The People's AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast
Who will own the future of AI? The giants of Big Tech? Maybe. But what if the people could own AI, not the Big Tech oligarchs? This is the promise of Decentralized AI. And this is the podcast for in-depth conversations on topics like decentralized data markets, on-chain AI agents, decentralized AI compute (DePIN), AI DAOs, and crypto + AI. From host Jeff Wilser, veteran tech journalist (from WIRED to TIME to CoinDesk), host of the "AI-Curious" podcast, and lead producer of Consensus' "AI Summit." Season 3, presented by Vana.
Episodes
Deep-Dive on AI Policy: Jobs, Data Centers, and the Fight to Regulate AI
What happens when artificial intelligence becomes less popular than Congress?For our Season 4 capstone, we examine why public trust in AI is declining, particularly among younger Americans, and whether fears about job displacement and data centers are creating a wider political backlash.Then we get into a deeper policy discussion.We explore how AI should be regulated, from treating it as a public
AI Data Centers Are Eating the Grid. Is There Another Way?
What does the AI boom look like when it becomes physical?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the data centers, power grids, water systems, and compute networks behind today’s AI revolution. Every chatbot response, AI-generated video, coding agent, and model query has to run somewhere, and increasingly, that means massive data centers that require huge a
One Man's Trash: The Invisible Data Market Built on You
What is your data actually worth, and who gets paid when it moves through the invisible economy?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the hidden markets built on the data we generate every day. From geolocation signals and shopping behavior to credit histories and even the weight of restaurant garbage, we look at how ordinary activity becomes valuable inf
The Open Banking Playbook AI Should Steal
What if the best real-world example of data portability is hiding in plain sight inside your bank account?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore why open banking has become one of the clearest success stories in moving data from one platform to another. Starting with the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, we look at how regulators, markets, and common
You Can't Take It With You: The Fight Over Your Digital Twin
Who should control a digital version of you: the platform that hosts it, or you? What about after you’re dead– the platform or your estate? In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the fast-emerging world of personal digital twins: AI versions of people built from voice, writing, behavior, and context. We look at what a digital twin actually is, how it diffe
The Bot Breakup: AI Memory and the Cost of Leaving
What happens when you try to leave an AI that already knows you?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore a new frontier in data portability: whether you can take your AI memory, context, and chat history with you when you switch models. What begins as a technical question quickly becomes something more personal. As AI tools learn our preferences, workflows,
Why Can't I Take My Data With Me? A Deep-Dive in Data Portability (or Lack Thereof)
Why is it so easy to switch banks, but so hard to move your photos, playlists, messages, or years of digital history from one platform to another?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the foundational reasons of why data portability matters. Starting with the simple frustration of thousands of photos stuck in an old software ecosystem, we unpack the bigge
The Hidden, Life and Death Stakes of Data Portability in Health Care
What if the future of AI in healthcare depends less on better models and more on whether patients can actually access their own data?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore why health data portability is not just a bureaucratic headache, but a foundational issue for better care, better research, and better AI. We begin with the story of Liz Salmi, who disco
The 10 Biggest Questions on the Future of AI | Jobs, AGI, Deepfakes and More
What happens when the biggest questions about AI stop being theoretical and start shaping jobs, education, truth, power, and even what it means to be human.In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore ten of the biggest questions on the future of AI. We examine whether AI will create abundance or accelerate job displacement, whether it will improve education or
The Upside of AI and Data: How We Save More Lives, Build a Better World
What if the next life-saving medical breakthrough isn’t a brand-new drug, but an old generic hiding in plain sight, waiting to be matched to the right disease?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the upside of AI and data when used to solve consequential problems, from AI drug discovery and drug repurposing to ambient AI in clinical workflows -- to clima
The Robots Are Already Here—The Data Gap Is What’s Holding Them Back
What happens when robots stop looking like industrial machines—and start looking (and even feeling) human? And if “replicants” become plausible within our lifetimes, what would it take to get there… and what might it break along the way?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by the Vana Foundation, we explore the robot revolution from three angles: what robots can actually do today (quietly
AI’s Original Sin: Training on Stolen Work
What happens when AI gets smarter by quietly consuming the work of writers, artists, and publishers—without asking, crediting, or paying? And if the “original sin” is already baked into today’s models, what does a fair future look like for human creativity?In this episode, we examine the fast-moving collision between generative AI and copyright: the lived experience of authors who feel violated, t
Generation Generative: Raising Kids with AI “Friends” in a World of Data Extraction and Bias
What happens when a “kid-friendly” AI bedtime story turns racy—inside your own car?In this episode of The People’s AI (presented by the Vana Foundation), we explore “Generation Generative”: how kids are already using AI, what the biggest risks really are (from inappropriate content to emotional manipulation), and what practical parenting looks like when the tech is everywhere—from smart speakers t
AI and Life After Death: Griefbots, Digital Ghosts, and the New Afterlife Economy
Can AI help us grieve, or does it blur the line between comfort and delusion in ways we’re not ready for?In this episode of The People’s AI, we explore the rise of grief tech: “griefbots,” AI avatars, and “digital ghosts” designed to simulate conversations with deceased loved ones. We start with Justin Harrison, founder of You, Only Virtual, whose near-fatal motorcycle accident and his mother’s te
The Invisible (and Underpaid) Data Workers Behind the "Magic" of AI
Who are the invisible human data-workers behind the “magic” of AI, and what does their work really look like?In this episode of THE PEOPLE'S AI, presented by Vana, We pull back the curtain on AI data labeling, ghost work, and content moderation with former data worker and organizer Krystal Kauffman and AI researcher Graham Morehead. We hear how low-paid workers around the world train large la
From Nude Robot Photos to The New York Times Suing OpenAI: How AI Feeds on Your Data, Your Life
What if your robot vacuum accidentally leaked naked photos of you onto Facebook—and that was just the tip of the iceberg for how your data trains AI?In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we kick off Season 3 with a deep-dive primer on the real stakes of AI and data: in our homes, in our work, and across society. We start with a jaw-dropping story from MIT Technology Review senior
Preserving Privacy in the Age of AI, w/ Marta Belcher and Jiahao Sun
How do we protect privacy in an AI-powered world?As AI systems become increasingly powerful, they’re also becoming increasingly invasive. The stakes are no longer theoretical — they’re immediate and personal. From hospitals and law firms to small construction firms, businesses across industries are facing a pressing dilemma: how can we unlock the benefits of AI without compromising sensitive data?
Solving AI’s Energy Crisis with Decentralized Compute, w/ Akash CEO Greg Osuri
What happens when AI runs out of energy? As models grow exponentially, the world’s compute and energy needs are skyrocketing—and our current infrastructure may not keep up.On today's episode of THE PEOPLE'S AI, presented by Gensyn, we speak with Greg Osuri, founder and CEO of Akash Network, to dive into the future of decentralized AI and why distributed compute could be the key to solvin
Can AI Be Creative? With AI Artists Mario Klingemann & Shavonne Wong
What does it mean for AI to be creative? Can a machine surprise us—or even move us?This week, we explore the frontier of AI-generated art, emotional AI, and decentralized creativity through two very different lenses. In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Gensyn, we speak with Mario Klingemann, creator of the autonomous artist Botto, and Shavonne Wong, the mind behind the interactive AI
Building the AI Agent Future: Shaw Walters (Eliza) & Harry Grieve (Gensyn)
How will AI Agents transform the world? And why do they need to be Decentralized?This episode explores the frontier of AI agents—their power, their risks, and their role in shaping our future, on THE PEOPLE'S AI, presented by Gensyn. Host Jeff Wilser talks with Shaw Walters (founder of Eliza Labs) and Harry Grieve (co-founder of Gensyn) about what happens when AI agents become autonomous, sel
A (Respectful) Debate on AI Policy, w/ Justin Hendrix and Jeff Amico
Should AI be regulated by governments, left to the courts, or guided by open markets and open source? That question is at the heart of this thoughtful, civil debate between two leaders shaping the future of AI policy.In this episode of The People’s AI, we’re joined by Justin Hendrix (Tech Policy Press) and Jeff Amico (Gensyn) for a wide-ranging conversation on how — and by whom — artificial intell
Can AI Be Trusted? Building Verifiable, Scalable, Decentralized AI w/ the Founders of Gensyn
What if we could trust AI results the way we trust cryptographic signatures? That’s the radical promise behind Gensyn’s work—building verifiable, decentralized AI infrastructure from the ground up.We kick off Season 2 of The People’s AI with Ben Fielding and Harry Grieve, the co-founders of Gensyn. We hear how their origin story began in a London warehouse—right before COVID lockdown—and how their
The Robot Revolution will be Powered by Decentralized Data, w/ PrismaX Founder Bayley Wang
Why can ChatGPT write your emails, but robots still can’t fold your laundry? The answer isn’t hardware—it’s data.On today's episode of THE PEOPLE'S AI, presented by Vana, we speak with Bayley Wang, co-founder of PrismaX, a startup building the “base layer” for real-world robotics. PrismaX connects user-generated video data—like clips of people folding sheets or restocking shelves—with ro
Deep-Dive into Decentralized AI Data Marketplaces, w/ Vana co-founder Art Abal
What if your personal data wasn’t being harvested — but instead valued, tokenized, and returned to you?That’s the radical shift proposed by Vana, a platform building decentralized data marketplaces that aim to give users economic power over their own data.In this episode of "The People's AI," we speak with Art Abal, Vana’s co-founder, to unpack how today’s data economy works behind
Decentralized AI Hype vs. Reality, w/ VCs Alex Odagiu & Daniel Barabander
What’s real in Crypto + AI—and what’s just noise? In this episode of THE PEOPLE'S AI podcast, presented by Vana, we sat down with two top investors to unpack the actual state of decentralized AI. These are the people who see all the decks, hear all the pitches, and are funding what they believe is the future of the space. So what’s legit, what’s frothy, and where’s it all headed?First, we tal
Why Federated Learning AI is the Key, w/ Nic Lane, co-founder of Flower Labs
In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we explore one of the most promising frontiers in artificial intelligence: federated learning.We speak with Nic Lane, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Flower Labs and a professor at the University of Cambridge, to unpack why decentralized AI may not only be more ethical—but more effective—than centralized systems.We dive into:•Why ce
Bryan Pellegrino on Crypto Rails for AI Agents
In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we dive into one of the most compelling intersections in tech today: AI agents and crypto infrastructure. Our guest is Bryan Pellegrino, co-founder and CEO of LayerZero Labs. His journey is anything but ordinary—former top-ranked professional poker player, model builder for MLB teams alongside Billy Beane, and now a key architect of decentrali
Can Blockchain Fix AI's "IP Problem"? With Story Protocol co-founder Jason Zhao
In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we sit down with Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, one of the most ambitious projects at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and intellectual property.We explore how Story Protocol aims to reinvent the $61 trillion global IP economy by transforming IP into a liquid, programmable, and creator-friendly asset class. From Hollywood screenp
Decentralized AI from the Academic POV, w/ MIT Media Lab’s Ramesh Raskar
In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we dive deep into the evolution of decentralized AI with Ramesh Raskar, Associate Professor at the MIT Media Lab and advisor to Vana.We explore why decentralized AI isn’t a rival to centralized AI—but a natural next step. Ramesh outlines a five-phase framework for the evolution of intelligent systems, moving from the “mainframe era” to the eme
How Data DAOs Empower You and Your Data, w/ the Founders of DLP Labs and Asterisk DAO
In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we explore the frontier of Data DAOs — decentralized projects that empower people to take control of their data and get rewarded when it’s used to train AI.Our data is everywhere—sleep tracked by Oura rings, heart rates logged by smartwatches, comments posted on Reddit, even the layout of our homes as mapped by Roombas. Until now, most of that
Can AI Fix DeFi? The Rise of DeFAI, w/ Giza co-founder Renç Korzay
DeFi promised to make finance more accessible, but has it lived up to that vision? In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we explore how AI agents are reshaping decentralized finance (DeFi) and whether they can simplify complex yield farming, crypto investing, and smart contracts for everyday users.We’re joined by Renç Korzay, co-founder of Giza, a project at the forefront of AI-po
Why We're Headed Into "deAI Summer," w/ CoinFund's Jake Brukhman
Welcome to 2025's "deAI Summer." Decentralized AI is emerging as one of the most significant shifts in artificial intelligence and blockchain. In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we sit down with Jake Brukhman, founder and CEO of CoinFund, to explore the growing intersection of AI and Web3, the challenges of open-source AI, and what it means for AI investing and c
Why Data Self-Sovereignty Will (Fairly) Create Better AI, w/ Vana’s Creator Anna Kazlauskas
AI is nothing without data. It doesn’t exist without it. It doesn’t get good without good data. It doesn’t get great without great data.Right now, two major problems are colliding in the world of AI:1. Data transparency – Most AI companies don’t disclose where they get their training data, leading to lawsuits and ethical concerns over how models are built.2. Data scarcity – AI companies are runnin
Building the AI Agent Economy w/ David Minarsch & Davide Crapis
Many are calling 2025 the "Year of the AI Agents." And AI Agents are one of the most exciting frontiers of Decentralized AI, or Crypto X AI. These autonomous systems, powered by blockchain and smart contracts, are changing the way we think about digital interactions, finance, and even governance. In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, we dive deep into the rapidly evolvin
The Case for Decentralized AI, w/ Anna Kazlauskas and Illia Polosukhin
In our debut episode of The People’s AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast, Presented by Vana, we dive into one of the most critical questions of the AI era: Who should own AI? As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, its ownership and governance will shape the future. Big Tech dominates AI development today, but a growing movement believes AI should be decentralized, ope
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