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.In this episode, Alec Crawford welcomes Joe Moss, the COO of January Capital Advisors and conneqtor at conneqtor.org, to the AI Risk-Reward Podcast. Known for his innovative approach and insightful perspectives in the financial advisory space, Joe has garnered a reputation for his forward-thinking strategies and adept use of social media to influence and engage with the financial community. Throughout the episode, Joe shares his experiences, from early lessons learned in the industry to his views on the transformative potential of AI and technology in financial advising. Joe is publishing a book on advisor tech! See information in the show notes, below.TakeawaysLearning from Mistakes in Financial Advising: What not to do as an advisor! Joe Moss discusses how his initial experiences taught him about inefficiencies and poor practices, such as high fees, underutilized technology, and lack of timely client communication, which are more common than one might expect. (Check out fynancial.com for client communication specifically for RIAs.)The Impact of Technology and AI on Financial Advising: Alec and Joe discuss the transformative potential of AI and technology in the financial advising sector. They predict that advisors who do not integrate AI into their practices may struggle to remain competitive. The conversation also touches on the expected consolidation of AI tools and their impact on the industry.Privacy and Security Concerns with AI Tools: The podcast highlights the importance of privacy and security when using AI tools in financial advising. Joe Moss points out the varying levels of data security among different AI tools and stresses the need for due diligence to ensure client data is protected and compliance rules are followed.Strategic Use of Niches and Content Creation in Financial Advising: Joe Moss advises new financial advisors to specialize in a niche to better serve clients and enhance their marketability. Additionally, he emphasizes the role of content creation in building credibility and expertise within a chosen niche, which can be crucial for client acquisition and retention.Human Connection Amidst Technological Advancements: Despite advancements in AI, Joe stresses the value of human-to-human interaction and suggests that the essence of personal connections could become more significant as AI becomes prevalent. FOr example, he mentions his rule of avoiding bots in meetings to maintain genuine interactions, reflecting a broader sentiment about balancing technology use with personal touch in professional settings.References·     The Ultimate AdvisorTech Stack for 2025, by Joe Moss https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-AdvisorTech-Stack-2025-Independent-ebook/dp/B0DV5N6ZRC·     Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss·     https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemoss-xyz/·     https://www.skool.com/conneqtor/about·     https://www.aicrisk.com  

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 engaging episode of the AI Risk Reward Podcast, host Alec Crawford and guest Ron Green, co-founder and CTO of Kung Fu AI, delve into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its profound impact across various sectors. They explore groundbreaking advancements like DeepMind's AlphaFold, discuss the ethical challenges and biases in AI, and forecast the future integration of AI technologies in industries such as engineering and healthcare. With insightful anecdotes and expert perspectives, this episode offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of AI's current capabilities and its transformative potential.Summary1.    Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems: Ron Green discussed his educational background in computer science and a master's degree focused on evolutionary and adaptive systems, emphasizing genetic algorithms and genetic programming. He highlighted the importance of understanding foundational theoretical concepts in computer science to adapt to technological changes over time.2.    AI in Biology - AlphaFold: Ron Green praised Demis Hassabis and his work with DeepMind on AlphaFold, a breakthrough AI technology that predicts protein structures. This advancement is crucial for understanding biological functions and has been considered a grand challenge in biology for decades. AlphaFold's development marked a significant leap in the application of AI to solve complex biological problems.3.    AI's Ubiquity in Engineering: Ron Green predicted that AI would become as integral to industries as the internet, affecting fields like mechanical and civil engineering. He mentioned that AI's impact would be broad, transitioning from perceptive and generative phases to more sophisticated applications, including robotics and physical AI.4.    Ethical Considerations and Bias in AI: Ron Green shared experiences of facing ethical dilemmas in AI projects, such as refusing to work on weapon-targeting systems. He stressed the importance of addressing biases in AI systems, as they can replicate data biases, potentially leading to unfair outcomes.5.    AI's Future and Industry Implications: The discussion touched on the potential risks and benefits of AI, particularly concerning AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence). Ron Green expressed concerns about alignment with human values and highlighted the current hype cycle in AI, predicting that while there might be fluctuations in interest, the utility of AI ensures its continued relevance.ReferencesBooksThe Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins: A popular science book discussing genetics and natural selection from the gene's perspective.Demis Hassabis: Co-founder of DeepMind, known for his work on AI and AlphaFold.DeepMind and AlphaFold: A leading AI research lab known for breakthroughs in AI, particularly in protein folding with AlphaFold.The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil: A book exploring the future of technology and AISchools/CompaniesUniversity of Sussex: Known for its research and focus on evolutionary and adaptive systems.University of Texas at Austin: Mentioned in the context of AI and machine learning research.Kung Fu AI: A company co-founded by Ron Green, specializing in AI solutions and strategies https://www.kungfu.aiAI Risk, Inc. Accelerates the adoption of Gen AI safely. They provide a secure enterprise AI platform for banks and other regulated organizations. https://www.aicrisk.comMoviesThe Godfather: A classic film often considered one of the best movies ever made.

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, Alec doubles down by speaking to both Kevin Greaney, Founder and CEO and Chris Camacho, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Cairn Insights. Listen as they discuss their “user focused AI” and opine on ethical AI and “human in the loop”.1.    AI in Digital Communication: Cairn Insights utilizes AI to analyze digital communication such as emails, Slack, and video calls from a psychological standpoint. The goal is to improve communication within teams and organizations by examining patterns, sequences, and reaction times.2.    AI and Employment: Chris Camacho discusses the role of AI in augmenting human tasks rather than replacing jobs. AI can handle data organization and repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex issues.3.    Ethical AI Implementation: Both Kevin and Chris discuss the importance of integrating people into AI processes to ensure ethical implementation. They stress the need for human oversight to prevent biases and ensure AI benefits society, not just technologically but ethically.4.    AI Surveillance Concerns: Kevin addresses the potential privacy concerns related to AI surveillance. He emphasizes that Cairn Insights aims to use AI positively, enhancing quality of life and communication efficiency rather than intrusively monitoring individuals.5.    AI Regulation and Future Outlook: Kevin predicts a significant shift in AI regulation, emphasizing the need for companies to adopt AI strategies or risk falling behind. He believes that despite potential risks, AI will ultimately benefit society by performing tasks that allow humans to engage in higher-level thinking.ReferencesMovies1.    Apollo 13An acclaimed movie about the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission.Link: [Apollo 13 on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/)2.    The Social NetworkA film about the founding of Facebook.Link: [The Social Network on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/)Books1.    A Life in Leadership by John Whitehead: A book detailing the leadership journey of John Whitehead.2.    Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov: A classic science fiction series exploring themes of future societies and technology.Companies1.    Cairn Insights A company specializing in AI and digital communication analysis. https://cairninsights.ai/2.    AI Risk, Inc. A company providing a turnkey, secure enterprise AI platform for banks and other regulated organizations https://www.aicrisk.com3.    Elon Musk (@elonmusk) CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, known for his innovation in electric vehicles and space, and now DOGE. 

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.This exciting episode features Kodjo Hogan, an esteemed Information Security Risk Executive, as he joins host Alec Crawford on the "AI Risk Reward Podcast." Together, they delve into the transformative realm of artificial intelligence, examining both its promising opportunities and the challenges it presents in the realm of cybersecurity. The conversation offers listeners valuable insights into AI's impact across various industries, from its technical intricacies to its broader societal implications. Through thought-provoking discussions, the episode provides a comprehensive perspective on how AI is reshaping the laSummaryKodjo Hogan emphasizes the importance of focusing on what's important in information security while remaining aware of the surrounding environment, drawing on a parable from Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist".AI's ability to perform psychological profiling and create personalized phishing scams is identified as a significant risk, highlighting the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.The episode discusses how regulations, although essential, are often outdated by the time they are implemented, stressing the need for flexible and innovative approaches in cybersecurity.Kodjo Hogan advises financial institutions to leverage generative AI for efficiency gains, like speeding up data analysis, while maintaining caution in its adoption.The discussion touches on the potential of AI to eliminate jobs, suggesting that professionals need to continually upskill and adapt.ReferencesBooks"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho."Artificial Intelligence: A Guide to Intelligent Systems" by Michael Negnevitsky."The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win" by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford.MoviesAmadeus.Internet ResourcesTLDR: (https://tldr.tech) - A curated list of current events in technology and more.Wired: (https://www.wired.com) - A source for in-depth articles on technology and cybersecurity news.

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.Our guest this week is Mike Montague, a seasoned AI marketing expert and founder, who shares his insights on how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape. In this engaging show, we explore the balance between technology and human ingenuity, addressing ethical considerations, evolving strategies, and the potential pitfalls of over-dependence on automation. AI and Human Collaboration: Mike Montague emphasizes the importance of adopting a "human first" approach in AI marketing, insisting that while AI can significantly boost efficiency, the human element remains vital for fostering creativity and providing context. He strongly advocates for leveraging AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity, ensuring that the personal touch remains at the forefront of marketing endeavors.Ethical Use of AI: Montague highlights pressing ethical concerns surrounding AI, particularly focusing on issues such as data privacy and the evolving nature of intellectual property. He suggests that as AI becomes more integrated into creative processes, traditional notions of intellectual property may become obsolete, emphasizing the importance of crediting and supporting the original creators of content.Marketing Strategy Evolution: According to Montague, AI tools have revolutionized the marketing landscape, making it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to compete on a more level playing field with larger brands. This technological shift allows smaller companies to produce high-quality content without the need for extensive resources that were once necessary.Challenges with AI in Marketing: Montague cautions against the dangers of over-reliance on AI, which can lead to the creation of generic or spammy content that fails to resonate with audiences. He advises marketers to prioritize building genuine connections with their audience, rather than exploiting AI's capabilities to spam or manufacture fake engagements, ensuring that authenticity remains a key focus.ReferencesBooks"A Thousand True Fans" by John Longhurst"What to Do When It's Your Turn" by Seth Godin"Duct Tape Marketing" by Jon Jantsch MoviesIron ManTerminatorOnline ResourcesLex Fridman's YouTube channel and podcastAnne Handley's email newsletter

Alec Crawford, CEO of AI Risk, Inc., talks to Matthew Rosenquist about his Top 10 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025. From Nation States to rising expectations to the wave of AI-driven hacking, you heard it here first!You can find the full list on LinkedIn or Matthew's new SubStack!

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.The Role of AI in Creativity: Magrutsche expressed concerns about AI's role in creativity, suggesting that AI lacks the personal touch and uniqueness inherent in human art. He described AI as a tool that, while useful for certain tasks, cannot replicate the personal creative process.Art's Value Beyond Economics: The conversation highlighted how art can function outside economic systems. Magruch pointed out that the true value of art is in its creation and personal expression, not necessarily in its commercial success.Human-Centric Versus System-Centric Views: Magrutsche discussed the importance of shifting from system-centric to human-centric approaches, especially in education and creativity. He argued that the current system fails many, particularly those who are neurodivergent.AI as a Tool, Not a Creator: Magrutsche compared AI to a knife, useful but not self-determining. He stressed the importance of human awareness and control over AI's use, particularly in creative fields.Ethical Concerns with AI: The podcast touched on ethical issues regarding AI, including its potential misuse and the importance of maintaining transparency and ethical boundaries in its deployment.Art and Emotional Intelligence: Magrutsche emphasized the need to harness emotional intelligence in creative endeavors and life, suggesting that AI cannot replicate this uniquely human capability.The Creation Process: He advocated for appreciation of the creative process itself, arguing that creation should not be driven solely by the desire for economic gain or societal approval.Impact of Social Media on Art: There was a discussion on how social media affects art, with Magrutsche suggesting that while it can expose people to more art, it often fails to capture the depth and personal connection of the creative process.AI's Limitations in Art: Magrutsche concluded that AI would never fully replicate the nuances of human creativity, as it generalizes and lacks the individual perspective necessary for true artistic expression.Books, Movies, Artists and Related Links:Books:"The Power of Now" by Eckhart TolleArtists:BruegelAndy WarholVincent van GoghJeff KoonsTaylor Swift (mentioned in the context of music)Pablo Picasso

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 engaging episode of the AI Risk Reward Podcast, host Alec Crawford converses with Matthew Rosenquist, a renowned CISO and cybersecurity strategist at Mercury Risk and Compliance. The discussion delves into the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, business strategy, and ethical considerations, enriched by Rosenquist's extensive experience at Intel and his insights into the evolving landscape of AI technologies.Impossible Problems: Rosenquist emphasizes the value of pursuing roles that tackle "impossible problems," drawing from his experiences at Intel, where such challenges were abundant.Leadership Lessons: He shares anecdotes about Andy Grove of Intel, highlighting a culture that valued ideas over titles.Strategic Insights: The relevance of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" in cybersecurity and business is discussed, emphasizing the need to understand oneself, the adversary, and the battleground.AI in Cybersecurity: While deep fakes grab headlines, AI's real value for attackers lies in enhancing social engineering tactics, such as phishing.Cyber Insurance Challenges: The difficulties faced by the insurance industry in adapting traditional risk assessment models to the chaotic nature of cybersecurity threats are explored.GenAI Risks: Rosenquist outlines the risks of using generative AI in enterprises, particularly concerning data security and integration with backend systems.Ethical AI Deployment: Organizations are urged to understand the ethical implications of AI and establish robust oversight to mitigate biases and harmful outputs.Regulatory Roles: The role of governments in AI regulation is seen as a balancing act between fostering innovation and ensuring citizen safety.AI Evolution: The rapid evolution of AI technologies, like movie-making AI, is highlighted, sparking curiosity about future advancements.Advice for Professionals: For those entering cybersecurity, Rosenquist advises understanding the dynamic nature of the field and developing a personal ethical code.References:"Only the Paranoid Survive" by Andy Grove"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu."Ethical Machines" by Reid Blackmanhttps://www.intel.com

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.Join Alec Crawford on the AI Risk Reward podcast as he welcomes Rutger van Faassen, the founder and CEO of Information Banker. In this insightful episode, Rutger shares his unique career journey from studying at hotel school to becoming a prominent figure in finance at ABN Amro and beyond. He discusses the influence of Steve Jobs on his leadership style, the potential impact of AI and blockchain on the finance industry, and the importance of storytelling in business. Rutger also provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and shares his experiences with AI applications in his business.Steve Jobs' influence on Rutger's leadership style includes the significance of "walk and talk" meetings for better decision-making.Rutger's journey from ABN Amro to founding Information Banker showcases the value of diverse experiences in banking and technology sectors.The concept of "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek is central to Rutger's approach in helping clients connect emotionally with their audience.Rutger uses AI tools like perplexity AI and Copilot for content creation and customer relationship management.AI is seen as an enhancer rather than a disruptor in traditional banking, with a focus on improving efficiency and customer experience.Regulatory challenges with AI include managing bias and ensuring ethical applications in sensitive areas like banking.Aspiring founders should focus on finding real customers early on to test and refine their business ideas.References1. Books:  - "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek  - "Built for Tomorrow" by Jason Pfeiffe2. Websites:  - Information Banker: https://www.informationbanker.com   - Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai3. Podcasts:  - AI Risk Reward with Alec Crawford    - Banking on Information by Rutger van Faassen  - Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway

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.Our host, Alec Crawford, interviews Adrian Mendoza, the founder and general partner at Mendoza Ventures, who shares insights from his journey in venture capital, his experiences with AI, and the evolution of the tech economy.From Architecture to AI: Adrian recounts his path from architecture to venture capital, highlighting his time at Harvard and his early involvement at Walt Disney Imagineering. He talks about the dot-com boom, his experiences at HBS, and the cyclical nature of the tech economy.AI and Venture Capital: Adrian Mendoza emphasized the transformative impact of AI on the venture capital landscape. He highlighted Mendoza Ventures' strategic focus on investing in AI, fintech, and blockchain companies, noting that their first AI investment involved scraping data for corporate gifting and sales enablement. Mendoza Ventures leverages AI to analyze data, guide investment decisions, and create AI-driven content such as podcasts. Adrian underscored the importance of understanding data and its applications, and the potential of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, despite issues like data hallucination and the need for transparency and ethical considerations in AI deployment.AI Evolution: Significant emphasis is placed on the evolution of AI, the importance of data, and the role of large language models (LLMs) in current technology trends. Adrian also discusses the ethical considerations and regulatory aspects of AI, emphasizing transparency and the potential impacts of generative AI on data privacy.Data Privacy and AI: Adrian Mendoza discussed the significant issues surrounding data privacy and generative AI. There is a growing concern about how companies utilize personal data, especially with the advent of AI tools like ChatGPT. Adrian highlighted that people are unknowingly feeding sensitive data into these AI systems, which then learn from and potentially misuse this information. This lack of transparency and potential for data leaks raises serious ethical and regulatory concerns about AI usage.Regulation of AI: Adrian compared the regulation of AI to the past failures of regulating social media, suggesting that politicians might not be well-equipped to handle the complexities of AI regulation. He mentioned that, similar to how ad tech evolved post-political events with clearer markings for sponsored content, AI might need similar transparency measures. The challenge lies in ensuring that AI systems explain their decision-making processes to maintain compliance and build trust.The conversation touches on Mendoza Ventures' investment strategies, focusing on fintech, blockchain, and AI, and the importance of building supportive ecosystems and networks for startups.BooksDevil in the White City by Eric Larson Movies•   Men in Black•   Iron Man 2•   The Clone WarsUseful Linkshttps://www.notebooklm.comhttps://www.mendoza-ventures.com