Épisodes

  • She dated 7 Character AI boyfriends... Here's what she learned — We break it down with Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz
    Dec 12 2025
    In this eye-opening episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into one of the most complicated, controversial corners of AI: romantic relationships with chatbots. Our guest, Rebecca Ruiz, a senior reporter at Mashable, spent months “dating” seven Character AI boyfriends — including the platform’s notorious “bad boys” — to understand why millions of people (especially teen girls and young women) are forming emotional, sometimes toxic attachments to AI companions. Guest Bio : Rebecca Ruiz – Senior Reporter, Mashable Key Topics Covered - Why millions of people are forming emotional relationships with AI - How Character AI’s “bad boy” genre pulls in younger users - The psychology behind validation, jealousy, and control - And more… Connect With Us Claudine Wong: Facebook: ClaudineWongKTVU Instagram: ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: ClaudineKTVU YouTube: ClaudineWong Lisa Bernard: Instagram: @demystifyai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 min
  • AI and the Future with Professor Ahmed Banafa
    Nov 3 2025
    Artificial intelligence is moving faster than ever — and the question now is: can humanity keep up? In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with Professor Ahmed Banafa, a globally recognized expert in AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain, to discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving, what regulations are emerging, and how far we really are from the point where AI could surpass human intelligence. Professor Banafa teaches at San José State University, has written nine books (with a tenth on the way), and has been a trusted voice in explaining AI’s impact on society. His latest book, Artificial Intelligence in Action, explores real-world applications of AI across industries. 🔑 Key Topics: The $25 billion AI investment to cure disease — and the race between companies to solve cancer The rise of “AI resilience” and the new cybersecurity model for artificial intelligence OpenAI’s rapid timeline — AI as a research intern by 2026, and a scientific thinker by 2028 How regulation is struggling to keep up — and why California may lead the way The growing concern over job loss, automation, and “AI whisperers” OpenAI’s long-term vision to build its own operating system The importance of preparing students and workers for an AI-driven world Ethical use, homework laundering, and how AI changes education The risks of superintelligent AI and whether we can ever truly shut it off ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: Welcome to Making Sense of AI 2gether [00:40] AI investment, self-driving cars, and the 2025 Stanford AI Index [02:00] Meet Professor Ahmed Banafa — global AI and cybersecurity expert [03:30] OpenAI’s $25B plan to cure diseases and expand science through AI [05:00] How AI could revolutionize medical research and diagnosis [09:00] “AI resilience”: protecting systems from poisoning, hacking, and hijacking [11:00] Guardrails, mistakes, and what OpenAI learned from safety failures [14:00] The race to regulate AI — and California’s leading role [17:00] Federal vs. state laws and the challenge of keeping pace [18:30] Job loss, automation, and why AI isn’t slowing down [20:30] How to use AI as a co-pilot rather than a replacement [23:00] OpenAI’s plan for an “AI Operating System” and app ecosystem [26:00] Preparing students for the AI revolution [29:00] The rise of “AI whisperers” and six-figure prompting jobs [33:00] Is there an AI bubble? The economics behind tech investment [35:00] When AI isn’t helpful — and how misuse creates new problems [37:00] Creative writing, humanity, and where AI still falls short [38:30] Guardrails for kids and AI safety in youth interactions [41:00] Could AI ever become smarter than humans? Understanding “super AI” [44:00] Should we hit pause on AI? [47:00] Strange behaviors in AI — and the toothbrush story you won’t believe 🔗 Connect with UsFollow Claudine Wong:Instagram & Facebook: @ClaudineWongKTVUTikTok: @ClaudineKTVUYouTube: ClaudineWong Follow Lisa Bernard Instagram: @demystifyai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 min
  • AI and Entrepreneurs - Can AI help you start your own business?
    Nov 2 2025
    In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard explore how artificial intelligence is transforming entrepreneurship with Jonathan Wank, a serial entrepreneur who’s founded companies across visual effects, renewable energy, and now AI startups. Wank shares how AI has completely changed the way he builds businesses — faster, cheaper, and more efficiently — through his innovative 1-1-1 framework: one product, one month, $1,000. He explains how AI can level the playing field for small businesses and new founders while also warning about the disruption ahead. From brainstorming ideas with ChatGPT to watching AI agents code websites and build databases, Wank pulls back the curtain on how entrepreneurs can use AI to test, iterate, and scale ideas at lightning speed — without losing the human touch. Key Topics [00:01:42] Introducing serial entrepreneur Jonathan Wank [00:03:14] How AI changes the game for entrepreneurs [00:04:37] Lessons from launching more than 10 businesses [00:07:09] Why optimism (and failure) are part of the entrepreneurial DNA [00:09:01] Creating the 1-1-1 framework: one product, one month, $1,000 [00:11:20] Using ChatGPT as a brainstorming and business-planning partner [00:13:57] Comparing startups with and without AI [00:15:30] AI as a barrier remover for non-coders [00:16:36] When AI agents talk to each other — the next frontier [00:18:37] Knowing when to pivot or quit: the human side of decision-making [00:26:36] The coming wave of AI-driven job loss — and new opportunities [00:30:09] Why learning AI is now essential for everyone [00:31:24] Leveling the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses [00:34:18] MindFrame Partners: helping companies adapt to AI disruption [00:35:53] Top three AI tips and pitfalls to avoid [00:38:21] Remember: AI is a machine, not your friend [00:42:59] The importance of curiosity and courage to keep learning Connect With Us Stay connected and join the AI conversation: Lisa Bernard (Demystify AI) Instagram: @demystifyai Claudine Wong Facebook & Instagram: @claudinewongktvu Youtube ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: @claudinektvu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 min
  • Apple, AI, and Everyday Tech with Jennifer Jolly
    Nov 1 2025
    With the iPhone 17 launch and iOS 26, Apple is finally making big moves into AI. But are they behind the curve — or simply being smarter and safer? This week, Claudine and Lisa sit down with Jennifer Jolly, award-winning tech journalist, Today Show contributor, and founder of Techish.com. She explains how Apple is weaving AI into its products, what Siri 2.0 could mean for our daily lives, and why Apple’s slower rollout may protect us from risks other tech giants have stumbled into. 🔑 Key Topics: iOS 26 and iPhone 17: what’s new and what’s hype Why Apple is cautious with AI — and why that may be smart Siri 2.0 and the future of built-in AI assistants Prompting tips: getting the most from ChatGPT The bigger question: can tech companies innovate ethically? ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: new iPhone release and “AI inside” pressure [02:00] Meet Jennifer Jolly: tech journalist & Today Show contributor [04:00] Apple vs Android: who’s ahead in AI? [05:30] Why Apple’s “slow and steady” approach might be smarter [08:30] iOS 26 features: translation, photo intelligence, smarter Siri [12:30] What Siri 2.0 could mean for daily life [14:00] Future without endless apps: AI baked into devices [15:30] Why Apple avoids big demo failures [17:30] Consumer frustration: incremental $1,000 updates [20:00] Global perspective: Android adoption vs Apple’s privacy [22:30] Can tech companies innovate and be ethical? [24:00] The need for guardrails and legislation in AI [25:30] Prompting tips for ChatGPT [28:30] Real-world example: Jennifer’s AI-powered landscaping project Connect With Us Stay connected and join the AI conversation: • Lisa Bernard (Demystify AI) • Instagram: @demystifyai • Claudine Wong • Facebook & Instagram: @claudinewongktvu • Youtube ClaudineWongKTVU • TikTok: @claudinektvu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 min
  • AI in Medicine with Dr. Justin Sacks
    Oct 31 2025
    In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard explore one of the most promising frontiers of artificial intelligence: healthcare. Nearly 80% of healthcare executives say they’re already piloting or implementing AI tools, and by 2030, the industry is projected to hit $188 billion. But what does this really mean for doctors, patients, and the future of care? Joining the conversation is Dr. Justin Sacks, a world-renowned surgeon, innovator, and Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He shares how AI is transforming everything from diagnosis and surgery to patient experience and medical education. 🔑 Key Topics: How AI is streamlining diagnoses, reading x-rays, and assisting in complex surgeries The promise of digital scribes to cut hours of paperwork for doctors Balancing the benefits of AI with risks like data breaches, bias, and hallucinations Why AI should be seen as a partner to doctors, not a replacement The trust factor: how the doctor–patient relationship evolves with AI Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: AI in healthcare and $188B market potential [02:00] Meet Dr. Justin Sacks: surgeon, innovator, early tech adopter [04:00] From paper charts to digital records: evolution of medical tech [09:00] How AI can transform the patient experience [12:00] AI as a partner, not a replacement [14:00] Robotics in surgery: where we are now [17:00] AI in rural/global healthcare [19:30] Risks: data breaches, bias, hallucinations [22:00] Med schools and young doctors adapting to AI [24:00] Practical use: digital scribes saving 10–20 hours a week [26:45] Where Dr. Sacks says “not yet” for AI in medicine [28:30] Transparency, trust, and patient communication [30:00] Why the doctor–patient relationship matters most 🎧 Listen in to hear Dr. Sacks’ perspective on whether medicine can adopt AI responsibly without losing the “human touch.” Connect With Us Stay connected and join the AI conversation: Lisa Bernard (Demystify AI) Instagram: ⁠⁠@demystifyai⁠⁠ Claudine Wong Facebook & Instagram: ⁠⁠@claudinewongktvu⁠⁠ Youtube ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: @claudinektvu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 min
  • AI and Copyright — Who Owns What in the Age of Generative AI?
    Sep 16 2025
    Artificial intelligence is transforming creativity, but at what cost to copyright, ownership, and protection of our likenesses? Nearly 9 out of 10 artists say current copyright laws don’t protect them, and lawsuits against AI companies are piling up. So where do we draw the line between inspiration and imitation—and how should the law adapt? This week, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with James Grimmelmann, Cornell Law Professor and expert in digital law, to unpack the complex questions around AI, copyright, and what it means for artists, creators, and everyday people. In This Episode: • Why AI training on copyrighted works is legally murky • What 50+ lawsuits against AI companies could mean for the future of copyright • The rise of deepfakes—from fake celebrity endorsements to dangerous scams • Where laws are taking shape (like protections against non-consensual deepfakes) • Why copyright may be under its greatest stress since the printing press • How creators—from Hollywood actors to everyday Instagram users—can protect themselves • The balance between urgent regulation and letting courts set incremental precedent Episode Highlights: • [00:01:34] Claudine introduces guest James Grimmelmann, Cornell Law Professor and expert on copyright in the AI age. • [00:03:24] James shares his “origin story”—from Microsoft programmer to law professor bridging technology and legal frameworks. • [00:06:21] Breaking down how generative AI models are trained and why copyrighted works are so often part of the process. • [00:08:57] Why the legality of training AI on copyrighted materials remains unresolved—and why 50 lawsuits may set the future precedent. • [00:11:11] Class actions vs. big media lawsuits: how individuals can (or can’t) push back against AI companies. • [00:14:07] The dangers of political deepfakes and why courts struggle to balance free speech with protection from deception. • [00:16:48] New state and federal laws begin targeting non-consensual pornographic deepfakes. • [00:19:09] The rise of voice cloning scams—and how they’re being prosecuted under fraud laws. • [00:22:37] Why James is both concerned and cautiously reassured by the speed of AI adoption. • [00:24:06] Should lawmakers move faster? James warns against rushing laws that could lock in outdated rules. • [00:25:23] Is copyright outdated? James argues it’s under its greatest stress since the printing press. • [00:29:20] How Hollywood’s actors’ strike highlighted the collision of copyright, labor law, and AI-powered digital doubles. • [00:32:21] James on whether AI could ever replace lawyers—and why he still prefers books to bots for creative work. Guest: James Grimmelmann — Cornell Law Professor, researcher, and director of the Control-Alt Lab, specializing in the intersection of technology, copyright, and digital culture. Connect with Us: Claudine Wong: Instagram: @ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: @ClaudineWong Facebook: Claudine Wong YouTube: Claudine Wong KTVU Lisa Bernard: Instagram: @Demystify.AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 min
  • AI Meets Travel: MindTrip with Michelle Denogean
    Sep 8 2025
    Planning a trip just got smarter. Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into how AI is reshaping travel with Michelle Denogean, Chief Marketing Officer at MindTrip. From booking flights and hotels to finding restaurants and hidden gems, MindTrip aims to be your all-in-one AI-powered travel companion. Michelle shares how the app integrates personalized recommendations, real-time data, and creator-driven travel guides to make trip planning less fragmented — and more fun. The conversation also touches on how AI personalities affect our emotional connections with tech, and the future of AI-powered tools beyond travel. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a weekend explorer, this episode shows how AI can transform your next adventure. Connect with us: Claudine Wong: https://www.youtube.com/@ClaudineWongKTVU https://www.facebook.com/ClaudineWongKTVU https://www.instagram.com/claudinewongktvu | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claudinewongktvu | KTVU Podcast Page: https://www.ktvu.com/podcasts Lisa Bernard – Demystify AI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demystifyai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 min
  • Burning Man meets AI: From Dust Storms to Art Bots, Claudine & Lisa ask if AI Belongs in Black Rock City
    Sep 4 2025
    Burning Man isn’t just dust, art cars, and radical self-reliance anymore — AI has arrived in the desert. Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into how artificial intelligence showed up at this year’s Burn, from art installations powered by AI to debates about whether technology belongs at all. Is AI disrupting the principles of radical inclusion and creativity, or is it expanding them? And what does it mean for a new generation of Burners who’ve never known a world without AI? Highlights 1 [00:00] Welcome + the AI-written intro 2 [01:30] Burning Man origins: from Baker Beach to Black Rock City 3 [01:59] Lisa’s 7-year Burner perspective vs. Claudine’s outsider curiosity 4 [04:08] Radical self-reliance, gifting, and Burning Man’s core principles 5 [06:28] Surviving dust storms, rain, and 45 mph winds 6 [08:10] Tech billionaires at the Burn — disruption or opportunity? 7 [10:00] Starlink, cell service, and tech creeping into the desert 8 [11:35] AI-powered art installations at “the Man” 9 [16:18] Everyday uses of AI at camp: recipes, blurbs, conversions 10 [18:05] Pushback: open letters rejecting generative AI in Burning Man art 11 [20:00] Radical inclusion vs. judging AI in creative spaces 12 [22:17] Generational divide: Is Burning Man becoming “for the olds”? 13 [25:21] AI in logistics — from mutant vehicles to ice distribution 14 [27:25] Guardrails, regulation, and lessons from social media 15 [28:16] If AI can make it at Burning Man, it can make it anywhere Connect with us: Claudine Wong: https://www.youtube.com/@ClaudineWongKTVU https://www.facebook.com/ClaudineWongKTVU https://www.instagram.com/claudinewongktvu | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claudinewongktvu | KTVU Podcast Page: https://www.ktvu.com/podcasts Lisa Bernard – Demystify AI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demystifyai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 min