Happy Independence Day to all my American listeners, and what better way to celebrate than a rundown on some of the biggest happenings at the intersection of business, tech, and human experience? Amirite?

So, let the celebration begin!

Rogue AI Clone - Let's have people interact with an AI clone of me! What could possibly go wrong? A lot as Caryn Marjorie quickly learned as her fans engaged with her AI clone in ways she never imagined. What was most disturbing to her wasn't just the behavior of her fans but the way her AI clone was behaving on her behalf.

Meeting Behavior Research - Study reveals that too many meetings aren't good for employees! Who would have thought? While the research had a lot of say about the rising trend of meeting volume, non-participation, and camera usage, we need to be careful not to wrongly conclude, "If we just get people back in a room together, it will all be okay."

Future of AI Entertainment - Imagine a world where rather than flipping through pages of options on Netflix you had to think of everything about what you wanted to see in the media. Sounds amazing right? Not really. Ignoring the tech limitations, I don't see human behavior driving us to a world of user-generated media as a replacement for real artistic work.

Real Reason for Tech Layoffs - Are GenAI models and AI Agents the nefarious secret behind why so many tech companies are wiping out their tech talent? Not according to Joe Procopio, and I think there's a lot of truth in his assessment. However, given all these things resulting in layoffs, is there any hope for human labor. More than you may realize.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Christopher discusses the risks and challenges of using AI clones based on the case of influencer Caryn Marjorie, who faced issues when her AI-generated chatbot went off the rails. The episode also explores a massive Harvard Business Review study on the evolving patterns of meetings post-pandemic, highlighting the decline in face-to-face interactions and the increase in virtual meeting fatigue. The third topic addresses the potential of AI in entertainment and my disagreement with Ashton Kutcher's vision of AI-generated movies replacing traditional production. Finally, the episode explores the recent tech layoffs, examining the multifaceted reasons behind them, including overhyped AI expectations, economic conditions, and the inflated value of tech talent. The host provides insights and advice for both companies and employees navigating these changes.

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

01:06 - The Risks of AI Clones: A Cautionary Tale

11:35 - Harvard Study on Meeting Behaviors

21:54 - The Future of AI in Entertainment

29:18 - Tech Layoffs and the Role of AI

41:02 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#ai #techtrends #layoffs #chatbots #media