Cohere Podcast

Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Director of UX Research and RAI Education for Microsoft's Aether, challenges the notion of AI as super capable, discussing the need for accountability in AI systems. She reframes Large Language Models (LLMs) as systems of fabrication, shedding light on common errors and implications for users. The episode offers valuable perspectives on responsible AI, making the field more comprehensible. Topics include responsible AI, appropriate trust, LLMs as systems of fabrication, and Aether's research direction.

Renowned social learning theorists Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner discuss the evolution of communities of practice, their tripartite book series on social learning theory, value creation in social learning spaces, and the importance of developing learning loops. They also explore the potential of AI in communities of practice, redefine learning theory amidst emergencies, and share insights on running community of practice initiatives.

On this episode of the Cohere podcast, co-hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas chat with Ed Finn, the founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University. As an associate professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the School of Arts, Media, and Engineering, Finn provides fascinating insights into the Center's endeavors, the collaborative imagination and writing project 'Hieroglyph,' and the pioneering Imaginative Collaboration Framework. Throughout the discussion, Finn emphasizes the influential role of hopeful stories in shaping collective visions for the future and shares examples demonstrating how these narratives can drive innovation, learning, and societal transformation. Mentioned in this episode:  [Book] by a partnership of Slate, Arizona State University, and New America [Book] edited by David H. Guston and Ed Finn [Book] edited by Ed Finn and Kathryn Cramer [Book] by Ed Finn [Article] by Ed Finn and Ruth Wylie [Website] [Website] [Website] [Website] [Website]   About our guest(s):  Ed Finn is the founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University where he is an associate professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. He also serves as the academic director of Future Tense, a partnership between ASU, New America and Slate Magazine, and a co-director of Emerge, an annual festival of art, ideas and the future. Ed’s research and teaching explore imagination, digital culture, creative collaboration, and the intersection of the humanities, arts and sciences. He is the author of What Algorithms Want: Imagination in the Age of Computing (MIT Press, spring 2017) and co-editor of Future Tense Fiction (Unnamed Press, 2019), Frankenstein: Annotated for Scientists, Engineers and Creators of All Kinds (MIT Press, 2017) and Hieroglyph: Stories and Visions for a Better Future (William Morrow, 2014), among other books. He completed his PhD in English and American Literature at Stanford University in 2011 and his bachelor’s degree at Princeton University in 2002. Before graduate school, Ed worked as a journalist at Time, Slate, and Popular Science.   Call-to-Action(s): If you liked this episode, check out: and For more reflections about the intersection of community and futures literacy, subscribe to the Cohere Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share about future guests / topics of exploration. Check out #BookDNA for a list of books, articles, and whitepapers featured on the Cohere Podcast.

Customer experience analyst and researcher Esteban Kolsky discusses the role of community in customer experience, cutting through the hype around generative AI, and navigating through the noise to identify critical signals, trends, and patterns. This conversation highlights what is needed to develop the mindset required for staying attuned to what matters in a constantly evolving customer experience landscape.

Meena Palaniappan, Founder and CEO of Atma Connect, discusses building Atma Go for community change. She introduces the 'plentiverse' and emphasizes technology's potential for collective action. Atma Connect empowers low-income communities. Topics include: serving Indonesia and Puerto Rico during the pandemic, launching in Ukraine, measuring impact, and the 'plentiverse' components.

The hosts explore generative AI as a force multiplier for technological progress. They discuss its incorporation into consumer applications like Canva and Microsoft's image creator. The ethical implications of machine-generated content and its impact on creativity and critical thinking are also discussed. They announce the launch of Wave 3 of AI & Communities Research Project.

The convergence of knowledge management and organizational development with conversational leadership and ‘communityship’ As a leader in the convergence of Knowledge Management (KM) and Organization Development (OD), John Hovell is the Managing Director and co-founder of STRATactical. He is a practitioner, speaker, and author of OD/KM strategies and their application to current challenges. More specifically, John is the author of Creating Conversational Leadership: Combining and Expanding Knowledge Management, Organization Development, and Diversity & Inclusion. Lauren met John through one of our podcast’s previous guests, Dr. Sharon Varney, as I attended their “Advancing your change and organizational development practice” course. - Welcome, John! KEY resource from this episode: by John Hovell   Books from this episode: , an online book by David Gurteen by Edgar H. Schein and Peter A. Schein by Edgar H. Schein and Peter A. Schein , published by De Gruyter Saur, Edited by Guy St. Clair by Henry Mintzberg by Stephen R. Covey by Dan Millman   Other resources from this episode: by Patricia Shaw by John Hagel by John Hagel by Dr. Mee Yan Cheung-Judge   Where to find John: LinkedIn:   : “Advancing your change and organisational development practice” course

Venessa Paech, an online community strategist with over 25 years of experience, joins the hosts to discuss the evolving role of AI in our digital experiences and its impact on online communities. They explore the challenges of automation, ethics, and potential positive applications of AI. The podcast also addresses the underrepresentation of community management as a discipline and provides recommendations for further reading on the topic.

The hosts discuss their plans for the future of the podcast, moving away from seasons and focusing on topical series. They highlight two major changes, including increased responsiveness and a dedicated home. They emphasize exploring deeper meanings and design in building communities. They discuss the challenges of community practices and the importance of growth and experimentation. They emphasize the importance of embracing the role of the fool and thinking optimistically.

Joi Podgorny, virtual experiences expert, discusses the science of friendship in virtual communities, the potential of interconnected virtual worlds, the need for genuine change in tech regulation, the evolution of VR technology, and the importance of self-care.