In this episode of Mindful AI, we speak with Mike Spaeth, Global Vice President at the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII). Mike’s journey spans politics in Washington DC, early AI personalization at Amazon, IBM’s Watson, and now leading global AI education across 160+ countries.

We explore the AI race, ethics, and education: from empowering young students in Nigeria and Ghana, to vendor-agnostic certifications, to the question of whether acceleration is overshadowing accountability. Mike shares why inclusivity, ethics, and AI literacy are essential if we want a future where technology serves human flourishing.

If you’re interested in AI for good, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

🔗 Links from the episode:

• United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII)

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Mike’s birdwatching practice

02:30 – What the USAII is and why ethics matters

07:00 – The global AI race and education in Africa

10:00 – Mike’s journey from politics to Amazon & Watson

13:00 – Jobs, dignity, and what humans do best

17:30 – Making AI literacy inclusive & jargon-free

21:30 – Ethics training for students, engineers, and C-suites

26:00 – Acceleration, military pressure, and healthcare promises

33:00 – What listeners can do today to influence AI’s future

38:00 – The literacy gap in HR and schools

44:00 – Energy, infrastructure, and affordability

49:00 – Why Big Tech holds the keys

52:00 – Black boxes, explainability, and risks

59:00 – Positive use cases of AI and closing reflections

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