Pondering AI

Hosted by Kimberly Nevala, Strategic Advisor - SAS

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105

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

How is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) shaping our human experience? Kimberly Nevala ponders the reality of AI with a diverse group of innovators, advocates and data scientists. Ethics and uncertainty. Automation and art. Work, politics and culture. In real life and online. Contemplate AI’s impact, for better and worse. All presentations represent the opinions of the presenter and do not represent the position or the opinion of SAS.

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60 recent

October 28, 2026Episode 10656 min

Hybrid Everything with Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall contemplates the interplay of AI sovereignty, agentic AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing and why resilience, not AI, is the top enterprise concern. Kimberly and Chris discuss AI Sovereignty as a going concern in an a multipolar world; what is on the horizon for agentic AI, cybersecurity, and quantum; resiliency as the end and AI as a means; whether full AI autonomy should ever be the goal; if boards and executive decision makers have their head in the sand; how accountability and people are the lynchpin for innovation and sustainable ROI with AI; and if AI can provide guardrails for AI. Dr. Chris L Marshall is the VP of Worldwide AI Strategies at IDC where he leads Enterprise AI strategy research worldwide, A former partner and executive at companies such as IBM, KPMG, Oracle, FIS, and UBS, Chris’s mission is to translate innovative technologies into industry insights and business value for the digital economy. Related Resources: Data & AI Impact Report: The New Economics of Trust A transcript of this episode is here .

October 14, 2026Episode 10548 min

Practicing Judgment with Colin Levy

Colin Levy provides counsel on cultivating judgment, acknowledging the human factor and minding more than the tech when adjudicating the governance and use of legal AI. Kimberly and Colin discuss the gap between studying and practicing law; how AI extends knowledge and tests judgment; legal apprenticeship; the bar for AI; keeping pace with AI/tech; governing people’s behavior; why practice innovation isn't driven by tech alone; AI's impact on the business of law; the underappreciated people factor; considerations for AI contracts; what we want from lawyers and the practice of law. Colin Levy is the General Counsel at Malbek and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Albany Law School. In addition to being a trusted voice on the evolving intersection of legal practice and technology, Colin is a Fastcase 50 honoree and CLOC Board Member. Related Resources: Code Switched : A Lawyer's Guide to the Era of AI (book) The Legal Tech Ecosystem (book) Colin S Levy Website (personal) A transcript of this episode is here .

September 30, 2026Episode 10450 min

Curiosity and Connection with Cecilia Dones

Cecilia Dones guides leaders toward meaningful AI adoption by remaining endlessly curious, prioritizing social connection, valuing deviation, and embracing uncertainty. Kimberly and Celicia discuss connection in a tech-centric world; tech's shiny object syndrome; amplifying the right messages; extreme personalization, social affinity and "brand love"; AI slop; why attention and trust travel alone; internet blindness; influencers and experiential activity; scarcity and value; anonymity as a value play; the 2 data camps; valuing nuance and deviation; purposeful growth and mindful decision making; incentivizing ideas over yessing; agency and the construct of consent. Dr. Cecilia Dones is the Founder and CDO of 3 Standard Deviations , which helps leaders and brands navigate AI under conditions of uncertainty. Building on over 15 years of leadership experience at Fortune 500 organizations and in academia, Cecilia works at the crossroads of AI/technology adoption, consumer experience, leadership psychology and organizational decision-making. Related Resources: The AI Shift : Thriving in a World with Smart Machines and Robots (book) A transcript of this episode is here .

September 16, 2026Episode 10343 min

Labored Narratives with Kelly Monahan

Kelly Monahan reimagines the story of AI at work, helping leaders to reclaim the plot and draw up new business blueprints that optimize human capability and innovation. Kimberly and Kelly discuss what work and AI are all about; universally held (un)truths; if people are lazy; economic incentives and employee experience; optimization vs. maximization; AI as an elevator; how leaders lose the plot; what constitutes good business; the danger in humanizing AI; human variance and innovation; desirable work; creating space for learning; keeping people employable; and bringing humanity back to work. Kelly Monahan is a preeminent Future of Work and AI Advisor working at the intersection of leadership, labor markets and emerging tech. Prior to co-founding Beyond the Desk , Kelly served as Managing Director of the Upwork Research Institute and held senior leadership roles positions at Meta, Accenture and Deloitte. Related Resources: Reclaim the Plot : How Leaders Rewrite the Story when AI Rewrites Work (book) Essential : How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership (book) Dr. Kelly Monahan (website) A transcript of this episode is here .

August 19, 2026Episode 10253 min

Conscious Participation with Leigh Felton

Leigh Felton believes we can benefit from AI systems without surrendering to them if we carefully consider the environments and behaviors we promote while deploying AI. Kimberly and Leigh discuss the power of perspective; organizations as people; using AI consciously; the AI environment and library etiquette; how AI use shapes human behavior; whether AI systems are adaptive; AI authority and narrow optimization; the gap between lived experience and historical data; the AI Emperor’s new clothes; quiet organizational failures; and who benefits from humanizing AI. Leigh Felton is the President of the AI for Job Security Foundation . Leigh applies her extensive experience leading communications, business strategy and operations at the world’s largest tech companies to help organizations make conscious decisions about and with AI. Related Resources: I Could’ve Been CEO Yesterday V1: But AI Algorithms Say I’m a DEI Risk Today (book) I Could’ve Been CEO Yesterday V2: Does AI Decide Who’ll Be CEO Tomorrow? (book) Inside Power w/ Leigh Felton (newsletter) A transcript of this episode is here .

August 5, 2026Episode 10148 min

Verifiably Authentic with Sarah Barrington

Sarah Barrington shifts from simply asking “real or fake?” to deeply considering the ways AI and synthetic media influence our notions of culture, identity and trust. Kimberly and Sarah discuss her road from the fast track of F1 to the frontlines of AI; the genesis of photography; supercharging existing harms with GenAI; the unsavory roots of synthetic media; microtargeting and information warfare; the liar’s dividend; content detection and digital identity; the agentic AI challenge; culture, identity and relevance; Mythos, AI access and proliferation; anti-regulatory narratives; the nuclear analogy; equipping policy makers and the public; questioning everything; and true AI enablement. Sarah Barrington is an AI researcher and PhD Candidate at UC Berkeley where she is part of Professor Hany Farid’s digital forensics lab. She also holds multiple cybersecurity positions. A specialist in generative AI & deepfake analysis, Sarah’s work has been cited at the Nobel Prize Summit, on NPR, by the UN and in numerous publications. Related Resources: David Attenborough and the Voice That Revealed a Planet ( article ) Sarah’s Research and Publications ( website ) The DeepSpeak Dataset Get Real Security Labs A transcript of this episode is here .

July 22, 2026Episode 10051 min

Ethical Imagination with Renée Cummings

Renée Cummings channels the spirit of due process while envisioning a radically imaginative world in which the benefits of ethical AI innovation are available to all. Kimberly and Renée discuss her radical optimism; finding joy in justice; AI’s criminal misadventures; bringing an ethical imagination to AI; creative innovation; our responsibility to the future; AI as a public health challenge; the social contract and duty of care; how governance, data, and trust intertwine; due process as core to intelligence; child protection and the AWARE (algorithmic awareness and responsible engagement) campaign; giving love a break; and why responsibility requires honesty. Renée Cummings is a Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia School of Data Science as well as a Nonresident Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the AI Equity Lab at the Brookings Institution. Renee also serves as the Co-Chair of the Global Academic Network at the Centre for AI and Digital Policy ( CAIDP ). Related Resources: Michigan Technology Journal: An Invitation to Partner (article) The A.W.A.R.E Initiative (Press Kit) Who is Raising Your Child? (A.W.A.R.E Initiative publication) A transcript of this episode is here .

July 8, 2026Episode 9948 min

AI Onside with Ryan Bishara and Christian Lau

Ryan Bishara and Christian Lau team up on an AI and data playbook that delivers an engaging, penalty free experience for LAFC employees and fans on and off the pitch. Ryan, Christian and Kimberly discuss LAFC’s innovative ethos; building an analytics and data program from the pitch up; LAFC’s AI plays; making mistakes and continuous learning; keeping AI onside with responsive governance; prioritizing joy and the human experience; if convenience and privacy can co-exist; staying accessible and engaging fans; and how analytics/AI continue to play out in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. Ryan Bishara and Christian Lau serve as the EVP of Revenue & Strategy and Chief Technology Officer, respectively, at the LA Football Club ( LAFC ). A transcript of this episode is here .

June 24, 2026Episode 9849 min

Confronting Ableism with Maitreya Shah

Maitreya Shah disables harmful notions and aspires to a world in which AI systems honor the humanity and agency of disabled persons rather than using them as a shield. Maitreya and Kimberly discuss digital tech done well; how society views disabled persons; engaging people with disabilities as leaders and developers; ableist narratives; why ‘fixing’ disabilities misses the mark; confusing accessibility with AI for Good; whitewashing bad behavior with assistive tech; the false dichotomy between access and privacy; disability as a diverse identity; the high stakes for AI reliability and trust; the deepening digital divide; the dearth of disability data and resources; entrenched societal biases; and asking rather than deciding for people with disabilities. Maitreya Shah is a lawyer and researcher working at the intersection of tech policy and disability rights. Maitreya current serves as the Technology Policy Director at the American Association of People with Disabilities ( AAPD ). Related Resources: To Regulate Artificial Intelligence Effectively We Need to Confront Ableism (Article) Maitreya Shah (Profile) A transcript of this episode is here .

June 10, 2026Episode 9754 min

The Political Economy of Information with Courtney Radsch

Courtney Radsch reports on the political and economic impact of synthetic media and the stultifying consequences of our increasingly low-quality, high-fat media diet. Courtney and Kimberly discuss the range of journalistic endeavors; synthetic media’s entrée on the scene; disinformation vs. propaganda; competing with AI in the marketplace of ideas; content verification, labeling and trust; how synthetic media depends on and undermines journalism; information as a social, political and economic concern; embedded AI ideologies; equating regulation with censorship; information warfare; cognitive liberty in an age of corporate dominance; infrastructure and intent; the need for bright line protections, pluralism and independent oversight. Dr. Courtney Radsch, PhD is the Director of the Center for Media and Digital Governance (formerly CJL) and a non-resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution . An award-winning journalist, scholar, diplomat, and human rights advocate, Courtney was recently named one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics. Related Resources: Same Gatekeepers, New Tollbooths: Mapping the AI Content Licensing Market (CMDG Research Report) The Algorithm Loses Its Immunity (Article) The Pentagon Wants Its Panopticon (Article) The Battle for Cognitive Liberty in the Age of Corporate AI (Tech Policy Press) A transcript of this episode is here .