Join us this week as we talk ComicCon and welcome guest Dr. Vin Mitty.

The team had its first experience at a FanExpo since Wizard World was replaced.

Meet AI Expert Mitty, who provides guidance on distinguishing what's real from what's hype.

Finally, we talk about common sense ways you can minimize your trackability.

William Sikkens, Bill Snodgrass, Gretchen Winkler

Welcome to

2

User Friendly 2.0 with host Bill Sikkens,

3

technology architect.

4

And this is User Friendly 2.0.

5

Thank you for joining us this week.

6

Joining me my co-hosts Gretchen and Bill.

7

Welcome to this week's show.

8

Hello there. Hello.

9

So before we get going

any further on this, I give my pledge

10

that the captioning of the show

will no longer spell my name wrong with

11

different letters.

12

And call Gretchen. Gretchen.

13

We got a little bit of.

14

Yeah, we got a little bit of listener

feedback on that.

15

And, you know, it's.

16

We talk about this on the show

all the time, so I have no excuse for it.

17

But we must not just let the AI transcribe

the show.

18

I guess it actually has

to be reviewed by you and,

19

so anyway,

20

on that note, we do

offer a transcript on all of our shows.

21

Now, we've been doing that for a while,

and it's something

22

that, seems to be appreciated

across the board.

23

So, you know, let us know

when something like that happens.

24

Sometimes these things do get missed.

25

And, we try to do the best we can,

but we're a small staff,

26

and at the end of the day, we do rely

a lot on you as our listeners to give us

27

that type of information and also

what you want to hear us talk about.

28

So that's where all this comes from.

29

And on that note, we have an interesting

show for you this week.

30

And the second segment we are going

to be talking to an expert on.

31

I was going to be going into some detail

on how to know what's hype

32

and what's real, which is becoming more

and more of an issue.

33

These days.

34

We're going to be doing a follow up

on our Tech Wednesday from this week

35

to talk about some ways

that you can reduce online tracking,

36

and these are the ones where you don't

have to be paranoid and go off the grid

37

and live in the middle of a forest,

38

although I think that might be

the only way to eliminate tracking.

39

But there are some things

you can do to minimize it.

40

And finally,

after our news and our first segment,

41

we are going to be talking about an expo

42

in Portland that we had the opportunity

to go see this last week.

43

And so got a good show coming up for you.

44

And with no further ado,

let's jump into the news.

45

What do we have this week?

46

All right.

47

Star Wars reveals new look at Darth

48

Maul's 2026 return.

49

Yeah, I thought it look cool.

50

He looks fiercer in my opinion.

51

So yeah, I think so.

52

And that's a cosplay

I wouldn't mind doing either.

53

So, you know, it's

kind of good to see this.

54

Now I the more haunt

you have on your head, the better, right?

55

I guess I like to play in order

to another thing.

56

So anyway,

57

depending on how difficult they make

58

the clothing, I haven't gotten a chance

to really look at it.

59

Maybe it looks like

it could be interesting to as cloak

60

and stuff is kind of.

61

I don't know, it just looks cool.

62

It's, Anyway, what this is coming up for

is we're going to see the order

63

of Maul return

this year and Maul, shadow Lord

64

and, Clone Wars prequel wars,

and they're bringing them back.

65

I said yes, yes.

66

Okay.

67

Just wanted to make sure I thought

you said something else that I was gonna

68

have to bleep out there for a minute,

but no, it's a really

69

well you'll have to let us know

what you think of.

70

I check out his picture

and you know, obviously this news content

71

is always very factual and unbiased.

72

Except when I want to get my opinion.

73

So in this case I like it.

74

But let us know what you think.

75

Oh yeah. None of us have any opinions.

76

Of course not.

77

You know,

not any more than the major news outlets.

78

So I'll just. I'll leave it with that.

79

And that's my excuse,

and I'm sticking to it.

80

Sun releases S4 severe solar radiation

storm

81

largest in decades, making northern lights

visible across the world.

82

And I finally saw them last night.

83

You saw them?

84

What time I saw them, yeah, I saw my.

What time?

85

I wasn't able to sleep.

86

Woke up about 3:00 and was just doing

some stuff and looked out the window.

87

It was really quite beautiful too.

88

Oh, I missed it.

89

I bet it must be 3:00.

90

Somebody else said around three as well.

91

Yeah, I was around 3 a.m..

92

I will add to it that we're in a unique

line here up in Oregon.

93

Normally this time of year it's raining

and and gray and we've had some weather

94

where it's been sunny, cold,

but sunny in the clear skies.

95

So I think that was part of why I was able

to see it, because it wasn't overcast,

96

but it was. It was interesting.

97

I mean, I see

why do people think that's interesting?

98

Make like ancient cultures laugh.

99

That was, you know, an act of the gods

because it is really quite unusual

100

and pretty. But, watch your electronics.

101

This definitely causes havoc

with planes, radio transmissions, all

102

that kind of stuff.

103

Here on the planet, the more detailed,

104

more intense, electronic systems

can have some complications.

105

But this does affect satellite

communication and that stuff a bit more.

106

And I know back, my dad used to be a ham

radio operator.

107

Amateur radio operator.

108

And when we'd have these solar storms,

he used to have problems with that, too.

109

So it does affect electronics,

a little bit more sometimes than others.

110

And we're supposed to be getting away

from solar maximum.

111

But this is the largest storm,

as it says in, in a very long time.

112

I know right back when they first started

113

having electronics such as,

114

teletype and, or telegraphs, solar storms

were quite an interesting effect.

115

If you ever want to look up

something really interesting,

116

to check that out, I think, you know,

117

it's it's weird to think,

but it is interesting how much

118

our environment around us

does directly affect everything, you know,

119

and in ancient times, like, be like,

you were kind of coming into an ancient

120

times, you would look at this

and it was a beautiful display in the sky,

121

but you didn't.

122

Yeah, at least

I don't think the Vikings had, you know,

123

digital communication

or quantum computing.

124

Maybe they.

125

Yeah, I wouldn't put it past them like,

you know, at that

126

time, your sons don't work either way.

127

And like you say today, it's interesting

to look it up and see

128

some of what this has created.

129

All right.

130

Security risks and hardware advances

start to matter for investors.

131

I'm surprised

that wasn't mattering to them earlier.

132

But explain this.

133

Yeah, I kind of have to agree with you

on that in the way that headlines work.

134

This is specifically

because of the onset of quantum computing

135

is what they're focused on here.

136

And while I do think it's important

137

for security risks,

the matter should have all along,

138

and it does, usually after the fact,

unfortunately,

139

in a lot of the bigger companies.

140

But what they're looking at here

141

is we're going to be transitioning

into quantum computing.

142

It's here right now.

143

It's extremely expensive

and still prototype,

144

but that won't be the case forever,

probably even a long time.

145

And more than just being kind

of a really unusual,

146

pretty chandelier,

these kind of devices are going to

147

change

148

fundamentally, change

the way that we interact with things.

149

Now just go to the internet,

browse websites, that kind of a thing.

150

But the ability with a computer like that

151

to hack a password

or something is going to be child's play.

152

So security, you know, and that type of a

thing, it's not just logging into your,

153

you know, account at the grocery store

and ordering food for you or something.

154

It's the fact that

155

back end systems that maintain databases

and all these other type of things

156

classically are also set up on a username

password combination.

157

Now, in recent years, this has become more

and more of a problem.

158

So this has been moving, the adoptions

159

a lot more on the back end of things

and on the front end of the consumer.

160

See, but where we're starting to see

is an encrypted things to be able

161

to log on in that kind of stuff.

162

Multifactor authentication is a big one

that we all use.

163

Now that does help.

164

It's not the end all be all of it,

but it's better than not having it.

165

So, you know,

as we move in that direction, I think

166

probably if I was to make a guess on this

in the next two years, probably less,

167

we won't be using passwords anymore

because it will be obsolete.

168

It has been for years,

169

but it's going to get to a point

now where it's not workable anymore.

170

So, you know,

we look at other ways to do that.

171

But,

172

investors are looking at this because

the technology is getting out the door.

173

And like I say, it's

no prototype right now in a lot of ways,

174

but it won't be for too much longer

in the potential capability of what

175

these things can do.

And they use less energy.

176

You know, we've got the problems

with the data centers

177

and AI's sucking down the power grids

and that kind of stuff.

178

So it's going it's going to change

a lot of that if it's done well.

179

But it is going to mean

that we have to change the way that we do

180

some of the things that we do online,

if we want to stay secure.

181

In good news, Kathleen

182

Kennedy's exit interview

as she leaves Lucasfilm.

183

Yes, and my own biased opinion too.

184

I would have to agree with you

of where you read that headline.

185

So okay, to be fair, actually,

186

to go back to the beginning of this,

to be fair, Kathleen

187

Kennedy has been the CEO of Lucasfilm

since George Lucas sold it to Disney.

188

Back in I believe, 2011.

189

And there are two schools of thoughts

on the way

190

that she has been running the company.

191

And this is actually a very divisive thing

among some people,

192

because there are people that love her.

193

And, you know, those people are entitled

to their opinion.

194

Again, I'm not editorializing

or giving my opinion here, but,

195

you know, even though their opinions

wrong, they're entitled to it.

196

I thought maybe they just needed to see

a mental health provider.

197

Yeah. So yeah, there you go.

198

You know, it's, now that I in all honesty,

she actually has done

199

some incredible stuff.

200

I mean, if you look at it

201

from an investment standpoint,

the films have grossed a lot of money.

202

In some case,

I think one of them is the most in history

203

or close to it or something like that.

204

But was that like Rogue One, a Rogue One?

205

No, it wasn't Rogue One,

but Rogue One was definitely a sleeper.

206

It did a lot

better than they were expecting.

207

Yeah, it was a good movie.

208

It was a very good movie, you know?

209

So the thing of videos is, it's not like

she's all bad or anything.

210

I don't think that,

but it is definitely that, in my opinion,

211

she's taken Star Wars in a direction

that would have been different

212

from what the founder of Star

Wars would have wanted to do.

213

Did you disagree with me on that,

Gretchen?

214

No. And, and I think

Dave Filoni being the choice to take over

215

is appropriate because it feels like Dave

Filoni understands

216

the spirit of the direction

that George Lucas originally was going.

217

I don't know, do you guys have real

belief, even from your standpoint?

218

Or go ahead and weigh in on this because,

like I say, there's a lot of opinions

219

out there, about this.

220

I think she had a few good runs,

221

but she's also had some pretty bad flops.

222

Let's, you know, an acolyte,

223

please. We don't want it.

224

We have to be radio friendly here.

Anyway.

225

Swearwords.

226

Yeah.

227

Now, one thing I will say, if you look.

228

Oh, go ahead, Bill.

229

But Filoni has definitely.

230

And what he has done,

231

the works that he has touched

has definitely felt like the Star Wars

232

for him. It is felt like Star Wars.

233

And as Gretchen

said, he's taking the reins.

234

And, I think it's gonna be interesting.

235

We got to see him at Comic-Con

in San Diego four years back.

236

An amazing person, just is.

237

You know, I have the poster.

238

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

239

And to Kathleen Kennedy credit,

240

I think as a producer, she's done

some some good stuff yet.

241

Schindler's List, Sixth Sense,

242

I mean, these are all films

that are well liked and accepted.

243

But she didn't write them.

She produced them now.

244

And I think that's the reason

why she was picked,

245

because she was a good producer.

246

She's not really what

I would call the leader of a franchise.

247

Yeah,

I think she's just been producing stuff.

248

Yeah.

And that's just word that we all have.

249

The things that we excel at

and when you can, you know, focus on that.

250

You do a very nice job.

251

And she's done

a very nice job in these things.

252

She said in her exit interview

253

that she's planning to go back

to producing, and I'm looking forward

254

to see some of the stuff

that she's going to create.

255

I also very much look forward

to the direction of Star Wars.

256

It's going to go now

with, Dave Filoni at the helm.

257

Me too.

258

All right.

259

Is the check I got from Amazon a scam?

260

At least that's the headline.

261

Yeah, this this article is a little bit

kind of out of date right now.

262

This came into the news

cycle back at the beginning of January,

263

and we were still on our holiday

break at the time,

264

which is why we didn't

cover it at that point.

265

But it's worth talking about

because we've got a lot of questions

266

that have been coming in on this.

267

And as we all know, there's a lot of

people out there that try to scam you.

268

I mean, you know,

269

I'm sorry to have to disclose that,

but it is definitely the case here.

270

And you want to be very careful.

271

And when you do get a random

272

check in the mail, even if it purported

to be from Amazon, it's good to take that

273

with some idea of risk and at least check

and see what's going on.

274

But yes, these are real.

275

And what's happening

is it's part of a settlement,

276

between Amazon

and the FTC, the Federal Trade Commission.

277

And it goes back to the way

that they were marketing crime,

278

and they were doing some stuff

that the allegation was that,

279

was a practice to try to trick people

into joining a crime.

280

You know,

some of the things like that, making it

281

a little bit obscure

is what you're getting.

282

Again, those the allegations

that were made and, the Federal Trade

283

Commission decided that

that was not a, appropriate thing to do.

284

So the settlement includes,

paying this out, class action style,

285

which, you know,

286

means the people that have been injured by

it will probably get a free,

287

you know, fries at McDonald's

or something.

288

Is there something that I, I'm not a huge

supporter of class action.

289

It seems like

you never really get anything from them.

290

But yeah, positive side of these type

of things is, these big companies I like.

291

There's one that happened

about two years ago with Apple

292

that was a settlement

for Syria, eavesdropping on people.

293

And I think the settlement on that was

it was a couple of bucks maybe.

294

I don't know, I could be wrong, but it,

was it I do remember when the whole CD

295

class action thing happened.

296

Chuck I got was for $0.96, I think.

297

But what ends up happening is

it does make the issue public.

298

And while, you know, $95 million at Apple

is, you know, an accounting error,

299

really, it does actually get them to

maybe make some fundamental changes.

300

Unfortunately, in the technology world,

it seems like when these things

301

come out, actually get adjudicated,

they're long on to something else

302

and they're just,

303

you know, trying to close the door

on whatever happened in the past.

304

But,

but yeah, but to that end, and I digress

305

a little bit

with these other things, the check itself.

306

Israel, if you have any concerns about a

check with your bank for your deposit it.

307

And the other thing of it

is, is when using checks and other

308

obsolete methods of payment like that,

you do want to be a little bit careful,

309

because if you do get a fake check

or a, you know, check

310

without money behind bounced check,

all that kind of a thing,

311

even as the recipient that can cost you

money because you can have overdraft fees

312

bounced,

check these, all that kind of thing.

313

So it is definitely something

to be concerned about.

314

And if you ever sell something

315

and they give you a check for more money

than what you sold it for, just don't

316

just just don't. It doesn't matter

what it is that is a huge red flag.

317

And that's a big scam

also that goes along with these things.

318

You deposit the check.

319

Gretchen, I almost had this happen

with a car we sold.

320

We talked about it last year

when it happened,

321

but you go and deposit the check.

322

It's going to be probably a couple

of months before it actually comes back.

323

And by that time,

what you sold is long gone.

324

The extra money that the seller once back

to help with you know, whatever that they

325

usually come up with is long gone

and you're left holding the bag.

326

So there's nothing wrong

with being careful about these things.

327

And you know what?

328

That car is now safely in Japan

in a museum.

329

So yeah. Yes. Right where it belongs.

330

New York City mayoral

331

inauguration dance flipper

zero and Raspberry Pi devices.

332

Yeah, this is an interesting thing.

333

So when you go to these events,

there's a list and one that

334

very well should be there of things

you can't bring in giant backpacks

335

or obviously

any kind of weapons or anything like that,

336

you know.

337

So at the end of the day,

it does make sense.

338

You want to keep things secure.

339

And unfortunately,

340

we live in a world where if you didn't do

that, you'd have a lot of problems.

341

But what I thought was interesting about

this is naming these devices by brand.

342

So a flipper zero is a officially a device

that you would get

343

to test your network and make sure it's

secure and test other resources.

344

You would have to make sure

they are secure.

345

But I have heard some rumors

that this has been used for hack

346

and I don't know, but I guess someone

somewhere used it for the wrong reason.

347

That coupled with the fact that your,

electronic pad that's built into

348

the thing gets mad at you and leaves

if you don't hack enough.

349

I mean, you tested not work enough.

350

So, you know, and then a Raspberry

351

Pi as a reference

to a small kind of computer

352

that is, does a lot of different things

353

and are used as microcontrollers

and that kind of thing.

354

So for whatever reason, you can't have

either one of those devices.

355

Now there's a million clones

of both of them that do the same type

356

of thing.

357

There are other devices

like a Raspberry Pi, especially.

358

There's there's I wouldn't say knock offs,

but there's generic versions of it

359

and there are knock offs and all of them

work, or,

360

you know, that you would bring

and have set up inevitably

361

working the same way,

but not actually be a Raspberry Pi.

362

You know, this would be something along

the line of saying that,

363

you can't bring

in a certain brand of knife,

364

but if it's not that brand now, it's

okay to bring it out.

365

It's the exact same thing.

366

You know, you can't bring a Tonto knife

into the event.

367

Well, this one's not a Tonto.

368

Oh, it's a different problem.

369

Yeah. Help yourself.

370

Now you want to sell on the side?

No, it's it is a little weird.

371

And I think what happened is, is

they were concerned about hacking devices,

372

which I don't know how valid of a concern

that needs to be at an event like this.

373

But even if it is, you would have to ban

the device class for this to make sense.

374

Not a brand, you know, so, yeah.

375

And then your security people need to

all know what a hacking device looks like.

376

And, is that really something

377

your your regular security

people are going to know?

378

I would say probably not.

379

And when you have a large quantity

of people, are you going to be able.

380

And these are also small devices too.

381

So you're going to have to

go through stuff and try to find it.

382

It's, you know,

same footprint as a cell phone really,

383

you know, so it's not not something

that would be even that easy to do.

384

But, if anybody listening knows

more specifically why

385

this was done or why the brands, please

go to the website user friendly Dot show

386

and let us know in the comments,

387

because I'd love to know

if there's something I'm missing here,

388

but it just seemed quite odd

to handle it in this way.

389

So anyway,

all right, well, to change topics,

390

we had an opportunity to do something

that we haven't done before

391

and that was to go to a Comic-Con

or we've done that before,

392

but a fan expo, Comic-Con

now, a little bit of history on this.

393

We used to go to Wizard World,

and these were events held

394

across the country in different places.

395

In fact, down in Reno, Bill,

you had one there for a while

396

when we were still there

that we went to great event,

397

you know, love

Comic-Con and all that type.

398

Work.

399

And yeah,

yeah, Sacramento was another one.

400

Oh yeah yeah that's right

Sacramento you know.

401

So by the way, don't

402

walk in the first suit

like a Wookie suit in Sacramento in July.

403

Just just don't ask me how I know.

404

But anyway so

405

even if you're going to the Comic-Con,

get a cab, get an Uber or something

406

with air conditioning,

or you're going to be in an ambulance

407

anyway, outside of that, though,

we got to Syfy on Expo.

408

Now, the connection here is that Fan Expo

took over was a world a few years ago.

409

Long story.

410

You can go online

if you want to dig into the reasons

411

as to why,

but one company acquired the other

412

and since then, just life circumstances

and everything else.

413

We have not had a chance to get the fan

actually to see what it is.

414

And we got there

and I enjoyed the afternoon.

415

But Gretchen, I don't know if we

and if you disagree with me,

416

it was a very different experience

than what we would have had.

417

It was our world.

418

And my it was a

it was a very different experience.

419

I think the layout of,

420

the event was very different

from what I recall from Wizard World.

421

Wizard world seemed like

they had the stage

422

in the middle of everything,

so it kind of pulled everybody

423

into seeing this big happy location.

424

And it was off to the side

425

on this one in the dark kind of.

426

And, That's good.

427

Yeah.

428

I found it by accident. You

429

know.

430

Yeah.

431

So, there were some things that,

it just felt very different.

432

And I. Yeah.

433

So the amount of amount of energy at night

434

and some of these may have nothing to do

with the production of the event.

435

I don't know, but, the storage stars.

436

Yeah, that's students

there was hardly any,

437

costumed people roaming around.

438

And you didn't see

any of the ultra fabulous

439

unless they were waiting somewhere

hiding for the costume contest.

440

I'm not even sure they had one.

441

But, I didn't see that

442

costume that just, like, knocked

you off your feet.

443

And I remember

seeing lots of those at these events.

444

And so I wonder, you know, is it

just because people are slowly recovering

445

from Covid still,

or has something changed?

446

You know, it's hard to say.

447

Or the time of year, maybe because I know

when Rose city, we've seen costumes.

448

I mean, that's felt pretty good.

449

And and again, as far as like

I hadn't thought about that.

450

I don't know that they didn't have one.

451

I just didn't look for one.

452

And, you know, maybe that

that's all it is.

453

But one of the other things

that I would love to see there

454

again is the sports,

Wizard World had a focus on that set up.

455

You can come in and game

and do all of these kind of things.

456

Now, one thing I will say on this,

and I know this is going to be a shock.

457

Anybody that knows me,

I although that was cool, is

458

the Portland Retro Gaming

Expo had a room set up.

459

And what this is, is

460

they hold a convention

in Portland in the fall

461

that is all retro video games, cabinets,

consoles, all that kind of stuff.

462

Obviously, you know,

I have no interest in that at all.

463

But yeah, sarcasm sign, right?

464

I just don't look at my garage.

465

I'm trying to somehow figure out

how to squeeze another cabinet in there.

466

And, so far the laws of physics

are against me, but I'll win anyway. The

467

the thing

468

of videos, though, they had a pretty cool

set up in there later pinball machine

469

and, you know, in some cabinets and people

you could talk to you and even had a,

470

Nintendo set up on an, a very 1970s

console TV like you would see.

471

And yeah, I saw that.

472

Yeah, that was was kind of cool, complete

with a couch to sit in

473

while you were playing it

and everything like that.

474

So, you know, there were some things

like that that were pretty cool.

475

And it just, you know, it's

476

just interesting to see the difference

in the look and feel of these things

477

from event promoter and time of year

and all the other stuff that goes into it.

478

And, you know, we've produced

479

special events ourselves in the past,

not recently, but in the past.

480

And these things are difficult to do

and even be able

481

to pull off a show,

whatever it is, is amazing.

482

It takes a lot of time, talent

and treasure to do it.

483

And it's just, you know,

but the people that are involved

484

and the way where I can't say too much on

that because the Oregon Convention Center

485

is the same place that Rose city was, but

they were very different from each other.

486

And this is very different from, yeah,

you know, from Wizard World.

487

So anyway, good event.

488

We had fun for the day

489

and looked forward to next year

and looking forward to things.

490

We're about to take our break to the back

in the second segment and talk

491

AI and talk about how you can minimize

how many other people can track

492

where you are.

493

This is user friendly.

494

2.0 we'll be back after the break.

495

You see here he's from the future.

496

He's got a really big computer

497

and he uses it every day.

498

And he uses it uses it in every way.

499

What do you before you know, I'm

not that sure because he uses you.

500

Welcome back. This is user friendly 2.0.

501

Check out our website at User Friendly

Dot show.

502

This is your one stop for everything

user friendly.

503

Send us your questions, your comments,

check out our shows and some of

504

the different things we're doing

and let us know what you think!

505

In user friendly dot show.

506

All right,

so as promised in the beginning,

507

we're going to be asking the expert here

in just a moment about AI

508

act and hype and all the rest of that.

509

And instead of me

trying to give a bad introduction,

510

let's just let the man himself give you

his expertise.

511

Let's go to our interview.

512

Joining us now, been a data and AI leader,

513

PhD in the same field, and author

of an upcoming book, the AI Decision Map.

514

Welcome to user friendly.

515

Thanks for having me.

516

So, let's go ahead and dive right in here.

517

Getting

just kind of on the top of all of this.

518

Let's go ahead and talk AI,

because, I mean, that's what

519

we're going to be doing here.

And I'm going to start here.

520

Why don't you, separate the real value

from the hype is I actually in a bubble?

521

This question comes up a lot.

522

Or is this just a normal

cycle of new technology?

523

Yeah, absolutely.

524

So I think there there is both.

525

I mean,

we see, a lot of chat about AI, right?

526

So I think it's both,

there is a bubble and also a hype.

527

But also there is real value.

528

Right.

529

So there's, there's real value,

from AI that, we can derive,

530

but there is so much, expectations

that it's all inflated right now.

531

We saw this during the dotcom

bubble right?

532

Many companies,

you know, failed during the dotcom bubble.

533

But there are real value,

that we got from the.com area as well.

534

So I think that's what

we're going to see here.

535

The bubble really doesn't kill all value,

536

but it just exposes companies

that are doing AI for the sake of it.

537

Okay.

538

So why do so many AI projects

539

fail even when companies

invest a lot of money?

540

Yeah, I think

541

like we said, there's so much

talk about AI, there's so much pressure

542

on leaders about using AI

543

that that they're all trying different

things.

544

But, when it comes to the crux of it

545

and AI adoption is human,

it's not necessarily too technical

546

because people, don't trust the data,

people don't trust the tool.

547

People don't see how it helps them.

548

These are the cases where, I project fail.

549

You can have great algorithms

and still fail

550

if people don't feel confident

in using them.

551

So, you know, generative

AI as it is now is still very a new

552

thing is in the last couple of years,

553

and a lot of people

are just getting on board now.

554

What is the biggest mistake

people make when they start using AI?

555

Yeah, I think one of the big mistakes

556

is people ask themselves,

where can I use AI?

557

How can I use AI versus

coming from a problem standpoint?

558

Hey, what are the things

I'm trying to solve?

559

And then understanding

is AI the right solution

560

for the problem

or the right tool for the problem?

561

Where does I actually work well today?

562

In every life, every day life and work.

563

So where does it work best?

564

Yeah, I think I works best

565

when there's a lot of mental overhead.

566

In, in a task. Right.

567

So summarizing long documents, drafting

568

first versions of a book, for example,

569

or organizing information, taking notes.

570

All of these things can help people have a

571

when when there's a lot of context

to remember and think fast.

572

But it is important to note

573

that we can use AI to synthesize

574

all this information, but not necessarily

575

think for us.

576

You know, as technology marches along,

577

I'm going to throw this out at you

because as people get into this,

578

what are some of the ways

579

regular people can use AI without feeling

just totally overwhelmed?

580

Yeah, a 100%.

581

So I think, the trick is to start small,

582

you know,

use it as a smart assistant for yourself.

583

But not as a decision maker.

584

Ask it to summarize, brainstorm,

585

explain something in plain language,

and you can, you know,

586

you can ask it to explain 100 times,

and it won't get mad at you.

587

Right? So I think, you know,

you don't need to master.

588

I just use it where it saves you time.

589

That way you can get slowly started

and then,

590

you know, get a go from there.

591

So why do people resist new

592

technology

even when it's supposed to help them?

593

Yeah.

594

I think people resist technology

because it feels risky.

595

People worry about losing relevance.

Right.

596

So people worry about making mistakes

or looking uninformed.

597

So resistance,

usually isn't about the technology itself.

598

It's about the fear and uncertainty

that the technology

599

brings together.

600

Along those lines, how important is trust,

601

you know, where does that lead in here?

602

Yeah. I believe trust is everything.

603

If people don't trust, the tool

or the outputs, they won't use the system.

604

A lot of times,

we've seen this in the corporate world.

605

Nobody comes in and say,

606

nobody comes in and says, hey,

your tool is bad.

607

But they just stop using it, right?

608

So if they don't trust

it, you have to look for,

609

the silent signals.

610

People just stop using it or people just,

you don't get loud feedback.

611

That's

kind of what I've learned over the years.

612

Okay.

613

So what should leaders or organizations

focus on before

614

rolling AI tools out to to people to use?

615

Yeah.

616

I think, the word that comes to

my mind is clarity.

617

Right.

618

So we have to understand,

come from a standpoint

619

of what problems are resolving

and is AI the right tool for it?

620

You know, asking questions about,

what decisions will this improve?

621

Who will use it?

622

What does success look like?

623

These questions help you,

624

pick the right project,

set you up for success.

625

What skills do

people really need to stay relevant

626

with AI in an AI powered world?

627

Let's just call it that.

628

Yeah.

629

I think, we was already

630

seeing AI democratizing

a lot of technical things.

631

Right.

632

So coding, writing, all,

all these different things

633

that are very deeply technical

634

has been democratized

or is being democratized by AI.

635

But I think the key skills

that we all need to

636

focus on

is really the human skills, right?

637

The soft skills,

638

they're going to be more critical

than ever,

639

you know,

the the way you build relationships, the

640

the way you build consensus,

being creative and just being yourself.

641

I think, also knowing

642

how to ask good questions matter now

643

because technology,

will take care of how to do it.

644

But you have to ask the right questions

and get that clarity.

645

That's going to be a good skill to have.

646

So what should listeners not worry

647

about when it comes to AI?

648

Yeah,

I think, we don't need to worry about

649

how these tools are built

or becoming very technical with AI, right?

650

Like I said, it's democratizing a lot

of things, which is great for the world.

651

You don't need to use every new tool.

652

I know there's a new tool

popping up every day, a new best

653

tool called, open AI ChatGPT.

654

I don't worry about all of it.

655

So pick

the one that you like and just, use it.

656

We don't need to panic, I think I rewards,

657

thoughtful, steady learning

658

and urgency is more of a the bubble factor

that we're talking about.

659

We talk about.

660

But really use use

661

any AI tool, and, it'll help you out.

662

But let's dive into something here.

663

You're the author of the book

the AI Decision Map.

664

And, now it's either been released

or has just been released.

665

Can you tell us a little bit about what

666

inspired you to write your book

and tell us a little bit about your book?

667

Yeah. Thank you. Yeah.

668

We're we're planning to release it

in January,

669

mid to late January,

just in the new year.

670

The, the inspiration for the book was,

671

what I saw in, the corporate world

and, and, academia.

672

Right.

673

So every business leader is under

so much pressure to do something with AI.

674

But like we discussed,

majority of AI projects fail.

675

I wrote and data and AI for decades

676

and did my PhD in technology and adoption.

677

So it's, this was the right time

678

for me to do something

or share my thoughts.

679

So I've gathered my thoughts

into a framework so leaders can go

680

beyond the hype.

681

Beat the bubble,

and deliver real value with AI.

682

So if

683

you wanted to make sure that our listeners

walked away

684

with one special

thought or when something to hold on to,

685

would you want them to remember

from what a concerning AI?

686

Yeah.

687

Yeah.

688

Again, don't worry

about all the different AI tools.

689

Fear of missing out is a real thing,

and companies want us to feel that way.

690

But I think just choosing a specific,

tool that you like and sticking it,

691

sticking with it to, help you with

your day to day would be super helpful.

692

And for companies,

don't jump into every project

693

that you can think of as,

you know, ask yourself,

694

what kind of problems you're solving

and what kind of risks, you know,

695

that puts your company into,

and then and then go from there.

696

So if your book coming right up here,

tell our listeners, how do they find it?

697

How they find you is at Amazon.

698

What's the best way to Westwood

to get to it?

699

Yeah.

700

We're going to have, my book on Amazon.

701

It's called the AI Decision Map.

702

We're going to be launching in Amazon

and, a few bookstores around the country.

703

So yeah, check, check out, my LinkedIn,

704

then many, on LinkedIn

and YouTube data democracy.

705

That's my podcast.

706

All right. That's great.

707

We'll go ahead and get that link up

708

on our social media

on, blue Sky, LinkedIn and Facebook.

709

And I think we're doing Instagram

now, at least that's what I've heard.

710

So if it's there,

then we'll do it there too

711

then.

712

Thank you so much for joining us.

713

Is there anything else

you'd like us to know before we end today?

714

Thank you so much, William.

715

This was wonderful.

716

Yeah.

717

I think AI is here to stay, and I think,

718

human skills are going to be more critical

than ever going forward.

719

I agree 100%.

720

Me too.

721

You know, I have a feeling

we're probably going to talk

722

AI on our show again someday, too.

723

Yeah.

724

You know,

you almost could have a show podcast

725

just about I'm

sure these things actually existed

726

that are just

727

AI and just what's new and what's changing

and all that kind of stuff.

728

So but it's something that's here

to stay and,

729

definitely something

that's good to learn about.

730

And on the other note of what

we're going to be covering today,

731

we talked about

all of the different devices

732

and other things

that are set to track you right now.

733

Right now, I'm

734

pretty sure your toaster is probably

preparing a report for somebody on you.

735

And the thing of it

is, is, okay, maybe not.

736

But anyway, Breville,

the Bravia wouldn't do that.

737

Of course not.

738

You know,

I guess that's its lawful good, right?

739

So, you know.

740

So anyway,

741

we wanted to talk about some steps

though, on things

742

that you can do to help

make your life a little less trackable.

743

Now, anybody that uses the internet,

there's the potential for this.

744

And because so much stuff

is designed to take information,

745

it is very difficult to get away from it

completely.

746

And again, the motivation

here in a lot of cases is money.

747

These companies get this information

and sell it

748

and get a lot of money for selling.

749

In some cases, it's looking like they're

making more than the actual product.

750

They're selling.

751

So it's a thing to think about

if you're using software,

752

hardware or whatever

the case may be that's cheap or free.

753

It's not really.

754

It's just what you're spending is you,

because it's taking information

755

or taking something else

and doing something with it.

756

And all of these some things

come down to figuring out how you can

757

a figure out what something is, and b

758

think about how you want it to be handled.

759

And first and foremost, it's

to think about your phone.

760

Because most of us carry

761

a phone now, just the normal thing to do

762

and that phone knows where you are.

763

It has DPS built in to it,

764

and the functionality of these things

is something we use a lot.

765

CarPlay and,

766

you know,

Android Auto and these things for mapping

767

and all that kind of stuff

that are not only up to date

768

but can show you in real time

where there's traffic

769

and, you know, all the different types

of things like that.

770

But in order to do that,

it knows right where you are.

771

And in the cases of these things,

772

what you want to do is look at

773

app permissions and think about what

you're doing when you're installing it.

774

So first of all, the set up

of both devices, you can go in and,

775

you know, tell it not to track or clear it

or that type of thing,

776

which is good to do.

777

But if you're installing an app

that, wants to run your phone

778

as a flashlight and it wants permission

to your microphone, they probably say no.

779

And don't just click accept all the time

because that can cause problems.

780

You know, you do want to think it through.

It's easy to do that.

781

Yeah. And

782

while using the

783

app, if it wants a location,

it's probably a good choice.

784

So you'll get, three choices

when it wants location information usually

785

where it's all the time.

786

Only when you're using that app,

whatever the app is

787

that needs the information or not at all.

788

And if you leave it on

789

just when you're using the app,

you're good to go.

790

Because if you're not using the app, it

doesn't really need to know where you are.

791

I mean, conceivably,

I don't know if that's maybe

792

just oversimplifying it,

but that's one thing where you do

793

want to look at this

and make sure that your controls

794

are set down

and be intentional with location.

795

And the reason for

this is with enough information from that,

796

it tells the story of your life,

where you work, where you go to school,

797

where you do your grocery shopping,

who your friends are

798

because you're monitoring

all the different places you're going.

799

And that type of a

800

thing is something to consider.

801

You don't need the location

history saved forever.

802

So number one,

to know that your device is saving it.

803

And on your Google or app settings,

you can turn it off

804

or at the very least,

clear it out once in a while,

805

you know, so it doesn't go back to the

beginning of time, which they want to do.

806

And again, it comes down to money.

807

They sell this stuff for money.

808

So I have a question.

809

I don't like it

when they want to access my contacts.

810

They don't need to know who I have

contact with.

811

Yeah, yeah.

812

And, you know,

one of the one of the big ones

813

that came out from this,

is the game Angry Birds.

814

And it was and still is,

from my understanding, a popular game.

815

But they came to Angry Birds, too,

816

and all of a sudden it was asking

for these kind of permissions.

817

And it's like, well,

why do they need that?

818

Well,

they want to know who your friends are

819

so they can, you know,

about playing their game or whatever.

820

But it's, you know, that type of a thing.

821

And that caused a lot of

problems and actually caused

822

something that

823

was very much a worldwide sensation.

824

Still played a lot,

but not like it once was.

825

And because people don't want

to open themselves up to these things.

826

And the other thing is to think about

stuff that calls itself smart devices.

827

Most of us have these things

in one way or another.

828

Smart home and all the different things.

829

But most of these like data

830

and the default settings,

is going to be to collect more data

831

than they need to do

whatever it is they're doing.

832

So you go into your television

or other smart device, you're

833

looking for an option that's labeled

as something like improve our services,

834

personalization, diagnostics,

those type of things,

835

and say something like,

you have a check box, send diagnostic data

836

back to wherever it is

that they send it to you.

837

Well, that's information

that they probably don't need.

838

Certainly not to make the act work.

839

You can usually turn those things off

and you won't lose anything important.

840

And they do try to guilt you into it.

841

We're just doing this to make our product

better.

842

So, you know, we know what works

and what doesn't.

843

And for some reason, to do that,

we need to know who all your friends are

844

and your blood type,

you know, kind of thing.

845

It's not necessary.

846

Not necessary to, go down with that.

847

And the other thing of it is,

848

is to reduce your exposure

to data brokers.

849

And these are services

that will come up again,

850

you know, with the idea of,

collecting information.

851

Unfortunately, a lot of these don't ask,

you know, so the more reputable ones do.

852

But if you've ever googled your name

853

and all this information shows up

and a lot of times it's very accurate,

854

including home address, phone numbers

and not just that, the addresses you've

855

had for the past 15 years or something

and email addresses and all that.

856

That's where this is coming through

is data brokers.

857

Now, the more reputable ones

858

you can go on and there's a system

where you can ask to be removed.

859

There's ways to do that.

860

California is spearheading a new law

that's gonna allow a very easy

861

way to do that.

862

We're going to be talking about that

in a future show,

863

that you can go in

and get this stuff removed.

864

And I think we're going

to be seeing more legislation come out.

865

But the other problem that this is created

866

is there's no guarantee

that that information is correct either.

867

So if somehow it's got the idea

that you've, you know, been convicted

868

of a felony and escape from prison

and you go apply for a job

869

and the people that are vetting

you find that, that could be a bad thing.

870

In fact, it would be,

871

because you might not get the job

and you might never know why you didn't.

872

Yeah, because they never tell you

why you don't get the job.

873

Very rarely.

874

Very rarely. I've had that.

875

But it's very much

the exception to the rule.

876

And it's too bad because it would help

you build if you could know.

877

You know what they didn't like.

878

But that's a whole nother topic.

879

It's just to be aware.

880

Google yourself. See what,

see what comes up.

881

You might be surprised.

882

Just be prepared.

883

It might not be a pleasant surprise.

884

The other thing of videos

is public and workspaces,

885

and you want to just assume

886

in this day

and age that you're being recorded.

887

There are cameras everywhere,

888

front door of your house,

you know, walking down the street.

889

We've talked about block cameras

and we've all seen the cameras on the,

890

you know, red lights and things like that

that are keeping conditions safe

891

and whatnot.

892

You can go on most state websites and view

those things.

893

They are public.

894

They're not trying to hide them

or anything, but they are out there.

895

And the other thing of it

is, is also just assume

896

that your license plates

are being scanned as you're driving.

897

So whether that's by some of the people

we've talked about in the past

898

or private companies that just drive

around, do that, collect it and sell it,

899

or you're going through a photo

radar light or something of that nature.

900

It's going to scan your license plate

and just be prepared and act accordingly.

901

We just don't have the privacy

that we once did on these things.

902

So question becomes to that,

what can you do?

903

Well, vigilance is one thing.

904

If you really want to eliminate tracking

905

wherever you can go through

and turn it off,

906

shut it down, don't return diagnostic data

and be aware of the

907

terms and conditions of things that you're

accepting when you install software.

908

Or I guess it's apps.

909

Now, we used to call that software

in the olden days

910

and know what is going

where to the best of your ability.

911

And don't just

912

allow on autopilot.

913

A lot of people do.

914

We're busy and, you know, it's like, well,

that doesn't work.

915

We can't use that app.

916

One advantage right now

917

is that there's probably going

to be an alternative in most cases.

918

And how badly do you need to do that?

919

And if you do need to use it badly,

at least know what's happening

920

to your information and be aware that it's

tracking or doing whatever it is doing.

921

You know,

922

and the other thing of it is,

and this is a big one,

923

keep personal stuff off work devices

and work stuff off personal devices.

924

A big reason for this,

especially on the former, is most work

925

devices can be audited and again,

not from any standpoint of legal advice

926

and check this out with a competent lawyer

if you needed to get that information.

927

But my understanding of it is,

is that in a lot of cases, work

928

devices can be searched and that doesn't

limit it to just your company

929

seeing what you're doing.

930

They can be subpoenaed for information,

that kind of thing.

931

And if the information's out there,

it's probably fair game.

932

And just like things that if you ask

I ChatGPT or something

933

a legal question

that's not attorney client privilege.

934

Your chat logs can be subpoenaed

and they're most likely being saved

935

or almost certainly being saved, but most

likely accessible in one way or another.

936

Those that would want to get into it

937

and the

938

other thing to remember

is that when you're dealing with

939

things like airlines and all that

kind of stuff, you don't really have

940

the option

to necessarily opt out of these things.

941

And now it's, traveling internationally.

942

I notice this.

943

They take your photograph now when you

leave the country and when you return.

944

And that's kind of interesting.

945

I don't know if you can opt out of it.

946

I mean, if you try to, you're

probably still be at the airport

947

weeks later. You know,

948

I don't even know

if that's a thing you can do.

949

So some of the stuff, it's out there

and there's not a whole lot,

950

at least right now,

until they get the laws changed and stuff

951

that you're going to be able to do it.

952

Public Wi-Fi is another one,

and this is not anything new,

953

but if you're on a public Wi-Fi network,

be careful of what you do.

954

If you're going to do banking.

955

First of all, don't on a public network.

956

But if for some reason you absolutely

have to use the app from your bank, don't

957

go to a website

that may or may not be secured.

958

You know that kind of a thing.

959

And again, for data like that, just don't

unless it's absolutely necessary.

960

And in all reality, most of us have good

961

5G network coverage on our phones.

962

And if you're going

to need to do something

963

like that,

get off the Wi-Fi and use your phone.

964

Connection is a lot more secure.

965

That actually goes

over the cellular network.

966

And again,

967

just first of all, being aware

of what's going on,

968

not accepting permissions carte blanche

all the time and going into your devices.

969

And I know this is a lot of work.

I did it on my televisions.

970

It took me about an hour.

971

I don't have that many televisions

because each one was different.

972

To go in

973

and figure out what it was calling,

sending back information or monitoring,

974

getting into it, going through the 15

prompts that say, if you turn this off,

975

it seems like the LG one was the worst.

976

Tried to guilt trip me.

977

You know, we just need this

to make our stuff better.

978

And, for some reason, when you know what

you're watching to do, that, you know,

979

not did the software in the TV crash

or is the signal bad or something?

980

It's they want to know

what you're watching at all times.

981

Then the next part of it was prompts of,

well, if you turn this off,

982

you know, this isn't going to work.

And yeah, that might be true.

983

You might lose some smart features

if you need them. You can't turn it off.

984

But in most cases, I found that it didn't

really create a problem with that.

985

One objection

I had was the fact that the television

986

started disabling things,

but then wouldn't take it off the menu.

987

So you still go to an, oh,

this is disabled because we can't do it

988

because you've turned off this function.

989

Now, whether or not

990

that has to be the case notwithstanding,

they want the data or money.

991

So these are just some things

to think about.

992

Let us know what you think.

User friendly dot.

993

Show us a place to send us your feedback.

994

And until next week,

this is user friendly 2.0

995

keeping you safe on the cutting edge, user

friendly 2.0.

996

Copyright 2013 to 2026

997

by User Friendly Media Group Incorporated.

998

All rights reserved.

999

The content is the opinion

of the show's participants

00:49:13,984 --> 00:49:17,988

and does not necessarily

reflect this station or platform.

00:49:18,722 --> 00:49:22,592

Requests for material use, interviews,

disclosures,

00:49:22,826 --> 00:49:25,796

and other correspondence may be viewed

00:49:25,796 --> 00:49:28,932

and submitted at userfriendly.show.