole and Megan welcomed Mike Creighton , the Director of AI Research and Development at Instrument , to discuss the impact of generative AI on creativity. They discuss the creative potential of generative AI and the importance of leveraging taste and personal experiences in the creative process. He emph...

Should you get an AI friend? Should Nicole get knuckle tattoos? In this episode of (Super)charged by AI, hosts Megan Notarte and Nicole Mors delve into recent developments in AI, focusing on OpenAI and Google's latest announcements. They discuss a recent AI Portland panel on 'human in the loop,' addressing deep fakes, AI companions, and the societal impacts of generative AI. Key topics...

In this episode, co-hosts Megan Notarte and Nicole Mors talk with Juma Stevens , a seasoned software engineer, about his journey into AI and development, specifically his early experimentation with GPT models. Juma shares his self-taught path, his first project integrating GPT for a recipe app, and how his curiosity led him to explore more sophisticated AI tools. The conversation also covers the p...

Just what does it mean for an image to be AI-generated? That’s part of what Nicole and Megan discuss in today’s episode, recapping the spicy Generative AI Images panel from AI Portland. The conversation explores the impact of AI on the field of art and creativity, the challenges faced by artists and designers, the role of AI in the creative process, and the question of ownership and value in AI-ge...