Fresh from the floor of CES 2025, I grabbed about 10 minutes each with two brilliant minds in technology and innovation who shared fascinating insights about where we’re headed in this AI-driven world for a fast but powerful bonus episode.
Andrew Klein, who leads creative technology and innovation at PMCI (Publicis Media Content and Innovation Team), dove straight into how generative AI is becoming increasingly woven into our daily lives.
He painted a vivid picture of our near future, where wearable AI technology won’t just sit on our desks but will travel with us through our days via glasses, earbuds, and head-mounted displays. His most striking observation?
“I think we’re going to have more conversations with AI, potentially, than we would with people. Especially when you think about digital communication.”
Klein shared fascinating insights about the emerging convergence of crypto and AI, describing a future where we’ll essentially subscribe to different AIs like we currently follow social media accounts or news sources. These AI agents, running 24/7, could serve as everything from market analysts to personal companions. When our discussion turned to the critical issue of trust in AI systems, Klein highlighted how major platforms are starting to prioritize transparency by clearly identifying AI-driven interactions.
This focus on trust was echoed and expanded upon by my next guest, Albert Thompson, Managing Director of Digital Innovation at Walton Isaacson, who had just finished moderating a panel on monetization in immersive technologies. Thompson offered a profound observation that really stuck with me:
“The world’s currency is not technology, it’s trust. And that’s everywhere from political candidacy to why three ply toilet paper is better than one. …And when you start to think about news and information, it’s whom do we trust?”
Thompson drew a fascinating distinction between generations: Boomers understand how things are made because they come from the Industrial Age, while Gen Z knows how nothing is made – they just want it to work.
He predicts we’ll return to valuing in-person verification, noting that while deepfakes can fool us online, “the one thing a
Popular Podcasts
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
iHeartOlympics: The Latest
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.