Human-centered AI: Ovetta Sampson on design risks and rewards

MAY 5, 202543 MIN
Technically Speaking with Harrison Wheeler

Human-centered AI: Ovetta Sampson on design risks and rewards

MAY 5, 202543 MIN

Description

<p>This episode of <em>AI Product Builders</em> is a must-listen. I’m joined by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovettasampson/">Ovetta Sampson</a>, founder of Right AI and one of the sharpest minds in the AI and design space. With a career that spans leadership roles at Google, Capital One, and IDEO, Ovetta brings a powerful, context-driven lens to the hype around generative AI.</p><p>We get into:</p><p>* Why she left Google to build Right AI</p><p>* The risks no one’s talking about in AI product development</p><p>* What <em>MoviePass</em>, the <em>Black Death</em>, and <em>Silicon Valley</em> have in common</p><p>* The real environmental and economic costs of running LLMs</p><p>* What design leaders need to unlearn <em>now</em></p><p>* Her “Mindful AI” framework for building responsible, people-first experiences</p><p>* Why systems thinking beats wireframes, and what it really takes to design for the future </p><p>Ovetta breaks it all the way down, history, economics, tech, and the human cost of innovation. This one’s part philosophy lesson, part design critique, part wake-up call.</p><p>Timestamps</p><p>02:09 Origins of Ovetta's company Right AI</p><p>05:15 Moving fast and breaking things...again</p><p>10:20 The risks of funding with no business models</p><p>18:56 Enviornmental sustainability</p><p>30:18 Principles of building a responsible experience</p><p>34:01 What's top of mind for design leaders?</p><p>43:24 Closing</p><p>Mentions</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rightainow.com/">Right AI</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovettasampson/">LinkedIn</a> - Follow her on LinkedIn for hot takes and sharp truths</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone">The Philosopher’s Zone (Podcast)</a> – She references a philosophy podcast about the Dark Ages</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg">Gutenberg & the Printing Press</a> – Used as a metaphor for today’s AI hype</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoviePass">MoviePass</a> – Referenced extensively as an analogy for unsustainable business models</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death">Black Death / Plague</a> – Referenced in historical parallel to today's societal reset</p><p>Follow Harrison Wheeler and Technically Speaking</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="http://technicallyspeakinghw.substack.com">Newsletter</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/hmwheeler">LinkedIn</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="http://youtube.com/technicallyspeakinghw">YouTube</a></p><p><em>Technically Speaking is where I share reflections, insights, and conversations to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and community. Are you looking to level up your design leadership and management craft? Spend an hour with me for personalized </em><a target="_blank" href="https://calendly.com/harrison-wheeler"><em>1:1 coaching</em></a><em> to help you thrive in your role.</em></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Technically Speaking at <a href="https://technicallyspeakinghw.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">technicallyspeakinghw.substack.com/subscribe</a>