The AI Download

From Disney’s billion-dollar copyright battle to therapy chatbots going dangerously off-script, this week’s AI headlines are as surreal as they are urgent. Host Shira Lazar breaks down the wildest stories dominating the AI conversation—plus a new genre that might just save us all: AI pet soap operas. 🎙 This episode is Sponsored by :  PRophet Human Led. AI Fed.    HiveLighter   — Smart summaries. R...

Shira Lazar spotlights the week’s biggest AI stories—from classrooms and ad agencies to mental health clinics—exploring how artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how we learn, think, and create. This episode is sponsored by PRophet Human Led. AI Fed.  And   HiveLighter   — Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This week on The AI Download: Headlines , Shira examines th...

Eric W. Shamlin breaks down how AI is transforming everything from high-budget ad campaigns to human connection—blurring the lines between innovation, emotion, and employment. This episode is sponsored by PRophet Human Led. AI Fed.  And   HiveLighter   — Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This week on The AI Download , Shira Lazar is joined by Eric W. Shamlin , CEO of AI-n...

From eerily realistic video tools to AI-powered shopping and smart glasses saving lives—Google’s latest AI reveals are changing everything. ZDNet’s Sabrina Ortiz joins Shira Lazar on The AI Download to break it all down and share her tips for staying human in an AI-powered world. This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter .   Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This week on T...

Are AI agents here to steal your job—or save your business? Newo.ai founder David Yang joins Shira Lazar to break down the next big shift in artificial intelligence and what it means for entrepreneurs, employees, and society.  This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter . Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. On this episode of The AI Download , Shira Lazar dives into 2025’s buz...

How Paige Piskin’s AR designs captivated 300 billion views and what’s next for the future of augmented reality and AI-driven storytelling.  This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter .  https://www.hivelighter.ai/ On this episode of The AI Download , Shira Lazar welcomes renowned XR and VFX artist Paige Piskin . With over 300 billion views and 1.3 billion shares on her AR designs, Paige has redefine...

  Can AI pitch better than a publicist? In this episode, we find out. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . On this episode of The AI Download , Shira Lazar is joined by PR innovator and CEO of PRophet.ai, Aaron Kwittken , for a high-energy conversation that pulls no punches. From industry disruption to ethical meltdowns at Meta, Kwittken shares his unfiltered take on how AI is transforming p...

Can AI help us feel more, not less? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . On this episode of The AI Download , Shira Lazar is joined by tech futurist and “Godmother of the Metaverse” Cathy Hackl   for a refreshingly real conversation about the emotional and ethical layers of artificial intelligence. From dating experiments at TED to climate-saving snow leopard alerts, Hackl reveals how AI is...

What if the future of filmmaking wasn’t just AI-powered—but artist-first? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . What if the future of filmmaking wasn’t just AI-powered—but artist-first? On this week’s AI Download , Shira Lazar sits down with futurist and creative technologist Don Allen III , Creative AI Pipeline Director at Asteria , one of the first ethical AI film studios. From robot rights...

From Tinder’s AI love assistant to the copyright chaos of generative content, this episode of The AI Download dives into how artificial intelligence is reshaping our personal and professional lives. Creative AI technologist Taryn Southern joins Shira Lazar for a deeply human look at how AI is transforming creativity, careers, and connection. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . In this episo...

From Studio Ghibli-style AI art that broke ChatGPT to fashion models being cloned—and owned—by AI, this episode dives into the wild ethical frontier of generative tech. Sandy Carter joins to explore what we’re getting right, what we’re missing, and how to stay human in an AI-first world. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . In this powerful episode, Shira Lazar is joined by Sandy Carter (COO...

From Nvidia’s robot revolution to AI-powered dating profiles and fast food drive-thrus run by bots—AI is taking over. But what does that mean for our jobs, love lives, and ethics? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . In this jam-packed conversation, Shira Lazar is joined by producer Nadia G. and AI educator Nate Jones to break down the biggest AI headlines and what they really mean. From the...

AI’s rise isn’t just disrupting industries—it’s draining energy grids, rewriting education, and igniting a Hollywood war. Are we prepared for the consequences? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . In this must-listen episode, AI expert Dr. Chris Mattmann (Chief Data & AI Officer at UCLA, former NASA CTO) breaks down the hidden environmental cost of AI, how universities are fighting to st...

AI is transforming industries at breakneck speed—revolutionizing healthcare, reshaping the job market, and redefining media. In this exclusive conversation, Mark Cuban shares his bold vision for AI, where he’s investing next, the future of work, and why transparency in tech is more critical than ever. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . AI isn’t just automating the world—it’s shifting power...

AI is rewriting the rules of journalism, creativity, and power. But who wins, and who gets left behind? Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston joins The AI Download to explore how AI is redefining media, shifting power in journalism, and challenging the future of storytelling. 🔹 Sponsored by Hivelighter AI is revolutionizing journalism, storytelling, and content creation—but at what cost?...

AI is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. From governance to generative models, former White House Science and Technology Advisor Arati Prabhakar breaks down the stakes, the opportunities, and why public engagement in AI policy is more critical than ever. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter . AI isn’t just the future—it’s shaping our reality right now. But who’s really in control? A...

Decode AI, Stay Human with Shira Lazar: Smart AI News, Zero Hype Shira Lazar, an Emmy-nominated host and digital trailblazer, has been at the forefront of social media and technology for over two decades. As the founder and CEO of What’s Trending, she’s built a career on breaking down the biggest shifts in digital culture. Now, she’s tackling the AI revolution—what’s real, what’s hype, and what it...