AI in NYC Show

In Episode 20 of AI in NYC, we welcome back our original guest — Charlie O'Donnell — to talk about his upcoming book 'Founder Unfriendly: What Investors Won't Tell You About Getting Funded.' Charlie has spent years in the NYC venture ecosystem helping founders navigate the opaque, often misleading world of fundraising, and this book is his attempt to arm the 99% of founders who aren't insiders with the real playbook. Charlie breaks down why the feedback you get from VCs almost never reflects the real reason they passed, how junior associates can inadvertently string you along, and why the fundraising process actually starts way before you ever pitch a deck — possibly as far back as high school. He also shares a fascinating look at how he used AI to organize and structure a 250-page book from a messy list of inside-joke chapter titles. We also discuss the emotional arc of founding a company — including why the day you announce your startup might be the most dangerously misleading day of all. If your network congratulated you but didn't offer a single customer intro, that's a signal worth paying attention to. Whether you're a first-time founder or a repeat entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest, practical insight you won't hear in a typical VC blog post. Sponsored by BePresent (bepresentapp.com) — the #1 app in its category that uses social media engagement techniques to keep you OFF your phone. Also: join us April 15th at 5:30 PM for our first in-person Cloud Code class for non-technical people in NYC!

In this episode of AI in NYC, Rob and Ryan sit down with Zachary Smith, co-founder of Datum, to explore why the foundational infrastructure of the internet needs a radical overhaul for the AI era. Zach — a lifelong New Yorker who traded a classical music career at Juilliard for the wild world of Linux web hosting in 2001 — brings a rare depth of experience spanning multiple companies, acquisitions, and a front-row seat inside Equinix, one of the largest interconnection companies on Earth.Zach introduces his concept of the 'splinternet' — a world where geopolitics, regulation, and the demands of AI workloads are fragmenting the once-unified internet — and explains why Datum is building an open network cloud to serve the next wave of what he calls 'alt clouds': the roughly one thousand (and growing) new cloud providers that don't fit neatly into the old hyperscaler model. From Databricks to GPU startups to niche SaaS platforms, Zach argues these alt clouds need shared infrastructure primitives they can't afford to build alone.The conversation also gets deeply personal. Zach opens up about the emotional toll of selling his first bootstrapped company after 11 years, the therapy and intentional downtime he needed before starting again, and the unique dynamic of building multiple companies with his identical twin brother Jacob. His mentor Bill Luby's advice — 'this is the best time because you have no past' — becomes a throughline for how Datum approaches building for the long term in a world obsessed with speed.Whether you're a founder, an infrastructure nerd, or just curious about how the physical internet actually works, this episode is packed with insights about what's changing beneath the surface of every AI application you use. Tune in for one of the most thoughtful conversations we've had about the invisible plumbing of the internet age. Check out datum: https://datumdata.ai/ Thank you to our sponsor: BePresent - Download their app here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bepresent-screen-time-control/id1644737181

What happens when AI meets your brain data? In Episode 18 of AI in NYC, Rob May and Anna Kirk sit down with Kristen Mathews, cyber/data/privacy partner at Cooley LLP with nearly 30 years of experience, who has carved out a fascinating niche at the intersection of privacy law and neurotechnology. Kristen breaks down what neurotech actually is — from invasive brain implants to consumer wearable headbands — and explains how AI has been the key catalyst turning a century of brain signal data into actionable, decoded information. The conversation dives deep into the different categories of neurotech, including how devices can not only read brain activity but also stimulate it — with real applications like predicting seizures 20 minutes before they happen and suppressing them with electrical pulses. Rob shares his firsthand experience from sitting on the board of a neurotech company, while Kristen paints a vivid picture of the current landscape, including New York City's role as a major hub for the neurotech community. Perhaps the most thought-provoking segment explores the ethical frontier: the difference between decoding 'intended speech' (helping ALS patients communicate) and 'inner speech' (your private thoughts). Where's the line? Can AI tell the difference? Kristen is refreshingly honest about what we don't yet know, while emphasizing that every neurotech application she's seen in practice today is being used for good. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in AI, privacy, the future of brain-computer interfaces, and why the next big privacy debate may be about your thoughts. Relevant links: www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/magazine/savant-for-a-day.html https://icaot.org/jose-delgado-a-controversial-trailblazer-inneuromodulation/ Kristen Mathews on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-mathews-6025257?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_mweb&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile Download BePresent: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bepresent-screen-time-control/id1644737181

n Episode 17 of AI in NYC, hosts Rob May, Ryan Eppley, and Anna Kirk sit down with Alayna Kennedy — Director of AI Governance at MasterCard — to talk about what it actually looks like to turn high-minded AI principles into real, operational governance inside one of the world's largest financial companies. Alayna brings a rare combination of hands-on AI model development experience (she built fraud detection models at IBM for a major federal agency) and deep academic credentials in fairness, accountability, and transparency in machine learning. The conversation digs into the gap between publishing a principles document and actually embedding ethics into your data pipeline, product development, and deployment process. Alayna shares insights from her master's thesis research, where she interviewed data scientists and governance teams across companies to find out who's really putting AI ethics into practice — and who's just posting it on a website. The team also explores the biggest concerns facing major enterprises when it comes to frontier models vs. open source, the ethical blind spots most people miss, and where the real resistance to AI adoption comes from inside large organizations. Whether you're building AI products, governing them, or just trying to understand how the biggest companies in the world are navigating this moment, this episode is packed with practical insight. Plus, stick around for the crew's favorite Saturday morning NYC activities Thank you to our sponsor: BePresent https://www.bepresentapp.com/ More of Alayna's work: https://alaynakennedy.github.io/

Albert Chun, founder of AI Circle, joins Rob, Ryan, and Anna to talk about building one of AI's most intentionally small communities — and why turning away a thousand applicants is a feature, not a bug. Albert shares how his background as an educator (he started schools in the Bay Area and South Bronx) shaped the way he thinks about training AI models at Invisible, and why the future of AI might be more of a teaching problem than a math one. The crew also breaks down the OpenClaw acquisition by OpenAI, the security risks hiding inside open-source AI agents, and what it means that the Pentagon is now clashing with Anthropic over how its models are being used. 🔗 Apply to AI Circle: https://ai-circle.org 🔗 Albert Chun on LinkedIn: / albert-s-chun This episode is sponsored by BePresent — the app that uses the same tactics social media uses to keep you addicted, and flips them to help you put your phone down. Download it here: https://www.bepresentapp.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us — it helps more than you know. Have a guest suggestion or want to be on the show? Reach out through our website: aiinnycshow.com

In this episode of AI in NYC, hosts Rob May (Neurometric) and Ryan Eppley (Root Access) dive deep into the intersection of human intimacy and artificial intelligence. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, they explore the startling statistic that 33% of Gen Z has engaged in romantic conversations with AI. Is technology a tool for building human connection, or a replacement for it? They also break down the latest industry drama, including Anthropic’s aggressive "Keep Thinking" ad campaign, OpenAI’s move into the advertising space, and the rise of multi-agent frameworks like Gastown that are changing how we develop software. *Topics Covered*: Sponsor Spotlight: BePresent – Using social media psychology to break phone addiction. The Gen Z AI Romance Boom – Why 1/3 of young adults are talking to bots. AI "Eager to Please" vs. Human Messiness – Why conflict and "clunkiness" are necessary for real growth. Tools of the Trade – From RizzGPT to Eva AI and the world's first AI dating café. The Utility vs. Morality of AI – Exploring the ethics of the sex tech industry and robotics. Collaborative Filtering vs. Personalization – Why human chemistry can't be fully "scraped" or predicted by an algorithm. The MoltBook Incident – What happens when AI agents build their own Reddit-style communities? Gastown & Multi-Agent Orchestration – A new framework for automated software development. The AI Ad Wars – Anthropic’s "Keep Thinking" campaign vs. OpenAI’s new ad testing. New York Minute – Why SoHo is the new Times Square and the reality of the Financial District. *Tech Mentioned*: BePresent App: https://www.bepresentapp.com/ (The screen-time reduction tool featured in today's show). Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/ (Superbowl ad). OpenRouter: https://openrouter.ai/ (The platform for routing prompts to multiple AI models). Gastown: The experimental open-source multi-agent orchestration framework for automating software dev.

Dennis Mortensen, 20-year NYC entrepreneur and founder of x.ai (the AI scheduling assistant), joins Rob May and Ryan Eppley to share war stories from building one of the first real AI agents—years before LLMs existed. We dive into: → The insane complexity of AI scheduling (what does "soon" actually mean?) → Why perceived errors were harder to solve than real ones → ChatGPT's move into advertising—should we be worried? → Is the AI bubble real? (Dennis sold his AI stocks last week 👀) → Apple licensing Gemini for Siri: brilliant move or generational fumble? → What Dennis is building now at Launch Brightly Topics discussed:ChatGPT & ads: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techno... Quantum computing & Bitcoin: https://www.investors.com/news/techno... Apple & Gemini: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/12/apple...Connect with Dennis: LinkedIn: / dennismortensen Launch Brightly: https://launchbrightly.com

Caroline (Carrie) Hodge, CEO & Co-founder of Dimer Health, joins us to talk about building an AI-powered healthcare company that bridges the gap between hospital discharge and follow-up care. We dig into patient trust in AI, the launch of ChatGPT Health, why AI can't make clinical decisions (yet), and what happens when malpractice meets machine learning.Plus: Grok's image generator goes off the rails, a new Wisconsin deepfake law, Yann LeCun leaves Meta to build world models, and why enterprise AI was the surprise star of CES.Guest: Carrie Hodge — CEO & Co-founder, Dimer Health https://www.dimerhealth.com LinkedIn: / carolinethodge Hosts: Rob May — Co-founder & CEO, Neurometric Ryan Eppley — Co-founder & CEO, Root Access Anna Kirk — Sales Lead, Thread AIArticles Discussed: ChatGPT Health Launch — https://openai.com/index/introducing-...Grok AI Deepfake Controversy — https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/...Wisconsin Deepfake Bill — https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/01/06...Gary Marcus on Yann LeCun Leaving Meta — https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/bre...Enterprise AI at CES — https://www.thedeepview.com/newslette...The Shape of AI (Ethan Mollick) — https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-...Subscribe for weekly conversations on AI, startups, and the NYC tech ecosystem. #AI #Healthcare #NYCTech #Startups #ChatGPT #Deepfakes #CES2025

We're closing out 2025 by showcasing 6 incredible AI startups building right here in New York City — the applied AI capital of the world.Rob May and Ryan Eppley sit down with founders solving real problems across legal tech, elder safety, AI security, compliance automation, manufacturing intelligence, and AI-powered SEO.🎯 STARTUPS FEATURED:*CounselPro - Ian O'Brien*AI-powered forensic accounting for legal professionalsAutomates financial document analysis for divorce, bankruptcy, and fraud cases50+ customers, fully bootstrappedWebsite: https://www.counselpro.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-obrien*Silvershield - Alec Glassman*Protecting older adults from digital fraud and scamsAI assistant that analyzes suspicious texts and emailsLaunching across New York State in January 2026Website: https://www.silvershield.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-glassman*Krnel - Peyman Faratin*AI model security and control at runtimeLooks inside models to detect vulnerabilities and control behaviorDemocratizing AI safety toolsWebsite: https://krnel.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfaratin*Koop - Sergey Litvinenko*Compliance automation for tech companiesHandles SOC 2, AI governance, and regulatory requirements23x growth since seed roundWebsite: https://www.koop.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-from-koop*Tendrel - Akash Nandi*Operations intelligence for manufacturingAI-powered insights for industrial frontline workersMinimizing downtime, maximizing productionWebsite: https://www.tendrel.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnandi*OpenForge - Jason Patel*AI SEO platform (Answer Engine Optimization)AI agents that optimize businesses for ChatGPT and AI search50,000+ YouTube subscribers, six-figure ARR in 4 monthsWebsite: https://www.openforge.ai/aboutLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pateljasonYoutube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCnxPG10xnU5-WB2RpnxAivQ💡 KEY THEMES:Applied AI solving real business problems todayNYC's diverse AI ecosystem beyond frontier model labsBootstrapped and early-stage funded companiesFrom elder care to manufacturing to compliance🗽 WHY NEW YORK?New York City is emerging as the applied AI capital — hundreds of startups focused on bringing AI to real industries with real customers. Less hype, more substance.Support these founders:✅ Check out their websites✅ Connect with them on LinkedIn✅ Share with relevant connections✅ Help grow NYC's AI ecosystemHOSTS:Rob May - Co-founder & CEO, NeuroMetricRyan Eppley - Co-founder & CEO, Root Access📍 Recorded in NYC | December 2025🎙️ AI In NYC PodcastSubscribe for weekly AI insights from New York City's tech scene!#AIinNYC #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #NYCTech #AIStartups #Startups #TechPodcast #MachineLearning #AppliedAI #Founders #Entrepreneurship #2025YearEnd

Jason Hiner, Editor-in-Chief of The Deep View, joins AI In NYC hosts Rob May and Ryan Eppley to break down the biggest AI stories of 2025; from DeepSeek's January shockwave to Google's stunning November comeback with Gemini 3. MAJOR MOMENTS WE COVER: DeepSeek's China Breakthrough- How they trained frontier models on a fraction of resources and changed the efficiency conversation forever OpenAI's O3 Reasoning Model- The inference-time compute revolution and what it means for 2026 The Great Talent War- $100M packages, brain drain, and why some engineers turned down Meta's money GPT-5's Disappointment- What OpenAI's loss of Ilya Sutskever and Mira Murati really meant Google's Redemption Arc - From "toast" to Wall Street darling in 6 months Stargate & the $500B AI Factory- Circular financing, Oracle deals, and what's really happening The Bubble Question - Why Jason thinks we're NOT in a capital-B bubble (but there are small ones)KEY INSIGHTS:95% of enterprise AI deployments still aren't profitable (MIT study)Only 13% of the world uses generative AI—massive growth aheadWorld models will be the "AI agents" of 2026Multi-model systems replacing single LLM approachesAMD is coming for Nvidia's dominance🔮 2026 PREDICTIONS:End of "one model to rule them all" thinking AGI/superintelligence labels will fade as overhype The year of AI optimization and efficiency OpenAI's overstretched focus problem will show cracks 🗽NEW YORK QUESTION: All three hosts agree: Times Square is the worst tourist trap in NYC GUEST: Jason Hiner - Editor-in-Chief & Chief Content Officer, The Deep View Subscribe: https://subscribe.thedeepview.com/AI IN NYC HOSTS: Rob May - Co-founder & CEO, NeuroMetric Ryan Eppley - Co-founder & CEO, Root Access 📍 Recorded in NYC | December 18th 2025 🎙️ AI In NYC Podcast - Your source for AI insights from the applied AI capital Subscribe for weekly AI insights from New York City's tech scene! #AIInNYC #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DeepSeek #OpenAI #Google #Gemini #AIBubble #NYCTech #MachineLearning #JasonHiner #TheDeepView #2025Recap #AIAgents #WorldModels #Podcast

In Episode 10, we sit down with Doug O’Laughlin, President of SemiAnalysis and author of Fabricated Knowledge, to break down the truth behind GPUs, the semiconductor supply chain, and the massive power demands coming with AI’s next phase. From the behind-the-scenes AMD exposé that forced a turnaround, to why Nvidia’s GPU dominance is not just about specs, to how fragile the global chip ecosystem really is—this episode dives deep into the hardware, economics, and geopolitics driving the AI boom. We also cover the rise of alternative accelerators, the future of U.S. chip manufacturing, Intel’s identity crisis, nuclear vs. on-site generation for data centers, and whether we’re already sliding into an AI bubble. GUEST Doug O’Laughlin – President, SemiAnalysis Founder, Fabricated Knowledge Leader in AI semiconductor + data center research

In this episode: Rob May and Anna Kirk sit down with Ben Coleman, founder & CEO of RealityDefender, to talk about the future of deepfakes, misinformation, detection tech, and why New York might actually be the best place to build applied AI. We cover the moment Ben realized deepfakes were going to become a world-scale problem, what it takes to stay ahead of AI-generated media, the shifting investor sentiment around safety tools—and yes, Rob tries to get Ben to explain how to make Anna say something she would never say in real life.https://www.realitydefender.com/

Why Nonprofits Need AI Now — With Jenni Warren & Jake Porway of Decoded Futures In Episode 8 of AI in NYC, hosts Rob May (CEO & Co-founder, Neurometric) and Ryan Eppley (CEO & Co-founder, Root Access) sit down with Jenni Warren and Jake Porway from Decoded Futures — a Tech:NYC Foundation initiative powered by Robin Hood and Google.Jenni, a Program Director with 15+ years of experience across Magpie Literacy, Success Academy, and DSST Public Schools, and Jake, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Co-founder of DataKind, join the table for a wide-ranging, philosophical, and fun conversation.Decoded Futures website: https://www.decodedfutures.nyc/Featuring:Jenni Warren — Program Director, Decoded FuturesJake Porway — Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Decoded Futures & Co-founder, DataKindRob May — CEO & Co-founder, Neurometric (Host)Ryan Eppley — CEO & Co-founder, Root Access (Host)Producer: Madi DonlanFor guest inquiries:aiinnycshow@gmail.comaiinnycshow.com | @aiinnycshow on instagram

Welcome to AI in NYC! In Episode 7, hosts Ryan Eppley (Root Access) and Anna Kirk (Thread AI) sit down with Waleed Atallah, CEO of Mako, to dive deep into the world of AI hardware, GPUs, and the future of computing.In this episode:Waleed’s journey from Intel to founding MakoWhy GPUs are taking over the world of AIThe challenges of programming for GPUs and how Mako is solving themThe evolution of AI coding agents and the async vs. sync debateInsights on enterprise AI adoption, current trends, and the future of workFun NYC stories, favorite city landmarks, and more!Timestamps:0:00 – Intro & guest welcome2:30 – Waleed’s background and career path10:00 – The rise of GPUs and parallel processing20:00 – What Mako does and why it matters35:00 – AI coding agents: async vs. sync50:00 – Enterprise AI adoption & industry trends1:10:00 – NYC stories & favorite buildings1:20:00 – Closing thoughtsConnect with us:Ryan Eppley: Root AccessAnna Kirk: Thread AIGuest: Waleed Atallah, CEO of MakoDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes on AI, startups, and tech in New York City! Send us your swag! aiinnycshow@gmail.comaiinnycshow.comAI #Podcast #NYC #GPUs #Startups #Mako #artificialintelligence

FeedbackNow VP of AI, Sam Koch, joins the show to share how he’s actually using AI, not just talking about it. From automating real workflows to bringing hardware back into tech, Sam breaks down what works (and what doesn’t) when scaling automation in Private Equity.Why watch:Real examples of AI that save hours of workWhat failed (and why some automations aren’t worth it)Why hardware gives startups defensibility againHow culture and management make or break AI transformationActionable lessons from hand-labeling data to scaling lean startupsTopics:AI in Private Equity · Workflow automation · Real-world data · Hardware comeback · State space models · Culture in digital transformationArticles discussed:State Space Model gets major funding (LinkedIn)Data Centers and Jet Engines (IEEE Spectrum)Michael Burry bets against Palantir and NVIDIA (Yahoo Finance)Amazon vs. Perplexity AI Agent (Bloomberg)Hosts:Rob May (NeuroMetric) · Anna Kirk (Nadia Partners) · Ryan Eppley (Root Access)Want us to wear your company swag on the show or talk bookings?Email: aiinnycshow@gmail.comLike, subscribe, and drop your favorite NYC burger in the comments!

Discover SimpleApply — the smarter way to land your next job!Visit: https://simpleapply.aiHosts: Rob May — CEO & Co-founder, NeuroMetric AIAnna Kirk — Chief of Staff, Nadia PartnersIn this episode of AI in NYC, hosts Rob May (CEO & Co-founder, NeuroMetric) and Anna Kirk (Chief of Staff, Nadia Partners) sit down with Joe Perrotta, CEO and founder of SimplyApply, to explore how AI is transforming the job search, hiring, and the future of work.What’s Inside:Joe shares the story behind SimpleApply and how it’s helping thousands of job seekers automate and streamline their job hunt.The team debates “AI doom loops” in hiring—will automation and countermeasures spiral out of control, or is it just a temporary inefficiency?Real-world metrics: Joe reveals SimpleApply’s growth, user success rates, and what’s really happening in today’s job market.Beyond resumes: Why networking, authenticity, and human connection still matter in an AI-driven world.Rob’s unique approach to hiring for diversity and the value of randomness in finding hidden talent.Favorite interview questions, personality tests, and candid takes on the latest AI news: OpenAI’s new browser, Anthropic’s leadership statement, and the future of AI hardware.Featured Articles & Resources:SimpleApply.aihttps://theconversation.com/ai-genera...https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/21/ope...https://www.anthropic.com/news/statem...https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/te...“By building our own chip, we can embed what we’ve learned from creating frontier models and products directly into the hardware, unlocking new levels of capability and intelligence.” - Signs OpenAI is vertically integrating hardware stack, less reliance on NVIDIA

Hosts:Rob May — CEO & Co-founder, NeuroMetricAnna Kirk — Chief of Staff, Nadia PartnersRyan Eppley — Co-founder & CEO, Root AccessGuest:Joe Dormani — Partner, Thomson Reuters VenturesEpisode Overview:This week we sit down with Joe Dormani for a deep dive into AI investing, legal tech, and how enterprise adoption is really unfolding in the wild. We cover venture strategy, defensibility, the future of professional services, and whether the billable hour can survive AI. We also explore the cultural side of AI — including dating apps, RizzGPT, and Joe’s belief that “organic rizz is better than synthetic rizz.”Segments & Key Topics:• Joe’s career path across AI product, corporate strategy, and venture investing• How Thomson Reuters Ventures evaluates companies in legal, tax, accounting, fintech, and compliance• Build vs. buy vs. partner vs. invest — how enterprises make AI decisions• Real-world AI adoption: what’s working and what still has friction• Defensibility in AI: data, workflow depth, UX, and true IP• The billable hour vs. an AI-native legal industry• The rise of AI tool proficiency as a career skill• Cultural AI: RizzGPT, dating-app AI, and generational shifts• $300M+ seed for Periodic Labs, AMD vs. NVIDIA, and macro AI market dynamics• NYC segment — our favorite calm spots in the cityQuotes:“AI is a tool — proficiency and investment determine the outcome.”“The billable hour may not survive an AI-first legal industry.”“Organic rizz is better than synthetic rizz.”!!!Founders!!! send us your merch for a shoutout in a future episode.Subscribe, comment, and drop your guest suggestions for next week.

In this episode Rob and Ryan interview Eric Litman, CEO of Aescape, which builds a robotic massage table. Eric talks about how robotics has exploded in NYC in the last few years, and how it compares to building his first company in mobile tech in the mid 2000s. The crew also discusses an article about how ChatGPT is destroying marriages, and debates again whether or not AI is in a bubble.Leave a comment on the show and we will choose the best one to get an Aescape gift card for a free massage.

In this episode Rob, Anna, and Ryan talk to Collectivei co-founder Stephen Messer and discuss his background as an early NYC tech entrepreneur, and building AI in New York before it was cool. The crew also discusses an article from The Atlantic about whether or not there is an AI bubble, and Jerry Neumann’s recent Collossus article “AI Will Not Make You Rich”The show ends with everyone contributing their best “what I overheard in New York” story.

Listen to Rob, Anna, and Ryan discuss the New York tech scene and recent AI articles with Charlie O'Donnell. Charlie is a life long New Yorker and long time venture capitalist. He discusses his experience working for Josh Kopelman and Fred Wilson, two of the most successful venture capitalists of all time, and the key catalysts that have turned NYC into a dominant hub for AI.Charlie's blog - thisisgoingtobebig.com