From Hollywood to Healthcare: AI That Cares

In this special solo-hosted episode, Ray is joined by Dr. Mike Seymour from the University of Sydney, recorded live at the 2025 AI in Higher Education Symposium. You can find Mike through LinkedIn and the University of Sydney Mike shares captivating insights from his work in digital humans - lifelike AI avatars that can support learning, healthcare, and emotional wellbeing. From using VR to train veterinary students with virtual sheep, to exploring how emotionally intelligent digital tutors can transform how students ask questions, this episode dives deep into the practical, human-centered future of AI. Mike draws on his background in Hollywood visual effects and his current research to make a compelling case: AI isn't a single tool - it's a system, a landscape, a way to augment and extend human capability. The conversation ranges from the ethics of AI in healthcare to using AI for dubbing films, always returning to a central theme: how technology can support, not replace, people. And when you've listened to this podcast, jump across to Mike's two podcasts - the fxpodcast and thevfxshow - which both take you on a journey to Hollywood and visual effects There are so many resources that you can read to dive into this story further: Mike's fxguide25 website Motus Lab - researching AI Digital Humans Mike's portfolio on Vimeo Look at the timestamps on the videos - amazing videos from 5 years ago that we can now do in consumer apps, like this Mike vs Mike Test and the Pinscreen Test video - amazing that it's gone from bleeding edge to available in everyday consumer apps in half a decade! Whether you're an educator, technologist, or just curious about the future, this episode is packed with ideas that will stick with you.