This week on AI Lab Unfiltered, we’re replaying one of our most-listened-to episodes. Drew and Pete sit down with Alex Mead to explore some of the big conversations shaping AI right now—from AI reasoning and chain of thought to data privacy, running models locally, and the technical side of quantization. They also dig into the difference between AI automation and AI agents, how the definition of AI is evolving, and what the future might look like with AI influencers, digital companions, and new forms of communication. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about where the technology is headed and what it could mean for society.

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to AI and Guest Background 
(01:29) DeepSeek: The New AI Model 
(03:50) Understanding Chain of Thought and Reasoning in AI 
(09:04) DeepSeek's Impact on the AI Landscape 
(11:59) Concerns About Data Privacy with DeepSeek 
(14:56) Running AI Models Locally and Their Accessibility 
(18:14) Understanding AI Automation and Agents 
(21:37) The Evolution of AI Definitions 
(24:54) AI Frameworks and Their Applications 
(27:57) The Future of AI Influencers 
(34:39) AI Companions and Their Impact 
(35:26) The Role of AI in Combating Loneliness 
(38:16) Open Source vs Closed Source AI Models 
(41:10) Regulation and Its Impact on AI Development 
(44:51) The Future of AI: Tools and Applications 
(48:09) Innovative AI Solutions in Communication