Ep 38: Can We Trust AI? How We Shape Technology Before It Shapes Us with Darren Menachemson

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than our ability to regulate it, understand it, or even decide how much we trust it. In this deeply insightful episode of The AI Grapple, host Kate vanderVoort sits down with Darren Menachemson, Chief Ethicist and Head of AI and Digital Societies at ThinkPlace, and Chair of the Education Futures Foundation, to explore what it really takes to create a future where technology serves humanity — not the other way around.

Darren’s journey is as fascinating as it is relevant. From growing up in apartheid South Africa and witnessing systemic injustice first-hand, to leading global initiatives in ethics, governance, and human-centred design, his story offers a powerful lens through which to view AI’s moral and social implications.

Together, Kate and Darren discuss how ethics, compassion, and discernment must guide the next wave of AI innovation. They unpack what “trust” in AI truly means, how governments and institutions can balance regulation with innovation, and why young people might already be the best equipped to envision a responsible AI future.

🧭 Key Themes & Insights

• Trust and Accountability in AI: How can societies build confidence in AI systems that are shaping our daily lives and decision-making?

• Ethics and Alignment: What does it mean for technology to align with human values, and how can governments, organisations, and individuals ensure that happens?

• The Compassion Gap: Darren’s national research reveals why Australians still see AI as less compassionate than humans — and why empathy may be our most important competitive advantage.

• Regulation vs Innovation: How can we design guardrails that keep AI safe and fair without stifling progress and discovery?

• Bias and Fairness: Real-world examples of AI perpetuating social inequities - and how we can use AI itself to identify and correct those biases.

• Human-Centred Design for the Digital Age: Why design thinking, ethics, and leadership training must evolve together to create a fairer digital society.

🧠 About Darren Menachemson

Darren Menachemson is Chief Ethicist and Head of AI and Digital Societies at ThinkPlace - a global public good consultancy working with governments, NGOs, and industry to design ethical systems that improve lives. He also chairs the Education Futures Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preparing young people to become the ethical leaders of tomorrow.

A pioneer in the intersection of ethics, design, and technology, Darren has advised public sector leaders worldwide on how to align AI development with societal values. His work spans regulatory reform, social innovation, and future-focused education, helping communities adapt to the age of intelligent technology.

Connect with Darren:

• 🌐 ThinkPlace

• 💼 LinkedIn

🔗 Connect with Kate

• 🌐 AI Success Lab

• 🎧 The AI Grapple Podcast

• 💼 LinkedIn – Kate vanderVoort