In this week’s episode of The Intersect, I sit down with Shane Hulse, Head of Product at Continua AI, to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we connect and build community. As these AI tools become embedded in everyday life, many people are turning to them not just for productivity, but for emotional support, reflection, and a sense of belonging. Shane offers a counterintuitive perspective from inside the industry: Continua is intentionally not building an AI friend. Instead, the company is designing tools that live inside group chats to support better human-to-human communication without replacing it.

Together, Cory and Shane unpack the growing tension between AI convenience and genuine connection, the risks of emotional dependency, and what we’ve failed to learn from the social media era. They also explore privacy, trust, and responsibility when AI operates inside intimate spaces — and what a healthier relationship with technology could look like in the years ahead.

About Shane Hulse:

Shane is the Head of Product at Continua. Before that, he built and monetized consumer products at Venmo and Stash Financial. Outside of work he can be found devouring books, raiding the farmers market, or competing in open-water swimming events around the world. He's passionate about community involvement and solving the loneliness epidemic. 

Follow Shane on LinkedIn @shane-hulse

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