We tell AI what to do, write a text, solve a problem, answer a question. But what if it developed a purpose of its own? In this episode, Selene Báez Santamaría from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam joins us to explore AI systems that learn through dialogue, build structured memories, and even recognise what they don’t know. Together with Professor Catholijn Jonker, we ask: what happens when AI moves beyond obedience and starts to reflect, question, and grow?

Selene explains how her conversational agents learn not just from people, but with them, asking questions, spotting contradictions, and expanding knowledge responsibly. Yet this evolution raises profound ethical questions: if AI mirrors our thoughts and perspectives, are we ready for such an honest reflection of ourselves? And when machines begin to learn through connection, what responsibility do we carry for what they become?