Should AI Have Emotional Intelligence? | Sean White (Ep. 10)

Feb 25, 2025

01:18:33

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In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sean White, CEO of Inflection AI, to talk about the future of AI that actually feels human. Inflection’s chatbot, Pi, isn’t just another LLM—it’s designed with emotional intelligence, or EQ, at its core. But does EQ in AI make interactions more meaningful, or does it blur the line between human and machine in ways we’re not ready for? Sean and Baratunde dig into the philosophy behind AI that listens, the surprising ways Pi is already shaping human relationships, and the ethical tightrope of building tech that people trust. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, has its own emotional intelligence put to the test.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction: The Many Faces of AI

00:53 Guest Introduction: Sean White

02:56 Human-Centered Technology

07:02 The Role of Mixed Reality

13:39 AI in Enterprise

21:10 The Evolution of Pi

39:48 Navigating Emotional Boundaries with AI

40:36 Guardrails and Regulations in AI

41:19 Emotional Connectivity and AI

44:21 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Abilities

47:28 Understanding Agentic AI

01:11:01 AI in Enterprise and Consumer Applications

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Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production