Promptly Speaking

Everyone's been talking about AI this year. Where does it move the needle? Where does it fall short?In the final Promptly Speaking episode of 2025, Sara and Dan take a moment to reflect on what they've learned from their guests, and through their own experimentation with AI in life & work.Now, more than ever, it's important that we stop and take a moment to think about where we're trying to go in this world of technology that's moving so fast.⏱ Timestamps: 01:23 Embracing AI in Daily Life04:07 The Power of Continuous Learning04:36 Optimizing Business Processes with AI13:44 Real-World Applications of AI16:38 Reflecting on the Future22:34 Humanizing TechnologyFollow Sara & Dan:Sara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/Email: hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

What if the biggest risk in AI adoption isn’t falling behind, but moving too fast without clarity?In this episode of Promptly Speaking, Sara and Dan speak with Scott Barghaan, a longtime enterprise sales leader whose career spans EMC and Salesforce, and who now teaches future business leaders at the Kellogg School of Management. Scott unpacks how AI is actually reshaping the practice of sales, not through flashy tools or automated outreach, but through better preparation, deeper customer context, and higher expectations for judgment. He explains how executives are often pressured to adopt AI before clearly defining the problem they are trying to solve, and why AI delivers real value only when it is applied to concrete constraints around scale, cost, and margin rather than introduced as a solution in search of a use case. The conversation explores how buyers are showing up differently, how great sellers adapt without losing authenticity, and what practical, grounded AI adoption looks like for teams of any size.💡 Topics We Cover:- Why buyers now enter sales conversations later, more informed, and more skeptical- Board-level pressure to adopt AI and how it shapes executive decision-making- Why starting with tools instead of problems leads to disappointment- Using AI to prepare for better conversations, not replace sellers- Customer context as the real advantage in modern sales- Where AI genuinely helps sales teams today and where it can backfire- The risk of AI-assisted communication sounding polished but hollow- Buying committees, political capital, and why “helping buyers buy” matters more than ever- How small teams can pilot AI, measure impact, and scale responsibly- Teaching sales and leadership during a major technology shift⏱ Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to AI, sales, and executive pressure01:04 Scott’s career journey from enterprise sales to academia02:41 Advising AI startups and supporting non-profits04:49 Customer-centric selling in the AI era08:42 How the role of the salesperson is changing11:16 Leveraging AI for research, preparation, and insight25:28 Why buying is harder than selling31:15 Convincing executives to embrace AI thoughtfully33:02 Why this technology shift feels different33:50 AI’s role in business transformation34:29 Challenges and opportunities with AI adoption35:21 What successful AI implementation actually looks like36:42 Addressing fear, risk, and resistance around AI41:03 Lessons from teaching at Kellogg46:03 Final reflections and practical takeawaysHow to Find Scott:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbarghaan/Kellogg: https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/academics-research/faculty/barghaan-scott/Follow Sara & Dan:Sara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/Email: hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, Sara and Dan speak with Matt Crowson, a fellowship trained ear surgeon who has spent the last decade working at the intersection of clinical medicine, data, and artificial intelligence. Matt explains why diagnostic error is far more common than most patients realize, using ear infections as a powerful and personal case study. He shares how a machine learning model he co-developed at Mass General achieved roughly 95% accuracy in diagnosing pediatric ear infections, compared to the average human accuracy, which is closer to 60 to 70%, and why that gap matters for both everyday care and global health.The conversation goes beyond diagnostics to focus on where AI is already making meaningful progress in healthcare today, particularly in reducing administrative burden through tools like ambient documentation and message triage. Together, they explore the barriers to AI adoption in healthcare, including privacy, liability, fragmented data systems, and regulation, as well as the growing role of clinicians in shaping AI products.The episode closes with practical advice for patients on how generative AI can be used responsibly right now to better understand medical bills, insurance documents, and care options, while acknowledging the real tradeoffs around data privacy and trust.💡 Topics Covered:Why humans are surprisingly bad at diagnosing common conditionsHow AI can reduce diagnostic variability without replacing cliniciansPediatric ear infections as a global health problemAI in low-resource and rural healthcare settingsAdministrative burnout and “pajama time” for cliniciansAmbient scribes and inbox triage as early AI winsPayers vs providers and how healthcare actually worksAccountability and liability when AI is involved in careWhy healthcare AI moves slower than other industriesHow patients can use generative AI today without over-trusting it⏱ Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to ear infections and AI in healthcare00:44 Meet Matt Crowson: from ENT surgeon to AI advocate01:36 Payers vs providers and how the healthcare system functions02:39 AI and administrative burden in clinical work04:55 Privacy, safety, and regulatory barriers to AI adoption09:37 What a Chief Medical Officer does in an AI company13:37 AI in rural healthcare and pediatric ear infection case study26:35 Accountability and liability in AI-assisted care26:51 The scalpel analogy and human responsibility29:57 AI’s potential impact on healthcare costs30:41 Generative AI and patient empowerment36:10 What the future of AI in healthcare may realistically look like36:40 How AI tools are implemented inside hospitals38:35 Real-world AI deployments and auditing41:14 Vendor and healthcare system partnerships42:01 Practical advice for patients using generative AI45:07 Final reflectionsHow to Find Matt:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgcrowsonFollow Sara & Dan:Sara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com⁠

Neil Shepherd, a Silicon Valley engineer and entrepreneur, discusses the unprecedented impact of AI on white-collar jobs and industries. He explains how AI is drastically transforming marketing, legal work, healthcare, and manufacturing by automating tasks and altering career trajectories. Neil introduces the American Dream Index, a data-driven tool aimed at assessing middle-class stability. He emphasizes adaptability, curiosity, and continuous learning as crucial traits for thriving amidst rapid technological change.

Simone Stolzoff, an author and journalist focusing on work and identity, explores the evolving landscape of creativity in the age of AI. He discusses how to maintain a unique voice amid AI-generated content and the importance of differentiating human judgment in writing. Simone emphasizes using AI strategically, treating it as a developmental tool rather than a replacement. He advocates for embracing uncertainty as a pathway to meaning and encourages listeners to cultivate taste and agency as essential skills for navigating the future.

Sara Filipčić, a researcher and founder of Be Humane, discusses the impact of AI on children's emotional development. She shares insights on curbing reliance on AI companions and emphasizes the importance of offline connections to build resilience. Sara advises parents on gradually introducing technology and highlights the need for co-viewing apps to foster quality interactions. She also explores cultural differences in human-machine relationships, particularly in Japan, and underscores the power of open communication for nurturing emotionally healthy children.

Explore the impact of AI companions on loneliness and mental health. Discover how chatbots like Replika can fill emotional gaps, while also examining the risks of replacing real human connections. Learn why feelings of loneliness may not always need fixing and how friction in real friendships fosters deeper bonds. Delve into the difference between empathy and sympathy, and practical ways to use AI for emotional support without losing touch with humanity. This insightful conversation emphasizes the importance of intentional AI use in maintaining genuine relationships.

How do we use AI without losing what makes us human?In this episode of Promptly Speaking, hosts Sara and Dan Roberts sit down with Dr. Ravit Dotan, PhD - a practical philosopher and AI ethicist - to unpack the cognitive, ethical, and emotional effects of our growing reliance on AI.💡 You’ll learn:- Why using AI can actually reduce brain engagement - and how to prevent it- How to apply ethical reasoning in everyday AI use- The “Chef Approach” to AI - a framework that keeps humans in control- What skills will matter most in the next decade of AI-driven work🧠 Whether you’re an AI optimist or a cautious skeptic, this episode explores how to stay curious, ethical, and fully awake in the age of intelligent machines.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to Promptly Speaking00:20 – Meet Dr. Ravit Dotan: From philosophy to AI ethics03:50 – The gray zones of AI ethics07:49 – What AI does to your brain16:58 – How to brainstorm *with* AI (not let it think for you)25:16 – Ethical adoption in business30:37 – How to build trust into AI workflows36:12 – The “Chef Approach” explained39:35 – Custom chatbots, agents, and the next frontier45:42 – The skills your brain needs for the future of work51:11 – Final reflectionsDr Ravit Dotan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravit-dotan/https://www.techbetter.ai/Follow Sara & Dan:Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

Are we getting dumber because of AI? 🤖In this episode of Promptly Speaking, hosts Sara and Dan Roberts explore how generative AI tools like ChatGPT are rewiring our brains. Drawing on new research from MIT, Science Advances, and Harvard Business Review, they unpack how these tools influence creativity, focus, and intrinsic motivation.You’ll hear how AI can raise productivity while lowering originality, why brain engagement drops when we outsource thinking, and what that means for our ability to learn, create, and stay mentally sharp.💡 You’ll learn:- What MIT discovered about how AI impacts neural engagement- Why using AI can boost quality but reduce creativity- How to stay mentally active when tools do the “thinking” for you- The hidden trade-off between efficiency and satisfaction- Simple strategies to use AI without losing your edge🔥 Whether you’re an AI optimist or skeptic, this episode offers a grounded look at how to keep your brain — and your creativity — alive in the age of automation.⏱️ Timestamps:00:28 – Personal experiences with AI in daily life05:27 – MIT study: how ChatGPT lowers brain engagement10:51 – Can AI make us more creative—or just more average?14:53 – The “Google Effect” and how memory changes with technology16:00 – The productivity paradox: getting more done but caring less19:08 – Intrinsic motivation and AI fatigue24:46 – Balancing AI assistance with human intuition26:32 – Final reflections and takeawaysFollow Sara & Dan:Sara: linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/Dan: linkedin.com/in/danroberts27Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com⁠📚 References & Further Reading1. Sparrow, Liu & Wegner (2011) — Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips. Science.https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/dwegner/files/sparrow_et_al._2011.pdf2. MIT Media Lab (2024) — EEG study on neural engagement during essay writing with ChatGPT and Google (reported by Time).https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/3. Doshi & Hauser (2024) — Generative AI Enhances Individual Creativity but Reduces Collective Diversity. Science Advances.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn52904. Harvard Business Review (2025) — GenAI Makes People More Productive—and Less Motivated.https://hbr.org/2025/05/research-gen-ai-makes-people-more-productive-and-less-motivated5. Science (2023) — Experimental Evidence on the Productivity Effects of Generative AI.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh25866. Nature Scientific Reports (2025) — Cognitive Offloading in AI-Assisted Work: Impacts on Engagement and Attention.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98385-27. arXiv preprint (2025) — Large Language Models and the Human Mind.https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872v18. arXiv preprint (2023) — Programming with ChatGPT: Impacts on Developer Speed and Code Quality.https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.065909. Nature Machine Intelligence (2022) — AI-Enabled Peer Support Improves Empathy in Mental Health Conversations.https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-022-00593-210. Academy of Management Journal (2022) — Augmented Creativity: How AI Tools Help Customer Support Agents Innovate.https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amj.2022.042611. MDPI – Societies Journal (2024) — AI Use and Critical Thinking: Evidence from 666 Participants.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/1/612. IE Center for Health & Well-Being (2024) — AI’s Cognitive Implications: The Decline of Our Thinking Skills.https://www.ie.edu/center-for-health-and-well-being/blog/ais-cognitive-implications-the-decline-of-our-thinking-skills/13. Frontiers in AI (2022) — Cognitive Offloading and the Rewiring of Human Thought.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence14. Forbes (Knapp, 2025) — Prototype Study Suggests AI Tools Decrease Critical Thinking Skills.https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2025/01/10/the-prototype-study-suggests-ai-tools-decrease-critical-thinking-skills/15. PMC Article (2025) — Technological Overreliance and Cognitive Decline: Lessons from Prior Tech Revolutions.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9329671/

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Promptly Speaking, where hosts Sara and Dan Roberts delve into how AI is transforming our lives. In this episode, they discuss why they started the podcast, their personal backgrounds in tech, and their aim to demystify AI for the everyday person. With insights from various industries and a focus on the human-AI partnership, they seek to provide practical advice and hope amidst the rapid technological changes. Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the conversation. Send your thoughts to hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com. New episodes every Tuesday!⏱️ Timestamps:00:24 Why Another AI Podcast?01:06 The Rapid Evolution of AI02:06 Podcast Format and Guest Insights02:46 Human-AI Collaboration04:17 The Future of Work with AI05:37 Getting Started with AI Tools06:43 Engage with Us!Follow Sara & Dan Roberts:Sara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/Email: promptlyspeakingpod@gmail.com