The Data Exchange with Ben Lorica Is AI a Utility? Defining Usability and Public Trust
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Dec 13, 2025 Evangelos Simoudis, a venture investor and corporate innovation expert at Synapse Partners, joins to discuss the dual-edged sword of AI in the workforce. They examine AI-driven layoffs, emphasizing the importance of investment in upskilling and R&D. The conversation highlights how trust in AI outputs can be fragile due to unpredictable behaviors and the need for better government coordination on AI access. They also delve into legal complexities surrounding platform liability as AI systems take on more editorial roles in content creation.
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Usability Requires Education
- Evangelos argues AI isn’t yet broadly usable because effective enterprise use requires targeted education and training.
- Chat interfaces lower interaction cost but don’t eliminate the need for user capability to get business value.
Accessibility Is Infrastructure
- Evangelos separates usability from accessibility and says accessibility is like a dial tone we haven’t achieved.
- Making AI broadly accessible requires infrastructure investments similar to extending internet to rural areas.
Quality Varies By Price
- Paid tiers currently create different output quality, unlike electricity where quality is uniform.
- Affordability and service-oriented delivery shape whether AI can function like a public utility.