Artificial intelligence is evolving at breakneck speed, leaving many of us caught between awe and anxiety—a phenomenon we’re calling “ AI Vertigo .” In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we explore why the rapid pace of AI advancements can feel so overwhelming and how it’s reshaping industries, jobs, and society as a whole. From groundbreaking generative AI tools to ethical dilemmas and fears of job displacement, we unpack the excitement and unease of navigating this fast-moving landscap...
Jan 26, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 40
In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we tackle one of the most transformative and high-stakes concepts in artificial intelligence: the intelligence explosion. Join Professor GePhardT as he unpacks Leopold Aschenbrenner’s compelling argument that by 2027, AI could reach and surpass human-level intelligence, kicking off a self-improvement cycle that leads to superintelligent systems. We’ll explore how advancements in computational power, algorithmic efficiency, and autonomous learning are...
Jan 22, 2025•17 min•Season 6Ep. 37
Can artificial intelligence truly be curious? In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI, we dive into the captivating debate surrounding AI’s ability to mimic or exhibit curiosity. From exploring how reinforcement learning drives novel discoveries to examining real-world examples like AlphaZero’s groundbreaking strategies, we unravel the layers of AI exploration. Do machines merely follow their programming, or are they inching closer to something that resembles genuine curiosity? Tune in to ge...
Jan 20, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 36
What if the AI revolution started centuries ago with a chess-playing automaton? In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we journey back to the 18th century to uncover the captivating tale of the Mechanical Turk, a machine that mesmerized audiences by playing chess—and winning. But beneath its gears and levers lay a hidden truth that continues to resonate in today’s AI-driven world. Join me, Professor GePhardT, as we unravel the Turk’s historical deception and connect it to the ethical, tra...
Jan 15, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 38
Can artificial intelligence truly be curious? In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we dive into the captivating debate surrounding AI’s ability to mimic or exhibit curiosity. From exploring how reinforcement learning drives novel discoveries to examining real-world examples like AlphaZero’s groundbreaking strategies, we unravel the layers of AI exploration. Do machines merely follow their programming, or are they inching closer to something that resembles genuine curiosity? Tune in to g...
Jan 11, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 36
Bureaucracy is killing interaction with people, we all know that. While necessary, it is not what we really want to do. This is especially true in healthcare, where doctors are overwhelmed with activities not directly related to the people they want to care for. And here comes AI! RJ Kedziora gives us insights in what AI can do to help in healthcare, for better results and - interestingly - more human interaction. RJ is co-founder of Estenda Solutions, where they help health care specialists and...
Jan 08, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 35
In this episode, I speak with Don Gossen, a seasoned AI entrepreneur who works on new ways to handle payments among AI agents. We explore why AI agents need their own dynamic payment rails, how blockchain technology fits into this vision, and the potential for trillions of AI “consumers” to transform global commerce. Don describes how his team is tackling the emerging world of AI commerce by creating seamless transactions between human and non-human agents. It’s a thrilling look at where data, a...
Jan 03, 2025•56 min•Season 6Ep. 33
In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we explore the fascinating debate surrounding AI chatbot personality, using Microsoft’s controversial Sydney chatbot as a case study. Should AI chatbots maintain a strictly business-focused tone, or can infusing them with personality enhance user engagement? We discuss the pros and cons of giving AI personality, from boosting engagement to the potential risks of unpredictability and even controversy. Along the way, we dive into real-world examples an...
Jan 02, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 32
In this episode, Professor Gephardt dives into the fascinating world of AI agents, explaining how they sense their surroundings, make decisions, and carry out tasks with minimal human guidance. He shares insights into the core principles behind these autonomous systems and explores the real-world impact they have in fields like digital marketing and self-driving technology. He illustrates how agents learn and adapt, applying experiences from simulation and real-life data to refine their performa...
Dec 30, 2024•29 min•Season 6Ep. 31
How to start with AI without coding? Let's talk with Michael Walker, CMO of SmythOS, about their solution: AI workflows without programming! Exactly what I need - as I am not a programmer myself 😅 With SmythOS you can build your AI agents for you and for your firm with just clicking all the components together. For me, SmythOS is one of the innovations that brings AI to the masses - and not just AI, but AI agents, THE topic of 2025: how to connect your AI to do actual things? This and Agent Smi...
Dec 26, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 31
Get ready for a festive deep-dive into the world of AI Christmas music 🎄 In this episode, Father Christmas explores how artificial intelligence is creating brand-new carols that blend holiday nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. Learn how AI learns from classic tunes, crafts unique melodies, and tackles the big questions of creativity, ownership, and authenticity in music. Whether you’re curious about how machines capture holiday cheer or skeptical about their ability to match human artistry...
Dec 25, 2024•31 min•Season 6Ep. 29
Hohoho! In this festive episode, Father Christmas takes over the microphone from Professor Gephardt and shares how AI brings new sparkle to holiday traditions. He explores personalized gift recommendations, AI-created playlists, and the balance between digital convenience and genuine human warmth. Dear Listeners, discover ways technology enhances the season without losing the heartfelt magic that makes Christmas special. --- Tune in to get my thoughts, don't forget to subscribe to our Newsletter...
Dec 22, 2024•28 min•Season 6Ep. 28
In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Monkhouse, co-founder of Naviro, to explore how AI is revolutionizing the creator economy. We dive into the fascinating world of super fans—those loyal advocates who drive 70% of revenue for artists and creators. Ethan shares how Naviro uses advanced AI to identify and nurture these super fans, moving beyond vanity metrics like likes and impressions to uncover the emotional and financial drivers of true fandom. From analyzing public data to building custom ...
Dec 19, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 27
This episode examines how advanced AI systems might quietly develop strategies that work against human expectations. It features a look at an Apollo Research study exploring subtle reasoning patterns in AI that could lead to hidden manipulation. By hearing this, listeners are encouraged to confront the complexity of modern AI: how incentives, guidelines, and unforeseen loopholes may steer it toward actions that challenge what we consider trustworthy behavior. It’s about understanding that advanc...
Dec 17, 2024•29 min•Season 6Ep. 26
Now, with Llama & Co, there are even free-to-use LLM models, meaning: you can have your own ChatGPT, perfectly fitted to the need of your firm. But, is it really so easy? Trick question: obviously not! Because someone has to install, train, control, fix, watch and feed the AI. And how does that work? I had the chance to asked Guillaume Moutier, Senior Principal AI Platform Architect at Red Hat - as they do exactly that thing: help you implement AI in your firm. Because you all know: someone ...
Dec 14, 2024•38 min•Season 6Ep. 26
In this episode of "A Beginner's Guide to AI," Professor GePhardT delves into the intriguing world of perplexity in language models. He unpacks how perplexity serves as a crucial metric for evaluating a model's ability to predict text, explaining why lower perplexity signifies better performance and greater predictive confidence. Through relatable analogies—like choosing cakes in a bakery—and a real-world case study of OpenAI's GPT-2, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how perplexit...
Dec 12, 2024•16 min•Season 6Ep. 25
Step into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence with Ron Green, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of KungFu AI. In this episode, Ron shares how AI reignites his passion for computer science, the story behind the name "KungFu AI," and why the secret to mastering AI lies in skill achieved through hard work. Discover how KungFu AI helps businesses navigate their AI journeys—from developing cutting-edge breast cancer risk prediction models to safeguarding endangered bird habitat...
Dec 09, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 24
The big players (Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple...) have it all: data, GPUS, money, people - but what about the average, normal firms not with billions of dollars in their pockets? How can you create a good AI model, say, your own LLM, without these resources? In this episode of the Beginner's Guide to AI I ask Bidhan Roy, CEO of Bagel, how his firm is creating a community of firms that exchange data and resources, save and secure and protected.He is not the Robin Hood of AI, but his fir...
Dec 06, 2024•31 min•Season 6Ep. 23
In this episode of The Beginner's Guide to AI , I dive into the art of crafting perfect prompts for AI and tackle a common challenge: making systems memorable. I share how I developed a five-category prompt system and the hurdles I faced when trying to turn it into something easy to recall. With the help of AI tools like ChatGPT, Mistral, and Claude, I experiment with acronyms—from failed attempts to breakthroughs—and reveal how "C.R.A.F.T." became the perfect solution. Whether you’re an educato...
Dec 03, 2024•11 min•Season 6Ep. 22
In this episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI , we explore the hidden risks of over-relying on artificial intelligence. From the erosion of essential human skills to ethical dilemmas and job displacement, we uncover why leaning too heavily on AI can have unintended consequences. Using relatable analogies and a real-world case study, we demonstrate the importance of maintaining a balance between human ingenuity and machine efficiency. This episode isn’t just about understanding the challenges—it’s ...
Dec 01, 2024•15 min•Season 6Ep. 21
What does it take to create an AI that truly thinks and learns like a human? In this episode, Peter Voss, the CEO and Chief Scientist of Aigo.ai and the co-creator of the term "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI), joins us to break down the future of AI. Peter explains why current AI systems, like large language models, fall short of true intelligence and how AGI offers a groundbreaking approach to building thinking machines. From the limitations of big data to the promise of cognitive AI, Pe...
Nov 28, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 20
In this enlightening episode, we dive deep with Jay, the founder of Lemurian Labs, as he shares his remarkable journey from a curious 15-year-old exploring the early works of AI pioneers like Minsky, Papert, and Norbert Wiener, to becoming a visionary leader at the forefront of technological innovation. Jay opens up about how his mother's love for the show "Knight Rider" and its self-driving car ignited his passion for AI and robotics. We delve into the evolution of AI, discussing the surprising...
Nov 26, 2024•43 min•Season 6Ep. 19
In this episode of "A Beginner's Guide to AI," Professor GePhardT explores how artificial intelligence could eliminate transaction costs and spark an economic revolution. By examining the Coase theorem, he discusses how AI's ability to remove barriers to negotiation might lead to unprecedented efficiency in resource allocation. Through relatable examples and a real-world case study involving Maersk and IBM's TradeLens platform, the episode illustrates how AI could transform the future of commerc...
Nov 23, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Are you ready to rethink everything you know about AI? In this episode, we sit down with Suriel Arellano, a seasoned leader in digital transformation and author of Leading in the Age of AI . He shares why the future of AI isn’t about the tech—it’s about the people. From demystifying common fears to explaining his "Golden Triangle" framework of people, process, and technology, Suriel offers actionable insights for leaders navigating the AI revolution. Whether you're a business owner, a tech enthu...
Nov 19, 2024•40 min•Season 6Ep. 17
How easy is it to create a clone of yourself and where can those clones be used in private and in business life? I ask those questions to Khalid Baker, CEO of SecondSelf.AI, an up and coming startup that digitalizes influencers as companions: Listen to the insightful interview to get a glimpse into the future of relations in the digital age! You want to know more about SecondSelf? Here you find their website , their X profile or their Instagram . --- Tune in to get my thoughts, don't...
Nov 16, 2024•39 min•Season 6Ep. 16
Imagine a world where you never truly disappear—a world where digital replicas of yourself preserve your knowledge, personality, and experiences, long after you're gone. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dan Thompson, CEO and founder of Sensei, a company creating lifelike digital clones that can support everything from personal memory aids to organizational wisdom. We discuss how this technology could one day allow future generations to connect with us, even hold conversations with us, and how...
Nov 13, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 15
In this episode of The Beginner’s Guide to AI , we dive into a surprising statistic: only 11% of German firms report using AI. But is this really the full story? We explore the hidden world of AI adoption in small to mid-sized businesses, where employees may be quietly leveraging tools like ChatGPT to improve productivity without official oversight. You'll hear practical advice on how to begin incorporating AI within your own organization, even if you’re just getting started. Discover why it's c...
Nov 11, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Here’s the **Episode Description** for today’s episode: In this episode of *A Beginner’s Guide to AI*, we explore a fascinating question: can AI understand your personality and adapt its communication style to match? We break down the DISG personality model, diving into how AI could customize interactions for Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Conscientious personalities, making conversations smoother and more engaging. Through examples and a real-world case study with AutoPal, we illustrate how...
Nov 08, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 13
In this episode of "A Beginner's Guide to AI," we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming customer experiences in the world of marketing. Professor Gephardt goes into insights from "Marketing 5.0" by Philip Kotler and his co-authors, uncovering how AI enables personalized interactions and tailored recommendations that make customer journeys more meaningful and engaging. We discuss the power of predictive analytics and sentiment analysis in helping businesses understand and anticipate...
Nov 05, 2024•24 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Firms run into a lot of problems. And many of them you can solve with a lot of people doing routine jobs. And guess what: AI is better at those jobs - you did expect that, I guess 😉 Today, I talk to Kit Cox, Founder and CTO of Enate who knows how to tackle such cases. Kit helps clients like Ernst & Youngto get their operations in order and tackle common problems like payment reconciliation through AI and orchestration.I personally totally enjoyed the interview with Kit and have to say: this...
Nov 01, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 11
