Episode 107: The Curious Case of AI - Part 1 (The Chills)

The Curious Case of AI - A Two-Part Special (“The Chills”) In this Tech Transforms Halloween “Chills” episode, host Carolyn Ford and futurist Joseph Bradley explore the eerie, but essential, questions AI raises. Using Star Trek as their guide, they look at how “identic AI”, technology that mirrors identity, preferences, and even purpose can feel both thrilling and unsettling. Bradley, a strong believer in AI’s potential, points out that every powerful tool comes with risks if it’s misused. Together, he and Carolyn discuss what happens when efficiency is valued over happiness, how bias can creep in if we aren’t intentional, and why cognitive cities must be built with trust and ethics at the core. Think less “the end is near” and more “what safeguards do we need to make sure this future works for people?” This episode sets the stage for leaders, innovators, and everyday users to think critically about how AI shapes identity, relationships, and society, while remembering that the choices we make now will decide whether the future feels like The Borg… or The Federation. Mentioned in this episode: Joseph Bradley’s book U to the Power of 2 (Pre-order: josephmbradley.com | ​​https://shop.u-x2.ai/) Paperclip dilemma thought experiment - https://nickbostrom.com/ethics/ai Smart vs. Cognitive Cities https://www.pwc.com/m1/en/publications/documents/cognitive-cities-a-journey-to-intelligent-urbanism.pdf Questioneering: The New Model for Innovative Leaders in the Digital Age