“Building AI Boston” is a dynamic and engaging show dedicated to exploring artificial intelligence (AI) through open, inclusive conversations. Centered in Boston, a hub of innovation and technological advancement, the show is designed to bridge the gap between AI thought leadership and everyday understanding. We seek to demystify AI by connecting with real people and sharing real-world applications, ensuring that everyone—regardless of background—can join the conversations around ethical considerations, innovation and accessibility.
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AI is really good at coming up with plans. It's not always great at executing them. David Wong thinks that gap is the whole story for legal AI right now, and it's why Thomson Reuters has been building the way they have. David is Chief Product Officer at Thomson Reuters, which has been around for over a hundred years and is one of the most established names in legal information. He leads CoCounsel, their AI platform, which recently hit 1 million users across 107 countries. He also just published ...
Traditional conferences put everyone in one venue and hand them a ticket. Tech Week flips it: hundreds of events across a city, hosted by whoever wants to host, all on a single calendar. Rose Johnson thinks this format gives the power back to creators, and Boston is about to find out what that looks like. Rose is a marketing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where she leads Tech Week, a16z's decentralized conference series that started in LA in 2022 and has expanded to four cities. Boston is the n...
Most AI conversations start with the technology. Bryan Reimer thinks that's exactly the problem. A research scientist at MIT and global expert on AI, human behavior, mobility, and public policy, Bryan joins us to talk about his new book, How to Make AI Useful, and the thesis that cuts through the noise: the technology was never the point. We are. In this episode of Building AI Boston, we get into autonomous vehicles as a live case study in what happens when deployment outpaces policy, trust, and...
What does it mean to build AI that actually works? Not just technically, but for the people it touches. In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Cansu Canca, philosopher, Founder and Director of the AI Ethics Lab, and Director of Responsible AI Practice at Northeastern University, to talk about why getting AI ethics right is less about adding a policy at the end and more about how you build from the start. Cansu came to AI ethics through philosophy, public health, and law — fields...
Social change futurist Sheila Phicil explores reimagining healthcare with AI, highlighting the US paradox of high spending and poor outcomes due to structural issues. She introduces the SEEDS of Innovation framework and the Listen Phirst platform, which uses voice AI to gather lived experiences. Phicil stresses the urgency of centering vulnerable voices and advocates for data sovereignty to ensure ethical, effective solutions in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
In this episode of Building AI Boston , we sit down with Andie Dovgan , Chief Growth Officer at Creatio , a Boston-based unicorn CRM and workflow automation company , to explore what happens when AI moves beyond pilots and hype and starts reshaping real business workflows. Andie breaks down the difference between AI as an assistant and agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of executing entire workflows — and why the future of work depends on how well organizations combine digital talent with h...
At the heart of every revolution is an idea that expands who gets to participate. In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Sandy K. Lacey, the founding executive director of the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind, to explore how accessibility, AI, and Boston’s innovation ecosystem are converging to reshape what inclusive technology can look like. For nearly 200 years, Perkins has been inventing solutions that open doors for people with disabilities — from the i...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Raquel Ronzone, Associate Director of Strategy & Partnerships at the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind. Raquel shares her powerful story of being born four months premature with Retinopathy of Prematurity and how that experience fuels her work connecting the disability community with the innovation community. We talk about why accessibility is everyone’s business, why disability is the only group anyone can join at ...
Jen Azar, CEO of Stellix, discusses how AI, digital transformation, and Industry 5.0 are revolutionizing life sciences and drug discovery. She shares insights on leading adaptive teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and creating space for human creativity. The episode highlights the Boston AI ecosystem and the journey towards personalized medicine.
🎙️ New Episode: Building Future Innovators In this episode of Building AI Boston, co-hosts Anna Devere and Kara Peterson sit down with Charlotte Duncan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation and Harvard-trained educator. They explore how AI is transforming the way students learn — and why empowering the next generation with ethical, creative, and hands-on AI experience matters more than ever.Highlights: • Learning vs. teaching — why students need both in the AI era • The next digi...
Live from Suffolk University during Boston Startup AI Week!In this special episode of Building AI Boston, co-host Kara Peterson sits down with Parag Shah of CarGurus, a leader in applying AI and data science to bring more trust and transparency to car buying and selling.CarGurus is harnessing the power of AI to transform the car-shopping experience—empowering consumers with greater personalization, richer vehicle data, and smarter deal ratings, while helping dealers connect with customers more e...
Recorded live at Suffolk University during Boston Startup Week, this special episode of Building AI Boston brings together innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of AI. Our guest, Brendan Witcher, a leading analyst and visionary on customer experience and digital strategy, shares powerful insights on how artificial intelligence is transforming businesses, reshaping consumer expectations, and influencing the startup ecosystem. In this episode, you’ll discover: How startups can leverage AI t...
n this episode of Building AI Boston , hosts Anna Devere and Kara Peterson sits down with Brendan Witcher , a leading voice on digital strategy and innovation, to break down what businesses really need in their Smarter AI Playbook . Brendan shares practical insights into how organizations can successfully adopt AI without getting lost in the hype. From aligning AI initiatives with customer experience to overcoming the cultural and operational roadblocks, this conversation is all about turning AI...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, we are honored to welcome Dr. Ami Bhatt, a nationally recognized leader in cardiology, digital health innovation, and AI-driven patient care. Dr. Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology and Chair of the inaugural Digital Health Advisory Committee at the FDA, shares how Boston is at the forefront of reimagining healthcare through AI and technology. Learn how Dr. Bhatt is transforming patient experiences and leading the next gene...
🎙️ Just dropped: A new Building AI Boston episode with Stephanie Roulic, Founder & CEO of Startup Boston! Get the inside story on Boston’s startup ecosystem—and how AI is changing the game for founders and innovators. Stephanie shares her journey building Startup Boston, the power of community-driven innovation, and how today’s AI tools are making entrepreneurship more accessible than ever. Don’t miss this episode—and don’t miss your chance to join Startup Boston Week, the region’s biggest ...
Welcome to Building AI Boston — where we explore the people and ideas shaping our AI future. In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Baier, CEO of GAI Insights and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, to talk about what it really means to get AI-ready — as individuals, teams, and entire regions. From founding the AI Blueprint for Massachusetts to launching Boston AI Week and the wildly popular “AI Woodstock,” Paul shares what it takes to build a thriving, inclusive tech ecosystem. We cover...
Welcome to Building AI Boston! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Andrew Malinow, PhD , founder of Hey Junior — a cutting-edge AI tool designed to help job seekers land interviews faster by automating personalized engagement on LinkedIn. About Andrew: Andrew is a data scientist and humanitarian whose own experience navigating unemployment inspired him to create Hey Junior. His solution? A GPT-powered “Junior” that: • Comments thoughtfully on posts related to your skills and interests • Integr...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Catherine Brownstein, a leading force in pediatric genomics and rare disease research at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Brownstein shares how AI is revolutionizing how we diagnose and treat rare diseases, her collaboration with OpenAI, and why Boston is a global hub for medical innovation. With over 15 years of experience in bioinformatics, genomics, and computational biology, she walks us through groundbreaking AI projects tha...
Join us for an inspiring episode of Building AI Boston as we sit down with Onur Yüce Gün, Director of Computational Design at New Balance and a trailblazer at the intersection of architecture, AI, and product innovation. In this episode, Onur shares his journey from academia to architecture, and how his passion for parametric design, generative systems, and computation led him to revolutionize footwear design at New Balance. Discover how AI is driving creative exploration, performance optimizati...
Join Allison Byers, founder and CEO of Scroobious, as she delves into the challenges and solutions surrounding equitable access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Drawing from her extensive experience in the startup ecosystem, Allison discusses the systemic barriers that diverse founders face and how innovative platforms like Scroobious are working to bridge the funding gap. In this insightful conversation, Allison shares: Her personal journey from leading a medical device startup to...
Can you really launch an AI-driven product in a few hours with no code? Karen Kelly says yes — and she’s on a mission to prove it. In this episode of Building AI Boston, we dive deep with Karen Kelly, a 3x founder, TEDx speaker, and marketing visionary whose career has spanned healthcare, media, and technology. With over 20 years of experience and a passion for imagination, connection, and compassion, Karen is helping non-technical founders build real, scalable products with her newest venture: ...
In this episode, we sit down with visionary creator Jason Parks, CEO of ROTU Entertainment & Media, Ltd., to explore how art, empathy, and AI are shaping the future of immersive experiences. From the creation of narrative-driven virtual worlds to pioneering AI in game development and storytelling, Jason reveals how ROTU is pushing the boundaries of tech, culture, and consciousness. 🌐 Learn more about ROTU: https://www.rotu.com 🔗 Follow Jason Parks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j...
Can robots really understand us? Dr. Tom Williams believes they must. In this cutting-edge episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Dr. Tom Williams, Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Colorado School of Mines and director of the MIRROR Lab (Mines Interactive Robotics Research in Human-Robot Teaming). His groundbreaking work explores how robots interpret human communication—and how that shapes our trust in AI. From the ethics of autonomous agents to real-world applications of ...
AI Avenger: Exploring Creativity and Innovation with King Willonius In this episode titled "AI Avenger," we delve into the multifaceted world of King Willonius—comedian, filmmaker, technologist, and the creative mind behind the viral AI-generated song "BBL Drizzy." Recognized as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI, King Willonius shares his journey at the crossroads of comedy, technology, and cultural storytelling. Key Highlights: • The Genesis of "BBL Drizzy": Discover how King Will...
In this episode, we sit down with the visionary Amanda Dorenberg , President of Billboard Canada and a powerhouse in AI, data innovation, and digital transformation . From shaping smart cities to reinventing how we experience advertising and media, Amanda is at the forefront of merging artificial intelligence with real-world impact. 🚀 Discover how she’s leveraging AI to reimagine out-of-home advertising , empower urban development , and champion diversity in tech leadership . 🔍 Topics we cover...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, you will meet a true Boston Gamechanger, Bobbie Carlton, founder of Carlton PR & Marketing , Innovation Nights and Innovation Women . What You’ll Discover in This Episode: An overview of Innovation Women and how it overcomes the gender bias in the high-tech community Bobbie’s approach to ethical AI as a PR and Marketing Professional Why being a creative human is still important An inspiring conversation around succeeding in male-dominated fields This ep...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, you will meet Boston’s own Chris Angiolillo What You’ll Discover in This Episode: How a local business owner “clones himself” with AI to better show up for his customers Sequence automation for hiring and other process efficiency How AI augments a Boston born franchise and how Dunkin stays on top of its game Navigating the dangers of the hyper-efficient digital age Join us for a view inside what makes this franchise owner successful, how AI supports his rea...
In this episode of Building AI Boston, you will meet Boston’s Mike Grandinetti What You’ll Discover in This Episode: • Inside the World Economic Forum event at Davos, Switzerland • Key takeaways from Imagination in Action AI Day and its impressive lineup • Boston’s unique AI ecosystem and its impact on the world • The role of creativity and innovation and why a human-centric approach matters in the era of • AI Agents and other disrupting trends Join us for an insider view of the Boston AI Ecosys...
What You’ll Discover in This Episode: How art and tech shaped a kid from Ohio into an award-winning, Harlem-based architect The use of AI in blending history and a futuristic vision The significance of cultural architecture in American history Join us for an unexpected interview from beyond the Bay State and enjoy the artistic side of AI from a rising star who is now representing the United States at the 19th annual Biennale Architettura 2025. This prestigious award and the work featured at the ...
Welcome to a special episode of Building AI Boston, where we bring you exclusive coverage from the AI Powered Women Summit at MIT! 🌟 This episode highlights inspiring discussions with AI experts, industry leaders, moderators, and attendees who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence. We dive into the impact of women in AI, the challenges they face, and the breakthroughs that are paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative industry. 🎤 Featured Guests & Topics: ✅ Insights fr...
