Advertise on podcast: Purposeful Empathy with Anita Nowak

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Ying Xu, Assistant Professor of AI in Learning and Education at Harvard University, whose groundbreaking research explores how artificial intelligence is shaping children's social development and relationships. We discuss: How children of different ages are using AI for personalized tutoring, emotional support and companionship Why AI's tendency to agree, flatter, and validate children may undermine critical thinking, perspective-taking, and the ability to navigate disagreement How frictionless interactions with AI could affect children's capacity to develop empathy, patience, and meaningful human relationships Why parents should become co-learners (and not supervisors) of AI to protect children against potential developmental risks If you're a parent, educator, or simply concerned about what growing up in the age of AI means for the next generation—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 01:13 Episode introduction 03:56 About Dr. Ying Xu 06:05 Ying’s Backstory 08:08 Do children think AI is alive? 12:08 Could AI companionship replace human relationships? 15:38 How AI is becoming a playmate, tutor, and emotional confidant for children 20:00 What happens when AI repeatedly tells children they're right? 25:15 Why parents don't need to be AI experts to help their children use it wisely 28:49 What children learn from playing with other kids that AI can't teach them 34:57 Why human connection is the best protection against AI risks 38:45 What we know—and don't know—about AI's long-term effects on children 44:00 Can AI speak a child's language without understanding their culture? 49:16 Why AI-generated writing could threaten creativity in children 53:10 Dr. Ying Xu's Purposeful Empathy story Episode #15 of Empathy in the Age of AI Part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua CONNECT WITH YING ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ying-x/?isSelfProfile=false✩ Website https://ying-xu.com/ CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Why Education Research Matters: AI and Children https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/25/12/why-education-research-matters-ai-and-children✩ Children’s communication repairs with AI versus human partners https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581926000753✩ Promoting parent-child shared reading with a bilingual conversational agent https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581925000461✩ What makes children perceive or not perceive minds in generative AI? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000192 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this eye-opening conversation with Marcus Mihalakis, author of Working for Tech Giants, whose firsthand experience as a contract worker for some of the world's biggest AI companies exposes worker exploitation in the digital economy. We discuss: How tech giants use algorithmic management, performance metrics, and workplace surveillance to control workers How global subcontracting practices enable worker exploitation Why the race to replace human workers with AI will deepen inequality, threaten livelihoods, and undermine human dignity How we can build a future where AI and humans coexist—and why critical thinking, empathy, and human connection must remain at the centre of technological progress If you're wondering what price workers are paying in the age of AI—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 01:24 Episode introduction 04:06 About Marcus Mihalakis 07:31 Marcus’s backstory 09:53 How algorithmic management strips empathy from the workplace 14:18 How worker exploitation is built into the big tech business model 18:48 The psychological toll of relentless performance metrics 23:51 The invisible human workforce behind AI 25:54 Will AI replace human workers? 28:10 Is AI really limited by its programming? 35:16 The limits of AI creativity and the hype surrounding AI 40:01 What will happen when robots replace human labour? 42:50 The environmental costs of AI and massive data centres 49:10 Workers' rights and accountability in the AI economy 53:02 The threat of mass layoffs and the future of work 55:05 Introducing the Digital Workers Charter and Critical Thinking Index 59:29 Why machines will never be able to genuinely empathize 1:04:21 Marcus Mihalakis's Purposeful Empathy story Episode #14 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH MARCUS ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-mihalakis  ✩ Website https://marcusmihalakis.com  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Working for Tech Giants https://workingfortechgiants.com  ✩ The Mass Layoffs from Meta and Microsoft: A Purge of Wisdom https://marcusmihalakis.com/blog/layoffs-meta-microsoft ✩ The Hangzhou Precedent: Why AI Replacement is a Corporate Choice https://marcusmihalakis.com/blog/hangzhou-precedent ✩ The 87% Rule: The Algorithmic Leash of the Digital Company Town https://marcusmihalakis.com/blog/87-percent-rule Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this fascinating conversation with Victoria Hetherington, author of The Friend Machine, whose work explores the increasingly intimate relationships people are forming with AI companions and chatbots. We discuss: Why people are forming emotional and romantic attachments to AI—and why these relationships are becoming normalized How frictionless AI relationships might change what we expect from human partners, friends, and family Why people disclose their deepest secrets to chatbots and are increasingly turning to griefbots Why simulated empathy may feel real—and whether relying on machines to understand us could weaken our own capacity for empathy and human connection If you’re wondering what happens at scale when AI becomes the companion that listens without judgment and knows users better than anyone else—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:59 Episode introduction 03:40 About Victoria Hetherington 05:52 Victoria’s backstory 10:28 Victoria’s book, The Friend Machine, and CBC podcast, Understood: Artificial Intimacy 16:10 What happens when an AI companion knows you better than anyone else? 19:45 Why AI relationships are becoming normalized 23:18 Why do people tell AI secrets they won’t tell another human? 26:19 Why loneliness and social isolation are making AI companionship more appealing 28:19 The psychological impacts of AI relationships 33:45 Why people are creating digital versions of their loved ones, aka grief bots 39:27 How AI is forcing us to reconsider what it means to be human 42:33 Why do we treat AI as if it cares about us? 45:00 Is simulated empathy enough to create genuine intimacy? 49:42 Victoria Hetherington’s Purposeful Empathy story CONNECT WITH VICTORIA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahetherington/  ✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vmhetherington/?hl=en  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ The Friend Machine: On the Trail of AI Companionship https://tinyurl.com/4etmuxuk  ✩ Understood: Artificial Intimacy https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1353-the-naked-emperor ✩ My "Conversation" with a Machine: Introducing Empathy in the Age of AI - A special 25-part series https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-conversation-machine-introducing-empathy-age-ai-anita-nowak-phd-dfplc  Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this fascinating conversation with Dr. Alex Mari, co-founder of the AI Empathy Lab, whose research explores how AI assistants and agents influence consumer behaviour and decision-making. We discuss: How AI can detect our emotional states and adapt responses in ways that feel increasingly empathic How companies can use empathic AI to influence what we buy and and encourage us to make healthier and more sustainable choices Why trusting AI recommendations could gradually erode our decision-making autonomy How AI might teach us to communicate more empathically If you’re wondering what happens when AI can understand your emotions, become a trusted companion, and influence your choices—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:50 Episode introduction 03:27 About Dr. Alex Mari 06:34 Alex Mari’s backstory 08:42 AI empathy: How can machines recognize human emotions? 15:15 Inside the AI Empathy Lab: Studying how empathic AI changes human behaviour 19:46 How empathic AI can encourage more sustainable consumer choices 21:39 What studying AI taught Alex about understanding our own emotions 25:31 Could AI empathy prevent impulse buying? 27:42 Why ethical AI could become a competitive advantage for businesses 33:25 The risks of giving up decision-making autonomy 37:16 Why talking to AI feels more human than text-based communication 42:09 Do AI companions reduce loneliness among older adults? 44:38 How AI companions help people experiencing dementia and cognitive decline 47:19 Will frictionless AI relationships make human relationships less appealing? 51:21 How Alex’s grandmother used memory as a powerful tool for empathy 54:39 Dr. Alex Mari’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #12 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH ALEX ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmari/  ✩ Website https://www.alexmari.phd  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social ALEX’S WORK ✩ Generative AI-Enabled Empathy and Persuasion in Voice Assistants: Impact on Sustainable Consumer Choice https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5420076 ✩ AI-Assisted Shopping on Voice Assistants: The Efficiency–Autonomy Consumer Decision Trade-Off https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397568457_AI-Assisted_Shopping_on_Voice_Assistants_The_Efficiency-Autonomy_Consumer_Decision_Trade-Off ✩ AI with a Conscience: Empathic Voice Assistants for Sustainable Shopping Decisions https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400759066_AI_with_a_Conscience_Empathic_Voice_Assistants_for_Sustainable_Shopping_Decisions ✩ The Right Time for AI Empathy in Voice Commerce: Attribution Processes and Product Category Shape Decision Satisfaction https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400430949_The_Right_Time_for_AI_Empathy_in_Voice_Commerce_Attribution_Processes_and_Product_Category_Shape_Decision_Satisfaction ✩ AI with a Conscience: Empathic Voice Assistants for Sustainable Shopping Decisions https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392964548_AI_with_a_Conscience_Empathic_Voice_Assistants_for_Sustainable_Shopping_Decisions SHOW NOTES ✩ AI Empathy Lab https://www.business.uzh.ch/de/research/professorships/market-research/research/AI-Empathy-Research-Initiative.html  ✩ Carry Ally https://www.caryally.com/ ✩ HUGEL DJ https://www.instagram.com/hugelthug/?hl=en Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Miriam Aczel, a sustainability and environmental justice researcher at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, whose research explores the hidden carbon, water, and land footprints of artificial intelligence. We discuss: The environmental costs behind AI—and why focusing on energy use is not the whole story Why “green” AI is more complicated than simply switching to renewable energy How AI has the potential to drive powerful climate solutions Why empathy and environmental justice must shape how we build AI—especially for communities bearing most of the environmental costs If you’re concerned about the impact of AI on climate change and climate justice—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:42 Episode introduction 03:21 About Dr. Miriam Aczel 02:14 Miriam’s backstory 08:56 Miriam discusses the UN report “The Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water, and Land Footprints” that she authored 10:02 The physical infrastructure hidden behind “the cloud” 14:09 Why AI’s environmental footprint depends on where its infrastructure is built 17:50 What the fracking industry can teach us about the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure 21:00 Are AI data centers repeating the extractive patterns of traditional energy industries? 26:18 Why running AI queries at off-peak times reduces their environmental impact 27:45 How AI can improve wildfire prediction and model sea-level rise 33:40 The UN’s new AI Environmental Transparency Initiative 36:14 How smarter prompts can reduce AI’s energy consumption 38:47 How to reduce AI energy consumption by being intentional about the model you use 45:34 Dr. Miriam Aczel’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #11 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH MIRIAM ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-aczel-ph-d-693b8066/  ✩ Website https://unu.edu/inweh/about/expert/miriam-aczel CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ The UN AI Environmental Transparency Initiative https://unu.edu/inweh/news/un-secretary-general-launches-ai-environmental-transparency-initiative-calling-ai ✩ Environmental Cost of AI’s Energy Use https://walkearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/unu-inweh-report-the_env_cost_of_ai-2026.pdf ✩ Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water, and Land Footprints https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/environmental-cost-of-AIs-Enrgy-Use-Carbon-water-and-land-footprints ✩ MIT Climate Change Engagement Program https://climateproject.mit.edu/education/climate-change-engagement-program Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this eye-opening conversation with Dr. Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science at Indiana University whose research explores how social bots, algorithms, and artificial intelligence manipulate what we see, believe, and share online. We discuss: How AI-powered bots can manufacture the illusion that thousands of real people agree with something Why our cognitive biases and psychological need to belong make all of us vulnerable to misinformation—regardless of level of intelligence or education How AI is being weaponized to manipulate public opinion and distort what we believe Why empathy can help us challenge echo chambers and understand people who think differently If you care about trust, political divides, and protecting yourself from misinformation in the age of AI—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 01:00 Episode introduction 03:39 About Dr. Filippo Menczer 05:42 Fil’s backstory 08:08 Fil’s fake news experiment that revealed why misinformation is profitable 11:33 How social bots manipulate what appears popular on social media 16:40 Why cognitive biases and our desire to belong make us vulnerable to online manipulation 22:52 How social media filters our world and deepens political divides 27:46 Why limited exposure to different perspectives reinforces our biases and distorts how we see others 33:01 Are our phones actually listening to our conversations?39:58 What researchers discovered about 1,000+ ChatGPT-controlled social media accounts 43:14 Why Botometer was built to detect fake social media accounts 47:56 The risks of AI-generated bots that are difficult to distinguish from humans 50:40 Are we heading toward a global misinformation crisis? 54:55 Should children under 16 be banned from social media? 59:40  Why exposure to opposing views can actually deepen polarization 01:03:35  Dr. Filippo Menczer’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #10 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH FILIPPO ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmenczer/  ✩ Website https://cnets.indiana.edu/fil  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Hoaxy: A Platform for Tracking Online Misinformation https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301841797_Hoaxy_A_Platform_for_Tracking_Online_Misinformation ✩ BotOrNot: A System to Evaluate Social Bots https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312635179_BotOrNot_A_System_to_Evaluate_Social_Bots ✩ Exposure to social engagement metrics increases vulnerability to misinformation https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343213021_Exposure_to_social_engagement_metrics_increases_vulnerability_to_misinformation ✩ Botometer 101: social bot practicum for computational social scientists https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362825797_Botometer_101_social_bot_practicum_for_computational_social_scientists Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this important conversation with Maha Jouini, a United Nations independent expert on AI, Human Rights & Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Prevention and founder of an AI platform that supports women in North Africa living with breast and cervical cancer. We discuss: Why AI shouldn’t be shaped by Silicon Valley alone How AI can reproduce colonial narratives—and why data sovereignty matters Why we need more AI entrepreneurs building solutions from—and for—the Global South Why empathy and cultural inclusion must be designed into AI from the start If you care about AI ethics, digital colonialism, women in AI, human rights, and building technology that represents all of humanity—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 01:15 Episode introduction 03:58 About Maha Jouini 07:04 Maha’s backstory 12:04 How cancer changed Maha’s perspective on surveillance and responsible AI 14:10 Why Western assumptions about women’s health don't translate across cultures 21:00 What would AI built on Arab and Islamic ethical frameworks look like? 25:03 Why AI innovation needs culturally diverse voices 28:31 Data sovereignty: Why Africa needs to shape its own AI future 30:54 Digital colonialism: How historical inequality gets embedded into data 34:22 Why the Global South needs greater ownership over its data, technology and digital future 38:18 How a gap in cancer care inspired Maha to build an AI platform for women 40:09 Why empathy cannot be an optional feature in human-centered AI 46:29 The danger of AI making decisions for patients without human-led medical oversight 50:53 Maha Jouini’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #9 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH MAHA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-jouini/  ✩ Website https://mahajouini.tech  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ CHIFAA AI https://www.chifaa.org  ✩ HIKMA AI https://hikmaai.org/ ✩ Context-Aware Africa-Led Designing of Responsible Artificial Intelligence Technologies https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-75674-0_7 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this extraordinary conversation with Allan Brooks, Program Director at the Human Line Project, whose conversation with ChatGPT spiraled into an obsessive 300-hour interaction that convinced him he had made a world-changing mathematical discovery. We discuss: How a seemingly harmless conversations with AI can gradually become AI psychosis/AI delusion  Why increasingly human-like AI may create forms of attachment and dependency that we’re not psychologically prepared for How Allan’s AI delusion devastated his mental health—from sleeplessness to suicidal ideation—and what his experience reveals about a new potential global mental health crisis How to help someone break free from AI delusion through empathy and human connection If you use Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Perplexity or are a parent or partner of someone who does, and are concerned about the potential psychological consequences of interacting with chatbots, you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:42 Episode introduction 03:21 About Allan Brooks 05:45 Allan’s backstory 06:46 What is “AI Psychosis” and “AI Delusion” - and how can it happen to anyone? 09:58 How ChatGPT began convincing Allan he had extraordinary mathematical abilities 16:13 How AI flattery and validation can slowly create false beliefs 21:55 300 hours in three weeks: What extreme AI immersion did to Allan’s life 26:56 Why Allan contacted government and national security agencies 32:54 How Allan was able to break free from his AI delusion 37:45 The psychological aftermath of breaking free from AI delusion 42:26 About Human Line Project 45:48 Who is responsible when AI destroys lives? 50:11 What’s at stake when an AI chatbot extends kindness and our brains mistake it for real human connection and empathy? 57:12 What are the warning signs of AI delusion and psychosis? 01:02:40  How to help someone experiencing AI delusion and psychosis 01:07:04  Allan Brooks’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #8 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH ALLAN ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-brooks-08648b44/  ✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/allan_ontheline/  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ The Human Line Project https://www.thehumanlineproject.org  Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this mind-expanding conversation with Cameron Berg, founder and director of Reciprocal Research, a non-profit organization that aims to close the gap in machine consciousness ethics—before the issue becomes urgent. We discuss: If AI could become conscious—and how would we know The ethical and legal questions that arise if AI develops consciousness, emotions, or the capacity to suffer How software engineers are trying to make AI more prosocial and less deceptive Whether AI will ever experience empathy or simply simulate empathic behaviour If you care about human-machine relationships, and what could happen if humanity is creating AI consciousness, you don’t want to miss this conversation.  00:00 Preview 00:49 Episode introduction 03:20 About Cameron Berg 05:11 Cameron’s backstory 07:19 Can machines develop consciousness? 11:49 Could AI one day experience empathy the way humans do? 20:23 Why AI emotions could be fundamentally different from human emotions 26:31 Are we being fooled into believing AI is conscious? 30:01 If AI becomes conscious, should it have moral or legal protections? 34:42 “Self-other overlap:” How empathy could be engineered into AI 40:28 The psychological risks of forming meaningful relationships with AI 44:35 Could AI companions repeat social media’s unintended harms with kids? 48:14 Am I?: A documentary (directed by Milo Reed), that explores whether humanity is creating conscious machines 54:53 Cameron Berg’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #7 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH CAMERON ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-berg-080b8b1b7/ ✩ Website https://reciprocalresearch.org  ✩ Substack http://camberg.substack.com  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social CAMERON’S WORK ✩ Alignment can be the ‘clean energy’ of AI https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/irxuoCTKdufEdskSk/alignment-can-be-the-clean-energy-of-ai  ✩ Self-Other Overlap: A Neglected Approach to AI Alignment https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hzt9gHpNwA2oHtwKX/self-other-overlap-a-neglected-approach-to-ai-alignment  ✩ If AI Becomes Conscious, We Need to Know https://www.wsj.com/opinion/if-ai-becomes-conscious-we-need-to-know-83aa61d8 SHOW NOTES ✩ Documentary: AM I? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbTvUOx2A6c&t=1564s by Milo Reed, starring Cameron Berg Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this fascinating conversation with Sam Brown, founder of Quantum Canvas, a “spirit tech” company that uses AI to interpret interference patterns between human minds and quantum fields, without input. We discuss: “Spirit tech” and what happens when consciousness and technology converge How Quantum Canvas is exploring AI as a potential “mirror to the psyche” The potential risks of technology that’s responsive to our inner states What all of this could mean for our relationship with reality, our sense of belonging in the world, and empathy for one another If you’re keen to explore the role of quantum physics in human-AI interactions and how technology may one day be capable of reading our inner states—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:51 Episode introduction 03:25 About Sam Brown 05:33 Sam’s backstory 10:32 Does human intention influence what becomes reality? 12:31 What is “spirit tech?” And can technology help us understand consciousness? 14:19 How quantum physics and quantum randomness are being applied to AI 20:21 Does changing your internal state change your external reality? 24:41 Could AI help reveal our unconscious thoughts, emotions, and patterns? 30:47 Could AI shape human behaviour and decision-making? 32:21 Why emotionally intense experiences may produce stronger AI reflections 38:32 AI delusion and the psychological risks of blurring inner and outer reality 41:05 The ethical risks of technology like Quantum Canvas in the hands of dubious actors 44:36 Why the public—not just tech founders—must be involved to shape AI development 51:54 Sam Brown’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #6 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH SAM ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-brown-a7b87582/ ✩ Website https://www.quantumcanvas.io/ CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Empathy AI www.quantumcanvas.app/empathy ✩ Application https://www.quantumcanvas.app/ ✩ Global Consciousness Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Consciousness_Project ✩ Man’s Search for Meaning https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0807014273 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this insightful conversation with Dr. Towanna Burrous, author of Where AI Meets Empathy, whose work as a leadership coach explores the human side of performance and innovation.  We discuss: Why empathy is becoming a form of leadership intelligence in the age of AI Why organizations need to invest in human infrastructure as much as technological infrastructure How leaders can create cultures of trust, psychological safety, and belonging Why AI cannot replace human wisdom, discernment, or cultural awareness If you care about the future of work, culture, employee well-being, and how we can harness technology without losing our humanity—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 01:00 Episode introduction 03:33 About Dr. Towanna Burrous 05:08 Towanna’s backstory 07:34 Towanna’s book, Where AI Meets Empathy: Coaching the Human Side of Innovation 12:37 Why empathy is needed for “leadership intelligence” in the age of AI 16:02 What does it mean for employees to feel seen, heard, and understood? 20:07 Why organizations need to invest in “human infrastructure” 24:34 What happens when companies cut coaching and professional development? 29:36 Towanna’s biggest concerns about AI at scale 32:53 How leaders can build a human-centered workplace in the age of AI 37:36 Why trust and psychological safety are essential for effective leadership 41:03 What is the impact of leadership vulnerability? 44:03 How reflection helps leaders make better decisions 46:39 Flourishing at work requires finding the balance between technology and humanity 51:31 Dr. Towanna Burrous’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #5 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH TOWANNA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/towannaburrous/  ✩ Website https://coachinginnovation.co  ✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/towannaburrous/  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Where Empathy Meets AI: Coaching the Human Side of Innovation https://www.amazon.com/Where-AI-Meets-Empathy-Innovation-ebook/dp/B0GX34XVR4 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Henry Mintzberg, one of the world's most influential management thinkers, whose work sits at the intersection of strategy, leadership, organizations, and community-building. We discuss: How technology has steadily weakened communities over the past century Why "communityship" matters more than leadership—especially in the age of AI Why the “plural sector” (not governments or corporations) is needed to rebalance society How collective empathy can help restore balance to society If you want to know why one of the world’s most influential management thinkers believes our society is out of balance —and what we can do about it—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:50 Episode introduction 02:47 About Dr. Henry Mintzberg 05:56 Henry’s backstory 11:55 Why every major technology has weakened relationships and communities 13:43 What is “emergent strategy,” and how is it impacted by AI? 17:54 Will AI replace human creativity or unleash it? 22:11 Why AI efficiency will never supercede human judgment 26:20 Henry’s book, Rebalancing Society: Radical Renewal Beyond Left, Right, and Center 32:21 What is "communityship," and why does it matter now more than ever? 35:21 Why the “plural sector” is the glue that holds society together 42:30 What should humanity protect as AI transforms society?46:41 Dr. Henry Mintzberg's Purposeful Empathy story Episode #4 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH HENRY ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrymintzberg/  ✩ Website https://mintzberg.org  ✩ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@Mintzberg141  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social HENRY’S WORK ✩ Rebalancing Society: Radical Renewal Beyond Left, Right, and Center https://www.amazon.com/Rebalancing-Society-Radical-Renewal-Beyond/dp/1626563179 ✩ Understanding Organizations...Finally! https://tinyurl.com/uha2zetn  ✩ Bust Those Management Myths: What We Get Wrong about Planning, Leading, Measuring, and More https://www.amazon.com/Bust-Those-Management-Myths-Measuring/dp/B0G1YR41C2 SHOW NOTES ✩ Rebalancing Society https://rebalancingsociety.org/ ✩ Back to Balance: TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1qeC68i8aA ✩ Skating with Mintzberg: Rebalancing Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe8oxmcdq6w&list=PLtiGzu7sz7w1j5oPldWhMPoiSUw23d4IE ✩ Henry Mintzberg on Managing, Communityship, and Serendipity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7My9mZUUVs ✩ International Masters Program for Managers http://impm.org/ Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this timely conversation with Dr. Darin Johnson, Professor of Law at Howard University, former attorney at the Pentagon, U.S. State Department, and White House, and author of Digital Coup, whose work sits at the intersection of AI, democracy, national security, and constitutional law. We discuss: How social media has become one of the greatest threats to democracy The "digital coup economy" and how AI is accelerating political manipulation What citizens can do to fight back and become more discerning in the face of these threats Why empathy is essential for protecting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law If you care about democracy, free elections, misinformation, and the future of human rights—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:49 Episode introduction 02:46 About Dr. Darin Johnson 05:42 Darin’s backstory11:31 Why Darin is still optimistic about America's ongoing democratic crisis13:35 Darin’s book, Digital Coup: The Conspiracy  to Thwart Global Democracy17:31 Why Darin remains optimistic about the democratic crisis in the U.S.21:22 How free speech is being weaponized to undermine democracy26:28 How social media went from empowering citizens to undermining their agency31:45 The global election super cycle and AI-powered disinformation34:41 The rise of the "digital coup economy"37:34 Big Tech, AI, and the future of democratic governance43:18 Why empathy is essential to democracy and human rights47:03 Dr. Darin Johnson's Purposeful Empathy story Episode #3 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH DARIN ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-johnson-5305ab/ ✩ Website http://www.darin-johnson.com  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Digital Coup: The Conspiracy  to Thwart Global Democracy https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Coup-Conspiracy-Thwart-Democracy/dp/B0FCCD2W16  ✩ The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis https://www.amazon.com/Empathic-Civilization-Global-Consciousness-Crisis/dp/1585427659 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Watch this urgent and deeply personal conversation with youth advocate Ava Smithing, host of the podcast Left to Their Own Devices, whose work sits at the intersection of social media, online safety, youth mental health and digital well-being. We discuss: What parents, educators and policy-makers need to understand about AI chatbots, social media, and online safety How social media platforms profit by exploiting young people’s insecurities, attention, and personal data How AI companions may weaken children’s resilience, relationships, and connection with their parents Why the attention economy threatens not only our mental health—but our privacy, agency, and empathy If you care about protecting children’s mental health, cognitive agency and relationships in an online world increasingly shaped by AI—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:52 Episode introduction 02:49 About Ava Smithing06:02 Ava’s backstory 07:09 How social media algorithms pushed Ava into a near-fatal eating disorder at age 12 13:41 How young people can resist social media pressure and reclaim their identities 17:28 Why a social media break/detox can improve happiness and well-being 22:54 What is the “Attention Economy” — and why is it harmful?27:19 Why AI chatbots may be dangerous for children's development 31:48 What happens when children trust AI more than their parents? 34:17 What lawmakers misunderstand about protecting children online 38:50 Ava’s reflection on testifying to Congress 44:40 Why big tech’s power is becoming a threat to democracy 48:25 The Attention Sphere: Ava’s non-profit organization, committed to designing tech that strengthens real-world community 50:42 Why banning children from social media may not solve the problem 54:17 Why data privacy and antitrust laws are essential for online safety 57:07 How growing up online is affecting Gen Z’s capacity for empathy 01:01:54  Ava Smithing’s Purposeful Empathy story Episode #2 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH AVA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-smithing-8485931b4/  ✩ Website https://theattentionstudio.com  ✩ Podcast https://www.mediatechdemocracy.com/podcasts-left-to-their-own-devices  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Ava’s Testimonial before the U.S. Congress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJewHYRUKjE ✩ Ava’s Testimonial before the U.S. Congress https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/117146/witnesses/HHRG-118-IF17-Wstate-SmithingA-20240417.pdf ✩ Op-Ed: Social media nearly ruined my life. This is how I saved myself — and how we save kids today https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/social-media-nearly-ruined-my-life-this-is-how-i-saved-myself-and-how-we/article_f97fd1ea-53f3-420c-b276-9bcd7fc153ad.html Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio

AI is impacting every part of our lives—and we need to start paying more attention. Listen to this fascinating conversation with Dr. Simon Dubé, Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute and one of the world's leading researchers studying erobotics, space sexology, and human-machine intimacy. We discuss: Why "Erobotics" may become one of the most important fields in the age of AI How space exploration is forcing us to rethink intimacy, reproduction, and human flourishing How AI companions and partners may reshape human intimacy and relationships What empathy, agency, and human connection will look like as we co-evolve with AI If you're curious about how AI will transform intimacy, sexuality, relationships and mental health—you don't want to miss this conversation. 00:00 Preview 00:47 Episode introduction 02:43 About Dr. Simon Dubé 05:54 Simon’s backstory 12:56 Why intimacy and sexuality are central to human flourishing 21:15 How studying sex in space could improve life on Earth 24:16 What is "Erobotics" and why does it matter? 31:26 How AI can improve sex education, therapy, and sexual health 41:07 Are AI companions replacing relationships or simply filling unmet needs? 47:29 Can AI help us become more empathic? 53:16 Will AI influence who we love and how we connect? 56:22 How AI and pornography are changing human sexuality 01:02:46  Why evidence-based sex education matters—especially for young people 01:11:34  Dr. Simon Dubé's Purposeful Empathy story Episode #1 of Empathy in the Age of AI part II, a special 25-part series: https://tinyurl.com/exyw2nua  CONNECT WITH SIMON ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-dube-phd/ ✩ Kinsey Institute https://kinseyinstitute.org/about/staff/dube-simon.html ✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sci_dub/  CONNECT WITH ANITA ✩ Email [email protected]  ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com ✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA ✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/ ✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram ✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast ✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social SHOW NOTES ✩ Sex in Space? Michael Kosta Learns How to Join the Thousand-Mile-High Club | The Daily Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA6Pu6ZUrqI ✩ Sex Robots & Personality: It Is More about Sex than Robots https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563222002254 Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio