The Aboard Podcast

The AI industry teeters on the edge of the bubble, but AI tools are better than ever. What does this mean for the future of the technology? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich talk through Paul’s recent experiments with—you guessed it!—synths to illustrate just how good AI-assisted coding tools have gotten, especially for those with programming expertise. But we’re a long way from the average consumer being able to get what they want with the push of a button. What do these two divergent paths suggest about the trajectory of the AI industry? 

Arushi Saxena, a trust and safety expert with experience in big tech and the public sector, joins the conversation to unpack AI safety. She warns against entering personal information into LLMs due to risks of leaks and misuse. The discussion includes why LLMs can provide incorrect information and the implications of uploading sensitive documents. Arushi also talks about the necessity of trust in AI, the importance of age restrictions for users, and best practices companies should adopt to ensure user safety and data control.

Big tech doesn’t care about medium-sized businesses—but is AI really the solution? On this week’s podcast, Paul is fresh off the plane from Phoenix, Arizona, where he was speaking to business owners at the Inc. 5000 Conference. As he gives Rich a full report, they discuss the specific needs of the “SMB”—small-to-medium-sized business—and how little interest the software industry has in the very large middle of the business spectrum. Can AI help these orgs get the software they actually need?

AI is making job hunting near-impossible on both sides of the hiring equation. Is there a way out of this automated mess? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich look at AI’s effect on an already unpredictable job market. Hirers are getting spammed with AI-generated applications, while sincere job seekers are getting swiftly rejected via AI hiring tools. As AI ushers in a hyper-transactional era of diminished trust between strangers, how can applicants and hiring managers actually connect with each other? 

The discussion dives into the plummeting traffic of vibe-coding tools and the looming threat of an AI market crash. Experts analyze the structural vulnerabilities of startups that repurpose large LLM outputs and the challenges AI faces in finalizing production-quality software. They predict a shift toward domain-specific AI tools, moving away from universal applications. As they explore the potential consequences of a market bubble, they stress the importance of building resilient AI companies focused on real value.

AI videos from tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Vibes are flooding our feeds. Is this the future? On the Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich tackle a trio of AI topics. First: They look at a report from the Yale Budget Lab on which industries are adopting AI the fastest. (Spoiler: Only one is fully embracing it. Take a guess!) Then, they talk about spammy AI-generated bug reports submitted to the developer of cURL—and what happened when someone found real bugs with AI. And finally: Welcome to Slopworld! You can generate whatever video you want with a single sentence. Isn’t that kind of…boring?

In New York City, subway ads for a new AI wearable called 'Friend' are facing public backlash. The discussion dives into why New Yorkers resist such technology, the ethics of constant surveillance, and the cultural disdain for Silicon Valley. They explore business models, data concerns, and the fascinating tension between tech innovation and public skepticism. Plus, a humorous twist as one host imagines a billionaire's skincare routine. Can AI truly be integrated into daily life, or are we better off without it?

The big tech CEOs are openly embracing Trump—so what do we all do now? On this week’s Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich dig into Steven Levy’s recent cover story for WIRED’s politics issue that breaks down the industry’s hard pivot towards Trumpism. What did these leaders think they were signing up, and what are they actually getting? Plus: By way of metaphor, Rich offers up the world’s worst bundt cake recipe (it’s full of gold!). 

The hosts explore the overwhelming influence of AI in the tech world. They dive into the revival of RSS feeds, highlighting the joys and challenges of curating news. Discussions also cover how AI is reshaping parenting and schooling, with suggestions for teaching kids AI literacy and using AI tools responsibly. The conversation questions whether current AI hype will last and examines how bureaucracy impacts tech innovation.

The discussion kicks off with a humorous critique of consultants and the declining billable hour model. The hosts examine how AI is transforming management consulting, questioning if firms can sustain their rates with increasing efficiency. They dive into the nuances of client-consultant relationships and explore the challenges of adapting to new technologies for improved workplace productivity. Negotiation tactics in consulting also take the spotlight, encouraging modern approaches that enhance efficiency while maintaining service quality.