How AI Can Help Us Thrive - Simon Greenman on AI, Ethics & Innovation

About this episode

What do AI, resilience, and the early internet have in common? Simon Greenman.

From launching MapQuest in a Pennsylvania basement to shaping global AI policy, Simon has always been ahead of the curve—and deeply human about it.

In this episode, Hosts Jenn Quader and Dr. Kelly Culver sit down with Simon to explore:

-Surviving tech chaos in the dot-com boom

-Why AI should be a co-pilot, not a threat

-The future of learning, empathy, and creative work

-How AI can both heal and harm—and what we do about it

-What resilience really means in the face of rapid change

Chapters

1. 00:00
   Intro: From MapQuest to AI Ethics
2. 03:05
   What Resilience Means to Simon
3. 04:30
   The Wild Launch of MapQuest
4. 08:50
   Turning Fear into Forward Motion
5. 11:00
   Will AI Replace Us? Or Reshape Us?
6. 15:15
   Using AI for Social Good (Healthcare, Loneliness, Equity)
7. 17:45
   AI Companions & Ethical Complexity
8. 19:30
   Overdependence & Loss of Critical Thinking
9. 23:30
   Copyright, Deepfakes & the Risk to Human Art
10. 27:00
    AI’s Massive Energy Footprint
11. 30:00
    The Hidden Job Boom in AI
12. 32:00
    Inside the AI Champions Program
13. 35:00
    AI + Data Privacy: What You Need to Know
14. 36:35
    Final Thoughts: Why You Should Embrace AI
15. 38:05
    Rapid Fire: West Wing, David Bowie & Dogs
16. 40:00
    Luck vs. Design in Simon’s Life
17. 43:00
    Where to Connect with Simon Greenman