In this episode of Pods Like Us, Marv sits down with William Corbin, Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Inception Point AI, to discuss the evolution of AI in podcasting, the creation of AI-generated voices, the business model behind Inception Point AI, and the future of content creation. William shares behind-the-scenes stories, ethical considerations, and how AI is making content more accessible and personalized. 

Timestamps -

00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome 

● Marv introduces William Corbin and the founding team of Inception Point AI. 

● William’s current role as Chief AI Officer. 

01:30 – The Founding Story 

● How William assembled the founding team using AI. 

● The unique process of selecting Janine Wright as CEO via AI analysis. 

02:30 – Company Motto & AI-First Culture 

● Inception Point AI’s creed: “Always AI, always forward, always fun.” 

● How AI is integrated into every aspect of the company. 

02:50 – William’s Podcasting Origins 

● Early podcasting experiments in 2004 with RSS feeds. 

● The journey from hobbyist to professional podcaster. 

05:00 – The Coronavirus 411 Podcast 

● Launching a daily COVID-19 news podcast. 

● Achieving syndication on 1,800 radio stations and becoming the #2 daily news podcast. 

06:30 – The Power of Niche Content 

● Using AI to create hyper-targeted podcasts (e.g., fishing reports for specific lakes). 

● The value of serving small, passionate audiences. 

08:00 – AI’s Role in Content Accessibility 

● How AI transforms raw data into engaging stories. 

● Making content accessible for people with disabilities. 

10:00 – The Evolution from Blogging to Podcasting 

● The shift from written blogs to audio content. 

● Podcasting as the new “blogosphere.” 

12:00 – Quality Control & AI-Generated Voices 

● Challenges with AI-generated content: glitches, fact-checking, and quality assurance. 

● Moving from voice clones to fully AI-generated voices for ethical and legal reasons. 

15:00 – Ethical Considerations in AI Voice Creation 

● Avoiding unauthorized use of real voices (e.g., Siri’s voice actress story). 

● Transparency and consent in AI voice usage. 

18:00 – The Origin of “Inception Point” 

● How the company name was chosen with the help of AI. 

20:00 – AI Voices as Non-Characters 

● Creating backstories for AI voices without misleading listeners. 

● Ensuring authenticity and transparency. 

22:00 – Business Model & Monetization 

● Three revenue streams: licensing, ad revenue, and partnerships. 

● AI personalities as brand ambassadors. 

25:00 – The Future of AI in Content Creation 

● AI’s growing intelligence and its impact on media. 

● The importance of advocating for AI as a new form of intelligence. 

28:00 – Addressing Backlash & Industry Resistance 

● Reactions to AI in Hollywood and the podcasting community. 

● The importance of starting conversations about AI’s role in media. 

32:00 – AI vs. Human-Hosted Podcasts 

● Surprising listener growth after switching to AI hosts. 

● Where AI excels and where human hosts still shine. 

35:00 – Content Longevity & Accessibility 

● The value of evergreen podcast content. 

● Making content accessible to all, including those with disabilities. 

38:00 – The Impact of AI on Jobs 

● AI’s role in creating new job opportunities. 

● The need for optimism and adaptability in the face of technological change. 

41:00 – Reviving Underutilized Content 

● Using AI to give new life to old research, university archives, and media catalogs. 

44:00 – Serving Underserved Audiences 

● Producing “critical content” for niche audiences (e.g., allergy reports, space weather). 

47:00 – Embracing Mistakes & Continuous Improvement 

● The importance of learning from errors in AI and human content creation. 

50:00 – The Diversity of Podcasting 

● The wide range of podcast genres and formats. 

● The role of smart speakers in podcast discovery. 

53:00 – Living Biographies & Real-Time Updates 

● AI-powered biographies that update as public figures’ lives evolve. 

56:00 – Novelty Podcasts & Audience Insights 

● Unique podcast concepts (e.g., “A Moment of Silence,” “Bird Songs for Cats”). 

● Data-driven content creation. 

59:00 – Final Thoughts & Contact Information 

● William’s passion for accessible content and technology. 

● How to contact William and Inception Point AI. 

Contact & Resources - William Corbin: william@inceptionpoint.ai | LinkedIn 

● Inception Point AI: info@inceptionpoint.ai 

● Pods Like Us: themarvzone.org