Sci-Fi and AI: Exploring Annie Bot with Sierra Greer

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel dive into the ethical, emotional, and societal complexities of AI companionship with special guest Sierra Greer, author of Annie Bot. This thought-provoking novel explores AI-human relationships, autonomy, and the blurred line between artificial intelligence and the human experience.

Sierra shares her inspiration for Annie Bot and how sci-fi can serve as a lens to explore real-world ethical dilemmas in AI development.

• The conversation covers the concept of reinforcement learning in AI and how it mirrors human conditioning
• The gender dynamics embedded in AI design, and the ethical implications of AI companions.
• The discussion also examines real-life cases of people forming deep emotional bonds with AI chatbots

The episode rounds out with a lively quickfire round, where Sierra debates whether AI should replace lost loved ones, act as conversational assistants for introverts, or intervene in human arguments.

This is a must-listen for fans of sci-fi, behavioral science, and those fascinated by the future of AI companionship and emotional intelligence.

LINKS:

• Sierra Greer website
• Annie Bot – Official Book Page
• Goodreads Profile

TIMESTAMPS:

01:43 AI Companions: A Controversial Opinion

05:48 Exploring Sci-Fi and AI in Literature

07:42 Introducing Sierra Greer and Her Book

09:12 Reinforcement Learning Explained

15:47 Diving into the World of Annie Bot

23:17 Power Dynamics and Human-Robot Relationships

32:31 Humanity and Artificial Intelligence

41:31 Autonomy vs. Agreeableness in Relationships

43:20 Reinforcement Learning in AI and Humans

46:13 Ethics and Gaslighting in AI

48:57 Gender Dynamics in AI Design

57:18 AI Companions and Human Relationships

01:06:45 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI

01:12:39 Final Thoughts and Controversial Opinions

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

AI and Behavioral Science in Public Policy with Laura de Moliere

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel Salzer is joined by Laura de Moliere, a behavioral scientist with deep expertise in applying behavioral insights to public policy. As the former head of behavioral science at the UK Cabinet Office, Laura has worked at the intersection of behavioral science and policymaking during some of the most high-stakes moments in recent history, including Brexit and COVID-19.

Samuel and Laura explore the evolving role of AI in behavioral science, reflecting on how AI can enhance decision-making, improve policymaking, and surface unintended consequences. Laura shares her AI “aha moment”—when she realized the potential of large language models to support policymakers in making more behaviorally informed decisions.

The discussion also covers the promises and perils of AI in behavioral science, the potential of synthetic users to test interventions, and the growing challenge of balancing AI’s capabilities with human biases and policymaking needs. The episode wraps up with a playful quickfire round, where Laura debates the use of AI in everything from tax optimization to gamified urinals.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and public policy, offering a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the future of AI in decision-making.

LINKS:

• Laura de Moliere:

• LinkedIn Profile

• INCASE Framework on Unintended Consequences

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 A Surprise Gift

05:38 Reflections on 2025

09:28 AI and Behavioral Science

19:29 Introducing Laura de Moliere

21:30 Start of Laura interview

33:08 Applying Behavioral Science to AI and Government

35:16 Behavioral Science and AI: Use Cases and Impacts

36:32 Understanding and Interacting with AI Models

47:43 Synthetic Users and Their Potential

01:01:08 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI

01:06:35 Controversial Opinions on AI

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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@habitweekly.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

Predictions for 2025: AI, AGI, and the Future of Behavioral Science with Jared Peterson

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel is joined by Jared Peterson, a behavioral scientist and expert in decision science at Nuance Behavior. Together, they explore some of the most pressing questions and exciting developments at the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and the future of human-centered design.

The conversation highlights key advancements from 2024, including the rise of multimodal AI, breakthroughs in AI agents, and the transformative use of AI in scientific research. Samuel and Jared share bold predictions for 2025, tackling questions like:

• Will AI agents become trusted coworkers?
• Can AI revolutionize science?
• And how should we navigate the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI)?

The discussion is packed with hot takes, nuanced perspectives, and thoughtful reflections, including Jared’s controversial prediction about the future of AI in predicting research replicability.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its implications for behavioral science, creativity, and society at large.

For questions or comments - email samuel@nuancebehavior..com

LINKS:

• Jared's website
• Jared's linkedin
• The Science of Context
• A Failure to Disagree

• 
  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Meet Jared Peterson: Behavioral Scientist and AI Expert

01:01 – Reflections on 2024: Key Breakthroughs and Predictions

03:36 – The Multimodal Evolution of AI

10:06 – AI Surpassing Human Benchmarks

21:25 – The Rise of AI Agents and Synthetic Content

35:18 – Musical Turing Test: AI vs. Eurovision

43:26 –Predictions for 2025: AI Coworkers and Beyond

44:06 – AI Coworkers: The Future of Work?

51:11 – AI in Science: Revolutionizing Research

01:05:56 – The Hype and Reality of AGI

01:10:42 – Adoption Challenges and Future Predictions

01:25:40 – Final Thoughts and Controversial Predictions

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@habitweekly.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠