The Aboard Podcast

Dan Frommer, founder of The New Consumer and an expert in consumer trends, joins the discussion about how AI shapes our buying habits. He traces the evolution of direct-to-consumer brands and the influence of platforms like TikTok Shop. Frommer reveals generational differences in AI perceptions, noting that while millennials express optimism, Gen Z exhibits skepticism. He also touches on the rise of health optimization as a status symbol and offers insights on integrating AI into consumer engagement strategies for product teams.

In this episode, the hosts dive into the intriguing world of AI, discussing the emergence of Gloo, a Christian LLM that aims to incorporate faith into technology. They explore OpenAI's controversial shift toward allowing erotic content, raising concerns among religious communities. The conversation also touches on the impact of LLMs reflecting internet subcultures and the urgent topic of free speech versus responsibility in AI. Finally, they ponder the future of a diverse ecosystem of LLMs versus the dominance of a few major players.

AI is reshaping the media, the internet, and the culture at large—and Max Read is writing about it. On this week’s podcast, the longtime journalist and author of the popular “Read Max” newsletter comes into the studio to talk about the intersections of tech and culture in our current AI moment. Topics discussed include Max’s journey from a general-interest journalist to covering tech platforms and internet culture, the ways he uses AI tools in his own work, and whether he thinks the slop flooding our feeds is actually popular with users.

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?