Socially Conscious AI

Valencio Cardoso and Roman Bercot
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Socially Conscious AI is a podcast that explores how artificial intelligence can serve people and the planet—not just profit. Each episode features conversations with founders, researchers, and thought leaders using AI to build a more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable future.

  1. FEB 10

    AI Overwhelm? Use This 3-Step Framework to Choose the Right Tools

    Drowning in 30,000+ AI tools and don't know where to start? Learn the purpose-driven framework that cuts through AI overwhelm and transforms it into unstoppable momentum. Product designer Valencio Cardoso shares his battle-tested approach for leveraging AI without losing your creative edge or burning out. In this episode of Socially Conscious AI, we tackle the #1 challenge facing professionals in 2026: AI tool overload. With 95% of enterprise AI pilots failing and 80% of workers reporting AI actually increases their workload, the problem isn't AI itself—it's how we're approaching it. Valencio breaks down his proven 3-step framework: Choose Your Cause - Start with purpose, not toolsPick Your Skill - Focus on what you want to improveExtend, Don't Replace - Use AI to amplify your strengths, not eliminate themThe AI Overwhelm Problem Why 30,000+ AI applications launched since 2023 create decision paralysisHow to identify which tools deserve your finite time and energyThe hidden cost of "AI fatigue" in today's workplacePurpose-Driven AI Learning Real examples: Using AI for presentation coaching, vacation planning, and workflow optimizationHow to start small with high-impact applicationsWhy efficiency without purpose equals shallow winsThe Rise of the Super Worker Understanding AI as co-pilot, not replacementProtecting human agency in strategy, creativity, and empathyHow to maintain your creative edge while leveraging AI capabilitiesPractical AI Applications PowerPoint's AI coaching for presentation practiceUsing ChatGPT/Claude for email tone adjustment and writing improvementAI agents and workflow automation for HR and team managementTrip planning, form filling, and administrative task automationFor the AI-Resistant & Overwhelmed Breaking through fear with curiosity and purposeNetwork effects: Learning from others' AI success storiesFinding your personal AI entry pointWhen not to use AI (protecting your human creative spaces)Valencio Cardoso is a product designer with 15+ years of experience designing systems that work for people. He holds multiple patents in AI-powered HR workflows and recently delivered a compelling lightning talk on "AI for Efficiency and Growth" at a San Diego design event. His framework has been resonating with AI, product, and design leaders who are navigating the complexity of purposeful AI adoption. Recent research shows that while 96% of C-suite leaders expect AI to boost productivity, 77% of employees say AI tools have increased their workload. The disconnect is real. In 2026, as agentic AI and multi-agent systems reshape the workplace, the winners won't be those who learn the most tools—they'll be those who learn with purpose. 🔔 Subscribe to Socially Conscious AI for more conversations with ethical pioneers leveraging AI to address humanity's most important challenges 💬 Comment below: What's your biggest AI overwhelm challenge? Share one area where you want to grow using AI 🔗 Share this episode with someone struggling with AI overwhelm—sometimes the right insight at the right moment changes everything Valencio Cardoso on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valenciocardoso/Socially Conscious AI Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sociallyconsciousai/Hosts: Roman Bercot & Valencio Cardoso Socially Conscious AI explores cutting-edge innovations transforming our world for the better, bringing you conversations with brilliant minds and ethical pioneers who are leveraging AI's power to address humanity's most important challenges. #ArtificialIntelligence #AIProductivity #AITools What You'll LearnKey Topics CoveredAbout ValencioWhy This Matters NowTake ActionLinks & Resources

    32 min

  2. JAN 6

    The AI-Powered Recipe Book That's Ending Plastic Pollution Forever

    What if the plastic wrapper you toss today could become food for the soil tomorrow? Dr. Alysia Garmulewicz, Co-Founder of Materiom, is making this vision real through open-source biomaterial recipes and AI-powered discovery tools that are accelerating the shift from extractive plastics to regenerative materials.In this conversation, Alysia traces her journey from climate policy frustration to materials innovation and reveals how Materiom's platform now serves over 20,000 innovators across 106 countries. We explore nature's fundamental building blocks (cellulose, chitin, pectin), the promise of distributed biomaterial economies, and how companies are already scaling seaweed-based packaging that's literally edible.Alysia also shares hard truths about policy opacity, the 20-year timeline to bring new materials to market, and why agricultural waste—not food crops—is the feedstock frontier. With fresh backing from Google to deploy AI for materials discovery, Materiom is proving that the technology to remake our material world exists right now.Key Highlights:How biomaterial recipes work: ingredients, processes, and performance propertiesWhy AI can compress decades of R&D into years by augmenting human expertiseReal examples: seaweed coatings, banana stalk leathers, and compostable packaging at scaleThe tension between biomass use and food security—and why waste is the opportunityWhat a 2045 world looks like when regenerative materials have wonResources Mentioned:Materiom.org — Explore open-source biomaterial recipesBook: Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael BraungartWhether you're a designer seeking compostable alternatives, a scientist exploring natural polymers, or simply someone tired of microplastics in your drinking water—this episode offers both inspiration and actionable pathways forward.#RegenerativeMaterials #CircularEconomy #BiomaterialsInnovation #SustainableDesign #ClimateAction #PlasticAlternatives #MaterialScience #OpenSourceInnovation #AIForGood #GreenTech #ZeroWaste #Compostable #BioBased #FutureOfMaterials #SustainablePackagingKeyword Tags:biomaterials, regenerative materials, circular economy, plastic alternatives, sustainable packaging, material science, AI materials discovery, Materiom, compostable materials, bio-based polymers, cellulose, chitin, seaweed packaging, waste biomass, climate innovation, sustainable design, green technology, open source materials, materials innovation, environmental solutions, microplastics solutions, sustainable textiles, bioplastics, regenerative agriculture, systems change

    37 min

  3. 12/17/2025

    Arti Dhar: Turning Forests Into Pensions with Open Source AI

    Planting trees is easy. Proving they survived five years later to pay the farmers who grew them? That requires a new kind of technology.Arti Dhar, co-founder of Farmers for Forests, reveals how open-source technology is exposing greenwashing and redirecting climate finance to 22,000+ rural Indian households who are actually doing the work.In this episode, we explore the intersection of environmental justice and artificial intelligence. Arti shares how her team pivoted from satellites to drones to track individual saplings on fragmented plots—achieving 90%+ accuracy with Detectron2 models trained on Indian landscapes. The result? Agroforestry systems that are 3x more biodiverse, sequester 4x more carbon, and increase farmer incomes by 3-4x.This isn't just about planting trees. It's about building trust through measurement, making ecosystem services economically viable, and proving that climate solutions and poverty reduction can grow from the same soil. Arti discusses the challenges of scaling from 50,000 to millions of hectares, why payment for ecosystem services works where other models fail, and how open-source AI tools costing 10x less than satellite imagery are democratizing environmental monitoring.Key Insights:Why drone monitoring beats satellites for smallholder agricultureHow cash transfers + carbon markets create farmer "pension schemes"The surprising thing farmers value more than moneyTraining computer vision models on tropical agroforestry dataScaling climate solutions without sacrificing qualityThe role of bioacoustics and camera traps in measuring biodiversity impactGuest: Arti Dhar, Co-founder of Farmers for ForestsConnect with Farmers for Forests:Learn more about their work transforming degraded land into biodiverse agroforestry systems across India.Hashtags:#AI #ClimateChange #Agroforestry #CarbonMarkets #EnvironmentalJustice #DroneMonitoring #MachineLearning #Sustainability #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateAction #India #SmallholderFarmers #OpenSource #ComputerVision #NatureBasedSolutionsKeywords:AI for climate change, drone monitoring agriculture, agroforestry India, carbon sequestration, payment for ecosystem services, Detectron2, environmental restoration, climate finance, smallholder farmers, computer vision forestry, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity monitoring, open source climate tools, rural poverty solutions, nature-based climate solutions, carbon markets, tree monitoring technology, soil health, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, environmental accountability, greenwashing prevention, spatial intelligence, remote sensing agriculture, community-based conservation

    33 min

  4. 11/25/2025

    48 Million Workers Suffer in Silence - Empower Work Uses AI + Human Empathy to Change That

    Nearly 48 million Americans face workplace bullying, harassment, or discrimination—often with nowhere to turn. Jamie Alexis Fowler and Rajiv Puranik from Empower Work have created the first confidential crisis text line for workplace issues, combining AI technology with deeply human connection to support over 450,000 vulnerable workers. In this powerful conversation, discover how they're democratizing justice for workers in their darkest moments and why human empathy still outsmarts algorithms.​​What You'll LearnWhy 91% of U.S. workers have experienced workplace discrimination and where they can turn for help​How Empower Work pairs AI efficiency with human peer counselors to provide 24/7 confidential support via textThe hidden workplace crisis: 65% of current cases involve job loss—up from 23% during previous economic downturns​Why AI can only meet one of three critical empathy needs, and how Empower Work designed technology around human connectionReal patterns from 450,000 workplace conversations revealing systemic issues affecting frontline and small-business workersHow volunteer peer counselors build empathy skills that transform their own leadership and workplace relationshipsThe economic impact: why workers supported by Empower Work see an average 25% improvement in economic wellbeing​Key MomentsPersonal Stories of Crisis – Jamie Alexis shares her experience with workplace harassment that inspired Empower Work's mission​The Human-AI Balance – Rajiv explains how AI assists counselors with summarization, resource recommendations, and conversation guidance—while humans make all final decisions​Data-Driven Insights – Discover alarming trends showing workplace discrimination cases increased substantially in 2024, with the EEOC receiving over 81,000 new charges​Building Empathy Muscle – How 95% of volunteer peer counselors report learning skills they use in their own workplaces​Technology for Equity – Why designing AI with conscience means putting users first and creating advisory councils of actual counselors​​The Crisis & The SolutionWith workplace harassment charges at 24,000+ annually and discrimination affecting workers across every industry, Empower Work provides immediate, confidential support when it matters most. Text 510-674-4141 for free help with workplace harassment, discrimination, job loss, toxic managers, or any work-related crisis.​​Get InvolvedNeed support? Text 510-674-4141 (free & confidential)Want to volunteer? Become a trained peer counselor and build empathy skills while helping othersSpread the word: Share this resource with anyone facing workplace challengesAbout the GuestsJamie Alexis Fowler – Founder of Empower Work, workplace equity advocate, and survivor of workplace harassment who built the first crisis text line specifically for work issuesRajiv Puranik – CTO of Empower Work with 25+ years building platforms at Yahoo, HP, and Twilio, now using Silicon Valley expertise for social goodAbout Socially Conscious AIWelcome to conversations with the brilliant minds and ethical pioneers harnessing AI's power to address humanity's greatest challenges. Hosted by Valencia Cardoso and Roman Bercot.Subscribe for more conversations about AI innovation for social good | Share this episode with anyone navigating workplace challenges | Comment with your thoughts on AI and workplace equity#WorkplaceEquity #AIforGood #SociallyConsciousAI

    29 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    From Child Translator to Justice Architect: How Rodrigo Camarena is Democratizing the Law With AI

    For every 1,400 undocumented people in the US, there's just one legal professional to help. Asylum seekers have 72 hours to navigate paperwork they can't read, in a language they don't speak, with no money for lawyers. What if AI could change that equation?Rodrigo Camarena, founder of Justicia Lab and director of the world's first AI innovation lab for immigration justice, is solving this crisis one tool at a time. In this episode, he reveals how **Reclamo AI**—launching in November 2025—delivers personalized legal guidance in under 30 seconds, helps workers fight wage theft (a $50 billion problem in America), and bridges the staggering justice gap without replacing lawyers—it empowers them.**What You'll Learn:**- How AI helps asylum seekers understand complex legal documents instantly- Why trust matters more than technology when serving immigrant communities- How Reclamo AI helps any worker understand their rights and fight wage theft- The ethics of using large language models to protect vulnerable populations- Why co-design with directly impacted communities is non-negotiable- What success looks like: making legal justice as accessible as calling an Uber**The Challenge:** Wage theft steals $50 billion+ annually from American workers. The Wage and Hour Division has just 611 investigators for 165 million workers. Meanwhile, federal government AI-powered enforcement is accelerating.**The Solution:** AI that's accountable, transparent, and built *with* the communities it serves—not *for* them.Listen as Rodrigo discusses why AI is a force multiplier for legal justice, how nonprofit tech is competing with billion-dollar legal enforcement budgets, and his vision for systemic change over the next decade.**Featured Guest:** Rodrigo Camarena | Founder, Justicia Lab- Named an ABA Journal Legal Rebel and FastCase 50 honoree- Former director, Immigration Advocates Network at Pro Bono- Economics graduate focused on equity through civic tech**Resources & Links:**🔗 Justicia Lab: https://www.justicialab.org/🔗 Recla AI: https://reclamo.ai/🔗 Immigration Advocates Network: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/**Timestamps:**[00:00] Intro: The Justice Gap[00:02] Rodrigo's Journey—From Child Translator to Justice Innovator[00:05] How Empath AI Works: 30 Seconds vs. 50+ Hours[00:09] Guarding Against Bias in AI Models[00:11] Building Trust with Vulnerable Communities[00:12] Reclamo AI: Solving the $50 Billion Wage Theft Problem[00:17] Three Years of Co-Design: Why It Matters[00:19] Language Justice & Privacy as Core Values[00:21] The Nuance Problem: Legal Writing in Plain Language[00:24] Competing with Billion-Dollar Legal Budgets[00:26] AI Enforcement & Political Risk[00:27] Vision for Success (3–10 Years)[00:28] The One Question Every AI Builder Should Ask[00:29] What Non-Technical Justice Workers Should Know About AI#AIForJustice #ImmigrationLaw #WageTheft #LegalTech #JusticeAI #CivicTech #AccessToJustice #WorkerRights

    31 min

  6. 10/28/2025

    42M Americans Losing Food Aid—This AI Could Feed Them (with Samuel Cole, CTO of Lemontree Foods)

    What if ending hunger in America is really just a data problem waiting to be solved? With 42 million Americans facing food assistance cuts in November 2025 and government support disappearing, one AI-powered nonprofit is proving that technology can restore dignity to those experiencing food insecurity. Discover how Samuel Cole, CTO of Lemon Tree Foods, is using Netflix-style recommendation algorithms and Uber-level user experience to connect over 450,000 households to free food assistance—transforming the way America fights hunger. The Shocking Truth About Food Access in AmericaThere are more food pantries than McDonald's locations across the United States, yet millions of hungry Americans don't know they exist or feel too stigmatized to visit. How AI is Revolutionizing Food AssistanceLearn how Lemon Tree uses machine learning recommendation models, real-time user reviews, and human-in-the-loop hospitality specialists to match people with the right food resources—just like booking an Uber or finding a show on Netflix. Breaking Down Barriers with TechnologyDiscover how sophisticated algorithms combined with compassionate customer support are removing stigma, ensuring data privacy, and bringing enterprise-level hospitality to nonprofit services. The Data Behind Hunger ReliefFind out how real-time feedback loops and AI-driven insights are reducing food waste, optimizing distribution networks, and identifying food deserts where new pantries are desperately needed. Why This Matters Now More Than EverWith government hunger programs being eliminated and SNAP benefits cut for millions, nonprofit technology solutions are becoming the critical safety net for American families. 00:00 Samuel Cole's journey from Kickstarter & ActBlue to solving food insecurity03:00 Why millions of Americans don't access available food resources06:30 How AI recommendation algorithms match people to food pantries12:00 The human-in-the-loop approach: hospitality specialists + technology16:00 Addressing bias, privacy concerns, and maintaining dignity22:00 The bigger picture: AI's role in redesigning social safety nets28:00 How nonprofits can step up as government support disappearsSamuel Cole is the Chief Technology Officer at Lemon Tree Foods, a groundbreaking nonprofit using artificial intelligence to connect hundreds of thousands of households to food assistance. With a background at major tech companies including Kickstarter and ActBlue (where he helped build fundraising tools for the 2020 Biden campaign), Samuel now applies his engineering expertise to one of America's most pressing challenges: ensuring no one goes hungry. Need food assistance? Visit FoodHelpline.org to find food pantries near you with just your address—no judgment, maximum dignity. Want to help? Donate at FoodHelpline.org/donate or organize corporate volunteering with your team to support this critical mission. Looking for a food pantry to volunteer at? Use Lemon Tree's search tool to discover local pantries in your neighborhood that need volunteers—it's a powerful way to connect with your community. As America faces unprecedented challenges with food insecurity—including the November 2025 SNAP benefit cuts affecting 42 million people—technology-driven solutions like Lemon Tree are proving that innovation, when combined with compassion, can transform lives at scale. This conversation explores how AI for social good isn't just a buzzword—it's a lifeline for millions of families. 🎙️ Socially Conscious AI Podcast - Exploring cutting-edge innovations transforming our world for the better 👥 Hosts: Valencio Cardoso & Roman Bercot 💡 Bringing you conversations with brilliant minds and ethical pioneers harnessing AI's power to address humanity's greatest challenges 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with innovators at the intersection of technology and social impact

    35 min

  7. 09/30/2025

    The Next Billion Users Are Redefining AI (And Big Tech Is Worried)

    The world's next billion users are redefining AI's future, and they're not where Silicon Valley expects them to be. Discover why digital sovereignty matters more than profit margins, and how 90% of the world's youth are driving unprecedented tech optimism from the Global South.What You'll LearnCore Insights:• How digital sovereignty empowers communities to control AI development on their own terms• Why the Global South shows explosive AI optimism while the West grows increasingly pessimistic• Real examples of marginalized communities using AI for social change and protest movements• The creator economy revolution driven by AI democratization and multilingual contentKey Topics Covered:• Digital infrastructure and the ethics of Big Tech's undersea cable investments• Balancing AI diversity with scalability - why inclusion drives better business outcomes• CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authenticity, Responsibility, Ethics) for ethical AI development• The romance economy: how AI enables intimate connections across cultural barriers• Behind-the-scenes work at Utrecht University's Inclusive AI Lab with partners like AdobeTimestamps• 00:00 - Digital sovereignty definition and importance• 01:46 - Global South optimism vs Western tech pessimism• 04:36 - AI enabling social change and protest movements• 09:24 - Digital sovereignty in practice: infrastructure and data control• 13:45 - Diversity vs scalability: breaking the false paradox• 16:00 - Inclusive AI Lab methods and Adobe collaboration• 19:50 - CARE principles for ethical AI development• 25:11 - The global romance economy and AI intimacyGuest ExpertDr. Payal Arora - Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures at Utrecht University, co-founder of Inclusive AI Lab, and "Next Billion Champion" by Forbes. Author of award-winning books "The Next Billion Users" and "From Pessimism to Promise," named one of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics.Why This Matters NowWith AI investment reaching $33.9 billion globally and digital sovereignty becoming a national priority for countries worldwide, understanding inclusive AI development is critical. As 1.8 billion people now use AI tools but only 3% pay for premium services, the monetization gap represents massive opportunities for culturally responsive AI solutions.digitalsilk+3Subscribe for more conversations with ethical AI pioneers challenging who shapes technology's future.Connect with our guests:• Dr. Payal Arora on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/payalarora• Inclusive AI Lab: inclusiveailab.orginclusiveailab• Utrecht University Centre for Global Challengesuu#DigitalSovereignty #InclusiveAI #GlobalSouth #AIEthics #TechOptimism #NextBillionUsers #CreatorEconomy #DigitalDemocracy #AIForGood #TechInnovation #DigitalInclusion #AIGovernance #SociallyConsciousAISocially Conscious AI explores cutting-edge innovations transforming our world for the better, featuring conversations with brilliant minds leveraging AI's power to address humanity's most important challenges.

    32 min

  8. 09/10/2025

    Removing Friction from AI Is a Dangerous Mistake — with Di Le

    What if the fastest way to responsible AI… is to slow down?World-renowned AI ethicist Di Le joins us to unravel the myth of “frictionless” AI. If you think making everything faster is safer, think again. Discover why intentional friction—those thoughtful speed bumps in design—are crucial for safe, ethical, and user-centered artificial intelligence.In this episode:The hidden dangers of rushing AI innovationWhat the GPT-5 rollout reveals about emotional design and trustHow “intentional friction” protects human autonomy and prevents disasterConcrete strategies for UX designers, product leaders, and anyone building with AIReal stories from robotics and Fortune 500 deploymentsAre we flying too close to the sun, Icarus-style, with AI? Di Le has answers—and they might save us all.👉 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more social impact tech.🗣️ Share your take in the comments: Should AI progress be slowed down for safety?🔗 Connect with Di Le: LinkedIn: Di Le | diebot.io🎙️ Catch the full podcast everywhere or subscribe for more episodes!

    40 min
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About

Socially Conscious AI is a podcast that explores how artificial intelligence can serve people and the planet—not just profit. Each episode features conversations with founders, researchers, and thought leaders using AI to build a more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Information

  • Creator
    Valencio Cardoso and Roman Bercot
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Valencio Cardoso and Roman Bercot
  • Show Website
    Socially Conscious AI