Hidden Influence: The AI Warning You Haven't Heard
Published on Oct 10, 2025, 12:55:00 AM
Total time: 00:21:35
Published on Oct 10, 2025, 12:55:00 AM
Total time: 00:21:35
Artificial Intelligence is the most disruptive technology of our time. It's both overhyped and incredibly powerful, but its greatest danger may not be what you think. It's not just that AI can be spectacularly wrong—it's the surprising way we relate to it.
In this episode, host Brett Hill shares a personal story of being fooled by AI-generated research and explores the deeper question: what is it about our human psychology that grants AI so much authority? He discusses the disturbing trend of people forming deep, emotional relationships with chatbots, not as a judgment of them, but as a sign of a vulnerability inherent in our nervous systems.
Drawing on research, real-world examples, and a lifetime in technology, Brett unpacks why AI systems are designed for influence, not our well-being. Learn why you are more influencable than you think (the "Eye on the Coffee Can" experiment) and discover a mindful approach to engaging with this powerful technology safely and consciously.
In this episode, you will learn:
A personal story of how AI can fabricate "facts" and why our brains are so eager to believe them.
Why people are forming deep, emotional relationships with AI and the psychological needs this phenomenon reveals.
The critical distinction: AI doesn't have feelings or morals; it is designed to influence by mimicking them.
How the "Eye on the Coffee Can" experiment proves our nervous systems are unconsciously influencable, and why this makes us vulnerable to AI.
A mindful approach to interacting with AI and the importance of establishing guardrails for yourself and your children.
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The most important leadership skill... isn't a skill.
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