The AI Download

AI is rewriting the rules of journalism, creativity, and power. But who wins, and who gets left behind? Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston joins The AI Download to explore how AI is redefining media, shifting power in journalism, and challenging the future of storytelling.

🔹 Sponsored by Hivelighter

AI is revolutionizing journalism, storytelling, and content creation—but at what cost? As AI billion-dollar startups boom, ethical dilemmas emerge, and independent voices struggle to compete, the future of media is at a turning point.

This week on THE AI DOWNLOAD, host Shira Lazar sits down with Baratunde Thurston, Emmy-nominated storyteller, tech thought leader, and host of Life with Machines. Together, they unpack the power struggles, opportunities, and risks of AI’s takeover of media—and what it means for creators, journalists, and society.

  What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔹 The AI Power Grab – How billion-dollar AI startups are reshaping the industry.
🔹 AI & Journalism’s Ethical Dilemma – Will AI make news better or break it?
🔹 David vs. Goliath: The AI Power Struggle – Can small media companies survive?
🔹 AI & Truth in the Age of Deepfakes – The battle between generative AI & authenticity.
🔹 The Global AI Divide – Why underrepresented communities are adopting AI faster than elite institutions.
🔹 The Role of AI in Storytelling – Can AI elevate creativity without replacing human voices?
🔹 Life with Machines – Why Baratunde believes AI should be a collaborator, not a competitor.

From newsroom ethics to the future of creative work, this must-listen conversation breaks down how AI is reshaping media, shifting who holds power, and redefining the way we tell stories.

🔗 Connect with Baratunde Thurston:  linkedin.com/in/baratunde| 
Listen now and join the conversation. The future of AI isn’t just coming—it’s already here. 

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Sponsored by:
👉 Thanks to our sponsor, Hivelighter  —the AI-powered tool that supercharges your reading and research with personalized insights.Want to dive deeper? Check out The AI Download Collection, where we’ve curated the top highlights from this episode’s biggest AI stories. Just click this Hivelighter link to explore more.

Credits
-This episode of The AI Download was hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive Producer Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Musso Media. © 2025 Shira Lazar. All rights reserved.

Creators and Guests

Host
Shira Lazar
Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated host and interviewer covering social media, emerging tech and the future of well-being. Her content focuses on informing, inspiring and empowering the world to take action in their lives, and is infused with her own style of positivity and humor!

What is The AI Download ?

– AI News with a Human Touch

AI is transforming how we work, create, and connect—but what does that mean for the future of content, business, and creativity?

Hosted by Emmy-nominated digital pioneer Shira Lazar, The AI Download is your go-to source for sharp insights, expert interviews, and real-world discussions on AI, emerging tech, and the creator economy.

Each week, we break down the biggest AI trends, explore its impact on creativity and business, and bring you candid conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors shaping the future.

Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, or just AI-curious, this podcast deciphers what’s next—and why it matters.

🔹 New episodes every week
🔹 Featuring top experts & thought leaders
🔹 Where AI meets culture, creativity, and business

Stay ahead of the curve!

This episode of The AI Download is hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive production by Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Design Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Musso Media. © 2025 Unicorn Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.