01. Is AI Coming for Your Job?
02. Your Child’s Future Job May Not Exist Yet—Here’s How to Prepare Them Anyway
03. Sophisticated AI Scams Are Targeting Seniors
04. The Benefits of an AI Girlfriend
05. How to Avoid ‘AI Brain Fry’
06. What Leaders Need in the Age of AI
07. The Church Is Using AI to Help Parishioners in Pain
08. AI Isn’t the Biggest Threat, Your Attention Is
09. How AI Can Fix Our Broken Healthcare System
10. Can AI Help Rebuild Democracy?
11. In the Age of AI, This Simple Skill Helps You Stand Out Instantly
12. AI-Generated Ads Are Killing Your Brand
13. Burger King’s AI ‘Patty’ Is Really Listening
14. What Could Make the AI Bubble Burst?
15. AI Scholar Puts High Probability on an AI Doomsday
1. ==> Is AI Coming for Your Job?
Job cuts were up 25% in March with AI-related reasons responsible for one-in-four jobs lost according to workplace expert Andy Challenger, especially in the tech sector. “Companies are shifting budgets toward AI investments at the expense of jobs. The actual replacing of roles can be seen in technology companies, where AI can replace coding functions. Other industries are testing the limits of this new technology, and while it can’t replace jobs completely, it is costing jobs,” he says. How should employees respond? “The importance of upskilling and reskilling cannot be overstated. Workers need to familiarize themselves with AI, including prompting and generating assets. Many companies are now including goals for their workers on AI use and redefining job descriptions based on what AI can do.” He adds, “One thing that is clear is that AI is changing work and the workforce. Workers will need to be more strategic as they lead AI-powered agents that handle increasingly complex tasks. Human workers will need strong decision making and judgment skills in the age of AI.” Andy Challenger is a workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global, outplacement and executive coaching firm. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074 (office); (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
2. ==> Your Child’s Future Job May Not Exist Yet—Here’s How to Prepare Them Anyway
The skills that once guaranteed success — memorization, compliance, academic achievement — are now the very things AI does better than humans. So where does that leave today's kids? Author George Lee says most families haven't fully considered how quickly the ground is shifting. With a background spanning traditional Chinese education, law, and neuroscience-based decision-making, he brings a rare perspective on what it actually takes to prepare children for what's next. On your show, he'll explain why "because I said so" stops working when AI knows more than you do as well as why the old parenting playbook needs a complete rewrite. He'll break down the skills AI can't replace, including creativity, emotional resilience, critical thinking, and financial literacy, and why schools are largely failing to teach them. Drawing from his book “Smart Parenting 5.0,” Lee offers a practical framework for raising confident, adaptable kids ready to lead in an AI-driven world. He combines cross-cultural education, legal expertise, and 25 years studying human decision-making to help families navigate the realities of an AI-driven world. Contact George Lee at (604) 330-8697; glee@rtirguests.com
3. ==> Sophisticated AI Scams Are Targeting Seniors
Scammers are increasingly targeting parents and grandparents using sophisticated tactics. Many parents are conditioned to act quickly in emergencies and to help their children without hesitation, making them prime targets. From AI-cloned faces and voices that sound like loved ones to impersonation scams that mimic trusted companies, today’s threats are now past the ability for the human eye and ear to spot. Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of Smarter Online Safety, helps families understand why parents are targeted by scammers and what adult children can do to protect them. After becoming a victim of cybercrime herself, King joined forces with leading cybercrime fighters and learned cybersecurity, the Dark Web, and the business of cybercrime — and how to prevent becoming a victim. She was named a Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity and has helped millions become empowered and equipped to protect themselves in our AI world. Ask her: Why are parents such effective targets for modern scams? How is the new pandemic of AI voice cloning fooling families? What conversations should families be having before something happens? What’s the smartest first step when a call feels urgent but wrong? Contact Jocelyn King at (970) 762-7837; jking@rtirguests.com
4. ==> The Benefits of an AI Girlfriend
You may think of Artificial Intelligence in terms of jobs, but what about the implications it has on our relationships? 2023 Google Trends indicated a 2,400 percent increase in searches for “AI girlfriends” and millions of people are currently in what they consider to be serious relationships with AI. What benefits do AI companions present to humans that a traditional human partner might not—and what dilemmas might this technology present? These are questions that Victoria Hetherington asks and answers in her book, “The Friend Machine: On the Trail of AI Companionship.” Hetherington will delve into the rapidly evolving world of AI companionship, asking what it means to be alone, and to be in love, in a world where artificial intelligence is increasingly present and can share the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds who have sought and found companionship in AI. Victoria Hetherington is an author, screenwriter, instructor, and communications specialist who has written for Yahoo! Finance and Hazlitt and served as a frequent panelist at universities and conferences. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
5. ==> How to Avoid ‘AI Brain Fry’
Researchers at Boston Consulting Group and the University of California, Riverside coined the term "AI brain fry" to describe “mental fatigue that results from excessive use of, interaction with, and/or oversight of AI tools beyond one's cognitive capacity.” In other words, doing too much with A.I. Psychologist Stephanie Johnson says, “In regard to AI, it’s just like the smartphones, right? You think smartphones would make people smarter. It’s not happening. Actually, the reverse is happening, right, because we’re leaning too much into somebody else just giving a quick answer and we’re not actually masterfully learning the information.” Ask her: If a person is engaging AI or a highly stimulated environment for 10 to 12 hours, are they actually learning? What is your recommendation for people who use AI? Are there certain hours of the day when the brain is in a better position to handle stimulation? Stephanie Johnson, PsyD, MSCP, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 17 years of experience and serves as CEO and chief psychologist of Summit Psychological Services in California. Contact Ryan McCormick at Ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
6. ==> What Leaders Need in the Age of AI
As AI accelerates and reshapes every industry, most conversations focus on the technology. Steven Kotler argues that’s the wrong focus. The real constraint is human performance. He’ll explain what happens when exponential technologies collide with a brain that evolved for a slower, simpler world and share strategies for how leaders can think, decide, and perform when the pace of change outstrips human cognition. Kotler is the founder of the Flow Research Collective and has trained executives at companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Audi, and Accenture, along with Navy SEALs and Olympic athletes. His work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, leadership, and high performance. Ask him: What is the biggest risk to organizations, AI or cognitive overload at the leadership level? In what ways is exponential technology outpacing human decision-making capacity? What does it take to lead effectively when the environment changes faster than strategy cycles? He says most organizations are structurally unprepared for exponential change and can discuss why high performers are burning out in an age of constant input. Kotler is coauthor, along with Peter Diamandis, of the new book, “We Are as Gods: A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell)
7. ==> The Church Is Using AI to Help Parishioners in Pain
America is suffering from a mental health crisis and many are desperate for help but don’t know where to turn or are afraid to be judged. As a growing number of people turn to AI with their deeply personal questions about mental health, relationships, grief, anxiety and spiritual struggles, there’s a new online platform that provides Scriptural guidance on over 100 life topics. Built on June Hunt’s “Keys for Living Library,” the platform is a partnership between Hope for the Heart and Pray.com. Dr. Eric Scalise, a longtime counselor, president of Hope for the Heart and one of the key voices behind the new initiative, can discuss where biblical counseling fits in today’s culture and how technology can serve — not replace — sound, Scripture-centered care. He’ll speak to the mental health crisis, the lingering stigma surrounding mental health that keeps people from seeking treatment and why private access matters. Contact Mark Breta at mark@jonesliterary.com
8. ==> AI Isn’t the Biggest Threat, Your Attention Is
While much of the conversation focuses on artificial intelligence, a quieter force is already shaping how people think, decide, and live: where their attention goes. Author and UCLA-trained mindfulness teacher Mitra Manesh says constant digital stimulation trains the brain into distraction, reactivity, and “survival mode”, often without people realizing it. On your show, she’ll explain how this impacts decision-making, productivity, and overall well-being, and why reclaiming attention is one of the most important skills today. Drawing from her work in mindfulness and human behavior, she shares practical ways to interrupt distraction patterns and regain focus. This timely, thought-provoking segment reframes one of today’s biggest concerns and gives your audience tools they can use immediately. Mitra Manesh is a senior mindfulness educator and author who has spent decades teaching and guiding individuals and organizations in attention, consciousness, and personal transformation. Contact Mitra Manesh at (310) 807-3031; mmanesh@rtirguests.com
9. ==> How AI Can Fix Our Broken Healthcare System
Dr. Robin Blackstone has spent her career in healthcare as a surgeon, healthcare executive, and former global medical director at Johnson & Johnson. She says artificial intelligence and systems redesign could fundamentally restructure American healthcare, not by replacing clinicians, but by correcting structural failures that science alone cannot solve. Invite her to discuss why she believes that America’s healthcare crisis is not due to a lack of scientific advancement; it is due to misaligned incentives, fragmented data systems, administrative overload, and institutional mistrust. Despite leading the world in biomedical research and spending, the United States ranks near the bottom among developed nations in health outcomes, a gap Dr. Blackstone argues is structural, not scientific. Her new book, “Doctor AI: Reimagining Healthcare, Rebuilding Trust, Delivering Health 4.0.” Contact Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
10. ==> Can AI Help Rebuild Democracy?
At a time when trust is falling, elections are under pressure, and institutions are struggling to perform, Beth Simone Noveck argues that democracy isn’t broken, it just hasn’t kept up with the times. The government tech expert and Northeastern University professor believes artificial intelligence can help rebuild democracy. She argues that AI can serve as a new operating system for government, transforming it from a slow, reactive bureaucracy into a real-time, adaptive system. Drawing on decades of experience in the White House, 10 Downing Street, and state government, Noveck takes listeners inside real-world examples already working today. Hear how AI is helping to detect and counter disinformation in elections and how it can equip policymakers with real-time intelligence, as seen in New Jersey, where AI has been used to analyze thousands of public comments on environmental policy, turning public feedback into clear insights that shape decisions. Beth Simone Noveck is a professor and director of the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University. She leads The Governance Lab and InnovateUS, the fastest-growing AI learning community for public sector professionals. Previously, she served as Chief AI Strategist for the State of New Jersey and has worked in the White House and 10 Downing Street, advising governments around the world on technology and policy. Her latest book is “Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell)
11. ==> In the Age of AI, This Simple Skill Helps You Stand Out Instantly
As artificial intelligence becomes more capable of producing polished, professional work, being perfect is no longer the advantage it once was. Cartoonist and creative expert Lisa Rothstein says one simple, overlooked skill, thinking visually, can help people stand out in a world of automation. On your show, she’ll explain why rough sketches and imperfect drawings actually improve communication, spark creativity, and build trust faster than polished presentations. Backed by research and real-world examples, she shows how visual thinking simplifies complex ideas and helps teams connect more effectively. This engaging, surprising conversation offers a fresh perspective on creativity and human advantage in the AI era along with practical techniques anyone can use immediately. Lisa Rothstein is a veteran cartoonist who teaches teams and professionals how visual thinking improves communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. Contact Lisa Rothstein at (310) 388-8093; lrothstein@rtirguests.com
12. ==> AI-Generated Ads Are Killing Your Brand
More and more small businesses and marketers are using AI tools like ChatGPT to create ads and marketing materials, but experts warn there are downsides. Sophie Rhone, a digital PR specialist and founder of Cupid PR, says generic, AI-generated ads are weakening brand identity, reducing trust and hurting performance. She says over-reliance on AI-generated creative is leading to a wave of ads that fail to stand out, connect with audiences or drive meaningful results. “AI can make your ads look good, but it cannot make them feel original. When everything starts to look the same, your brand becomes easy to ignore.” She adds, “If your ad looks like something people have already scrolled past ten times, they will scroll past yours too.” Rhone can share the right way to use AI to build a brand and engagement. She says, “AI should support your marketing, not define it. The brands that win are the ones that feel distinct, not the ones that look efficient.” Cupid PR is a digital PR consultancy. Contact Sophie Rhone at sophie@cupidpr.com
13. ==> Burger King’s AI ‘Patty’ Is Really Listening
Burger King is rolling out an AI platform called “BK Assistant” with a voice assistant named Patty. Patty takes drive-thru orders, monitors restaurant operations, and notifies managers when equipment needs maintenance or products run low. Every U.S. Burger King will have one by the end of 2026. It all sounds reasonable until Shelly Palmer explains that Patty will also monitor conversations, analyze tone, score worker interactions and evaluate whether employees are being ‘friendly,’ “It’s clear that managers are not needed,” he says. “An AI platform that listens to every word and watches each flame-broiled moment in the restaurant will have a better understanding than a human manager. No ego, no favoritism, just an “always on” management rubric that humans must follow.” Palmer adds, “That’s not exactly having it your way.” Shelly Palmer is the professor of advanced media in residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice. He covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. To book him, contact (212) 532-3880, ext. 2; info@shellypalmer.com
14. ==> What Could Make the AI Bubble Burst?
AI has been a huge driver of the S&P 500 index and the broader U.S. economy, but Shannon O’Neil thinks the line between hype and reality has blurred. She says what may burst the AI bubble are not the flagged worries over circular financing, growing debt or Chinese competition. Instead, she says, the drag of tariffs and fall in the number of migrants in the US may be what brings AI back down to earth. “AI’s success or failure will depend on whether it can start to show the worth of massive investments. But even if it succeeds in transforming the way industry after industry works, cost and time will determine who gains, and when. And today, the Trump administration’s tariffs and immigration policies are a big part of what’s holding back US models and companies.” Shannon O’Neil is a leading authority on global trade, supply chains, Mexico, and Latin America and senior vice president of studies and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations. Contact her at (212) 434-9632; soneil@cfr.org
15. ==> AI Scholar Puts High Probability on an AI Doomsday
Bhaskar Chakravorti says a convergence of technological, economic, geopolitical, and institutional risks have ratcheted up recently, suggesting that we are lurching toward an “AI doomsday”; that is, a situation in which, despite its many benefits, the technology can make society significantly worse overall. The dean of global business at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy says this isn’t due to one single force, but what he calls “the seven horsemen of a possible AI apocalypse” which includes job displacement, infrastructure chokepoints and a dearth of leadership. “We have invested over $1 trillion in building the Ferrari. We have neglected the roads,” he says. “The moment now requires shifting priorities to building trust architectures, governance frameworks, and coordination mechanisms. Whether the opportunity window remains open depends on choices being made now in boardrooms, legislatures, and even AI summits, where the people responsible for one of the most powerful technologies in history cannot even agree to hold hands.” Bhaskar Chakravorti is the author of “Defeating Disinformation.” Contact him at (617) 627-4965; bhaskar.chakravorti@tufts.edu
