Think Like a Genius: the Human Side of AI, Ethics, and Innovation with Ken Gavranovic

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with tech veteran and AI thought leader Ken Gavranovic, CEO of Product Genius, for a lively and insightful conversation that spans AI, ethics, innovation and pop culture. 

Ken opens up about his challenging childhood, sharing how it sparked a passion for technology and a desire to build tools that could truly make a difference, much like the kid in the movie War Games. From early fumbles in fax software that made others millions but netted him nothing to working with tech giants like Disney and 7-Eleven, Ken walks us through his evolution into the AI space and why he believes AI will have the most substantial impact on humanity. 

We talk about ethical AI and data privacy, especially when it comes to children and younger audiences, how to leverage AI insights without drowning in data and the key contrasts in AI adoption between big corporations and smaller businesses. Laura and Ken geek out about functional health, from UV-cap water bottles to proactive blood testing to the very real fears (ahem, Laura) about robot uprisings from a tangent on the movie Smart House, the series Cassandra and The Terminator movies. Plus, we discuss recycled toilet paper and sustainability with a shoutout to Who Gives a Crap, and wrap things up with a peek into Ken’s Amazon best-seller, Business Breakthrough 3.0, a must-read for any leader navigating digital transformation. Tune in for an episode that’s smart, human, and just the right amount of tech-weird.

Ken Gavranovic is a global keynote speaker, a seasoned technology executive, and the CEO of Product Genius, where he leads the development of AI-powered tools that transform real-time data into actionable customer insights, driving service improvements and operational efficiency. With over two decades of experience, Ken has helped businesses—from startups to global brands like Disney World and 7-Eleven—leverage cutting-edge tech to achieve measurable results. He has led 18 successful exits, 35 mergers and acquisitions, and an IPO, and has held key executive roles at New Relic and Cox Automotive. A global keynote speaker and member of Thinkers50 and the Forbes Council, Ken is also a co-author of the Amazon best-seller Business Breakthrough 3.0, a practical guide for leaders navigating digital transformation and scaling operations.