Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

About the show

A podcast about the design, development, and business of great software. Each week thoughtbot's Chad Pytel is joined by the people who build and nurture the products we love.

Episodes

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    Generative AI: How to Leverage its Power and Mitigate the Risks

    October 10th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  46 mins 18 secs
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    543: The Intersection of AI and Recruitment with Brian Glover

    September 19th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  42 mins 12 secs
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    542: Shaping Company Culture using AI with Elie Rashbass

    September 12th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  41 mins 16 secs
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    540: The Tech Behind Eslando’s Circular Fashion Revolution with Karishma Gupta

    September 4th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  37 mins 46 secs
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    539: Human-Centered Design and Innovation with Sheng-Hung Lee

    August 22nd, 2024  |  Season 14  |  41 mins 24 secs

    Giant Robots On Tour introduces Sheng-Hung Lee, a designer and PhD researcher at MIT AgeLab. He shares his journey into design and emphasizes the evolving role of designers in addressing broader issues like climate change and aging. Sheng-Hung discusses practical applications such as smart homes for aging populations, the importance of designing for different life stages, and his views on well-designed and poorly designed products.

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    538: Transforming Therapy with Gaming: How MindJam Supports Young Minds

    August 15th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  43 mins 26 secs

    In this episode of "Giant Robots On Tour," Sami Birnbaum and Rémy Hannequin interview Dan Clark, Founder and CEO of MindJam, which provides emotional and Special Educational Needs support for young people through gaming. Dan shares how MindJam began during the pandemic to help neurodivergent youth using games like Minecraft, emphasizing gaming's benefits for cognitive and social development. MindJam has grown significantly, now supporting over 2,000 young people globally with 110 mentors.

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    537: Navigating the Startup Ecosystem with Marc Gauthier

    August 8th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  45 mins 49 secs

    Marc G. Gauthier shares his journey from learning QBasic as a child to becoming a startup coach and founder of The Shadow Boxing App. He discusses his experiences in scaling startups, emphasizing the balance between speed and reliability in software development and the challenges of managing rapid team growth. Marc also offers insights on the role of AI in augmenting human workflows and advises developers to view AI as a tool to enhance their capabilities.

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    536: Exploring AI and Mental Health with Sara Wilder

    August 1st, 2024  |  Season 14  |  43 mins 56 secs

    In this episode of "Giant Robots On Tour," hosts Sami Birnbaum and Rémy Hannequin discuss mental health in the age of AI with Sara Wilder, a Therapeutic Life Consultant. Sara shares how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her to integrate technology into her practice, emphasizing the benefits and challenges of using AI tools like ChatGPT. The conversation highlights the broader impact of technology on mental health, the need for ethical AI use, and maintaining human connection in digital therapy.

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    535: AI in Healthcare: How CareTrainer.ai is Changing Elder Care

    July 25th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  48 mins 19 secs

    Hosts Will Larry and Chad Pytel interview Brock Dubbels, Principal UX and AI Researcher at CareTrainer.ai, who explains how the company leverages AI to address the care crisis in elderly populations by automating routine tasks. This approach allows caregivers to focus on building meaningful relationships and providing personalized care, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and reducing burnout. Brock also discusses CareTrainer.ai’s apprenticeship model, which uses AI assistance to accelerate caregiver training and improve job satisfaction and retention.

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    534: How Toma is Transforming Car Dealerships with Voice AI Technology

    July 18th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  44 mins 37 secs

    Host Chad Pytel interviews Monik Pamecha, CEO of Toma, about how their AI technology automates phone calls for car dealerships, significantly enhancing customer service. Monik shares Toma's journey from initial AI experiments to focusing on voice AI, detailing the challenges and successes along the way. The discussion also covers the practical implementation of Toma's AI solutions in the automotive industry and the importance of clear communication about AI's role in customer interactions.

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    533: Leveraging Data for Gender Equality with Amy-Willard Cross

    July 11th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  32 mins 59 secs

    Founder Amy-Willard Cross discusses Gender Fair, a consumer rating system for gender equality that uses data and UN Women Empowerment Principles to evaluate companies in various categories, making it easier for consumers to make informed choices via their app and browser extension. She emphasizes the power of transparency and collective consumer action in driving corporate accountability and reflects on the challenges and future plans of Gender Fair.

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    532: Building Trust and Community in Sustainable Business

    July 3rd, 2024  |  Season 14  |  39 mins 30 secs

    Hosts Sami Birnbaum and Jared Turner are joined by Ishani Behl, CEO and Founder of Skillopp and Sustainr. Ishani shares how her background in instructional design and experiences at the UNDP inspired her to create Skillopp, which uses AI to simplify learning, and Sustainr, a platform connecting sustainable brands. She discusses the importance of dejargonization, the challenges of balancing multiple ventures, and her approach to building trust and fostering collaboration within her communities.

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    531: Polished Podcasting with Mandy Moore

    June 27th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  24 mins 31 secs

    Hosts Will Larry and Victoria Guido chat with Mandy Moore, the mastermind behind thoughtbot's podcasts, about the technical aspects and crucial role of editing in creating top-notch content. Mandy highlights the importance of having a producer handle behind-the-scenes work, allowing hosts to focus on captivating content, and discusses how a well-produced podcast can boost a company's brand presence and serve as a potent sales tool.

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    530: Giant Robots On Tour

    June 20th, 2024  |  Season 14  |  25 mins 49 secs

    Host Will Larry announces a new Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast limited series focusing on Europe, West Asia, and Africa, introducing new co-hosts Sami Birnbaum, Svenja Schäfer, Rémy Hannequin, and Jared Turner. The team shares their journeys into the tech industry and engages in an icebreaker game while brainstorming names for the series. They ultimately decide on "Giant Robots On Tour," capturing the spirit of exploration and collaboration.