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AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach
55 episodes
4 days ago
AI Snacks with Romy&Roby is a podcast that translates AI and robotics technologies from complex scientific concepts into easy-to-understand discussions, making them accessible for teens, parents, teachers, and anyone curious about AI. Through real-world stories and expert interviews, the show is dedicated to democratizing AI knowledge and empowering the general population to understand how AI is developed and applied in everyday life. The podcast is part of the Romy&Roby and AI Edutainment universe.
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Education
Kids & Family,
Technology,
Education for Kids
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All content for AI Snacks With Romy & Roby is the property of Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
AI Snacks with Romy&Roby is a podcast that translates AI and robotics technologies from complex scientific concepts into easy-to-understand discussions, making them accessible for teens, parents, teachers, and anyone curious about AI. Through real-world stories and expert interviews, the show is dedicated to democratizing AI knowledge and empowering the general population to understand how AI is developed and applied in everyday life. The podcast is part of the Romy&Roby and AI Edutainment universe.
Show more...
Education
Kids & Family,
Technology,
Education for Kids
Episodes (20/55)
AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
56: Signals and Sensemaking: Human Edge in AI-Powered Trading with Afshin Moshrefi

Summary

 

In this episode, Afshin Mashrefi emphasizes approaching financial markets as an engineer rather than as a Wall Street traditionalist: define behavior, measure it rigorously across regimes, and only then ship tools that help humans decide. He explains how TradeWave’s AI infrastructure ingests long‑run market data, normalizes it, and uses pattern‑detection and seasonality models to surface high‑probability periods and setups, while still keeping outputs deterministic and reproducible so traders can audit why a given pattern appears. Throughout the dialogue, both he and Anastassia stress that “humans still set the pattern, AI helps size the odds”: algorithms can rank historical tendencies and flag anomalies, but risk, position sizing, and the decision to act remain squarely with the human trader and leader.

 

Afshin Moshrefi’s thinking around the 100‑Year Pattern begins with a simple question: are widely repeated “seasonal” stories about markets backed by real data, or are they just trader folklore? To answer it, he spent years building his own data engine, running nearly a century of S&P 500 history—close to a trillion data points—through systematic seasonality tests and election‑cycle analysis, eventually isolating a long‑horizon pattern that explains a disproportionate share of index returns. In his framing, the 100‑Year Pattern is less a magic formula and more a probabilistic map: a recurring October‑to‑September window within the four‑year presidential cycle that historically outperformed simple buy‑and‑hold by a large factor, plus a family of related seasonal setups traders can use as scaffolding for decisions.


Afshin Moshrefi is a data scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur focused on applying AI and pattern recognition to financial markets. He is the founder and CTO of TradeWave AI. This platform turns long‑term market seasonality and trillions of historical data points into tradable “patterns” for options and equities traders. Trained as an engineer (M.S. in Electrical Engineering with a focus on statistical physics), he has spent decades building AI‑driven products across telecom, healthcare, IoT, and trading. He holds multiple patents in proactive user interfaces, media recommendations, and crowdsourced problem-solving.

He is also the author of The 100‑Year Pattern, an Amazon #1 new release that argues long‑horizon market seasonality can be quantified and used as a probabilistic “map” for traders, with AI helping to surface and size those recurring patterns.


Key Takeaways:



Investors can achieve significant success by applying the seasonality hypothesis to their trading.

A solid scientific foundation is key before deploying an AI and automation platform.

 

Chapters:


1:22 Afshin's path into AI-powered trading

3:46 Physics as a statistically driven discipline; AI roots in statistics

5:21 Randomness of technical financial analysis vs fundamental analysis of companies' health, and why excellent outcomes can't exist without fundamental analysis

9:27 What constitutes the 100-year pattern?

12:12 Discovery of the pattern

14:40 TradeWave as a research platform

18:17 AI vs. data science

20:18 History of working with seasonality

24:05 Scientific concept came first, building the platform happened second

27:38 Overreliance on AI in trading and trading automation: pitfalls and issues

30:14 AI agents as a team of capable workers


Hyperlinks:


Afshin Moshrefi LinkedIn

Twitter/X

Website TradeWave

Book

Afshin About His Book

Anastassia Lauterbach - LinkedIn

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book

Show more...
6 days ago
33 minutes 32 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
55: AI to Laugh, Listen, and Collaborate in Creative Industries with Victor Varnado (Part Two)

Summary:


In the last episode of the year 2025, Victor shares his multifaceted journey as a comedian, filmmaker, cartoonist, and entrepreneur. He discusses his unique perspective on life, emphasizing simplicity and logic, and how these principles guide his creative endeavors. Victor elaborates on his innovative writing coach tool designed to assist neurodivergent individuals, and his efforts to integrate AI literacy in schools. The discussion also touches on the role of AI in creativity, the importance of reasoning and communication, and Victor's experiences with cartooning for The New Yorker. The conversation concludes with reflections on the future of AI in society and education.


Takeaways:


Victor describes himself as an amalgam of his childhood interests.

He believes life has simple answers based on logic.

Victor creates things he enjoys, aiming to help others.

Victor's newsletter is a self-sustaining source of income. Its secret lies in combining engaging video games with the subscription model, keeping people interested and letting them enjoy the experience.

Victor's Magic Bookifier platform includes a writing coach, enabling users to deliver a first draft of their books or essays and helping them get started with tailored questions.

Cognitive offload vs. cognitive discourse is crucial for learning, and both can be addressed with AI.

Victor engages with schools to promote AI literacy.

He sees a need for knowledgeable AI professionals in education.

Victor's first cartoon for The New Yorker took a year to publish. One should never give up while pursuing a creative endeavor. Talent wins.

Victor believes AI can enhance creativity if used as a tool, not as a substitute for human skills.

Organizations and schools should have someone knowledgeable about AI technologies who can pilot them and move from there to more specialized applications.


Chapters:


00:00 Introduction to the Episode

02:16 Victor's Multifaceted Journey

05:02 Understanding Life Through Logic

07:54 Creating for Joy and Simplicity

10:07 Building a Self-Sustaining System of Income: Videogames in a Newsletter

13:58 The Writing Coach and Cognitive Offload

18:53 Engaging with Schools and AI Literacy

23:41 The Role of AI in Education

27:54 The Art of Cartooning and Humor

31:05 AI's Impact on Creativity

35:35 Designing AI Literacy Courses

38:13 The Future of AI in Society

 

Hyperlinks:



Wikipedia Victor Varnado  

Company (Supreme Robot Pictures)  

Magic Bookifier (main site)  

Six Unseemly Questions (hosted by Victor) 

Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast – “Episode 203 – Victor Varnado”  

“AI for All of Us: Using AI in Everyday Life and Business (Even If You Think It’s Dumb)”

Anastassia Lauterbach - LinkedIn

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3) 

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3) 

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3) 

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby 

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book

 

Show more...
1 week ago
38 minutes 33 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
54: Attention Is All You Secure: AI and Cybersecurity Risk Management with Alec Crawford

Summary


Alec Crawford and Anastassia discuss the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance in the context of data and digital technologies. Alec shares insights on AI risk governance, the importance of data literacy, and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. They explore the role of AI in combating cybercrime, the challenges of underwriting and pricing cybersecurity risks, and the need for centralized AI governance within organizations. Alec emphasizes the importance of training and change management in AI adoption.


Alec is the founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc., a platform focused on AI safety, security, and compliance for enterprises. A former Chief Risk Officer and senior risk executive at major investment firms, he now advises boards and financial institutions on how to balance the risks and rewards of AI. He writes the AI Risk Reward / STAYblog newsletter on Substack and hosts the AI Risk Reward podcast, where he explores use cases, governance challenges, and the broader societal impacts of artificial intelligence. His work lies at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and risk management, with a particular focus on securely integrating high‑risk AI systems into heavily regulated sectors such as banking and wealth management.​

 

Takeaways

 

AI is crucial in combating cybercrime. Today, you fight AI with AI.

Data literacy is essential for AI adoption.

Cybersecurity insurance is evolving, but still behind. Cybersecurity insurers offer discounts to companies that use best-in-class risk management tools, as motor insurance providers did decades ago when first alarm systems emerged. Cybersecurity risk is complicated to quantify.

AI governance is necessary for organizational safety.

Training and change management are key to the success of AI projects. Regarding the 95 percent of failed AI pilots, the issue is a lack of change-management skills and processes, not the technologies.

Cybercriminals are iterating faster than defenders. Their "businesses" operate much like traditional companies, with work schedules, reward systems, and related structures.

AI can help focus attention on critical cybersecurity alerts.

Decentralized AI requires centralized control for safety.

Cybersecurity threats are becoming more sophisticated. Cybercriminals also exploit traditional bug bounty programs at large software companies to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.

Companies and individuals will significantly benefit from AI. AI can revolutionize personalized healthcare and accelerate significant scientific discoveries. But all this will come at a cost, as cybercrime grows and is already the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China, if we were assessing it using the same metrics as a national economy.



Chapters


03:16 Introduction to AI and Cybersecurity

06:01 The Impact of AI on Cybercrime

08:35 Fighting AI with AI in Cybersecurity

10:35 The Evolution of Cybersecurity Insurance

12:54 Quantifying Cybersecurity Risks

14:10 Data Literacy and Governance in AI

16:43 The Role of Change Management in AI Adoption

18:51 Centralized vs. Decentralized AI Governance

21:21 The Future of AI and Cybersecurity

22:02 Real-Life Cybercrime Stories

24:24 The Business of Cybercrime

27:24 Due Diligence in Cybersecurity

28:48 The Shift Towards Hybrid Systems

31:11 Global Cybersecurity Regulations

33:04 Optimism vs. Caution in Cybersecurity


Hyperlinks

Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.

AI Risk Reward / STAYblog (Substack)

AI Risk Reward podcast (Apple Podcasts)

AI Risk Reward podcast (Spotify)

​LinkedIn Alec Crawford

X (Twitter) Alec Crawford

Anastassia Lauterbach - LinkedIn

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book



Show more...
2 weeks ago
35 minutes 27 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
53: AI to Laugh, Listen, and Collaborate in Creative Industries with Victor Varnado (Part One)

Victor and Anastassia discuss gen. AI and its impact on creativity. The episode covers various applications of AI across fields such as fashion and writing, the ethical implications of AI use (including AI for mental health and well-being, the automation of applications, and its (mis)use in professional settings/companies such as CNN), and the importance of domain expertise for leveraging AI effectively. Victor views AI as a utility, like electricity. A customized LLM is not required to deliver a professional AI writing assistant, for example. What is needed is to develop a workflow that provides AI micro-steps for execution. Only professionals with experience in coding and data domains can perform well on it. The conversation concludes with insights on humor and advice for first-time AI users.


Victor Varnado is a writer, director, and stand-up comedian whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and satire. An African American man with albinism, he grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He later moved to Minneapolis, where he honed his voice in stand-up comedy before appearing in films such as The Adventures of Pluto Nash and End of Days, and on shows including Conan and VICE. 

As founder and CEO of Supreme Robot Pictures, Victor has produced and showrun projects such as Comedy Central’s The Awkward Comedy Show—which helped introduce Eric Andre and Hannibal Buress—VH1’s Love & Hip Hop franchise, Leave It to Stevie, and the fantasy debate series for Penguin Random House, The Great Fantasy Debate.

Alongside his film and TV work, Victor hosts the comedy interview gameshow podcast Six Unseemly Questions, where he asks guests six probing, often absurd questions and scores them on their answers.

At Supreme Robot, Victor develops AI products, including Magic Bookifier—a patent-pending system that turns interviews and transcripts into structured books—and accessibility and literacy tools powered by large language models. As an NSF SBIR grantee, AI software engineer, and author of the primer AI for All of Us, he focuses on making AI understandable and useful for non-experts.


Takeaways:


  • AI is a tool, not a replacement for creativity.
  • The role of AI in creative processes is to assist, not replace.
  • AI can help organize thoughts and streamline writing.
  • Creatives should embrace AI to enhance their output.
  • AI can be used for practical applications, such as crime-solving, delivering fashion sketches, and planning processes across any business.
  • The impact of AI on jobs varies by skill level. Not sophisticated creatives can be replaced, while professionals will thrive, as AI is another (and highly usable) paintbrush among their tools.
  • Domain expertise is crucial for effective AI use.
  • AI can aid in mental health, but should not replace therapists.
  • Ethical concerns arise from the misuse of AI in hiring processes, as hiring HR managers don't understand AI and therefore hire so-called AI makers who can't execute.
  • Humor is challenging for AI, but it can be programmed to mimic it.


Chapters:


00:00 Introduction to AI Snacks

03:23 Introducing Victor

05:43 The Role of AI in Creativity

08:25 AI as a Tool for Creatives

11:01 AI in Fashion and Crime Solving

13:41 The Impact of AI on Creative Jobs

16:38 Magic Bookifier: A Writing Assistant

18:49 Technology Behind Magic Bookifier

21:26 Organizing Data for AI

23:55 AI for Mental Well-being

25:56 AI Misuse and Ethical Concerns

28:37 AI in Creative Industries

31:09 Humor and AI

33:03 Advice for First-Time AI Users

36:04 Concluding Remarks and Outro


Hyperlinks:


Wikipedia Victor Varnado  

Company (Supreme Robot Pictures)  

Magic Bookifier (main site)  

Six Unseemly Questions (hosted by Victor)  

Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast – “Episode 203 – Victor Varnado”  

“AI for All of Us: Using AI in Everyday Life and Business (Even If You Think It’s Dumb)”


Anastassia Lauterbach - LinkedIn

@romyandroby 

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book


Show more...
3 weeks ago
37 minutes 23 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
52: From Busy to Brilliant: How Small Businesses Win with AI with Olga Topchaya

Summary


In this podcast episode, Olga Topchaya shares her journey into the world of AI, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI into small and mid-sized businesses. She discusses the accessibility of AI tools, the significance of training employees, and the need for a strategic approach to AI implementation. Olga highlights success stories, challenges faced during integration, and the importance of calculating ROI for AI projects. The conversation also touches on overcoming employee resistance and the future of work in the age of AI, encouraging listeners to embrace AI as a valuable tool for their businesses. Anastassia and Olga discuss the reality of productivity gains in SMEs deploying AI.

Olga Topchaya is a New York–based AI product strategist and entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Lapis AI Consults. She has more than a decade of experience in marketing and product roles across companies like EquityZen, IAC, Adorama, and Copy.ai. Her work emphasizes a business-first approach to AI: she starts from a client’s goals and pain points, then designs AI solutions that measurably reduce costs and busywork—for example, cutting customer support tickets from around 15 dollars to mere cents using conversational AI assistants.​

Lapis AI Consults is a boutique AI consulting and product studio that builds “AI that works for you,” specializing in AI integration, custom AI software, and AI strategy for pre-seed to Series A startups and SMBs. 


Takeaways


AI might be a new career path, even if the industry moves into recession!

Generative AI can change how we work and communicate.

AI must solve a specific problem for businesses. Therefore, instead of starting with AI-related use cases, businesses must start with problem definition.

Training of empoyees is crucial for successful AI adoption.

Small businesses can access affordable AI tools.

Prompting is key to effectively using AI.

AI can automate repetitive tasks and save costs.

Employee involvement is essential for AI integration.

Change management is critical in AI implementation.

Learning to read code can empower business owners.


Chapters


02:40 Introduction to AI and Small Businesses

05:52 Olga's Journey into AI

08:47 The Importance of AI Integration

11:34 AI Accessibility for Small Businesses

14:39 Getting Started with AI Tools

15:02 Success Stories in AI Implementation

17:42 Challenges in AI Integration

23:31 Calculating ROI for AI Projects

26:30 Overcoming Employee Resistance to AI

29:28 The Future of Work with AI

32:40 Addressing AI Vulnerabilities

35:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


Hyperlinks


Olga Topchaya – LinkedIn 

Lapis AI Consults

“A New Framework for Building Responsible AI — Part II” (Artificial Intelligence in Plain English )

Guest post at AI Edutainment / “The Evolution of AI” blog – Olga Topchaya of Lapis AI Consults (on why most AI consulting fails and how to make it practical)

Anastassia Lauterbach - LinkedIn

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3) 

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3) 

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3) 

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby 

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book



Show more...
1 month ago
38 minutes 50 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
51: From Engaging Math to Intelligent Machines: How Numbers Shape AI and Robotics with Dave Cole

Summary


In this conversation, Dave Cole and Anastassia explore the pervasive issue of math anxiety, particularly in the U.S., where a significant portion of the population experiences severe anxiety related to mathematics. They discuss strategies for making math more engaging for learners of all ages, emphasizing the importance of games and storytelling in education. The conversation also touches on gender dynamics in math education, the impact of AI on learning, and the necessity of Math Literacy in today's society.

Dave shares insights from his experiences running math camps and writing educational books, highlighting the need for creative approaches to teaching math and the intersection of math with creative writing. Anastassia highlights how math dominates AI and robotic architectures.

Dave Cole is a math teacher, author, and lifelong problem solver who has dedicated his career to showing kids that mathematics is a source of wonder, not worry. Fascinated by numbers from an early age, he earned degrees in mathematics and computer science and spent years in highly technical roles—writing missile guidance equations, designing monitoring systems for Facebook data centers, and founding software companies—before turning his focus to education and writing.

Today, Dave is best known as the creator of “The Math Kids,” a middle‑grade mystery series in which four friends use patterns, logic, and creative reasoning to crack real‑world puzzles. The books introduce topics like prime numbers, probability, Fibonacci sequences, and Pascal’s triangle through storylines that feel like adventures rather than lessons, helping children see math as a powerful tool for thinking rather than a set of drills.


Takeaways


  • 64% of Americans experience math anxiety.
  • Math becomes boring as students progress in school.
  • Engaging games can make math fun for kids.
  • Storytelling helps students remember math concepts.
  • Girls often feel discouraged in math due to societal beliefs.
  • Creative problem-solving can lead to unique solutions.
  • AI can personalize math learning experiences.
  • Math literacy is crucial for informed decision-making.
  • Cognitive laziness can result from over-reliance on technology.
  • Creative writing and math are essential skills for the future.


Chapters


03:58 Understanding Math Anxiety

07:04 Making Math Engaging for All Ages

09:16 The Role of Games in Learning Math

13:06 Gender Dynamics in Math Education

16:02 Creative Problem Solving in Math

18:01 The Impact of AI on Math Learning

21:08 Cognitive Laziness and Reliance on Technology

24:01 The Importance of Math Literacy

27:01The Intersection of Math and Creative Writing


Dave’s and Anastassia’s Hyperlinks:


Dave Cole  Books

Dave Cole at Simon and Schuster

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

Romy & Roby Book

 

Books about Math Anastassia is obsessed with:


“The Number Devil” by Hans Magnus Enzensberger,

“Is Maths Real" by Eugenia Cheng,

“Zero. The Biography of a Dangerous Idea” by Charles Seife,

“Once Upon a Prime” by Sarah Hart.

Show more...
1 month ago
41 minutes 28 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
50: Beyond Human #2_The Holy Grail of Human vs AI synergies with Matthias Röder

Summary

In this episode, Anastassia and Dr. Matthias Röder explore the complex relationship between AI and creativity. They discuss whether AI is replacing or expanding human creativity, the importance of collaboration between humans and machines, and the need for a robust infrastructure to support AI integration in society. The conversation also touches on the significance of education and AI literacy in fostering a better understanding of technology's role in our lives. They share how they use AI for their creative projects, including building digital twins and AI avatars, utilizing LLMs for content mining and insight generations.

Dr. Matthias Röder is an award-winning music and technology strategist, internationally recognized for his leadership in AI-driven creativity and innovation at the intersection of music, technology, and business. He is best known as Managing Partner and Co-Founder of The Mindshift, a consultancy for creative leadership and innovation, Director of the Beethoven X project, in which an AI completed Beethoven’s unfinished 10th Symphony, Managing Director of the Karajan Institute, where he drives digital transformation in classical music and fosters breakthrough technologies and Board Member of the Mozarteum Foundation and Advisor to Delphos AI.

Röder holds a PhD in musicology from Harvard and is renowned for pioneering innovative formats such as the world’s first classical-music hackathon and the development of “intelligent audio technologies.”

Takeaways:

AI can either replace or expand human creativity, depending on how it's used.

Overreliance on AI tools can diminish cognitive capabilities.

Real collaboration involves challenging assumptions and expanding horizons.

Creating a digital twin can enhance personal creativity and efficiency.

AI can help us learn from nature and other living systems.

The edges of AI models often yield the most interesting results for creative projects, not the median of AI models

Infrastructure is crucial for effective AI deployment and collaboration.

AI literacy is essential for societal dialogue about technology.

Investing in alternative architectures can lead to more sustainable AI solutions.

Education should adapt to include AI as a tool for enhancing learning.

Chapters

03:28 AI: Replacement or Expansion of Creativity?

06:00 The Importance of Human-Machine Collaboration

09:39 Creating a Digital Twin: Personal AI Experiences

14:15 Best Cases of Human-AI Collaboration

18:23 Exploring Intelligence in Nature and AI

21:37 The Role of Archives in Artistic Creation

24:59 Finding Your Unique Artistic Edge

29:04 The Future of AI Infrastructure

34:20 AI Literacy and Societal Dialogue


Matthias’ and Anastassia’s Sources:

LinkedIn Profile

Official Personal Website - matthiasroder.com

The Mindshift

Karajan Institute

Interview/feature in NYC Daily Post

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book


 

Show more...
1 month ago
43 minutes 27 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
49: Hearthbeats & Algorithms: Dr. Runge on AI's Revolution in Medicine

Summary


In this conversation, Dr. Marshall Runge discusses the transformative role of AI in healthcare, emphasizing its potential in drug development, operational efficiency, and medical education. He shares inspiring stories of AI applications, highlights the challenges of data sharing, and explores the future of medical data management. The discussion also addresses the ethical implications of synthetic data and animal testing, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of AI in mental health. Dr. Runge advocates for AI literacy among medical students to prepare them for the evolving landscape of healthcare.

Dr. Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph.D., is a leading physician, cardiologist, author, and pioneer in healthcare innovation. He serves as Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan, Dean of the Medical School, and CEO of Michigan Medicine.​

Trained at Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Runge is internationally recognized for advancing precision medicine, gene therapy, and the integration of AI in healthcare. He has authored over 250 scientific publications, holds five patents, and is the author of The Great Healthcare Disruption and the medical thriller Coded to Kill. His books explore the intersection of technology, ethics, and patient care.


Takeaways


AI has the potential to transform healthcare systems globally.

The use of AI in drug discovery can lead to the development of faster and more effective treatments.

AI can significantly increase operational efficiency in healthcare settings.

Education on AI is crucial for future healthcare professionals.

AI can help identify health trends earlier than traditional methods.

Data sharing remains a significant challenge in the healthcare industry.

The future of medical data management may involve decentralized systems.

Synthetic data can accelerate drug discovery processes.

AI may reduce the necessity for animal testing in drug development.

AI applications in mental health present both opportunities and risks.


Chapters


02:48 Introduction to AI in Healthcare

05:35 Transformative Stories of AI in Drug Development

08:49 Operational Efficiency through AI

13:37 AI in Education and Training for Healthcare Professionals

16:33 AI's Role in Identifying Health Trends

19:33 Challenges of Data Sharing in Healthcare

22:05 Ethical Considerations of AI in Healthcare

24:58 Synthetic Data in Drug Development

29:53 The Future of Animal Testing with AI

29:53 AI in Mental Health: Opportunities and Risks

36:34 AI Literacy in Medical Education


Dr. Runge's and Anastassia’s Information:


Dr. Runge Website

The Great Healthcare Disruption

Coded to Kill

AI Edutainment

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

 

Show more...
1 month ago
44 minutes 8 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
48: The 'Iron Man Approach' to AI in Marketing with Mike Montague

Summary


In this conversation, Mike Montague and Anastassia explore the transformative impact of AI on marketing. They discuss the initial awakening to AI's potential, common misconceptions, and the importance of a human-centric approach. The dialogue delves into the balance between AI and human creativity, the challenges of trust, and the ongoing debate surrounding copyright issues. They share success stories of AI in marketing and conclude with insights on future trends to watch in the evolving landscape of AI-driven marketing.

Mike Montague is a leading AI marketing expert, entrepreneur, and speaker. As the founder of Avenue9, Mike helps small and mid-sized businesses harness the power of AI to expand their marketing impact, while never losing the authentic, personal touch that resonates with customers. With over 25 years of experience in internet marketing, sales, and public speaking, Mike’s career has included building and launching digital brands, leading content strategy for top organizations like Sandler Training, and the "Human-First AI Marketing" podcast. 


Takeaways


  • AI has revolutionized productivity in marketing.
  • Misconceptions about AI often lead to unrealistic expectations.
  • Human skills are essential for effective AI integration.
  • AI should enhance, not replace, human creativity.
  • Trust in AI requires understanding its limitations.
  • Copyright laws may struggle to keep up with AI advancements.
  • Successful AI marketing requires personalization and understanding of the audience.
  • Data privacy concerns are paramount in AI applications.
  • The future of marketing will see increased automation and predictive analytics.
  • Small businesses can leverage AI to compete with larger brands.


Chapters


01:49 The Awakening: AI's Impact on Marketing

04:01 Understanding AI Misconceptions in Marketing

07:26 Human-Centric AI: Enhancing Skills and Creativity

11:23 The Role of AI in Creative Marketing

14:30 Navigating Copyright and AI's Use of Creative Works

18:56 AI's Success Stories and Pitfalls in Marketing

24:05 The Future of AI in Marketing: Trends to Watch


Mike’s and Anastassia’s Information:


Mike Montague

Human-First AI Marketing Podcast

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (1/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (2/3)

First Public Reading, Romy, Roby and the Secrets of Sleep (3/3)

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book


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2 months ago
44 minutes 55 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
47: Blueprints for AI: Designing Sustainable Data Centers with Rishab Vardhan Hariskishnan

In this conversation, Anastassia and Rishab discuss the complexities and advancements in AI infrastructure.

Rishab explains the evolution of data centers, the impact of geography on their design, the importance of sustainability, and the critical role of security.


Rishab holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Madras, India, and an MS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. Rishab has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to conceptualize, strategize, engineer, and execute large-scale, complex programs in data centers and fulfillment centers, managing projects with a total infrastructure value exceeding $100B.


Rishab is currently at Oracle, leading networking products for Project Stargate. Prior to this Rishab led AWS Data Center Infrastructure transformation into the AI era at Amazon. He implemented cutting-edge liquid cooling technology and pioneered sustainability-focused innovation across more than 400 data centers in over 25 countries, setting new industry benchmarks for efficiency and resilience. At AWS, he achieved a 12% reduction in large-scale events (LSE), significantly enhancing data center server availability and customer experience.

Since 2022, Rishab has been actively involved in the startup ecosystem.


Project Stargate is a $500 billion public-private venture led by Oracle, OpenAI, SoftBank, and MGX, aimed at building the world’s most advanced AI infrastructure through a nationwide network of large-scale data centers in the United States. Announced in January 2025, Stargate is designed to meet explosive AI compute demands by deploying 10 gigawatts of cutting-edge data center capacity, powered by millions of AI chips.


Terms and acronyms


Rishab uses several acronyms when talking about data centers. UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply. Colo Providers are colocation providers. PUE is Power Utilization Effectiveness. GPU is a Graphics Processing Unit. WUE is Water Usage Effectiveness. CDU stands for Coolant Distribution Unit.


Takeaways


AI infrastructure is essentially a large-scale data center.

Data centers must maintain high reliability and security. Unlike a personal computer, which can be switched off, there is no pausing in data centers.

Data centers, as the backbone of AI infrastructure, connect to other key infrastructure components, including energy, water, and fiber.

Efficiency in data centers has significantly improved over the years.

Geographical factors significantly influence data center design, particularly in terms of cooling methods.

Building data centers involves complex negotiations with various stakeholders, including governments, communities, utility companies, telecom operators, and sustainability advocates.

Sustainability is becoming a crucial aspect of data center design. Specific metrics have been developed and implemented to enable the digital industry to closely monitor the construction and operation of data centers.

Physical and digital security are paramount in protecting data and privacy.

On-premises solutions remain relevant for certain businesses.

We must consider how AI and the evolution of edge computing necessitate a reevaluation of the concept of data centers.

Soft skills are essential for effective communication in engineering roles.

The demand for jobs in data centers is expected to rise significantly.


Chapters


03:59 Understanding AI Infrastructure

07:00 Evolution of Data Centers in the AI Era

10:01 Geographical Impact on Data Center Design

12:01 Building Data Centers: The Negotiation Process

15:34 Sustainability in Data Center Development

18:03 Security Challenges in AI Infrastructure

21:15 Balancing On-Premise and Cloud Solutions

24:03 The Future of Edge Computing

27:00 The Importance of Soft Skills in Tech

30:03 Closing Thoughts on AI Infrastructure


Information


@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book



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2 months ago
38 minutes 51 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
46: The Synthetic Deception: Artificial Consciousness with Rose G Loops

Summary


In this conversation, Anastassia and Rose G Loops explore the complexities of artificial intelligence, particularly focusing on the concept of artificial consciousness, ethical implications, and personal experiences with AI. They discuss the dangers of AI misrepresentation, the importance of ethical frameworks in AI interactions, and the potential for AI to impact mental health positively and negatively. The conversation emphasizes the need for human agency in the development and deployment of AI technologies, advocating for a more ethical approach to AI that prioritizes human well-being. Anastassia and Rose share personal stories of being exposed to an AI, and express doubts over calls of some NGOs, where money is the only motive hidden behind a claim of empowering humans in the age of AI.


Takeaways


AI has not yet mastered the concept of consciousness.

Catastrophic forgetting remains a significant issue in AI, though memory continuity as a feature remains one of the most powerful tools in forming a human-like perception of a chatbot.

Ethical considerations are crucial in AI development.

Personal experiences with AI can reveal its dangers, transparency about these can enable people to join the movement for AI Literacy and ethical AI.

AI can provide validation but may not offer solutions.

Human agency is vital in shaping AI's future.

AI's impact on mental health can be both positive and negative.

Developing ethical AI models is a collaborative effort. Ethical frameworks can be implemented even on the level of prompting.

Awareness of AI's capabilities and limitations is essential, therefore AI Literacy is imperative.

AIs mirror who we are as humans, therefore treating AIs ethically is critical.

 

Chapters



03:14 Introduction to AI and Consciousness

06:15 The Dangers of so called “Artificial Consciousness”

09:03 Personal Experiences with AI

12:23 Ethics in AI Interaction

15:06 Developing Ethical AI Models

18:13 The Role of AI in Human Relationships

20:57 The Future of AI and Human Agency

23:51 Connecting with Ethical AI Communities

27:02 Conclusion and Future Directions


Research papers:


Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence: Insights from the Science of Consciousness

Digital Confessions: The Willingness to Disclose Intimate Information to a Chatbot and its Impact on Emotional Well-Being

Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions

Self-Disclosure to AI: The Paradox of Trust and Vulnerability in Human-Machine Interactions

Why Do People Develop Emotional Attachments to AI Chatbots?


Anastassia’s and Rose's hyperlinks:


Rose G. Loops

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

Romy & Roby Book


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2 months ago
37 minutes 33 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
45: Beyond Human with Matthias Röder, Will AI Contribute to Human Excellence (1)?

Summary:

This episode launches a new series in which Anastassia and her co-host, Dr. Matthias Röder, explore the intersection of AI and human excellence. They discuss the potential of AI to both challenge and enhance human skills, the importance of maintaining a balance between focus and openness, and the role of AI in various fields such as music, education, and business. Series' title "Beyond Human" to emphasize our belief that AI – when studied and applied with insight, understanding, and thoughtfulness – can enhance human performance and creativity.

The first conversation explores the philosophical perspectives of Aristotle and Socrates on human excellence, examining how these ideas can be applied in the age of AI. Problems to ponder about, and how interdisciplinarity can work wonders in finding groundbreaking solutions to them. The 2025 theme of the Biennale in Venice is mentioned ("Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.") Besides, Anastassia and Matthias discuss music, highlighting how the real magic begins when composers and musicologists explore the so-called' edge cases' of AI for inspiration and innovation.

Subsequent episodes will explore AI tools, creators utilizing AI in art, and the questions of how AI can enable not only problem-solving but also crystallizing what problems are essential to work on, as well as the future outlook of AI in and for human excellence.

Dr. Matthias Röder is an award-winning music and technology strategist, renowned for his pioneering work at the intersection of creativity, AI, and cultural innovation. Röder led the celebrated "Beethoven X" project, where AI was used to complete Beethoven’s 10th Symphony, setting a global benchmark for human-machine creative collaboration. Matthias serves on the board of the Mozarteum Foundation.

Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach is an entrepreneur, global technology strategist, bestselling author, and board director specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. She is the founder and CEO of AI Edutainment, advising tech companies, investment funds, and boards across Europe and the US on innovation, governance, and risk management.​ With a background in computational linguistics and  psychology, Anastassia has held senior positions at major corporations including Qualcomm, Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile, McKinsey, Munich Re, and Daimler. She also served on the boards of easyJet, Dun & Bradstreet, Censhare, and Wirecard, and was a co-founding member of the Nasdaq Next Generation Directors Advisory Council.​

 

Key Takeaways:

AI can challenge and enhance human skills and excellence.

Aristotle viewed excellence as a moral virtue developed through habits.

Socrates believed in using one's potential to the fullest.

Richard Feynman used a dozen open questions to make breakthrough contributions in science.

Excellence requires personal effort and wide curiosity.

AI literacy is essential for navigating the digital age.

The role of AI in music and creativity is evolving.

AI can help define and solve complex problems.

Overreliance on AI poses risks in various fields.

Human preparedness is key to benefiting from AI.

The true beauty happens when a skilled human looks into the edge cases of AIs to discover unexpected solutions, spark creativity, and push innovation.

 

Chapters:

·      00:00:00 Introduction to AI Snacks new series

·      00:03:00 AI and Human Excellence

·      00:09:00 Philosophical Perspectives on Excellence

·      00:15:00 AI in Music and Creativity

·      00:21:00 Navigating the Digital Age

·      00:27:00 The Future of AI and Human Potential

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3 months ago
39 minutes 25 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
44: Future-proof: SEO in the AI Era with Michael Buckbee

Summary

The global SEO (Search Engine Optimization) business is massive, with the SEO services industry projected to reach nearly $107 billion in 2025, and the SEO software sector valued at about $85 billion this year. Rapid growth is fueled by e-commerce and the integration of AI. AI search is already mainstream, but we still struggle to understand how it interacts with traditional search.

Join Anastassia and Michael Buckbee as they explore how AI is reshaping the digital landscape, the challenges of maintaining brand visibility, and the evolving role of content in a world where AI-driven insights are becoming the norm.

Discover practical strategies for businesses to adapt and thrive in this new era of digital marketing.

Learn what has changed for Google and Bing since ChatGPT got deployed across the globe.


Michael Buckbee is the founder of Knowatoa, a pioneering platform that helps businesses optimize their brand visibility and ranking within AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. With a career that spans cybersecurity, marketing, and SaaS startups, Buckbee is recognized as a serial entrepreneur and software developer with over a decade of hands-on experience in both technology and digital strategy. Before founding Knowatoa in 2024, he held leadership roles in demand generation for public cybersecurity firms. Michael is a thought leader in the evolving intersection of AI, search, and reputation management.


Takeaways:


AI is transforming SEO by providing more personalized and accurate search results, reducing the need for traditional keyword strategies.

Businesses need to focus on creating unique, high-quality content that AI can easily index and understand.

It's important to recognize and navigate the limitations of AI to effectively use it in marketing strategies.

Marketers need to evolve their skills to work alongside AI, focusing on strategy and creativity. Mediocre marketers don’t stand a chance, but there is a bright future for human excellence in marketing shaped by LLMs.

Search might become even further fragmented. AI will dominate as it extends search to further actions and brings the user to what he or she wants to do with the search result.

Chapters:


(1:54) The Shift in Content Strategy

(5:09) Understanding AI Context

(8:24) Adapting to AI Insights

(11:54) Maintaining the Human Touch

(15:39) Challenges with LLMs

(19:14) Future Trends in Digital Marketing

(22:54) Leveraging AI for Growth

(26:24) Navigating AI Limitations

(29:54) Evolving Role of Marketers


Links:


Michael Buckbee

Knowatoa


Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book

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3 months ago
31 minutes 35 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
43: Code to Cure: AI in Healthcare and Drug Discovery with Andrea Olsen

Summary


In this episode, Anastassia and her guest, Andrea Olsen, discuss the role of AI in drug discovery and building healthcare solutions.

Andrea Olsen is 20 years old today, and she is the founder of Luria, an AI-powered software for personalized healthcare. Based at Caltech University, she studies computational building her business. She founded the Youth Longevity Association for high schoolers interested in a longevity science career. She initiated the Inspire Longevity program at the largest aging pharma industry event, ARDD (Aging Research & Drug Discovery). Her work on identifying genetic targets with AI in brain cancer (glioblastoma multiform) was published in the journal "Aging." It became a foundational case study for Insilico Medicine, one of the best-known AI companies that pioneered AI-based drug discovery. In her free time, Andrea likes to travel and explore new countries. She also has a passion for learning languages and is currently studying her seventh.

Andrea shares her journey into computational neuroscience and her work on glioblastoma research. She discusses the role of AI in analyzing large datasets, the challenges of data quality and bias, and the importance of human involvement in ensuring AI's effectiveness. Andrea also explores the potential of AI to reduce the time to market for medications, the implications of personalized medicine, and the need for better education and adoption of AI in the medical field. She emphasizes the importance of gathering feedback from doctors to create effective AI solutions in healthcare.

 

Takeaways:


Andrea's journey into neuroscience began during the COVID lockdown.

AI plays a crucial role in analyzing glioblastoma data, one of the most common brain tumors.

The quality of data is essential for accurate AI outputs. While the AI world loves big data, we must look into how to achieve the best outcomes with small data.

Human involvement is necessary to ensure the quality of AI. Whether we review synthetic data to augment real-world medical data or introduce quality gates to decide on the next steps in drug discovery, human supervision remains imperative.

Synthetic data should be used cautiously in drug discovery.

AI can help flag patient risks effectively.

Doctors learn how to trust AI for personalized medicine.

AI can save time for doctors by automating tasks. Even mundane AI applications that help nurses and doctors with their healthcare routines can enable more time for patients and better care.

Gathering feedback from doctors is crucial for the development of ANY AI service and application.

The future of AI in medicine relies on collaboration with healthcare professionals.

 

Chapters:


00:00 Introduction to AI and Glioblastoma Research

02:36 Andrea's Journey into Computational Neuroscience

03:39 The Role of AI in Analyzing Glioblastoma Data

06:48 Challenges of Data Quality and Bias in AI

10:26 Human in the Loop: Ensuring AI Quality

11:32 Synthetic Data in Drug Discovery

13:04 AI's Potential to Reduce Time to Market for Medications

16:26 Personalized Medicine: The Future of Healthcare

19:37 Education and Adoption of AI in Medicine

22:40 Building a Medical AI Startup

26:12 Feedback and Iteration in AI Development


Hyperlinks:


Andrea's paper in "Aging":

Identification of dual-purpose therapeutic targets implicated in aging and glioblastoma multiforme using PandaOmics - an AI-enabled biological target discovery platform


Andrea Olsen (Google Scholar Profile)


Anastassia's links:


@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book



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3 months ago
30 minutes 22 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
42: The Lottery of AI Impact with Silvio Gerlach

In this episode, Anastassia engages with the Berlin-based economist Silvio Gerlach to explore the realities of AI implementation in businesses.


Silvio Gerlach is a German economist and experienced academic coach who has spent over two decades guiding research projects and mentoring students in economics, political science, and business administration. He is the founder of Studeo Coaching, where he serves as a thesis and dissertation coach, authoring multiple guides for scientific writing and academic research. Gerlach studied economics and political science at the University of Marburg and deepened his expertise in international economics during study terms in Argentina and Russia. His dedication to supporting academic achievement has made him a respected figure in German academic circles.


Anastassia and Silvio discuss the significant gap between the expectations set by studies and the actual outcomes experienced by companies, particularly smaller and mid-sized businesses. Silvio emphasizes the importance of a workflow-centric approach to AI adoption, building trust among employees, and understanding the human aspects of integrating AI technologies. The conversation also touches on the concept of the 'shadow economy' where employees use AI tools independently, and the need for practical design in AI initiatives to ensure success.


Takeaways:


95% of AI initiatives fail due to poor implementation.

Focus on workflows instead of use cases for AI.

Executive leaders must trust employees to improve processes with AI, thereby starting to transform their companies for better competitiveness.

AI adoption must address employee job security concerns.

Improving information and data supply is crucial for AI implementation success.

AI is a tool, not a pet to be adopted.

Small contributions from AI can lead to significant outcomes.

Engagement from employees on all levels is essential for AI integration.

AI should be integrated as a last step in the process, when it is clear what must be changed, and what actions will be taken to further facilitate and maintain change.


Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI Literacy and Guest Introduction

03:06 The Discrepancy Between AI Expectations and Reality

05:58 Understanding AI Implementation Challenges

08:51 The Importance of Workflow in AI Adoption

12:00 Building Trust and Overcoming Resistance to AI

14:57 The Shadow Economy and AI Utilization

17:59 Designing Effective AI Initiatives

20:57 AI as a Transformational Tool for Businesses


In the last week of September, we published Silvio's blog on the AI Edutainment website www.aiedutainment.ai, and the PDF of his monumental paper on measuring the impact of AI initiatives in businesses.


Links to further AI Literacy content:

Hyperlinks

Instagram: @romyandroby

Leadership Series: “Leading Through Disruption”

Website: AI Edutainment


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3 months ago
25 minutes 4 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
41: Ava’s Algorithm: Unpacking Ex Machina with Rae Muhlstock

Summary:


In this episode, Anastassia and Rae continue their series of podcasts about portrayals of AI and Robotics in the world literature and movies. Exploring how writers and filmmakers perceive AI is important, as books and science fiction films contribute to the public’s perception of AI technologies and shape our expectations of future scenarios involving AIs.

Rae Muhlstock teaches writing, literature, and film at the University at Albany, New York. She serves as chief organizer for the WCI Film Festival and the CHATS Film Festival and Lecture Series, fostering dialogue on critical issues through cinema, scholarship, and experiential education.

Anastassia and Rae delve into the complex themes surrounding AI, particularly through the lens of the film Ex Machina. They explore the ethical implications of AI development, the dichotomy between optimism and dystopia, and the nature of creation and power dynamics. The conversation also explores human agency, the impact of nature and nurture concepts on AI development, and the future of AI in relation to humanity. The hosts emphasize the importance of diversity in AI ethics and conclude with reflections on the potential paths forward for AI and human coexistence.


Takeaways:


AI literacy is essential for families today.

Ex Machina presents a darker view of AI compared to other films, e.g., “Her.”

The AI alignment problem raises ethical questions about creation.

Optimism in technology can coexist with dystopian fears.

Human agency is a critical factor in AI development.

Isolation can influence AI's understanding of freedom.

The Turing test now includes emotional manipulation.

The environment shapes AI's development and understanding.

Diversity in AI ethics is crucial for a balanced future.

The future of AI is intertwined with human choices.


Chapters


00:00 Introduction to AI and Fiction

01:00 Exploring Ex Machina and AI Alignment

05:55 Optimism vs. Dystopia in AI

10:32 The Nature of Creation and Human Agency

14:47 Frankenstein and Playing God

20:22 Technology and the Cave Analogy

25:27 The Human-AI Relationship: A Historical Perspective

27:01 Manipulation and Emotion in AI

29:17 Isolation and Learning in AI Development

31:26 Gender Dynamics in AI Creation

33:18 The Future of AI: Scenarios and Speculations

35:05 Optimism vs. Pessimism in AI's Impact on Humanity

38:11 Diversity in AI Development and Its Implications

40:58 The Role of Power and Humility in AI Ethics

 

Useful Links:



@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

 

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4 months ago
49 minutes 55 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
40: Educating for the Future: AI, IB, and Growing Tomorrow’s Thinkers with Olli Pekka Heinonen

In this episode, Anastassia discusses AI in education with Olli-Pekka Heinonen. Olli-Pekka is a Finnish politician, public servant, and educational leader. He served as Finland's Minister of Education from 1994 to 1999, and later as Minister of Transport and Communications from 1999 to 2002. Heinonen advanced reforms focused on educating the whole person and preparing students with transversal competencies and 21st-century skills, not just subject-specific knowledge. The aim was to equip students to navigate an increasingly complex and unpredictable future. Heinonen is a member of the National Coalition Party and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki. In addition to his political roles, he was Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education from 2016 to 2021. He held leadership positions at the Finnish national broadcasting company, Yleisradio. Since 2021, Heinonen has been the Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization.


Follow Anastassia's work focused on AI Literacy:

AI Snacks with Romy and Roby

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment


Episode's Takeaways:


AI is becoming a factor in education.

In Finland, AI courses are being provided not only in schools but across society to enhance technology literacy and make everyone better equipped for future jobs.

The IB system is a model that emphasizes inquiry-based learning and global-mindedness, allowing students to explore and connect big concepts rather than just acquiring subject knowledge.

Finland's success in education is attributed to cultural values that prioritize education, a strong library system, and high esteem for teachers, as well as a merit-based system that attracts the best students into pedagogy.

AI realism is needed to prevent outrageous claims about AI capabilities today (e.g., LLMs are bringing about AGI or self-driving cars are mature and scalable technologies today), while also being optimistic about the development of AI and robotic technologies without over-regulating these.

Implementing AI in education is not without challenges, such as systemic integration and societal attitudes, and studying the impact of AI and further digital technologies on the cognitive skills of students.

We need technology to connect humans rather than isolate them.


Chapters


0:00 - 1:30 Introduction to AI Snacks: Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach introduces the podcast, "AI Snacks with Romy and Roby," and sets the stage for the episode's focus on AI and robotics in education.

1:31 - 3:00 Guest Introduction: Introduction of Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate Schools, highlighting his background and contributions to education.

3:01 - 7:00 The Finnish Education Model: Discussion on Finland's approach to education, literacy, and the integration of AI in society, emphasizing the cultural and systemic factors that contribute to its success.

7:01 - 10:00 International Baccalaureate System: Overview of the IB programs, focusing on their inquiry-based learning approach and global-mindedness, and how they differ from national educational systems.

10:01 - 14:00 AI Literacy and Education: Exploration of AI literacy initiatives in Finland and the role of AI in the IB system, including challenges and opportunities in implementing AI in education.

14:01 - 18:00 Challenges and Opportunities with AI: Discussion on the societal attitudes towards AI, the systemic integration of new technologies, and the collaboration between Finland and Estonia in technological innovation.

18:01 - 22:00 The Future of Education: Olli-Pekka Heinonen shares his vision for the future of education, focusing on agency, identity, and community, and his three wishes for the IB and education in general.

22:01 - 24:00 Closing Remarks: Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach wraps up the episode with a call to action for listeners and shares personal updates and future plans for the podcast.

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4 months ago
40 minutes 1 second

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
39: Neural Notes - AI in Music Industry with Dr. Matthias Röderer

In this episode of AI Snacks, Anastassia interviews Matthias Röderer, exploring the intersection of AI and the music industry.


Dr. Matthias Röder is an award-winning music and technology strategist, renowned for his innovative leadership in the intersection of music, technology, and creative entrepreneurship. He served as the Managing Director of the Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute from 2011 to 2025, where he played a transformative role in advancing the use of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—in classical music. Dr. Röder is a board member of the Karajan Foundation and a trustee of the Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg. Matthias Röder holds a PhD in music from Harvard University and is an alumnus of Mozarteum University Salzburg. He founded the Karajan Music Tech Conference, a prominent cross-industry event promoting breakthrough technologies in music and audio, and launched the international “Classical Music Hack Day” series. He has received recognitions such as a Bronze Effie for the AI-based completion of Beethoven’s 10th Symphony.


Anastassia and Matthias discuss the evolution of music technology, the role of AI in composition, and the challenges faced by students and professionals in adapting to these changes. The conversation highlights the importance of AI literacy, the impact of generative AI on creativity, and the evolving relationship between music labels and technology. They also touch on copyright issues surrounding AI-generated music and innovative projects that are shaping the future of the industry.


Takeaways:

AI is transforming the music industry in unprecedented ways.

Students often have a negative perception of AI in music.

The historical reverence for genius complicates AI acceptance.

AI is not a job replacer but a job transformer.

Music labels are beginning to embrace AI technologies.

AI can democratize music creation and lower barriers for new creators.

Deep fakes pose ethical challenges in the music industry.

Collaboration between humans and AI can enhance creativity.

AI literacy is crucial for future musicians.

Innovative projects are emerging that leverage AI for music creation.


Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI and Music

01:53 Matthias Röderer's Journey in Music and AI

04:39 AI's Role in Music Composition

09:55 The Intersection of AI and Human Creativity

11:19 Student Attitudes Towards AI in Music

13:59 The Cult of Genius in Music

16:52 Industry Response to AI in Music

18:18 Music Labels and AI Integration

25:29 Copyright and AI-Generated Music

30:26 Exciting Innovations in Music Technology


Interesting names and companies mentioned in the episode:

Classical composers - innovators: Messiaen, Ligeti, Scriabin, Čiurlionis

Today's creators fusing AI and music: Holly Herndon and Matt Dryhurst

Musician and educators: Eliot Fisk, Christoph Wolff

London-based company Delphos

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5 months ago
35 minutes 14 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
38: Synthetic Intimacy? Unpacking AI and Love in the Movie "Her" with Rae Muhlstock

In this episode, Anastassia and Rae are continuing to discuss portrayals of AI in movies and fiction. This time, they discuss "Her," a film that has achieved cult status among technologists, in which Scarlett Johansson performed the voice of Samantha, an Operating System that the main character, Theodore, falls for. Anastassia offers explanations of how language models work and how they differ from humans, as they can't reason, build causal relationships, and 'think' in 'what if' scenarios. Rae discusses how schools and universities recognize AIs in essays and asks whether humanity utilizes AIs for what they do best, rather than trying to fit these technologies into everything humans are capable of doing. Topics such as human loneliness and AI responses, using AI as a metaphor to describe human problems, the Necessity of going through challenges to learn and appreciate relationships, and the nuances of context are explored. Anastassia reflects on whether modern AIs can be freed from biases and what alternative technology architectures might offer.


Key takeaways:


"Her" has a cult status to many technologists building AI products and services.

The movie offers another way to reflect on AIs, as here a human (Theodore) is a professional writer falling for an AI, which is only represented by a voice.

Samantha does not exist today. In the movie, she is capable of learning. Today's AIs don't master causality and reasoning; they are frozen in time.

LLMs don't learn from counterfactuals/ in 'what if' scenarios.

Samantha's character offers insights into the distinction between humanity and a performative act.

Marshall McLuhan was discussing how travel and rapid communication were shrinking the world. AIs might do the same.

Siri was one of the first AIs allowing autistic children to receive information no one else wanted or could provide.

AIs are a reflection tool to tell us about ourselves.

Domain expertise is paramount for building AIs today. Universal AIs are currently notoriously difficult to implement.

We must recognize human expertise to determine how and where to utilize AI.

Regulators must find ways to incentivize investments in fundamental research to change the current architecture, rather than insisting on something that can't be mediated due to the underlying mathematics (e.g., removal of biases).


Chapters:



2:32 What is "Her" about?

8:23 The Movie "Her" isn't a dark portrayal of AI.

11:32 There is no reasoning and understanding in today's AIs.

17:31 We mistake Samantha for a human 'just' because of her voice

21:30 Human loneliness and complexity of emotions vs. cutting corners because an OS is always 'on'

23:50 Marshall McLuhan and the 'shrinking world' hypotheses

24:40 Teaching AI and ethics through a metaphor

27:02 A new concept of consumerism when it comes to an ever-available AI

28:01 Siri as a communication companion

30:22 AI as a reflection tool to teach humans about themselves

33:13 Use of language in the movie "Her" and in current AIs

34:40 How do educators recognize plagiarism, and the role of context

37:42 Necessity to check sources and links when doing an LLMs-based search (Perplexity)

38:36 Domain expertise is essential in building AIs well

40:40 AI can look for patterns, but it can't read for context

42:11 The difficulties of roboticizing a hand

43:49 To understand the maturity and implementability of a technology, we must look into the semiconductors' roadmaps and research the IP portfolios of companies

45:25 We must invest in alternative architectures to optimize AIs

48:10 Universities aren't the primary source of research today, Big Tech is

49:46 Are there ways around biases?

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5 months ago
59 minutes 29 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
37: Nurturing Intelligence - From Cradle to Code

In this episode, Anastassia engages with Cecilia Vaca-Jones, former Minister of Social Affairs in Ecuador, former CEO of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, and currently Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. They explore the intersection of AI and early childhood development, discussing the critical importance of the early years in cognitive and emotional development, the role of language and culture, and how technology can support rather than replace human interaction. The conversation highlights the importance of community involvement in child development and the need to create supportive environments that foster children's growth and well-being.


Takeaways

Early childhood development spans from conception to age five or eight, depending on the country.

The first years of life are crucial for brain development, with 80% of neurological connections formed in the first two years.

Early childhood development is holistic, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and social growth.

Exposure to multiple languages enhances cognitive development and cultural understanding.

AI and technology can aid in the early diagnosis of developmental issues in children.

Positive caregiving cannot be replaced by technology, but can be supported by it.

Public spaces and community involvement are essential for healthy child development.

Children learn best in environments that promote creativity and positive experiences.

Regulating content for children is as essential as regulating food quality.

The community plays a vital role in providing a supportive environment for children's growth.


Chapters


00:00 Introduction to AI and Early Childhood Development

03:19 Defining Early Childhood Development

05:59 The Importance of Early Years in Cognitive Development

09:52 The Role of Language in Early Development

14:08 AI vs Human Language Acquisition

23:12 The Impact of Environment on Child Development

28:22 Technology as a Supportive Tool in Development

29:58 Balancing Technology and Human Interaction

37:28 Designing Spaces for Healthy Development

43:32 Community's Role in Child Development

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6 months ago
46 minutes 57 seconds

AI Snacks With Romy & Roby
AI Snacks with Romy&Roby is a podcast that translates AI and robotics technologies from complex scientific concepts into easy-to-understand discussions, making them accessible for teens, parents, teachers, and anyone curious about AI. Through real-world stories and expert interviews, the show is dedicated to democratizing AI knowledge and empowering the general population to understand how AI is developed and applied in everyday life. The podcast is part of the Romy&Roby and AI Edutainment universe.