The age of intelligent machines is here, but in a world of avatars, automation, and algorithms, what does it mean to really connect?

In this episode of Human and the Machine, I sit down with Ash Phillips, founder of Rebellious co, startup mentor to over 1,000 founders, and a true champion of the unreasonably ambitious. From building one of the UK’s most human-centered startup communities to mentoring founders in a rapidly changing world, Ash shares why emotional intelligence might just become our greatest competitive edge.

We talk about:

- The future of ambition in an AI-driven world

- What “people-first” really means when automation scales

- How to build authentic, human-centered communities

- Why EQ might matter more than IQ

- And how the legacy we leave will be defined by how we made others feel .

This one’s for the rebels, the builders, and anyone trying to stay human while everything else speeds up.

🔗 Links:

Website: https://www.rebelliousco.org/about/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashphillips/

Host: @cienandai

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