Bob sits down with Colette Mason, a tech veteran with 40 years of experience in computing and a deep understanding of human behavior through her work in coaching and neuro-linguistic programming. Together, they explore the hype and reality around AI adoption, automation myths, and why “responsible by design” is more than just a catchphrase. Colette shares her perspectives on human-centric design, AI literacy, and how to keep authenticity intact in an AI-powered world. With warmth, humor, and real-world wisdom, this conversation brings clarity to an often-confusing landscape—and reminds us that technology should augment rather than replace what only humans can and should do.

Keywords

AI literacy, human-centric design, responsible AI, automation, digital assistants, content generation, neuro-linguistic programming, human-AI collaboration, ethical AI, digital tools, Colette Mason, trusted AI

Takeaways

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  AI ≠ Automation: Many tasks called "AI" are really just workflow automation. It's important to distinguish between the two.
  

  
  


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  Human-Centered Design Matters: AI tools should reflect human needs, limitations, and behaviors, especially when used in sensitive areas like hiring.
  

  
  


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  The Hype Is Real—and Misleading: Over-promising on AI capabilities can hurt trust and morale. Colette urges a more grounded, realistic view.
  

  
  


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  Use AI Where It Helps, Not Where It Hurts: Delegate the boring stuff, but don’t let AI speak in your voice without oversight.
  

  
  


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  Authenticity Still Wins: Whether it's writing, speaking, or building a personal brand, being transparent about AI involvement builds trust.
  

  
  


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  Responsible Use Is Everyone’s Job: From solo entrepreneurs to large enterprises, we all have a role in building and using trustworthy AI.
  

  
  


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  Design for Real People: Most users aren’t tech-savvy. Tools need to be intuitive, safe, and aware of different user needs—including neurodiversity.
  

  
  

Top Quotes

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  “I model people’s brains because I’m a hypnotherapist—and that’s actually a superpower in tech.”
  

  
  


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  “There’s a lot of AI that isn’t really AI. It’s just automation with lipstick.”
  

  
  


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  “The system has to read the room—it can’t just say ‘you didn’t give me all the info, mate.’”
  

  
  


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  “Regular people need AI that helps them make it to their kids’ school play—not impress YouTube bros.”
  

  
  


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  “Don’t replace yourself with AI. Do less, but make it more you.”
  

  
  


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  “We’re not in the early innings—we’re still in warmups when it comes to AI literacy.”
  

  
  

Chapters

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  00:00 – Intro and Colette's Background
  

  
  


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  02:00 – AI Hype vs. Reality: What’s Really Happening
  

  
  


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  06:00 – Automation ≠ AI: Breaking the Misconceptions
  

  
  


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  10:30 – Building Human-Centered Tools and Workflows
  

  
  


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  17:00 – Responsible AI and “Designing for Safety”
  

  
  


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  24:00 – Fairness in Hiring and Interviewing with AI
  

  
  


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  30:00 – The Quality of AI-Generated Content
  

  
  


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  38:00 – Being Transparent About AI Use
  

  
  


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  44:00 – Ethics, Reputation, and the Court of Public Opinion
  

  
  


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  50:00 – Global Perspectives on AI Regulation
  

  
  


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  54:30 – Favorite Tools and Real-World Applications
  

  
  


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  01:00:00 – The Future of Personality in AI Models
  

  
  


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  01:03:30 – Closing Thoughts
  

  
  

Colette Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colettemason

Clever Clogs AI: https://www.cleverclogsai.com/

Ditch Rework, Build Teamwork: https://www.amazon.com/Ditch-Rework-Build-Teamwork-Principles-ebook/dp/B0FBL4C6ZP

For advisory work and marketing inquiries:

Bob Pulver:⁠⁠ ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/bobpulver⁠⁠⁠

Elevate Your AIQ:⁠⁠ ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.com⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.substack.com⁠

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