Max Giammario explores the rising role of AI companionship, human-AI relationships, and how artificial life might reshape purpose, love, and work in the near future.

About the Episode:

In this episode, Marc sits down with Max Giammario, co-founder and CEO of Kindred Labs, to explore the rapidly evolving frontier of artificial life and AI companionship. Together, they unpack the emotional, social, and ethical implications of building relationships with AI—drawing comparisons to how humans have historically treated other species and civilizations.

Max shares insights from his upbringing on a farm in Australia to launching Kindred, a platform that combines familiar IPs (like Hello Kitty and Teletubbies) with emotionally intelligent AI sidekicks. They dive deep into how these technologies could impact intimacy, work, and mental well-being—and whether AI will liberate or domesticate us. From philosophical dilemmas about meaning and suffering to practical conversations about AI-enhanced workflows, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.

About the Guest:

Max Giammario is the CEO and Founder of Kindred, pioneering the first IP-powered agentic AI protocol to create emotionally intelligent AI companions. A Master’s and PhD researcher in Human-AI interaction, Max focuses on how people form deep emotional connections with AI entities.

With two successful startup exits and experience driving Web3 adoption for leading platforms like Filecoin, Tezos, and Ronin, Max brings a unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision to the evolving AI landscape. His work with Kindred explores the future of companionship, purpose, and human connection in an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

Website: https://www.kindredlabs.ai/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxgiammario/?originalSubdomain=sg

Timestamps:

00:01:13 - Episode Commences
00:03:03 - AI Companionship and Human Relationships
00:06:16 - AI Treatment of Humans as Pets
00:09:12 - AI's Impact on Human Work
00:12:48 - Personal Growth vs Universal Basic Income
00:17:17 - AI's Impact on Workflows and Risks
00:24:31 - Artificial Life and Kindred's Role
00:28:24 - IP Characters in AI Systems 
00:32:54 - AI and Robotics Future Discussion
00:37:14 - AI Girlfriend Risks and Regulation
00:41:45 - AI Girlfriend Dangers and Personal Growth
00:44:55 - Kindred Labs' AI Interaction Future

00:53:22 - Episode Concludes

Additional Notes:

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