Is AI a New Form of Colonialism? | Empire of AI Author Karen Hao (Rebroadcast)
As AI models grow larger and more powerful, they promise incredible capabilities — but at what cost? Karen Hao is an AI journalist and her new book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI, is a New York Times bestseller. We discuss whether the largest AI models are worth their hefty footprint: They consume massive amounts of electricity and water and Karen argues that smaller models better balance cost vs. benefit. Karen, who has reported for The Atlantic, MIT Technology Review, and the Wall Street Journal, will also provide a view of AI from outside — far outside — Silicon Valley. She’s reported on AI from across the Global South and says many there feel that AI is a new form of colonialism.We’ll hear about the fight over data centers in Chile, how New Zealand’s Maori people are using AI to preserve their indigenous language, and why it’s a problem that AI can speak any language, but can only really be policed in a few.(Our interview was first broadcast in October, while Karen was still writing the book, so we do not discuss her deeply sourced reporting from inside OpenAI.)—CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter 👉 crafted.fm
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AI Voice Generation Is Crazy Good! Rapid Prototyping Audio Creative With Wondercraft Co-founder Oskar Serrander
AI-generated voices aren’t just realistic — they’re changing how brands, creators, and agencies bring ideas to life. In this episode, Wondercraft co-founder Oskar Serrander demonstrates how their “Canva for audio” is unlocking rapid prototyping for high-quality audio ads, content, and storytelling.You’ll learn:How Wondercraft enables you to go from concept to creative in secondsWhy when AI makes execution easy, ideas and taste matter mostHow brands can test creative faster (and smarter)Why audio is still such an under-leveraged mediumThe surprising future of synthetic voice and what it means for storytellingOskar also shares his take on where generative AI is heading, why sameness is the enemy of brand, and what this all means for the next generation of creators.—Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm See how Dan can help you discover, prototype, and launch better products 👉 modernproductminds.com
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Building an AI-native Podcast App to Turn Listening Into Learning | Kevin Smith (Co-founder, Snipd)
Kevin Smith is building a totally new kind of podcast app. Snipd is an AI-native podcast app and building it required a few mindset shifts. First, what even is a podcast? The way Kevin sees it, podcasts are knowledge. So where most podcast players are, as Kevin calls them, "repurposed music players", Snipd is designed to help you learn. As people listen to episodes, they, or an AI, can save “snips” or interesting moments that they want to remember or share. And the app will also help you review what you've heard, so it reinforces what you've learned.A second mindset shift is how Kevin had to retrain his engineering brain to build with generative AI. He no longer thinks in if-then-else statements. Rather, he asks himself: How would an intern do it? And not just one intern, but infinite interns…I learned a ton from the way Kevin thinks and builds, and you will too. Plus, we discuss the future of podcasting, which looks pretty… weird. You'll talk back to your podcasts, hosts may be synthetic, and shows may not even be designed (at least initially) for human ears.Chapters:(01:30) - Introducing Snipd
(03:50) - What led Kevin to found Snipd
(06:10) - How AI changes what's possible with podcasts
(08:45) - Building with Gen AI requires a mindset shift
(11:40) - How would an intern solve this?
(12:35) - How podcast listening and podcasting will change with AI
(17:35) - Why apps will become your "best friends"
(22:00) - Why you may talk back to your podcasts
—CRAFTED. listeners can try Snipd, and get a free month of the premium version, here.—Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm See how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build better products and level up your product teams.
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Inspiring the Next Generation to Build Great Money Habits (Whatever Those Are) | Tim Hong (CPO of MoneyLion)
What is a good money habit in 2025? And how do you actually help someone build one—without boring them, shaming them, or losing them in the first five seconds?Chief Product Officer Tim Hong shares how MoneyLion designs for emotion and creates content and products that inspire people to take action. MoneyLion is a personal finance platform used by millions of mostly younger Americans who are just getting started with their money, so, as Tim says: “It's actually less about bad habits that we fight. It's about having no habits.”Tim also shares how AI could create a truly personalized (1 of 1) financial advisor, why most financial apps are “like going to the DMV”, and how things like open banking and embedded finance can change that…—Chapters:(01:30) - Tim has literally measured how short our attentions spans are at a brainwave startup
(03:49) - What MoneyLion does and why content and storytelling are so important
(08:30) - What even are good money habits today?
(12:00) - How MoneyLion uses AI to create personalized content
(13:40) - "Talking to your money" with AI
(16:30) - How building with GenAI is different
(20:30) - Building with non-deterministic systems
(24:30) - "Self-driving money": Tim's not so sure people want to fully give up control
(29:30) - Why so many financial apps feel like "going to the DMV" — and how that's changing with open banking and embedded finance
—Looking for your next episode? Here’s another fintech one you might enjoy:“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard Treasury —For all CRAFTED. episodes and to subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm —Oh, and see how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build better products.
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3 years in a row! The Webby Awards say we're a top tech podcast! Here are some show highlights...
Fun news! The Webby Awards have honored CRAFTED. for the third year in a row as a top tech podcast. Thank you — yes, you! — for listening!This episode features the highlight reel we gave the Webbys. It features great moments from 2024 episodes, including (listed in the order mentioned): Powering the World’s Hackathons | Brandon Kessler (Founder & CEO, DevPost)Asana’s Head of AI on the Profound Ways Work Is Changing | Paige Costello (Head of AI & Co-Head of Product Management at Asana)AI, Creativity, and Soul: How Hilary Mason Chooses Her Own Adventure (Co-Founder & CEO of Hidden Door)“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard TreasuryOpen Source Must Evolve for AI and the Next Generation | Nithya Ruff (Head of AWS Open Source Program Office and Chair of the Linux Foundation)Great Software & Storytelling Is Emotional | Kelsey Hightower (Legendary Developer, Kubernetes Pioneer, Former Distinguished Engineer at Google)One Billion Developers! GitHub’s Head of Product Says AI Democratizes How We Build the Future | Mario Rodriguez (CPO, Github)Design for Emotion. Leverage AI. Be Curious. | Design Better’s Co-founders on Building Great ProductsUsing AI to Launch Thousands of Startups a Year | Henrik Werdelin (Founder of BARK, prehype, Audos)AI and the Future of Medicine | Kira Radinsky (CEO of Diagnostic Robotics and Co-founder of Mana.bio)New Frontiers of Health: AI, Psychedelics, the Gut-Brain Axis, and More! | Live from SXSWMy AI Teacher: Khan Academy and the Future of Education | Dr. Kristen Dicerbo (Chief Learning Officer)Making Music With AI – And Doing So Ethically | Diaa El All, Founder & CEO of SoundfulThe full show archive is at crafted.fm, where I hope you'll also subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter. And please share CRAFTED. with a friend. Just one. Text them right now!Thanks... and onward!
Future around and find out as product leader Dan Blumberg speaks with founders, makers, and innovators about what comes next in tech, AI, and the craft of building great products. Honored three years in a row by The Webby Awards as a top tech podcast!
Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm
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