In today’s episode, I sat down with Sebastien Fenelon—a true innovator building at the intersection of AI, privacy, and purpose. We talked about how Sebastien’s journey from Haiti to New York shaped his resilient approach to technology, and why empowering people (not just corporations) is at the heart of his work. He broke down what edge AI is, why keeping our data local really matters, and how even small businesses and creators can start using privacy-first AI tools today. My hope is that you leave this episode inspired to rethink how technology can serve you—while protecting what matters most. If you’re curious about practical, ethical AI and the future of online entrepreneurship, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Connect with Sebastien Fenelon

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-fenelon/

I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:49 Sebastien Fenelon: Journey from Haiti to Tech

02:35 Early Projects and Building Resilience

05:16 Discovering AI as a Life Mission

07:02 Impactful and Private AI Systems

08:35 Purpose-Driven Innovation and Vision

10:30 Overcoming Obstacles and Building for Resilience

12:24 Why Edge AI and Local Models Matter

16:06 Agentic AI for Creators and Small Businesses

18:50 SLMs vs LLMs Explained

24:31 Starting with Privacy-First Local AI Tools

27:55 Sebastien’s Startups and Empowerment Platforms

31:28 Closing and Resources