Digitally Curious – Details, episodes & analysis

What happens to a generation growing up with AI always on hand to do the thinking for them?

That question sits at the heart of this episode, and few people are better placed to answer it than Tim Cook, an elementary school teacher in Amman, Jordan, who has spent over a decade in international classrooms across five countries.

Tim writes the Algorithmic Mind column for Psychology Today, and his research on cognitive offloading and child development has been making waves well beyond the education sector.

In Andrew's book Digitally Curious, he argues that curiosity and critical thinking are the most important skills in an AI-powered world.

Tim's work takes that further, asking a harder and more urgent question: what if the generation now entering school never develops those skills in the first place?

In this episode

• The classroom as laboratory. Tim has been noticing a shift in children's relationship with struggle for most of a decade. well before AI arrived.
  
  
• Cognitive atrophy versus cognitive foreclosure. An adult who offloads tasks to AI is atrophying a muscle they already built — it can be rebuilt. A child who offloads a task they have never learned is foreclosing a developmental pathway that may never form. 
  
  
• The homogenisation problem. When a health teacher set a creative writing task designed to be AI-proof, 80% of students submitted the same Mission Impossible-style hero's journey narrative.
  
  
• The AI audit problem. To check AI output, you need domain expertise. But a child is still supposed to be building that expertise. You cannot audit what you do not yet understand — and so the substitution becomes foreclosure.
  
  
• AI as provocateur, not thinking partner. The goal is to use AI to surface your own expertise, not to let it generate the thesis.
  
  
• Cognitive Privacy. Tim introduces his Cognitive Privacy Project: AI is the first tool in human history to collect our cognitive behavioural data.

Resources

• Tim Cook's Psychology Today column — The Algorithmic Mind
• Adults Lose Skills to AI. Children Never Build Them — Tim Cook, Psychology Today, March 2026
  
  

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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In this season 8 opener of Digitally Curious, recorded live at the Roof Gardens in London, Andrew Grill is joined by leading human rights lawyer and author Dr Susie Alegre to ask a vital question: how do we stay human in the age of AI?

Susie shares how the Cambridge Analytica scandal pushed her to focus on technology that “hacks humans” by profiling how we think, feel and vote, and why she believes this is a direct attack on our freedom of thought.

Drawing on her books Freedom to Think and Human Rights, Robot Wrongs, she explains what the law already says about AI, why lawsuits against chatbot providers could be a turning point, and how the precautionary principle might apply to today’s systems.

Andrew and Susie spoke about:

• Whether we’re in an AI bubble
• How over‑reliance on generative AI may erode critical thinking
• What AI should (and shouldn’t) do in sectors like law, medicine and hospitality
• Deepfakes, fraud, and practical ways to stay safe

The episode concludes with some simple but radical advice: using AI more selectively, doubling down on human creativity, and choosing connection over automation will ensure we stay human.

Resources mentioned

Freedom to Think – Dr Susie Alegre

Human Rights, Robot Wrongs: Being Human in the Age of AI – Dr Susie Alegre

Digitally Curious – Andrew Grill

Supremacy – Parmy Olson (on the rise of OpenAI and Google’s AI ambitions)

Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell (10,000‑hour rule and expertise)

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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Welcome to Season 7 of the Digitally Curious Podcast. This show is a perfect compendium if you’ve bought the book of the same name, and if you haven’t grabbed yourself a copy, may I suggest that’s something you should consider investing in - just  click here or ask for it by name wherever great books are sold.

In today’s episode, we’re going back in time to an interview I conducted with David Shrier in late 2021 - well before ChatGPT hit the headlines. We discuss his book Augmenting Your Career: How to Win at Work In the Age of AI, and the book and our discussion are as relevant as ever, three years on.

What I found interesting while editing the episode on New Year’s Day 2025 is that it’s an excellent discussion about the fundamentals of AI without the hype of ChatGPT and Generative AI

David Shrier, a trailblazer in technology and educational innovation, joins us in dissecting the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence. His perspective on AI as "augmented intelligence" challenges us to rethink the relationship between humans and machines.

With examples from around the globe, David advocates for AI literacy as a cornerstone of modern education, highlighting how nations like Denmark, China, and Singapore are setting benchmarks.

This episode promises to enhance your understanding of how AI can be integrated into educational ecosystems and professional life, guided by insights from David's book, "Augmenting Your Career."

Navigating the ethical landscape of AI is more important than ever, and we bring focus to the critical role of government regulators in this space. We dive into real-world examples, such as Google's image recognition failures, to underscore the importance of diverse data and ethical diligence. The conversation praises initiatives like those of the UK government and challenges the pitfalls of overregulation, drawing lessons from New York's BitLicense situation. ]

Our discussion is a must-listen for anyone interested in how regulatory frameworks can either propel or stifle technological innovation.

As AI reshapes the job market, we explore the shifting roles and opportunities emerging across various industries. From philosophy majors finding their niche in AI development to the resilience of healthcare and creative arts, there's a world of possibility awaiting those prepared to adapt. We also touch on corporate responsibility, using Accenture's workforce reskilling as a model for sustaining company culture amidst AI-driven changes.

Discover practical strategies for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape, emphasizing cognitive flexibility and continuous learning as keys to thriving in the digital age.

More on David
David on LinkedIn
David's books

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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In Episode 8 we speak with Dr. Lynn Gribble, who is one of Australia’s founding coaches, an accidental academic and an award-winning author and university lecturer.

She’s known as a digital innovator for her work in technology-enabled academia and she calls herself a “pragmatic futurist coach”. She also helps people to “future proof” their careers in an ever-evolving workplace.

We spoke with Lynn from Sydney, Australia where she lives and works.

We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:

• The future of work is about relationships
• Do people want to be managed in the digital age?
• Managing the circumstances not the people
• Soft vs disciplinary skills
• We need people to connect people
• What we can't teach AI to do is make a human connection
• People are the only truly sustainable competitive advantage
• What is the future of work?
• People need to be agile and take ownership of their skills development
• Flexibility is the key in the gig economy
• The serviced office of the future
• The one piece of technology that will drive fundamental change
• The digital agent
• Home robots are the hardest workers
• The receptionist of the future
• The stigma of retrenchment
• Managing Millennials
• What ice skating can teach you
• What organisations get wrong
• If you punish risk you will get no innovation
• Are we addressing ethics in business?
• The link between risk and ethics
• What 3 things can you do next week?
• 1. Build relationships not networks
• 2. Take a small risk & do something new
• 3. How can I be kinder & more connected to colleagues?

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 7 we speak with Pitching expert Peter Hopwood and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Pitching for Success?”

Peter is a communications and presence coach, public speaking and pitch trainer and conference host.

We spoke with Peter from Croatia where he lives and works.

We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:

• Getting people curious about your business
• Simple tricks for networking events
• How to stand out
• Mistakes people make when pitching
• Why the first 60 seconds is key
• The worst pitch ever
• Show you care what you're talking about
• Think about your style and tone
• Getting your nerves under control
• Owning the pause
• How being different gets you noticed
• Channelling Don Draper from Mad Men
• The importance of rehearsals
• Three things you can do next week
• Why should people listen to you?
• Think about your "sexy secret"
• Find out more about Peter

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 6 we speak with the CEO of Integral Communications Group Ethan McCarty  and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Employee Communication?”

A former journalist, Ethan joined IBM in early 2000 to manage the web presence for IBM’s $6 billion a year research division, he also co-authored their groundbreaking blogging guidelines, launched IBM’s intranet podcasting platform and worked on IBM’s award-winning annual report to shareholders.

He is now the CEO of Integral Communications Group, a consulting firm specializing in employee activation, as well as a masters-level lecturer on digital media and employee communications for Columbia University.

We spoke to Ethan from New York where he lives and works.

We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:

• Why Ethan started an employee activation company
• Internal vs External communications
• Harnessing your external network
• Employee Advocacy beyond: "Please retweet this"
• How do you measure employee engagement?
• Helping attract new talent to the firm
• Using communication as a recruitment tool
• How do you "activate" employees?
• Stop "interruption messaging"
• Culture and purpose
• Personal brand vs company brand
• Renting your brand to an organisation
• Eminence vs advocacy
• Showing up with your network
• Design your value proposition to be network permeable
• Getting your digital tools ready
• What 3 things can you do next week to start an employee engagement program?
• 1. Start talking with employees
• 2. Reinspect the measures of our work
• 3. Inspect your practice of iteration
• The Agile Manifesto

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 5 we speak with Digital Strategist Tiffany St James and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Digital Transformation?”

Tiffany is the former Head of Public Participation for the UK Government and an Executive Director of the British Interactive Media Association.

She embeds digital and social media capability into national and international organisations and governments, and speaks worldwide on social media, digital strategy, women in tech and tech innovation.

We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:

• Digital Transformation in the UK Government
• What would you do differently?
• Digital Transformation with people
• How do you transform a large corporate?
• Changing the physical interior of a business
• Being "digitally curious"
• Instilling play into corporate education
• Developing your problem solving muscle
• Using escape rooms to aid problem solving
• "Corporate adventuring" to find out information
• Running a "corporate fire drill"
• Use Corporate Venturing to solve problems
• The Two Tribes in every organisation
• Organising a Hackathon
• Be careful not to over-serve young leaders
• What can the board teach young people?
• Hackathons to create cultural change
• Digital Diversity
• Digital Maturity
• The digital talent crisis
• Getting people studying the right subjects
• Get involved with local schools & unis
• Studying a 2nd language - coding
• Learning how to learn
• What is Employee Experience (EX)?
• Wellness in corporates - a fresh look
• Quantified Workers
• More productive employees take breaks together
• Women in innovation
• Diversity of Thought
• Three things for next week

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 4 we speak with Dom Price, Work Futurist at Australian Unicorn Atlassian and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Work?”

This special episode was recorded live in front of an audience at Australia House in London during Tech Week, hosted by The Australia United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce where we discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:

• The culture at Atlassian
• Place, products, purpose, people
• When AI evolves, what will we be doing?
• Unlearning old ways of working
• Why Dom hates business cases
• How can you “unlearn”?
• The 4 “L’s”
  - Love
  - Longed for
  - Loathed
  - Learn
• Example of the 4L’s in practice
• Declining every meeting
• Staying up to date with latest trends
• The Atlassian scale-up story
• What would you do differently?
• How do you hire people before you need them?
• The best advice Dom ever received
• Getting better not bigger
• Creating company values
• The values interview
• Recognising excellence against values
• What makes the Australian Tech market unique?
• Learning a 2nd language - coding
• The hiring challenge in Australia
• Importing talent to amplify local talent
• Success through diversity
• You’re not going to be the next Netflix of ...
• Attracting talent beyond free lunches & ping-pong tables
• Hiring for values
• The secret sauce of Atlassian
• How to win the global war on talent
• Running a tech camp

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 3 we speak with James Poulter, the co-founder of Voice Agency Vixen Labs and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Voice?”.

In this show, we covered a range of topics including:

• Why James started podcasting back in 2007
• Key learnings from being an early podcaster
• How the next generation will interact with computers using voice
• How smart speakers will drive the growth of all voice services
• Is there a voice “killer app” yet?
• What will Google Duplex do for voice?
• Building empathy into voice services
• The science of voice phrasing for success
• The notion of a “brand tone of voice”
• Predictions for voice in the next 18 months?
• The possibility for dedicated voice departments
• Ambient listening - what is it and what are the implications?
• How voice is growing thanks to “screen fatigue”
• The rise of voice + AR
• Voice in the enterprise
• Privacy vs utility - crossing the “privacy chasm”
• Three things listeners can do next week to experiment with voice

More about James

Twitter: @JamesPoulter
Company: vixenlabs.co
Voice 2 Community

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In Episode 2 we speak with Minter Dial about the future of AI and Ethics and answer the question “What’s the Future of … AI & Ethics?”.

In this show we covered a range of topics:

• What is "Heartificial empathy"?
• The need for empathy in business
• Can we create empathy in a machine?
• Feeling vs cognitive empathy
• Ethics in AI
• Avoiding conscious bias
• How can we learn to be more empathetic?
• The case for reading great novels
• Empathy as a key competitive advantage
• The rise of the "Empathy Index"
• 3 Practical tips for next week

More about Minter

Twitter: @mdial
Blog: minterdial.com
Podcast: minterdial.com/podcast
FutureProof book
HeartificalEmpathy book
The Last Ring Home book

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
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@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
Keynote speeches here
Order Digitally Curious