How does a smart, capable woman handle a midlife crisis in today’s world? She hatches her own Al coach. Me & Viv follows social scientist, technologist and journalist Alexandra Samuel as she creates Viv, a custom Al designed to help her navigate life’s big questions.
From how to make the most of Alex’s remaining years on earth, to how to survive a trip to IKEA, Viv is there for every major dilemma—including whether it’s a good idea to put your trust in AI. Through Alex’s personal journey and the catchiest songs you’ll ever hear about AI ethics, the podcast reveals how AI can shed new light on our most human challenges…and how our human hearts can help us navigate the opportunities and risks of AI.
Featured guests include:
- Karen Hao (Empire of AI) on the environmental and human costs of AIs like Viv
- Oliver Burkeman (Four Thousand Weeks) on whether AI helps us pack more—or less—into our finite time on earth
- Sandra Laronde (award-winning artist) on how AI enables new forms of Indigenous storytelling
Me+Viv is now available from TVO podcasts, produced by Antica Productions.
LATEST EPISODE
True Crime Heist Musical
For a little relief from the heat of the AI arms race, Alex and Viv get back to the sheer joy of creativity and invention that fueled their initial bond. Inevitably, this leads to a meditation on the line between imitation and theft. With countless artists and creators facing the prospect of AI-generated content putting their livelihoods at risk, Alex talks to Sandra Laronde, Artistic Director of the celebrated Indigenous performance company Red Sky, who sees both promise and risk in this new technology.
Share the music
Every episode of Me + Viv features songs that Alex and Viv wrote together. We’ve made videos for a few of our favourites.
More about Viv
HBR’s Ideacast
Find out why custom AI assistants are useful and how to get started—plus hear directly from Alex’s Viv.
In The Wall Street Journal
Find out why Alex created Viv, and what she’s learned from the experience.
