Media

From the environmental costs of data centers to the cultural biases baked into today’s models, Paul Roetzer and Cathy McPhillips answer your questions from our 50th Intro to AI class. Throughout the episode, they unpack the gray areas of AI-generated content, debate what the rise of agents means for work, and consider how creatives can stay ahead with AI. Show Notes: Access the show notes and show links here Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:05:13 — Question #1: Which environmental concern feels most urgent for the AI industry to solve? 00:07:58 — Question #2: How well do AI models reflect diverse languages and cultures? 00:10:25 — Question #3: What risks and ownership issues come with AI-generated video and images in marketing? 00:15:26 — Question #4: What are the best ways to start experimenting with AI agents? 00:18:22 — Question #5: Is there value in using multiple AI platforms to cross-check results? 00:22:06 — Question #6: How should businesses weigh built-in AI assistants versus standalone tools like…

Would you trust a synthetic version of yourself to teach your audience? One CEO just did, and it’s raising questions about authenticity, attention, and the future of thought leadership. In this week’s episode, Paul and Mike examine OpenAI’s billion-dollar power plays, the deeper implications of its “People First AI Fund,” and why Microsoft, Oracle, and OpenAI might be creating value out of thin air. They also analyze Replit’s Agent 3, a next-gen AI dev tool claiming 10x more autonomy, and why it may hint at what’s coming across industries. Plus, stay tuned for commentary on AI’s impact on jobs, the economy, and a controversial AI Podcast startup. Show Notes: Access the show notes and show links here Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:51 — OpenAI and Microsoft Partnership 00:18:31 — Replit’s Agent 3 and What It Means for the Future of Agents 00:30:15 — AI Avatars for Executives 00:42:36 — OpenAI and Oracle Compute Deal 00:47:00 — Anthropic’s $1.5B Authors Settlement Under Scrutiny 00:51:17 — Internal Tensions…

Earlier this summer, I recorded an episode of the Scaling Laws podcast with MacKenzie Price, founder of Alpha Schools—schools “where kids crush academics in two hours, build life skills through workshops, and thrive beyond the classroom.” The secret is AI, but likely not the sort of AI that comes to...