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Can AI help us feel more, not less?
On this episode of The AI Download, Shira Lazar is joined by tech futurist and “Godmother of the Metaverse” Cathy Hackl for a refreshingly real conversation about the emotional and ethical layers of artificial intelligence. From dating experiments at TED to climate-saving snow leopard alerts, Hackl reveals how AI is already shaping our most personal and planetary decisions.
They unpack everything from automation disasters in customer service to the emerging wave of multimodal AI, and why the soft skills—like creativity, empathy, and systems thinking—are the real future-proof superpowers. Cathy also introduces her latest concept: the Tech Intimacy Scale, a framework for understanding how tech impacts love and connection.
Whether you’re building tech, navigating career shifts, or just trying to make sense of this moment—this episode is for the curious, the creative, and the reinventors.
This episode covers:
🔹 Customer service gone rogue: AI hallucinations and liability risks
🔹 How AI is helping protect endangered species like the snow leopard
🔹 Simulation and forecasting for climate resilience
🔹 Why creative thinking now beats technical skills
🔹 The role of emotional intelligence in future leadership
🔹 The future of dating: from matchmaking algorithms to IRL connection
🔹 Redefining family with tech, robots, and virtual presence
🔹 Multimodal AI, spatial computing, and new hardware on the horizon
🔹 Why niche communities will drive influence in the next era
🔹 How to reinvent yourself—and why you’ll need to
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👉 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
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.