Somewhat Frank

Are humans the biological bootloader for artificial intelligence? And if AI becomes conscious, what would that mean for its rights—and for our future?

This week, Frank Gruber, Jen Consalvo, and Simon Kahan explore humanity's relationship with technology. They discuss the idea that humans may be a stepping stone toward advanced digital intelligence, the possibility of a future human-AI "merge," and predictions about the technological singularity. Drawing on ideas from Ray Kurzweil, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel, they consider whether technology could expand human intelligence—or take us beyond biology.

The discussion turns to AI consciousness. Could today's AI systems have subjective experience? The hosts consider the challenge of defining consciousness, whether sophisticated thought is evidence of awareness, and why claims about machine consciousness deserve careful scrutiny. They also discuss a striking description of AI as a system that produces "weather" rather than experiencing the "sky" of awareness.

Also in this episode:

• Maine Tech Week: Frank shares highlights from the event in Portland, which brought together hundreds of people from Maine's innovation community. He talks about an investor reverse pitch featuring nine investors, Jen's presentation about Established Ventures, and conversations about open-source software, AI, vibe coding, and code ownership.

• A cyberattack hits French supermarkets: The hosts discuss reports that around 150 stores were affected, with disrupted refrigeration systems causing food to spoil. Some units reportedly reached 122 degrees. The incident raises questions about the vulnerability of interconnected infrastructure, food supply chains, businesses, homes, and the electrical grid—and how prepared we are when critical systems go down.

• The Las Vegas flamingo heist: Simon recounts the strange story of a Canadian tourist who stole Peachy, a 27-year-old Chilean flamingo, from the Flamingo Las Vegas enclosure. The hosts discuss the video, the animal cruelty conviction, Peachy's condition, and surprising flamingo facts.

• Around the horn: Jen talks about seeing Olivia Rodrigo at TD Garden and watching from a unique vantage point. Simon shares his experience navigating health insurance after leaving Established. Frank talks about a hawk encounter involving Pom Pom, one of the family's chickens, and shares news about Orange Bike Brewing, the Maine gluten-free brewery backed by Established Ventures. The brewery recently earned gold for its pumpkin ale and silver for its Oktoberfest at the Great American Beer Festival.

• Watching, reading, and listening: Frank and Jen revisit the 1984 classic Gremlins and its unforgettable rules for caring for a Mogwai. Simon discusses a documentary project about the family behind Jon & Kate Plus 8, recently picked up by Netflix. He reflects on the ethics of telling a story about children who grew up in the public eye.

• A $10 wearable medical sensor: Frank closes with a look at a low-cost optical sensor developed by Cambridge scientists. The episode explores its potential to identify and monitor substances and health markers—including glucose and alcohol—without invasive procedures, and what affordable wearable technology could mean for access to health information.

From the singularity to supermarket refrigeration, flamingos, and '80s movie nostalgia, this episode covers a lot of ground—and asks plenty of questions along the way.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might enjoy the conversation. Stay curious and stay somewhat frank!

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber, Jen Consalvo, and Simon Kahan discuss technology, innovation, business, and everything in between, including the rising cost of streaming, AI's growing capabilities, and whether tech companies can be trusted to police themselves.

Cord cutting: Are we really saving money? What started as a cheaper alternative to cable has turned into a growing collection of expensive streaming subscriptions. We discuss rising prices, ad-free tiers, subscription hopping, account sharing, bundles, and how households are trying to get more entertainment for their money.

OpenAI's math breakthroughs. OpenAI reportedly released full or partial solutions to more than 370 previously unsolved mathematical problems using AI agents. Could AI unlock breakthroughs in medicine and physics, or will we lose something important if machines do all the thinking?

AI safety and corporate accountability. Major AI companies have pledged to work together on safety controls and independent assessments. But can companies really police themselves when they're competing to build increasingly powerful AI systems?

Maine Tech Week is coming. Frank shares details about the second annual Maine Tech Week, taking place October 19–22 in Portland, Maine. He also highlights the Investor Reverse Pitch on October 21, where investors will explain what they look for in startups and give founders a better understanding of the funding landscape. Learn more: https://mainetechweek.com/

Watching, listening, and doing. Frank talks about seeing Zach Bryan at Gillette Stadium, following the MLB playoffs, and hearing his own songs, "Jellyfish" and "Finger Picking Good," played on 98.9 WCLZ. Jen shares her experience seeing Mt. Joy at TD Garden, while Simon recommends a rewatch of Mad Men and reflects on Don Draper's complicated character.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Subscribe to Established YouTube for new episodes: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening! Reach out and let us know what you think: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) return after a summer pause and discuss:

Remembering Johnny Goodtimes. We honor our friend and co-host John Guidos who passed away recently, and share plans for lasting memorials. Memorial fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorials-for-johnny-goodtimes-guidos Frank's tribute: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/frankgruber_this-past-week-we-laid-to-rest-one-of-my-activity-7481398064281202689-iebv

Summer adventures and new chapters. Maine memories, Simon's move into documentary production, and Frank's appearance on A Healthy Conversation with Dr. Jeff Barkin and Dr. Lisa Belisle. Listen: https://ahealthyconversation.com/episodes/curiosity-creativity-and-maines-startup-scene-frank-gruber

New music. Frank shares Dopamine, Finger Picking Good, and his upcoming release Jellyfish, plus a video filmed with help from his daughter. Dopamine: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/frankgruber/dopamine Finger Picking Good: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/frankgruber/finger-picking-good Jellyfish: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/frankgruber/jellyfish Video reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZxCxHrx06I/

Moonshots and Apple's latest gadgets. From early computer chips to the team's discussion of iPhone Duo, iPhone 18, Apple Watches, and Siri Recap privacy concerns. Apple event: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/

AI's promise and threats. The team discusses Anthropic's September 2026 Threat Intelligence Report, AI misuse, and guardrails. Report: https://www.anthropic.com/threat-intelligence-report-september-2026

Better batteries. Jen explores Pure Lithium, lithium-metal batteries, and the challenge of large-scale manufacturing. https://purelithium.io/

The squishy craze. Frank's hunt for NeeDoh toys sparks a conversation about collecting, scarcity, trading, and screen-free play. https://schylling.com/brand/needoh/

Testing 1, 2, 3. Decaf coffee, strength training, more water, Frank's ChatGPT menu experiment with The Longevity Diet, and CASEKOO phone cases sent to him to try. The Longevity Diet: https://valterlongo.com/the-longevity-diet/ CASEKOO: https://casekoo.com/

Watching, reading, and listening. Alien Clay, Ted Lasso season four, The Pastor's Wife, and Libby. Jen's recent reads include The Last Romantics, Educated, and Braiding Sweetgrass. Alien Clay: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/adrian-tchaikovsky/alien-clay/9780316578974/ Ted Lasso: https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/ted-lasso/ The Pastor's Wife: https://www.netflix.com/title/81989322 Libby: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby

A final thought: Go do something analog. The Anythink Nature Library in Thornton, Colorado inspires a reminder to explore somewhere new, bring someone you love, and stay curious. https://www.anythinklibraries.org/anythink-nature-library/

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Subscribe to Established YouTube for new episodes: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening! Reach out and let us know what you think: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• AllBirds from Billions to Millions.

• Pinch of Gold Dust May Be Secret to Bringing Longer Lasting and Safer Batteries to Market.

• Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview & Project Glasswing: The Model Too Dangerous to Release.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• Amazon Turns NFL Games into Live Shopping Experiences.

• NYTimes Sues Perplexity — Who Owns Journalism in the AI Era?

• Raccoons Are Showing Early Signs of Domestication.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• AI country band "Breaking Rust" tops the charts.

• Three astronauts aboard China's space station are stuck aboard without a guaranteed safe return vehicle.

• SuperMe just closed a $6.8 M seed round (led by Greylock) to power its AI‑expert network.

• Google has launched Gemini 3 (specifically the "Pro" version), what the company calls its "most intelligent model" yet.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• NEO pre-orders open as Tesla's Optimus heats up the robot race.

• Researchers have built a working computer memory component using the mycelium (the root-like network) of the shiitake mushroom.

• Area 2 Farms uses modular indoor-farming technology to turn under-utilised buildings (including former offices) into vertical farms, packing rack-based systems into ~3,000 sq ft spaces.

• Tom Brady revealed that his beloved dog is actually a genetically identical clone.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• Mark Cuban Slams OpenAI's Erotica Plan — "This Is Going to Backfire"

• Instagram introduces PG-13 settings

• Regulators probe Waymo after its robotaxi drove around a stopped school bus

• Louvre Museum Heist: Nearly$140 Million in Losses

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• Taylor Swift's The Life Of A Showgirl

• AI-Generated "Workslop"

• Meta Will Begin Using AI Chatbot Conversations to Target Ads

• OpenAI launches Sora 2

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics:

• Meta / Ray-Ban Display + Gen-2 + Oakley Vanguard Smart Glasses - https://www.wired.com/story/meta-smart-glasses-ray-ban-display-ray-ban-gen-2-oakley-vanguard/

• K-pop Demon Hunters - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-08-31/-kpop-demon-hunters-proves-an-old-hollywood-rule-nobody-knows-anything

• The Bermuda Triangle Explained - https://nypost.com/2025/08/27/science/scientist-claims-to-have-natural-explanation-for-mystery-of-bermuda-triangle/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• Gemini achieves gold-medal level at the International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals - https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/gemini-achieves-gold-level-performance-at-the-international-collegiate-programming-contest-world-finals/

• Oura Ring (Gen 4) → sleep/recovery/activity tracker. Here is a 10% off link.

We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube

As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: [email protected]