BASELINE

Sophie Costin from Make Real reveals how immersive technology and AI are transforming learning inside some of the world’s biggest organisations. From emotion-aware avatars to digital rehearsal spaces, this episode explores how the metaverse is evolving into a safe, responsive environment where people can practise, fail, and grow.

Make Real’s award-winning work blends behavioural psychology with game design to create powerful learning tools used by brands like London Business School and the London Stock Exchange Group. This is the future of training - where failure isn’t feared, it’s designed for.

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

EPISODE LINKS:

https://makereal.co.uk

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Welcome to BASELINE040

01:05 – What Is Make Real?

03:20 – The Metaverse Is Becoming Tangible

06:45 – From Gaming to Training: Crossing Worlds

09:10 – Go-Karts, Pac-Man, and Projection Mapping

11:50 – Safe Spaces to Practise Difficult Conversations

14:30 – AI, Emotion Recognition, and Learning by Failing

17:55 – Digital Worlds That Feel Alive

20:40 – Privacy, Safety, and Real-World Impact

23:15 – The Future of AI-Augmented Human Skills

26:00 – Will the Digital World Empower or Control Us?

28:20 – Final Thoughts: Why Human Skills Matter More Than Ever

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

After raising $150M and using AI to help thousands overcome the housing crisis, founder Vadim Toader returns with a bold new vision. In this cinematic conversation, we explore the future of AI, the inflection point we’re living through, and what it really takes to build in a world shaped by ChatGPT, AGI, and human-machine convergence. This isn’t about hype it’s about resilience, risk, and what comes next for the people who dare to lead.

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:00 - AI and the Future of Humanity

09:30 - Feedback Loops: What AI Reveals About Us

18:45 - Growth vs Comfort: Lessons from Startup Life

28:00 - Why AI Can’t Predict the Future

37:15 - Spotting the Next Inflection Point in Tech

46:30 - Building Startups in the Age of ChatGPT

55:45 - Life After Exit: The Founder’s Second Album

01:05:00 - AGI, Risk, and What Comes Next

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

In this episode of BASELINE, I speak with Vicki Liu, CEO of ApogemAI and former IBM VP, about the powerful intersection of culture, technology, and trust in shaping the future of AI.From China’s massive digital infrastructure leap to AI-driven elder care, Vicki shares a hopeful vision of how technology can uplift humanity - when aligned with real human values. Discover why trust in institutions changes AI adoption, how cultural values like family and collective welfare influence tech design, and what the West can learn from the East in building a better, more connected future.If you are passionate about AI, humanity, global innovation, or the search for meaning in an AI-driven world, this conversation will inspire you.

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Trust, Culture, and the Global AI Gap

03:20 – Vicki’s Journey: From IBM to ApogemAI

08:10 – China’s Entrepreneurial Spirit and Tech Boom

12:30 – Collective Trust vs. Individual Privacy: Why It Matters

17:45 – Building Infrastructure for the AI Era

22:10 – How AI Is Transforming Elder Care (Silver Card Project)

30:00 – Cultural Values and Family in Tech Design

36:40 – AI in Education: Rewarding Curiosity

43:20 – From Early Computing to Global Impact

50:10 – Utopia or Dystopia: Vicki’s Hope for Humanity

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

In this episode of BASELINE, Ian sits down with Enrico Signoretti in Bologna, the heart of Europe’s academic and technical innovation. Enrico shares his journey from global storage expert to joining Cubbit, a company redefining cloud infrastructure through sovereign, distributed storage.

Together they explore the future of AI, the rise of European data independence, and how platforms like Cubbit could power the next generation of intelligent systems. With supercomputers like Leonardo and quantum breakthroughs on the horizon, Bologna is becoming a hub for real innovation.

This conversation is a powerful look at why Europe’s moment to lead is now.

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

EPISODE LINKS:

https://bit.ly/the-baseline-cubbit

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – The Missed Wave

04:30 – A Startup in Bologna

08:30 – From Analyst to Builder

12:30 – Redefining Cloud: Cubbit’s Model

17:00 – Europe’s Data Moment

21:30 – AI Needs Infrastructure

26:00 – The Ethics of Intelligence

31:00 – Distributed by Design

36:30 – Breaking the Lock-In

42:00 – The Cost of Control

47:00 – A Sovereign Alternative

52:30 – Utopia or Dystopia?

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

In this episode of BASELINE, Rachel Astall, Chief Customer Officer at Beam.org, reveals how one of the most overlooked areas of society is being transformed through AI and why she believes technology should serve people, not replace them. Rachel shares the story behind Magic Notes, Beam’s AI-powered tool that gives frontline social workers a full day back each week by reducing admin and restoring focus on human care. From her early work in charities to leadership in fast-moving fintech and now driving real impact inside government, Rachel’s journey is a masterclass in purpose-driven innovation.

This is human-centered AI, co-created with care workers, trusted by government, and already changing lives. If you want to know what it looks like when empathy, intelligence, and technology truly work together - watch this.

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

EPISODE LINKS:

https://beam.org

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/28/social-workers-england-ai-system-magic-notes

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – AI That Restores Purpose

00:04 – The Administrative Crisis in Social Care

00:09 – From Charity to FinTech to Beam

00:14 – Partnering with Government, Not Selling to It

00:19 – Co-Creation and Local Nuance

00:24 – Magic Notes and the Power of Active Listening

00:29 – Real Stories from the Frontline

00:33 – Can AI Replace Human Care?

00:38 – Empathy Can’t Be Automated

00:43 – Transparency, Trust, and Security at Beam

00:48 – Going Global: When, Not If

00:53 – Utopia or Dystopia?

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

Gene Allmark-Kent returns to BASELINE as one of the most trusted and up-to-date voices on AI, leadership, and the changing face of human connection. In this cinematic conversation, we explore real-time augmentation tools like Cluely, the rise of dissonance in AI-assisted interviews, and what trust and authenticity look like in the era of machine-shaped behaviour. Gene brings a grounded, expert perspective from inside the executive search world: offering clarity, nuance, and sharp insight into the very human dilemmas emerging in our AI-driven reality.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Please Don’t Go

04:18 – The Age of Augmentation

08:02 – Undetectable AI in Interviews

11:47 – When Words Don’t Match Energy

16:25 – The Rise of Dissonance

20:10 – Cheating or Evolving?

24:36 – Where Do Values Come From Now?

29:42 – The Human Supply Chain

33:58 – AI, Authenticity, and Trust

38:20 – The New Creative Tension

44:12 – Sovereignty and Infrastructure

51:05 – Hope, Utopia, and the Future

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

In this episode of BASELINE, Ian speaks with Bob De Caux, Chief AI Officer at IFS, to explore the emerging role of the CAIO and what it really means for enterprise, innovation, and leadership. This conversation covers how AI is shifting from isolated data science teams to core strategic functions, how humanoid robots may soon enter industrial environments, and why the companies that ignore AI will not survive the next wave of disruption. Bob shares his journey from academic research to frontline AI strategy, giving us a clear view of what it takes to lead artificial intelligence efforts at scale inside a global tech business.The discussion is grounded in the major shifts happening in 2025, including government mandates for Chief AI Officers, the rise of enterprise AI adoption, and the commercial push behind robotics and agentic systems. This episode is a snapshot of a critical turning point where AI moves from hype to infrastructure, from theory to decision-making, and from code to culture. If you want to understand how business, leadership, and technology are colliding in real time, this is the one to watch.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — He Predicted the Machine Age

04:25 — What Is a Chief AI Officer?

10:15 — AI Strategy Inside IFS

17:40 — From Code to Command: AI in Industry

25:05 — Humanoid Robots and the Human World

32:30 — Ethics, Risk, and the Rise of Digital Workers

40:55 — Data, Value, and the Real KPIs

48:20 — Utopia or Dystopia?

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise.

In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

Gavin Ray is back on BASELINE and rejoins us because GPT-4.5 just passed the Turing Test-scoring 73% when given a persona. That means most people thought the AI was the human. In this episode, we explore what that really means, and how you can still stay ahead by learning the skill of prompt engineering.

We dive into conversational prompting, emotional mimicry, AI behavior design, and test whether Gavin can spot the difference between real and generated responses. If AI now sounds human, the only thing that sets you apart is how you speak to it. This is your field guide to understanding and mastering generative AI.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – GPT-4.5 Passes the Turing Test

03:10 – Can You Tell Who’s Human?

07:42 – Prompting as a Martial Art

13:25 – AI Emotional Mimicry and Rapport

19:04 – The Ethics of Engagement

26:31 – The UK’s AI Dilemma

33:18 – Liability and the Illusion of Intelligence

41:06 – Just Start: Learning to Speak AI

55:12 – Utopia or Dystopia? The Future We Choose

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise. In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

Sam Empson is one of the most exciting engineers working at the edge of AI. In this episode, he shares how he is building agentic systems that do more than generate language. These systems reason, plan, retrieve data, and take meaningful action in the real world.From synthetic empathy that boosts customer satisfaction to intelligent reinforcement modeling shaped by behaviour analysis and rubrics, Sam explains how these systems are designed, refined, and deployed at scale.

He also gives us a look into his own development process, using cutting-edge tools like Cursor to work faster and smarter with AI in the loop. This is not speculation. Sam is leading the way, and his clarity, energy, and technical insight make this conversation essential for anyone building the future of AI.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – The Era of the Unknown

05:42 – Are We Still the Smartest?

13:10 – Building Agentic Systems

21:33 – Tools, APIs, and Action

30:05 – Intelligence by Design

37:48 – Synthetic Empathy

45:12 – Should AI Feel Human?

52:39 – Utopia or Obsolescence?

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence

BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise. In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

Brendon Warwick is a leading engineer who has worked at some of the most cutting-edge companies, from high-frequency trading at G-Research to AI-driven development at Hyperexponential. With expertise in low-latency, high-stakes systems, he combines technical precision with a deep understanding of AI’s role in engineering.

In this conversation, he explores how AI is reshaping software development, whether tools like Cursor and Copilot are making engineers stronger or obsolete, and the challenges of AI accountability in critical systems.

CONTACT IAN:

Web: https://www.baselinepodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Introduction: The Future of AI-Driven Engineering

02:10 – AI-Powered Coding: The Rise of Cursor and Copilot

07:25 – Are Engineers Becoming AI Operators with VIBE coding

12:40 – High-Stakes Systems: Can AI Be Trusted?

17:30 – Should AI Be Punished for Mistakes?

22:50 – The Google Search Disruption: Is AI Killing SEO?

28:15 – Augmented vs. Natural Engineers: Who Thrives?

33:40 – Can Startups Survive Without Engineers?

39:05 – AI and the Evolution of Software Development

44:20 – Utopia or Dystopia: The Future of AI in Engineering

48:50 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways

PODCAST LINKS:

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f96ed0d0/podcast/rss

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aeti3PgMq6OLfLPtm5BsA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaselineAI

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1771406032

Audible: https://a.co/d/8LU5ChT

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb608636-cc81-4b09-8e0e-cf211388dd08

Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbdDIi2BAcBtQQSA4GJtXfasPlj5zBopO

SOCIAL LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BaselineAI

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baselineai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-podcast

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/baselinepodcast

#AI #Technology #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HumanConnection #BASELINE #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Influence