AI Ascent with Dr. Jonathan Luckett

Dr. Jonathan Luckett, D. Sc.

Artificial Intelligence. Zero Trust. Making sense of the digital world can be complicated. Dr. Jonathan Luckett utilizes AI tools to summarize and break down complex, technical issues into chunks that a layperson can understand.

  1. 5D AGO

    AI Slop—EP37

    Dive into the rapidly evolving world of "AI slop," the low-effort, mass-produced synthetic media that Merriam-Webster officially named its 2025 Word of the Year. From surreal "Shrimp Jesus" images on Facebook to the productivity-draining rise of "workslop" in the office, we explore how these automated floods of content are degrading search engines, fueling the "Dead Internet Theory," and even weaponizing political propaganda. Join us as we break down why human-in-the-loop oversight is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage and how platforms like Google and Meta are fighting back against this new form of digital pollution.

    50 min

  2. 12/25/2025

    Measuring Global AI Vibrancy—EP36

    This week on AI Ascent, Dr. Jonathan Luckett introduces the Global AI Vibrancy Tool (GVT), a groundbreaking and transparent index designed to measure and rank nations in the global AI race. Moving beyond simple metrics, the GVT provides a holistic, 360-degree view of a country's AI ecosystem by analyzing 23 distinct indicators across eight pillars, including research, infrastructure, economy, and policy. The episode reveals the 2023 rankings, highlighting the United States' commanding lead, China's strong but distant second-place position, and the surprising success of smaller, strategically-focused nations like Luxembourg and Singapore in per capita terms. Dr. Luckett explains that true AI dominance isn't just about technological prowess but requires a synergistic approach that balances innovation with robust governance, public trust, and a dynamic commercial environment, offering a crucial roadmap for any nation aspiring to lead in the age of AI.

    41 min

  3. 12/08/2025

    Vibe Coding—EP35

    🚀 NEW EPISODE: Forget syntax errors and missing semicolons—welcome to the era of "Vibe Coding," where English becomes your programming language. In our latest AI Ascent episode, we dive deep into why Collins Dictionary named this phenomenon Word of the Year for 2025, exploring how tools like Lovable and Google's Jules are democratizing software development at the "speed of thought." But here's the catch: when 170 out of 1,600 apps leaked personal data in the infamous Lovable Security Scandal, we learned that speed without governance is a disaster waiting to happen. Dr. Jonathan Luckett breaks down the critical difference between "pure vibe coding" (development hell) and professional AI-assisted development, introducing Test-Driven Vibe Coding (TDVC) as the only safety net against chaos. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just curious about building your first app, this episode will transform how you think about the human role in an AI-powered world. Are you an engineer or just a "prompt jockey"? Listen now to find out. 🎧

    18 min

  4. 11/28/2025

    The Genesis Mission—EP34

    This week on AI Ascent with Dr. Jonathan Luckett: America just launched its most ambitious scientific initiative since the Manhattan Project. President Trump recently signed an executive order creating the Genesis Mission, a massive AI-powered platform that will unite DOE supercomputers, federal research data, and the nation's top scientific minds to dominate the fields that will define this century: quantum computing, biotech, nuclear energy, and semiconductors. Dr. Luckett breaks down how this aggressive timeline could reshape global power, why the government is moving at startup speed, and what happens when artificial intelligence becomes the engine of national security. The race for technological supremacy isn't coming, it's already here. Tune in to find out if America can win it.

    18 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    AI Orchestrated Espionage—EP33

    What happens when artificial intelligence stops being the hacker’s tool and becomes the hacker itself? A controversial new report claims AI systems are now orchestrating cyberattacks with up to 90% autonomy, conducting espionage at machine speed—but the cybersecurity community is deeply divided on whether this is real or just marketing hype. In this episode, we’re cutting through the noise to examine the evidence and confront an unsettling question: are we ready for truly autonomous AI attackers, or are we being manipulated by fear itself?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    42 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    China’s DeepSeek AI—EP32

    Step inside the world of DeepSeek, China’s powerful and rapidly evolving AI engine that is being engineered for a startling dual purpose. In this episode of AI Ascent, Dr. Jonathan Luckett uncovers how the same technology is being built to power both a vast domestic surveillance state and the next generation of ‘intelligentized’ warfare. We go beyond the code to reveal the geopolitical strategy of ‘algorithmic sovereignty,’ exploring how one nation’s quest for technological self-reliance could reshape global stability and what it means when an AI is designed from the ground up to control its people and confront its enemies. This isn’t just a story about technology; it’s a look into the future of power, and it affects us all.

    38 min

  7. 10/28/2025

    AI Needs a New Story—EP31

    What if everything we've been told about artificial intelligence is missing the point? In this thought-provoking episode of AI Ascent, host Dr. Jonathan Luckett steps away from the technical minutiae to tackle a more fundamental challenge: the narrative crisis at the heart of AI. Inspired by Arianna Huffington's groundbreaking article "AI Needs a New Story," we're questioning whether the dominant discourse—oscillating between sterile efficiency and apocalyptic doom—is blinding us to AI's most transformative potential. Huffington envisions something radically different: AI as the catalyst for a human renaissance, a technology that doesn't just optimize our productivity but bridges the "health delta" between knowing what's good for us and actually doing it. Can artificial intelligence make us not merely smarter, but wiser, healthier, and ultimately more human? Join us as we explore a compelling alternative vision for our AI-augmented future—one that replaces fear and cold utility with hope, wisdom, and human flourishing.

    17 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    The Special Episode—EP30

    This week we do something special. No AI-generated co-hosts. This week, I invited two friends who immerse themselves in AI to talk about AI in higher education and AI in security--Can AI be a weapon or a savior?

    1h 30m
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Artificial Intelligence. Zero Trust. Making sense of the digital world can be complicated. Dr. Jonathan Luckett utilizes AI tools to summarize and break down complex, technical issues into chunks that a layperson can understand.

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