The CULTure of Ai series with Anne & Sayre Blake

What if the biggest risks surrounding artificial intelligence have less to do with machines taking over and more to do with the people building, directing, and marketing the technology? In this episode of OnlyFounders, host Anne Gillaspie sits down with Sayre Blake, CEO and Technical Founder of SkillSaige, for the first conversation in a new recurring series, The Culture of AI. Together, they challenge popular narratives about artificial intelligence and explore what happens when technology, corporate decisions, human behavior, and public fear collide. With a background spanning art, electrical engineering, software systems, and video game AI, Sayre brings a different perspective to the conversation. She explains why she views today's large language models as a new kind of computer processor rather than the independent intelligence many companies promote. She argues that human choices, system design, instructions, and oversight play a central role in how these tools behave. Anne and Sayre discuss the fear surrounding AI, the role of corporate marketing and media narratives, the importance of human oversight, and why people should be cautious about treating AI tools as experts. They also explore how everyday users can work with these technologies more effectively by asking specific questions, refining instructions, and staying curious about the results. Rather than telling people to stop using AI, Sayre encourages them to understand the technology as a tool they can explore, question, and learn from. This is a candid conversation about AI, human responsibility, technology, and the importance of looking beyond the headlines to ask better questions. IN THIS EPISODE Introducing The Culture of AI, a new recurring OnlyFounders series Sayre Blake's background in art, engineering, and video game AI Why Sayre describes large language models as a new kind of computer processor How human decisions shape the way AI systems are designed and used The difference between AI marketing narratives and the underlying technology Why human oversight matters when automated systems are deployed The role of corporate messaging and media coverage in shaping public fear Why users should avoid treating AI tools as unquestionable experts How prompts and instructions influence AI responses The risks of relying on AI for advice without questioning its output How to experiment with AI through curiosity, specific tasks, and better instructions Sayre's practical tip for approaching AI with less fear and more understanding PULL QUOTES “Ultimately, with all of this, there's a human decision behind each thing you're seeing.” “It does not start unless a human says start, and it does not repeat unless a human says repeat yourself.” “Stop treating it like an expert and start treating it like a brand new kind of computer terminal.” “You are being an exploratory programmer of a new kind that has never existed before.” “Be a little more curious. There is this much to learn from.” These quotes are drawn from the provided transcript. Confirm exact wording against the final edited audio before publishing. ABOUT SAYRE BLAKE Sayre Blake is the CEO and Technical Founder of SkillSaige, a Colorado-based soft skill learning platform that helps people develop communication, adaptability, leadership, and workplace readiness through interactive, practice-based learning. With a background in video game design, art, systems thinking, behavior design, and engineering, Sayre brings a distinctive perspective to technology and the way people interact with it. Her experience with game AI and technical systems informs her approach to understanding modern AI tools, their limitations, and the human decisions behind their design. In this conversation, Sayre shares her perspective on AI, public perception, human oversight, and how people can approach emerging technology with greater curiosity and critical thinking. Learn more about SkillSaige: https://www.skillsaige.com/ Connect with Sayre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayre-blake/ Connect with SkillSaige on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skillsaige/ CONNECT WITH ANNE GILLASPIE Website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ OnlyFounders Podcast: https://theannegillaspie.com/podcast LISTEN / WATCH ONLYFOUNDERS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders-explicitly-human-stories/id1832541527 ABOUT ONLYFOUNDERS OnlyFounders explores the human side of entrepreneurship and what building a business does to the person building it. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show goes beyond polished founder stories to explore leadership, identity, relationships, mental wellbeing, ambition, fear, and the messy realities of building a business. With The Culture of AI, OnlyFounders also opens up a space for candid conversations about artificial intelligence, the people shaping it, and the cultural narratives influencing how we understand and use it. Subscribe to OnlyFounders for honest conversations about the people behind the titles, the decisions behind the businesses, and the human experiences shaping how we work and live. #OnlyFounders #TheCultureOfAI #ArtificialIntelligence