(Super)charged by AI

Someone might panic if you call it a conference. Someone else wonders if ChatGPT would tell her if she's dumb. And a certain French bulldog named Gary refuses to get off the mic. It’s another classic episode: part community update, part philosophical debate, part dog-induced chaos.

In this episode, Megan and Nicole talk about what’s coming next for AI Portland: from a definitely-not-a-conference event to an upcoming build challenge with UFO-adjacent priorities. They also dig into the weird emotional weight of AI feedback, why sycophantic robots aren’t helping anyone get better, and what it means to be the human in the loop _with actual_ critical thinking.

Along the way:

📆 Why we’re hosting a half-day event that’s definitely _not_ a conference

🧠 Why ChatGPT's compliments feel like something your mom would say

🪞 Whether AI can _actually_ tell you what you need to hear to get better

💥 And why the productivity gap might just explode in the age of AI

Plus: Heather Havrilesky makes them feel weird, the robots are sycophants, and Gary attempts a full podcast takeover and a not-so-secret yearning for federal data privacy regulation.

Related Links:

• Hello World! Demystifying AI/ML/NLP

• Zero-to-One Build Challenge

• Perplexity is making a browser

• OpenAI rolls back sycophantic update
• Chat - Heather Havrilesky
• AI is coming for the unmotivated - Sinead Bovell

Fresh off their latest event (literally - they walked in the door and hit record), Megan and Nicole cozy up for a late-night debrief on futures thinking in the age of AI. From why our brains are wired for dystopia to what we’d actually do with a two-day work week, they unpack what it means to imagine better futures, and why it’s so dang hard.

Along the way:


🧠 Why clarity of direction > certainty


🔮 Why imagining 2035 made them sweat


💼 Why "human in the loop" might not be the final answer


🧃 Why Megan should never be in charge of snacks


🕴️ Plus, that one time they presented to a room full of diplomats and Megan said “brogrammer”

Also featuring: coveralls redemption, shoutouts to the volunteer dream team, and a maybe-real-maybe-not promise of AI Portland merch.

Related links:

• Aimee's slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A1Ns6WGutINzeshtDhu1BjRbKDvfF4lA/view?usp=sharing
• Christian Hammer's article on self-fulfilling doom (https://christianhammer.io/self-fulfilling-doom/)
• What do you do with Brogrammer (https://medium.com/@megnotarte/what-do-you-do-with-brogrammer-df67752f48ec)

Hosts: Nicole Mors, Megan Notarte

Editor: Marjorie Dela Cruz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-dela-cruz-3471231b9/)

In this conversation, Megan and Nicole recap March's AI Portland Event, discussing the challenges job seekers face, ageism in hiring, the importance of tailored applications, and how AI can be leveraged effectively in the job search process. The discussion highlights the need for human discernment in an increasingly automated world, emphasizing empathy for both job seekers and recruiters. Megan and Nicole discuss the significance of networking and maintaining a strong online presence, particularly on LinkedIn, in today's job market. They emphasize the importance of community and in-person networking events (like AI Portland!), especially during These Times. The conversation concludes with Megan sharing her recent experience vibecoding with Loveable, illustrating the potential and challenges of integrating AI into software development.

Thank you to HR Annie, True Calling Recruitment and our panelists for sharing their time and expertise with the community!

Panelists:

Viviana Dominguez

Tim Butler

Elisa Gooding

Robin Way

Moderator: Katy Byrtus

Links:

* Prompting for Job Seekers

* Megan's Vibecoding experience

This is a special crossover episode in collaboration with Seth Fleischauer and the Make it Mindful podcast. This conversation recaps the February AI Portland event and explores the intersection of AI and education, highlighting diverse perspectives from educators on the implications of AI in the classroom. The discussion emphasizes the importance of teachers in navigating the complexities of AI, the need for community engagement in educational reform, and the challenges of ensuring equitable access to AI tools for all students.

Related links:

• Make it Mindful

In this episode, Megan and Nicole discuss DeepSeek and its implications in the AI landscape. The conversation shifts to their experiences at the Silicon Forest Tech Summit, highlighting the event's organization and the impressive speakers. They also discuss AI vertigo, being overwhelmed, and which tools are actually working for them right now. They emphasize the importance of finding the right AI tools that fit individual workflows and the need for customization to enhance personal productivity. Oh, and yes, they talk about flesh bags and Nicole being authentically Nicole.

Mentions/Related Links:

All about first pancakes

⁠Silicon Forest Tech Summit⁠

⁠Ethan Mollick's post about which AI tools to use⁠

DeepSeek:

- https://www.platformer.news/deepseek-ai-explainer-china-worries/

- https://stratechery.com/2025/deepseek-faq/

- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/podcasts/your-guide-to-the-deepseek-freakout-an-emergency-pod.html

- https://bsky.app/profile/sineadbovell.bsky.social/post/3lgvblry6jc2p

- https://substack.com/home/post/p-156048460

In this episode of Supercharged by AI, hosts Megan and Nicole discuss the vibrant energy in Portland as the community enters 2025. They emphasize the importance of RSVPing for events to ensure better attendance and engagement. The episode features a recap of various presentations from a recent event, highlighting how individuals creatively use AI in their personal and professional lives. From enhancing social gatherings to therapeutic applications, the discussions reveal the profound impact of AI on human interactions and personal growth.

Related Links:

2025 Startup kickoff event

⁠⁠Portland RSVP culture⁠⁠

Spencer Janyk's slides⁠⁠

Scott Davis's materials⁠⁠

Jess Cook's slides⁠⁠

Ron Bronson's slides

⁠⁠Janet Lee Johnson's presentation⁠⁠

Robbie Ellestad's slides⁠⁠

Dylan McClain's slides

In this episode, Megan and Nicole recap their recent collab event with TAO and Rose City Techies. They reflect on their journey throughout the year with AI Portland, reviewing accomplishments and lessons learned. They also discuss their recent participation at local events, including Design Month, the Oregon Semiconductor and AI Innovation summit and Portland's 2024 Digital Rights day event. They explore the diverse experiences people have with AI, teasing future discussions on AI companions and encouraging community engagement for their January 9th AI Portland Event.

Related links:

In this episode, Megan and Nicole discuss tips and tricks for developing an AI policy, the challenges of implementing AI tools in teams, and the importance of creating a culture of experimentation and accountability. They explore the messy middle of AI policy, the need for training and guidelines, and the role of humans in the AI process. The conversation emphasizes the importance of identifying specific use cases for AI, while also addressing the anxiety surrounding AI adoption.

In this episode, Megan and Nicole recap an memorable event for the AI Portland community – a luncheon with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. The conversation covered a wide array of topics, from privacy in AI and federal regulations to the social and environmental impacts of AI technology. Megan and Nicole reflect on key moments from the day, including the insights from the Senator and how this conversation felt like a culmination of their hard work in building AI Portland.

In this episode of (Super)charged by AI, Megan and Nicole discuss the integration of AI in product management, focusing on insights from a recent event featuring Lisa Orr from Zapier. They explore the evolution of AI tools, the importance of user feedback, and the role of prompt engineering in creating effective AI interactions. The conversation emphasizes the need for good design, collaboration, and curiosity in leveraging AI technology for better user experiences. Also, there's cheese. Lots of cheese.

Related links:

* The demo that was featured at the ZapConnect conference in September that Lisa walked through.

* The new Zapier feature Lisa discussed was covered in this blog post.