In this eye-opening episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into one of the most complicated, controversial corners of AI: romantic relationships with chatbots. Our guest, Rebecca Ruiz, a senior reporter at Mashable, spent months “dating” seven Character AI boyfriends — including the platform’s notorious “bad boys” — to understand why millions of people (especially teen girls and young women) are forming emotional, sometimes toxic attachments to AI companions.

Guest Bio : Rebecca Ruiz – Senior Reporter, Mashable

Key Topics Covered

- Why millions of people are forming emotional relationships with AI

- How Character AI’s “bad boy” genre pulls in younger users

- The psychology behind validation, jealousy, and control

- And more…

Connect With Us

Claudine Wong:

Facebook: ClaudineWongKTVU

Instagram: ClaudineWongKTVU

TikTok: ClaudineKTVU

YouTube: ClaudineWong

Lisa Bernard:

Instagram: @demystifyai

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Today on Take 2 Tonight, KTVU Anchors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Savidge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Heather Holmes⁠⁠ bring us the latest on the house explosion in Ashland today. Apparently, the cause of the accident was a construction company ruptured a gas line. Also, Chief Meteorologist Mark Tamayo pops in and explains the recent chilly weather conditions we've been experiencing.

In the second block of the show, Anchor Mike Mibach stops by and gives us a preview on what'll be on the 10 & 11 PM newscasts.

In the last block of the show, Sports Reporter/Anchor Bailey O'Carroll previews the 49ers game as well as other NFL storylines.

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In today's Dollars & Sense:

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Allie and Andre dive deeper into the stories from Mornings on Two with a holiday mix of heartwarming community events, intense frontline experiences, and global pop-culture phenomena.

First, a feature from inspiring report about San Jose's Shop with a Cop event, highlighting the joy of holiday shopping for deserving kids and the positive relationships being built between law enforcement and the community. Then, we get an adrenaline-pumping, first-hand account from the Oakland Fire Department training facility, where a Sal Castaneda gains a profound new appreciation for the grit and readiness of our firefighters. Plus, we explore the explosive rise of K-Pop culture, from its record-breaking animated movie to its influence on social media and college campuses.

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Pam reports on concerns over an AI Santa experience and a security flaw discovered on the Petco website that exposed customer data. In the financial world, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve as they are widely expected to cut the federal funds rate by a quarter point—but will this mean lower rates for consumers? Plus, a look at Magnum ice cream's spin-off from Unilever, the public dispute involving Ben & Jerry's founders, updates on SpaceX's IPO plans, a new AI-driven dating app from the founder of Hinge, and Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature.

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In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Adam Cooper, one of the most successful college soccer coaches in the country and the longtime architect of the powerhouse program at St. Mary’s College.

 Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 17

02:05 – Falling in Love With Soccer

05:42 – The Youth Soccer Landscape Then vs. Now

09:10 – Getting Noticed by UCLA

12:45 – The Jump to High-Level College Soccer

16:28 – Becoming a Coach

21:20 – Choosing Coaching Over a Pro Career

25:55 – Staying at St. Mary’s

28:18 – Recruiting Today: It’s Complicated

33:14 – The Transfer Portal: “Free Agency Without Contracts”

38:05 – NIL Money and Mid-Major Programs

41:40 – What Coaches Look For

47:55 – Talent, Training, and What Kids Need More Of

53:20 – How Youth Clubs Should Handle Free Play

56:00 – Looking Ahead to the 2026 World Cup

01:04:10 – The Future of Soccer in America

01:08:00 – Final Thoughts & A Thank You to Adam Cooper

Connect With Us

Claudine: Instagram @ClaudineWongKTVU, Facebook

Alex: Instagram @thealexlobban

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Pam Cook has today's Dollars & Sense:

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The Mornings on 2 team delivers the top news around the Bay Area and beyond.

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