AI Risk Reward

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube, joins Alec Crawford to discuss his unconventional journey from musician and cartoon creator to a leading expert in Digital Brand Engineering. Barnard emphasizes the importance of controlling one's digital footprint to shape the Digital Brand Echo that AI Assistive Engines perceive. The episode explores his personal transformation under mentor Itamar Morani, the challenges of AI-generated misinformation, and how to strategically position brands in an AI-driven world. Jason shares insights from his career, including his innovative approach, The Kalicube Process, and the development of Kalicube’s powerful SaaS platform. The discussion also touches on the future of AI in marketing and the importance of maintaining human creativity and emotion in business.Summary:Guest Background: Jason Barnard is a former musician and cartoon creator turned CEO and founder of Kalicube, specializing in how brands are represented in an AI-first world.Personal Branding: He discusses the critical role of a digital footprint in shaping a brand's narrative in its Brand SERP and the AI Résumé that machines generate.Mentorship Influence: Jason shares how Itamar Morani helped him transition from a hands-on creator to an effective CEO.AI Challenges: Concerns about AI's role in spreading misinformation and the importance of establishing a single source of truth (an Entity Home).Future of AI in Marketing: Jason outlines how AI Assistive Engines create a Conversational Acquisition Funnel, guiding consumers and why brands must become Top of Algorithmic Mind to be recommended.Companies/Organizations:KalicubeKajabiGoogleMicrosoftChatGPTDeepSeekGeminiCopilotInstagramFacebookArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. Books:Confucius from the HeartMovies:Cool RunningsSome Like It HotTV Shows:IT CrowdCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Stan Sukhinin, owner of SORSO Fractional CFO Services, shares his journey from the financial sector, including his tenure at institutions like Societe Generale, to founding his own company. The episode delves into why AI is not yet ready for many business processes, emphasizing the importance of consistency and the risks of hallucinations in AI models. Stan discusses the critical role of financial management in business success and the potential for AI to automate and streamline these processes. He also provides insights into his strategic vision for SORSO, focusing on integrating AI to enhance financial operations. Furthermore, Stan highlights the ethical concerns surrounding AI, such as job displacement and the potential for manipulation. He concludes by offering advice for CFOs on adopting AI tools and preparing for the future.Summary:Guest Background: Stan Sukhinin is the owner of SORSO Fractional CFO Services with a rich background in banking and finance.AI Limitations: Discusses AI's current inconsistency and hallucination issues in business applications.Financial Management: Emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing business finances to avoid failures.AI in Finance: Explores the potential of AI to automate financial tasks and improve efficiency.Ethical Concerns: Highlights ethical challenges, including job displacement and AI’s potential for manipulation.Companies/Organizations:SORSO Fractional CFO ServicesSociete GeneraleUniCreditSpotifyKlarnaArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books:Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew WilkinsonMovies:Bend It Like BeckhamCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Matt Metzger, a Clinical Professor of Economics at Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, discusses the integration of AI in education. He emphasizes the importance of adapting teaching methods to incorporate AI tools, making education more relevant to current job markets. Throughout the episode, Matt shares insights from his book, "The Overnight AI Educator," and explains the concept of backwards design in curriculum development. He also addresses ethical concerns, such as privacy issues and equitable access to AI resources. Matt advocates for preparing students to use AI productively, highlighting the demand from businesses for AI-skilled graduates. The conversation explores the balance between traditional education and AI-enhanced learning environments.Summary:Guest Background: Matt Metzger is a Clinical Professor of Economics at Belk College of Business, UNC Charlotte, and author of "The Overnight AI Educator."AI in Education: Metzger emphasizes the integration of AI tools in educational curricula to match current job market demands.Backwards Design: He advocates for the backwards design approach, focusing on end goals to structure educational activities effectively.Ethical Concerns: Discussion includes ethical issues such as AI-induced cheating, privacy, and equitable access across different regions.Future Skills: Metzger highlights the importance of equipping students with AI skills, aligning with industry needs for AI-competent graduates.Companies/Organizations:Belk College of BusinessUNC CharlotteKent State UniversityUniversity of TennesseeGlobal AI Ethics InstituteArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books:The Overnight AI Educator by Matt MetzgarUnderstanding by Design by Grant WigginsEssential Questions by Grant WigginsSchooling by Design by Grant WigginsMovies:Ferris Bueller's Day OffRisky BusinessTV Shows:MacGyverCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Jo Ann Barefoot, CEO and founder of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR), joins Alec to discuss the critical lag between AI advancements and financial regulations. A former bank regulator and U.S. Senate Banking Committee member, Jo Ann’s journey led her to establish AIR, aiming to address regulatory challenges in the tech-driven financial landscape. The episode delves into topics such as the rapid pace of technological innovation, the potential for AI to combat financial crime, and the ethical considerations for AI deployment in financial institutions. Jo Ann shares insights on how AI can enhance financial inclusion and the importance of evolving regulatory frameworks to keep pace with technological advancements. Her perspective underscores the necessity of integrating compliance into tech development and fostering a culture of ethical innovation within the financial sector.Summary:Guest Background: Jo Ann Barefoot is the CEO and founder of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, with a history as a bank regulator and consultant.Technological Convergence: Jo Ann emphasizes how streams of innovation converge to create breakthroughs, highlighting the rapid pace of AI development.AI in Financial Crime: The discussion covers how AI can revolutionize fraud detection and combat financial crime more effectively.Regulatory Challenges: Jo Ann explains the gap between AI advancements and current regulations, stressing the need for principles-based regulation.Ethical AI Deployment: Ethical considerations and risk management are crucial as financial institutions deploy AI to enhance consumer protection and financial inclusion.Companies/Organizations: Alliance for Innovative RegulationUS Senate Banking CommitteeAARPJP MorganHarvard UniversityFederal agenciesCommunity banksCredit unionsArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books: The Future is Faster Than You Think by Peter Diamandis.Movies: Mamma Mia! TV Shows: The FlintstonesCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.In this episode, we hear from Matthew White, founder and CEO of Platypus OS. He shares his journey from healthcare staffing to tech entrepreneurship, ultimately leading to the creation of Platypus OS, an AI-driven browser designed to streamline workflows. The conversation explores how Platypus OS integrates AI to manage tasks across over 1500 applications, aiming to revolutionize how businesses operate by treating AI as an integral team member. Matthew discusses the challenges faced while developing a new browser, the potential for AI to transform small businesses, and his vision of AI as the future operating system. He also covers the broader implications of AI on the job market and the importance of ethical considerations.SummaryGuest Background: Matthew White is the founder and CEO of Platypus OS, with a diverse career path from healthcare staffing to tech innovation.AI-Powered Browsing: Platypus OS integrates AI into browsers, enabling automation across numerous applications, aiming to simplify and enhance business operations.Building a Browser: The development of Platypus OS involved unexpected challenges, particularly in creating a functional, organized browser from scratch.AI as an Operating System: Matthew envisions AI evolving into a central operating system, fundamentally altering how businesses and individuals interact with technology.Job Market Impact: He discusses potential disruptions AI may cause in the job market and the need for ethical regulation to guide its development.Companies/OrganizationsPlatypus OSQebotBetter Business BureauWaymoArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.BooksThe Goal by Eliyahu GoldrattMoviesThe Social NetworkLord of the Rings Copyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Nuri Cankaya, VP for Commercial and AI Marketing at Intel and author of "AI in Marketing," shares his journey from his early tech interest sparked by a Commodore 64 to his influential roles at Microsoft and Intel. The episode delves into the evolution of AI from early expert systems to current applications, emphasizing the role of AI in marketing and future implications. Nuri discusses AI's transformative potential in marketing through his AIM framework—Assess, Implement, and Measure. He also explores the ethical considerations and challenges of AGI, providing insights into AI regulation. The conversation concludes with a light-hearted lightning round addressing topics from AI’s job market impact to living in Kirkland, Washington.Summary:Guest Background: Nuri Cankaya is the VP for Commercial and AI Marketing at Intel, with a rich history in tech spanning roles at Microsoft and authoring several books, including "AI in Marketing."AI Marketing Impact: Nuri introduces the AIM framework to illustrate AI's profound influence on marketing strategies.AGI Concerns: The discussion highlights potential risks of Artificial General Intelligence and the need for ethical guidelines.Personal Insights: Nuri shares personal anecdotes, including his journey from Microsoft to Intel and the importance of mentoring.Future AI Developments: The episode explores future possibilities, including brain-AI interfaces and the societal impact of AI advancements.Companies/Organizations:IntelMicrosoftOpenAIGoogle DeepMindMetaNvidiaAMDAnthropicArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books:AI in Marketing by Nuri CankayaThe Singularity is Nearer by Ray KurzweilSuperintelligence by Nick BostromMovies:Ready Player OneTV Shows:Black MirrorCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com, interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Francisco Quevedo, Executive Director of the Rucker Center for Marketing Advancement and an assistant professor, shares his compelling journey from a successful businessman in a socialist regime to an academic leader in the United States. The episode delves into the importance of strategic planning and marketing analytics, where Francisco emphasizes using AI as a co-pilot in decision-making processes. Key topics include the challenges of unequal development in global economies and the role of AI in bridging gaps in technology access. Francisco also discusses the ethical considerations in adopting AI in academia and business and highlights the potential of AI in enhancing consumer experiences.Summary:Guest Background: Francisco Quevedo is the Executive Director of the Rucker Center for Marketing Advancement and an assistant professor and senator at the same institution.Strategic Planning: Francisco emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and marketing analytics, with a focus on consumer delight.AI in Consulting: He uses AI as a co-pilot in consulting to assist with research and strategy development, maintaining the need for human oversight.Unequal Development: Francisco discusses the concept of unequal development and the need for developing countries to embrace technological advancements like AI.Ethics & AI: He addresses ethical considerations in AI use, advocating for its responsible integration into both educational and corporate strategies.Companies/Organizations: Rucker Center for Marketing AdvancementDuPontLiberty MutualGlobal AI Ethics InstituteArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books: Unequal Development by Samir AminTV Shows: Altered CarbonCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Monica Anderson, an experimental AI epistemologist, has been a prominent figure in AI research for decades, spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries. She worked at Google and now runs her own research company, Syntience, along with a social media platform called Bubble City. Monica discussed her career journey, including her time at Google, and the development of large language models (LLMs). She highlighted the history and evolution of AI, mentioning key milestones like Jeff Hinton's neural network research and the advent of GPUs, which led to the development of transformers and LLMs. Monica elaborated on the concept of organic learning, contrasting traditional models of language understanding with her more efficient algorithm based on discrete links and connectome algorithms. Additionally, she introduced Bubble City, a social media platform designed to create protected, topic-specific chat rooms using AI to eliminate spam, hate, and persuasion, and to facilitate focused discussions and research.Summary:Guest Background: Monica Anderson is an experimental AI epistemologist who has been a leading figure in AI research for decades, working in both the 20th and 21st centuries. She has worked at Google and currently runs her research company, Syntience, and a social media platform called Bubble City.Career Journey: Monica Anderson's career journey, including her work at Google, and her development of large language models (LLMs) through her company Syntience.History of AI: The history and evolution of AI, highlighting key milestones such as Jeff Hinton's neural network research and the advent of GPUs, leading to the development of transformers and LLMs.Organic Learning: The concept of organic learning, contrasting traditional models of language understanding with Monica's more efficient algorithm based on discrete links and connectome algorithms.Bubble City: Bubble City, a social media platform designed to create protected, topic-specific chat rooms using AI, aiming to eliminate spam, hate, and persuasion, and facilitate focused discussions and research.Companies:GoogleSyntienceBubble CityArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books:Time Enough for Love by Robert HeinleinMoon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert HeinleinMovies:HerCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.In this episode of the AI Risk Reward Podcast, host Alec Crawford welcomes Dave Sobel, the host of the Business of Tech podcast, who shares insights from his extensive background in technology and entrepreneurship. The discussion centers around the importance of leveraging AI for genuine business outcomes rather than getting caught up in the hype. Dave emphasizes the necessity of tying AI initiatives back to a company’s profit and loss statement to gauge their true impact. He also explores AI's transformative potential in IT services, providing examples of how AI can enhance efficiency and customer service. Additionally, Dave elaborates on how he uses various AI tools in his media company to streamline news aggregation, summarization, and content creation, thereby delivering high-quality shows more effectively. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations and the critical role of data governance in safely and effectively implementing AI.Summary:Guest Background: Dave Sobel, host of the Business of Tech podcast, has a deep background in technology, starting from his childhood interest in computers and leading to his career in consulting, software development, and entrepreneurship.AI for Business Outcomes vs. Hype: The discussion highlights the importance of focusing on AI for achieving real business results rather than getting lost in the hype. Dave emphasizes the need for AI to tie back to a business's profit and loss statement to measure its effectiveness.AI's Impact on IT Services: The transformative potential of AI in IT services is explored, including examples of how AI can streamline processes and improve customer service by providing quick access to information.Applications of AI: Dave shares how he uses AI in his media company, including tools for news aggregation, summarization, and content creation, enhancing his ability to deliver high-quality, insightful shows efficiently.Ethical Considerations and Data Governance: The conversation delves into the ethical issues surrounding AI, particularly data privacy and governance. Dave stresses the importance of having robust data management practices in place to fully leverage AI while mitigating risks.Companies: OpenAIMicrosoftSwellNotionArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books: The E-Myth by Michael E. GerberMovies: Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk

In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn and at troutmanstreetaudio.com. You can hear the difference.Colin Constable, co-founder and CTO at AtSign, has an extensive background in telecommunications, beginning with his apprenticeship at British Telecom. Colin discussed his career journey and how his mentor, Les Box, influenced his path, leading to significant roles at Credit Suisse and founding AtSign. He explained AtSign's origins, stemming from a debate on the internet's inefficiencies in data control, aiming to allow services to log into users rather than vice versa. Colin expressed excitement about the agentic movement in AI and the convergence of AI and IoT, predicting advancements in self-driving technology and private AI instances. He also shared advice on fostering healthy disagreement, strategic insights for CEOs integrating AI, and the importance of execution in Silicon Valley's innovation culture.Summary: Guest Background: Colin Constable is the co-founder and CTO at AtSign, with a rich background in telecommunications and network architecture, beginning with his apprenticeship at British Telecom.Early Career Influences: Colin shared his early career experiences at British Telecom and the pivotal role of his mentor, Les Box, in shaping his career path, which eventually led him to Credit Suisse and later founding AtSign.Founding AtSign: He discussed the origins of AtSign, which stemmed from an argument about the inefficiencies of the internet regarding data control and identity management. He detailed how AtSign aims to change the paradigm by allowing services to log into users rather than users logging into services.Emerging Technologies: Colin expressed excitement about the agentic movement in AI, particularly the intersection of AI and IoT, predicting impactful advancements in self-driving technology and private AI instances.Advice and Insights: He emphasized the importance of healthy disagreement for learning and growth, strategic insights for CEOs integrating AI, and the impact of execution in Silicon Valley's innovation culture.Companies: AtSignZeta HealthArtificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.Books: Accelerando by Charles StrossMovies: Yes ManCopyright © 2025 by Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.