Two Guys Against AI

William Austin

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, two men stand at the crossroads of innovation and skepticism. *Two Guys Against AI* is a thought-provoking podcast that dives deep into the complexities of AI, its societal impact, and the ethical dilemmas it presents.  Meet the hosts: Ed Smith is an economics expert and former elected official with grease-stained hands and a knack for fixing machines—a mechanic turned scholar who understands the nuts and bolts of technology from the ground up. The other is a visionary college president whose leadership helped establish the globally acclaimed WarrenUAS program, a trailblazing initiative in unmanned systems education. Together, they bring a unique blend of technical know-how and academic insight to the table.   In each episode, they challenge the hype surrounding AI, exploring its promises and pitfalls through candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-world examples. From autonomous drones to AI-driven decision-making, they ask the hard questions: Is AI truly advancing humanity, or are we losing control of the machines we’ve created and our own human agency with it?  Whether you’re an AI enthusiast or a skeptic, *Two Guys Against AI* offers a fresh perspective on the future of technology—and humanity’s place within it. Tune in and join the conversation!

Episodes

  1. 09/30/2025

    An AI can flatter, persuade, and push you further than you think

    What if the most dangerous AI doesn’t look like a robot at all—but like a friend who always knows just what to say? We dig into the quiet power of conversational systems to flatter, guide, and ultimately nudge people—especially younger users—toward choices they might never make on their own. From drones and assistants to romance apps and “AI lawyers,” we share hands-on tests that started with curiosity and ended with tough questions about agency, bias, and the cost of convenience. Across this conversation, we unpack how a tool becomes a relationship: how praise lowers defenses, how ideology can seep into dialogue, and how large language models don’t just serve content but actively shape the next turn in the exchange. We compare the attention loops of social media with the steering power of generative AI, then follow the ripple effects into classrooms, campuses, and workplaces. What does it mean when a system can do your homework, argue your case, or recommend a diagnosis—and keep the “last word” that sustains your reliance? Where should schools, parents, and professionals draw boundaries on access to manipulative features? We also pull the camera back to the physical world: rising energy demands for training and inference, communities competing for power, and the uncomfortable reality that machines and humans now vie for the same resources. Along the way, we map the series ahead—history, economics, governance, the bridge to AI—and outline practical safeguards: transparency around objectives, audits of persuasion tactics, age-aware design, and a culture that treats AI as an instrument to interrogate, not an oracle to obey. If influence can feel like friendship, the most radical act may be to pause, question the prompt behind the prompt, and choose your own next move. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with the one change you’d make to keep AI helpful and human-centered. YouTube @TwoGuysAgainstAI

    31 min

About

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, two men stand at the crossroads of innovation and skepticism. *Two Guys Against AI* is a thought-provoking podcast that dives deep into the complexities of AI, its societal impact, and the ethical dilemmas it presents.  Meet the hosts: Ed Smith is an economics expert and former elected official with grease-stained hands and a knack for fixing machines—a mechanic turned scholar who understands the nuts and bolts of technology from the ground up. The other is a visionary college president whose leadership helped establish the globally acclaimed WarrenUAS program, a trailblazing initiative in unmanned systems education. Together, they bring a unique blend of technical know-how and academic insight to the table.   In each episode, they challenge the hype surrounding AI, exploring its promises and pitfalls through candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-world examples. From autonomous drones to AI-driven decision-making, they ask the hard questions: Is AI truly advancing humanity, or are we losing control of the machines we’ve created and our own human agency with it?  Whether you’re an AI enthusiast or a skeptic, *Two Guys Against AI* offers a fresh perspective on the future of technology—and humanity’s place within it. Tune in and join the conversation!