# 6 AI Ethics Is Being Ignored, Can We Fix It In Time? Interview with Mike Spaeth

In this episode of Mindful AI, we speak with Mike Spaeth, Global Vice President at the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII). Mike’s journey spans politics in Washington DC, early AI personalization at Amazon, IBM’s Watson, and now leading global AI education across 160+ countries.We explore the AI race, ethics, and education: from empowering young students in Nigeria and Ghana, to vendor-agnostic certifications, to the question of whether acceleration is overshadowing accountability. Mike shares why inclusivity, ethics, and AI literacy are essential if we want a future where technology serves human flourishing.If you’re interested in AI for good, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.🔗 Links from the episode:• United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII)Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Mike’s birdwatching practice02:30 – What the USAII is and why ethics matters07:00 – The global AI race and education in Africa10:00 – Mike’s journey from politics to Amazon & Watson13:00 – Jobs, dignity, and what humans do best17:30 – Making AI literacy inclusive & jargon-free21:30 – Ethics training for students, engineers, and C-suites26:00 – Acceleration, military pressure, and healthcare promises33:00 – What listeners can do today to influence AI’s future38:00 – The literacy gap in HR and schools44:00 – Energy, infrastructure, and affordability49:00 – Why Big Tech holds the keys52:00 – Black boxes, explainability, and risks59:00 – Positive use cases of AI and closing reflectionsFollow Mindful AI for more in-depth conversations on ethical AI and human flourishing.