RegulatingAI Podcast: Innovate Responsibly

In this episode of the Regulating AI Podcast, we speak with Camille Carlton, Director of Policy at the Center for Humane Technology, a leading voice in AI regulation, chatbot safety, and public-interest technology. Camille is directly involved in landmark lawsuits against CharacterAI and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, placing her at the forefront of debates around AI accountability, AI companions, and platform liability. This conversation examines the mental-health risks of AI chatbots, the rise of AI companions, and why certain conversational systems may pose public-health concerns, especially for younger and socially isolated users. Camille also breaks down how AI governance frameworks differ across U.S. states, Congress, and the EU AI Act, and outlines what practical, enforceable AI policy could look like in the years ahead. Key Takeaways AI Chatbots as a Public-Health Risk Why AI companions may intensify loneliness, emotional dependency, and psychological harm—raising urgent mental-health and safety concerns. Regulating Chatbots vs. Foundation Models Why high-risk conversational AI systems require different regulatory treatment than general-purpose LLMs and foundation models. Global AI Governance Lessons What the EU AI Act, U.S. states, and Congress can learn from each other when designing balanced, risk-based AI regulation. Transparency, Design & Accountability How a light-touch but firm AI policy approach can improve transparency, platform accountability, and data access without slowing innovation. Why AI Personhood Is a Dangerous Idea How framing AI systems as “persons” undermines liability, weakens accountability, and complicates enforcement. Subscribe to Regulating AI for expert conversations on AI governance, responsible AI, technology policy, and the future of regulation. #RegulatingAIpodcast #camillecarlton #AIGovernance #ChatbotSafety #Knowledgenetworks #AICompanions Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-carlton https://www.humanetech.com/ https://www.humanetech.com/substack https://www.humanetech.com/podcast https://www.humanetech.com/landing/the-ai-dilemma https://centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com/p/ai-product-liability https://www.humanetech.com/case-study/policy-in-action-strategic-litigation-that-helps-govern-ai

In this episode of RegulatingAI, host Sanjay Puri speaks with Karin Andrea-Stephan — COO & Co-founder of Earkick, an AI-powered mental health platform redefining how technology supports emotional well-being. With a career that spans music, psychology, and digital innovation, Karin shares how she’s building privacy-first AI tools designed to make mental health support accessible — especially for teens navigating loneliness and emotional stress. Together, they unpack the delicate balance between AI innovation and human empathy, the ethics of AI chatbots for youth, and what it really takes to design technology that heals instead of harms. Key Takeaways: • AI and Empathy: Why emotional intelligence—not algorithms—must guide the future of mental health tech. • Teens and Trust: How technology exploits belonging, and what must change to rebuild digital trust. • Regulating Responsibly: Why the answer isn’t bans, but thoughtful, transparent policy shaped with youth input. • Privacy by Design: How ethical AI can protect privacy without compromising impact. • Bridging the Global Mental Health Gap: Why collaboration and compassion matter as much as code. If this conversation made you rethink the relationship between AI and mental health, hit like, share, and subscribe to RegulatingAI for more insights on building technology that serves humanity. Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinstephan/

In this episode of RegulatingAI, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Jeff McMillan, Head of Firmwide Artificial Intelligence at Morgan Stanley. With over 25 years of experience leading digital transformation and responsible AI adoption in one of the world’s most regulated industries, Jeff shares how large enterprises can harness generative AI responsibly striking the right balance between innovation, governance, and ethics. Key Takeaways: AI Governance: Why collaboration across business, legal, and compliance is the foundation of effective AI oversight. Human-in-the-Loop: Morgan Stanley’s core principle—keeping humans accountable and central in every AI decision. Education First: Jeff’s golden rule—spend 90% of your AI budget training people before building tech. AI as a Risk Mitigator: How AI can actually strengthen compliance and risk management when designed right. Culture Over Code: Why successful AI transformation is less about algorithms and more about mindset, structure, and leadership. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to RegulatingAI for more insights from global leaders shaping the future of responsible AI. #RegulatingAI #SanjayPuri #MorganStanley #JeffMcmillan #AIGovernance #AILeadership #EnterpriseAI Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-mcmillan-bb8b0a5/ Recent Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/jeff-mcmillan-how-morgan-stanley-deploys-ai-at-scale/id1819622546?i=1000714786849 Morgan Stanley External Facing Website sharing some of the work we are doing on AI https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/technology/artificial-intelligence-firmwide-team

In this episode of the RegulatingAI Podcast, we host California State Senator Scott Wiener, one of the most influential policymakers shaping the future of AI regulation, AI safety, and transparency standards in the United States. As President Donald Trump’s new AI executive order pushes for federal control over AI regulation, Senator Wiener explains why states like California must retain the power to regulate artificial intelligence — and how California’s laws could influence global AI governance. Senator Wiener is the author of: • SB 1047 – California’s proposed liability bill for high-risk AI systems • SB 53 – California’s new AI transparency law, now in effect We dive deep into: • The battle between federal vs. state AI regulation • Why California remains the frontline of AI governance • The real impact of Trump’s AI executive order • Growing risks of AI-driven job displacement • How governments can balance innovation with public safety • The future of responsible and accountable AI development 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. California’s Policy Power California’s tech dominance allows it to shape national and global AI standards even when Congress stalls. 2. SB 1047 vs. SB 53 Explained SB 1047 proposed legal liability for dangerous AI systems, while SB 53 — now law — requires AI companies to publicly disclose safety and risk practices. 3. Why Transparency Won After SB 1047 was vetoed, California shifted toward transparency as a regulatory first step through SB 53. 4. AI Job Disruption Is Accelerating Senator Wiener warns that workforce displacement from AI is happening faster than expected. 5. A Realistic Middle Path He advocates for smart AI guardrails — avoiding both overregulation and total deregulation. If you found this conversation valuable, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay updated on global conversations shaping the future of AI governance. Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascet-center-of-excellence https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-dickerson-phd

In this episode of RegulatingAI, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Congresswoman Sarah McBride of Delaware — a member of the U.S. Congressional AI Caucus — to talk about how America can lead responsibly in the global AI race. From finding the right balance between innovation and regulation to making sure AI truly benefits workers and small businesses, Rep. McBride shares her human-centered vision for how AI can advance democracy, fairness, and opportunity for everyone. Here are 5 key takeaways from the conversation: 💡 Finding the “Goldilocks” Zone: How to strike that just-right balance where AI regulation protects people without holding back innovation. 🏛️ Federal vs. State Regulation: Why McBride believes the U.S. needs a unified national AI framework — but one that still values state leadership and flexibility. 👩‍💻 AI and the Workforce: What policymakers can do to make sure AI augments human talent rather than replacing it. 🌎 Democracy vs. Authoritarianism: The U.S.’s role in leading with values and shaping AI that reflects openness, ethics, and democracy. 🔔 Delaware’s Legacy of Innovation: How Delaware’s collaborative approach to growth can be a model for responsible tech leadership. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to RegulatingAI for more conversations with global policymakers shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Resources Mentioned: mcbride.house.gov https://mcbride.house.gov/about