I've Got Questions with Sinead Bovell

In our first ever IGQ live, I break down two of the biggest stories in AI right now, and take live questions from the audience.

The episode starts with the growing standoff between Anthropic and the United States Department of War, and the pressure government is placing on the AI company to leverage its technology in ways that violate the company’s ethics, and what this moment means for all of us.

I also unpack the viral Great Intelligence Crisis scenario from Citrini Teport.

A scenario that explores a near future where AI rapidly automates white-collar jobs and has a cascading impact on the economy. I breakdown what it gets right, what it gets wrong, and the real risk we need to be paying attention to.

I also take questions directly from the I’ve Got Questions audience, before closing with my perspective on what all of this means for us today, and how individuals and leaders should be thinking about the moment we’re in.

If you want to attend the next IGQ LIVE, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter and socials to stay up to date.

Follow my work here:
Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sineadbovell.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sineadbovell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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In this episode, Sinead takes the stage at SXSW EDU 2025 in conversation with moderator and tech entrepreneur Natalie Monbiot for a thought-provoking discussion on AI and the path forward for education. Together, they explore why simply banning AI isn’t a solution and what it really means to design learning for an AI-first world.

The conversation examines how education systems must adapt, from rethinking curriculum and grading to creating environments where critical thinking, judgment, and intellectual independence remain central to learning. They unpack both the promise and the limits of AI in the classroom, emphasizing that technology should amplify human potential, not replace it.

Finally, the discussion turns to the skills needed to thrive in a future shaped by emerging technologies, and why most of the capabilities that matter most aren’t technical at all

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Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur, investor, and one of the earliest pioneers of the social media economy. His career has been defined by his ability to spot major shifts in technology and culture long before they become obvious.

In this conversation, Gary and I debate whether we may be at the beginning of the end of the social media era as we know it, and how artificial intelligence is already cracking the current value proposition of today’s platforms.

We explore the contrast between the emerging data showing that specifically Gen Alpha are spending more time offline and then what the future looks like with AI-generated content, voice-first technology, and the rise of augmented reality.

We also dive into what this means for creators and brands and how people can start positioning themselves now for the massive shifts ahead.

Follow Gary:
https://www.instagram.com/garyvee/?hl=en

Get his latest book: https://www.amazon.com/Day-Trading-Attention-Actually-Social/dp/0063317591

Timestamps:
00:00 – Are We at the Beginning of the End of Social Media?
02:40 – How AI Changes the Psychology of Posting and Attention
07:30 – Voice Technology, Smart Glasses, and the Next Distribution Shift
11:50 – Why New Technologies Always Start Clumsy Before Transforming Everything
14:40 – Data on People Spending Less Time Online and Gen Alpha’s Changing Habits
18:30 – Authenticity in the Age of AI and Technology
26:00 – A Future Where AI Agents Handle Everyday Decisions
30:40 – How Brands and Creators Break Through in an AI-Driven Economy
38:30 – Tech Incumbents, Consolidation, and Signals of Change
41:30 – The Future of Entertainment and Immersive Experiences
42:10 – What Creators Should Be Doing Right Now to Prepare

Follow my work here:
Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sineadbovell.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sineadbovell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sineadbovell⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadbovell⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SineadBovell⁠⁠⁠⁠
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TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sineadbovell

Renée DiResta is a leading researcher on social media, disinformation, and how digital platforms shape public opinion. She is the author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality.

In this conversation, we explore why it feels like we are living in completely different realities online, and how platform design, algorithms, and engagement incentives quietly pull us into polarized worlds.

We unpack how rumors, memes, and influencer dynamics can turn fringe ideas into mainstream political narratives, shaping elections, public policy, and how we see one another.

From the rise of rage-driven influencers to the collapse of shared facts, Renée breaks down how our attention and emotions are weaponized at scale.

You can grab her book here: https://a.co/d/1UsltPf

00:00 – Why Social Media Creates Parallel Realities
04:00 – How Algorithms Decide What You See
09:00 – The Crowd Effect and How Trends Actually Form
13:00 – Why Platforms Reward Outrage
18:00 – How Moral Language Drives Virality
22:00 – Factions, Identity, and Internet Tribalism
28:00 – The Majority Illusion: Why Everything Feels Extreme
33:00 – Why Experts Struggle Online
38:00 – The Rise of Political Influencers
44:00 – How Rumors Turn Into Propaganda
50:00 – When Virality Becomes “Truth”
56:00 – How Social Media Is Reshaping Politics
1:01:00 – The Politics of Rage
1:06:00 – Can Algorithms Be Designed for Connection?
1:12:00 – AI, Deepfakes, and the Collapse of Trust
1:18:00 – Entering the Post-Reality Era
1:23:00 – How Do We Rebuild Shared Reality?
1:28:00 – What Individuals Can Actually Do

Follow my work here:
Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://sineadbovell.substack.com⁠⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.sineadbovell.com⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sineadbovell⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadbovell⁠⁠⁠
Twitter / X: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SineadBovell⁠⁠⁠
YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/Sineadbovell⁠⁠⁠
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Clay Routledge is an existential psychologist, author, and leading researcher on meaning, purpose, and nostalgia. His work explores a fundamental human need: the need to feel that our lives matter.

In this conversation, we unpack why so many people today feel caught in a modern crisis of meaning, even when they’re productive, successful, or doing everything they were told would lead to fulfillment. We explore how social media, rapid technological change, and the rise of artificial intelligence are bringing deeper questions to the surface about identity, work, and what truly gives life meaning.

Clay reflects on why so many of our assumptions about success, productivity, and purpose fall short, and how someone can go about finding meaning and purpose if they are feeling lost.

We also discuss the surprising role nostalgia plays in helping us navigate change, and why questions of meaning and purpose may become even more important in an AI-driven world.

You can grab a copy of Clay’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Past-Forward-Nostalgia-Help-Meaningful/dp/1683648641

00:00 – What Does It Mean to Find Purpose?

05:00 – Why Humans Need to Feel Like They Matter

10:00 – Are We Living Through a Crisis of Meaning?

15:00 – Work, Identity, and the Fear of Being Replaced

20:00 – How AI Is Forcing Us to Rethink Human Value

25:00 – Decoupling Job Titles From Who We Are

30:00 – A World Without Work: Utopia or Dystopia?

35:00 – Nostalgia as a Guide to the Future

40:00 – Technology, Presence, and What Makes Life Meaningful

45:00 – How Humans Reclaim Meaning in Times of Change

Follow my work here:

Substack: ⁠⁠https://sineadbovell.substack.com⁠⁠
Website: ⁠⁠https://www.sineadbovell.com⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sineadbovell⁠⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadbovell⁠⁠
Twitter / X: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SineadBovell⁠⁠
YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/Sineadbovell⁠⁠
TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sineadbovell