The Joe Reis Show We're Losing Our Ability to Be Human w/ AI Ethicist Cecilia Dones
Nov 11, 2025
Dr. Cecilia Dones, an AI ethicist and founder of Three Standard Deviations, discusses how AI is reshaping social norms and human connections. She highlights the dangers of AI companions in meetings, emphasizing loss of consent and genuine presence. Dones also touches on the societal shift towards 'rage currency' in media, overshadowing positive AI stories. As the world becomes increasingly synthetic, she predicts that authentic, in-person interactions will emerge as the ultimate premium value.
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Start With Self-Compassion And Local Action
- Put your own mask on first by practicing self-compassion and grounding before engaging in tech debates.
- Focus on people around you and act locally to preserve human dignity in daily interactions.
City Culture Is Fusion, Not Melting
- New York behaves less like a melting pot and more like fusion cuisine where cultural features persist and blend.
- Cecilia values venues that preserve distinct identities while creating new shared flavors.
Volunteering To Make People Feel Seen
- Cecilia volunteers with advocacy groups and speaks to marginalized populations to practice human dignity.
- She finds in-person recognition more fulfilling than online posts that feel like speaking into the void.
