In this episode of Mindful AI, we speak with Mike Spaeth, Global Vice President at the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII). Mike’s journey spans politics in Washington DC, early AI personalization at Amazon, IBM’s Watson, and now leading global AI education across 160+ countries.
We explore the AI race, ethics, and education: from empowering young students in Nigeria and Ghana, to vendor-agnostic certifications, to the question of whether acceleration is overshadowing accountability. Mike shares why inclusivity, ethics, and AI literacy are essential if we want a future where technology serves human flourishing.
If you’re interested in AI for good, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.
🔗 Links from the episode:
• United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII)
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Mike’s birdwatching practice
02:30 – What the USAII is and why ethics matters
07:00 – The global AI race and education in Africa
10:00 – Mike’s journey from politics to Amazon & Watson
13:00 – Jobs, dignity, and what humans do best
17:30 – Making AI literacy inclusive & jargon-free
21:30 – Ethics training for students, engineers, and C-suites
26:00 – Acceleration, military pressure, and healthcare promises
33:00 – What listeners can do today to influence AI’s future
38:00 – The literacy gap in HR and schools
44:00 – Energy, infrastructure, and affordability
49:00 – Why Big Tech holds the keys
52:00 – Black boxes, explainability, and risks
59:00 – Positive use cases of AI and closing reflections
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