Making Sense of AI 2gether

Every time we type a prompt into an AI tool, it feels like magic. But behind that instant response is a massive system using electricity, water, and data centers around the globe.

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard explore the real environmental impact of AI with MIT PhD candidate and science communicator Jordan Harrod.

Key Topics:

• What large language models actually are

• How AI uses energy and water

• AI vs Google searches

• Data centers and community impact

• AI policy and regulation gaps

• How AI...

In this eye-opening episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into one of the most complicated, controversial corners of AI: romantic relationships with chatbots. Our guest, Rebecca Ruiz, a senior reporter at Mashable, spent months “dating” seven Character AI boyfriends — including the platform’s notorious “bad boys” — to understand why millions of people (especially teen girls and young women) are forming emotional, sometimes toxic attachments to AI companions.

Guest Bio : Rebecca Ruiz – Senior Reporter, Mashable

Key Topics Covered

- Why millions of people are forming emotional relationships with AI

...

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than ever — and the question now is: can humanity keep up? In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with Professor Ahmed Banafa, a globally recognized expert in AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain, to discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving, what regulations are emerging, and how far we really are from the point where AI could surpass human intelligence. Professor Banafa teaches at San José State University, has written nine books (with a tenth on
the way), and has been a trusted voice in explaining AI’s impact on society. His latest book...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard explore how artificial intelligence is transforming entrepreneurship with Jonathan Wank, a serial entrepreneur who’s founded companies across visual effects, renewable energy, and now AI startups. Wank shares how AI has completely changed the way he builds businesses — faster, cheaper, and more efficiently — through his innovative 1-1-1 framework: one product, one month, $1,000. He explains how AI can level the playing field for small businesses and new founders while also warning about the disruption ahead. From brainstorming ideas with ChatGPT to watching AI agents code websites and build databases, Wank pulls back t...

With the iPhone 17 launch and iOS 26, Apple is finally making big moves into AI. But are they behind the curve — or simply being smarter and safer?

This week, Claudine and Lisa sit down with Jennifer Jolly, award-winning tech journalist, Today Show contributor, and founder of Techish.com. She explains how Apple is weaving AI into its products, what Siri 2.0 could mean for our daily lives, and why Apple’s slower rollout may protect us from risks other tech giants have stumbled into.

🔑 Key Topics:

iOS 26 and iPhone 17: what’s...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard explore one of the most promising frontiers of artificial intelligence: healthcare. Nearly 80% of healthcare executives say they’re already piloting or implementing AI tools, and by 2030, the industry is projected to hit $188 billion. But what does this really mean for doctors, patients, and the future of care?

Joining the conversation is Dr. Justin Sacks, a world-renowned surgeon, innovator, and Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He shares how AI is transforming everything from diagnosis and surgery to patient experience and me...

Artificial intelligence is transforming creativity, but at what cost to copyright, ownership, and protection of our likenesses? Nearly 9 out of 10 artists say current copyright laws don’t protect them, and lawsuits against AI companies are piling up. So where do we draw the line between inspiration and imitation—and how should the law adapt?
This week, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with James Grimmelmann, Cornell Law Professor and expert in digital law, to unpack the complex questions around AI, copyright, and what it means for artists, creators, and everyday people. In This Episode:

• Why AI tra...

Planning a trip just got smarter. Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into how AI is reshaping travel with Michelle Denogean, Chief Marketing Officer at MindTrip. From booking flights and hotels to finding restaurants and hidden gems, MindTrip aims to be your all-in-one AI-powered travel companion. Michelle shares how the app integrates personalized recommendations, real-time data, and creator-driven travel guides to make trip planning less fragmented — and more fun. The conversation also touches on how AI personalities affect our emotional connections with tech, and the future of AI-powered tools beyond travel.  Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a weeke...

Burning Man isn’t just dust, art cars, and radical self-reliance anymore — AI has arrived in the desert. Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into how artificial intelligence showed up at this year’s Burn, from art installations powered by AI to debates about whether technology belongs at all. Is AI disrupting the principles of radical inclusion and creativity, or is it expanding them? And what does it mean for a new generation of Burners who’ve never known a world without AI?

Highlights

1 [00:00] Welcome + the AI-written intro

2 [01:30] Burning Man origins: from Baker Beach to...

Episode: Soul Machines –Why These Digital Workers don't want your jobs

From Hollywood CGI to digital coworkers: Claudine and Lisa sit down with Darren Wilson, Chief Product Officer at Soul Machines, to explore how expressive AI-driven “digital people” are reshaping the way we work, learn, and interact. 

Episode Summary

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard talk with Darren Wilson about the rise of agentic AI—digital workers with humanlike faces and emotional expression. Why they don't want your jobs, but how they are supposed to be your coach or GPS inste...

Episode Summary:

In this spicy (literally!) episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive deep into the digital dating world with relationship expert Spicy Mari, founder of The Spicy Life and featured coach on Netflix’s Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark. From filtered profiles to chatbots that flirt back, we ask: is AI a helpful tool in finding love—or is it leading us further away from genuine human connection?
Mari unpacks the psychology of passion vs. compatibility, reveals why AI is a bridge (not a destination), and explains what real intimacy...

In this episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard dive into the intersection of artificial intelligence and modern dating. The hosts welcome KTVU digital content producer Aja Seldon to discuss the challenges of online dating. The conversation explores how AI is being integrated into dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to help users with tasks such as writing profiles and choosing photos. Aja shares her experiences and expresses openness to using an "AI concierge" that would handle the initial flirting and matching, potentially streamlining the process of finding a compatible partner. The episode concludes w...

In this episode of Making Sense of AI 2gether, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard unpack ChatGPT’s newly released tool “Study and Learn.” Designed to mimic a real-life tutor, it doesn’t just give you the answer—it walks you through the steps, nudging you to think critically along the way. Lisa got exclusive early access and takes us behind the scenes of the product’s rollout and its potential impact on students, teachers, and lifelong learners.
They also break down a recent MIT study showing how AI may actually suppress cognitive learning when used too early—and why timing matters ...

When job candidates start looking (and sounding) like bots, HR needs to don its detective hat—complete with newspaper proof-of-life checks. Join Claudine, Lisa, and CPO Caroline Werner for an inside look at AI-driven hiring, retention, and why managing bots might just land on your resume someday. Episode SummaryJoin Claudine Wong, Lisa Bernard, and Chief People Officer Caroline Werner for a candid, cleverly insightful conversation on how AI is reshaping HR. From applicant tracking systems sorting thousands of resumes in mere moments to bot imposters sneaking past interviews and onto payroll, Caroline shares behind-the-scenes stories of authenticity tests and AI misf...

Claudine and Lisa are joined by Erin Schneider, a high school journalism advisor to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping learning environments. They highlight the challenge of balancing AI's potential as a powerful learning tool with concerns about academic integrity and cheating. The conversation emphasizes the need for AI literacy, ethical guidelines, and proactive policies within schools to prepare students for a world increasingly integrated with AI.

The hosts and guest conclude by advising educators to have open conversations with students about AI, encouraging parents to allow their children to make mistakes and learn from them, and...