Great Ideas – The Future Of AI (and picture books!) Is Ours To Shape with Afua Bruce

AI’s future isn’t inevitable—and people don’t need to be technology experts to help shape it. In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie is joined by Afua Bruce, CEO of ANB Advisory Group, author, and leading advocate for public interest technology. Together, they explore how community, curiosity, and human-centered thinking can guide technology toward a more equitable future. From navigating AI news fatigue and building effective coalitions to writing children's books about trailblazing innovators like Bessie Blount, Afua breaks down why the future belongs to all of us and how everyday choices keep humanity at the center of innovation. Key Takeaways: ● Pace your tech engagement. You don't have to follow every AI headline in real time; checking in periodically prevents burnout while keeping you informed. ● Learn in community. Exploring new technology and advocating for responsible tech usage are far more effective when done collectively rather than in isolation. ● Align incentives to build coalitions. Sustainable policy and tech adoption happen where organizational, community, and economic incentives intersect. ● Look beyond AI. Artificial intelligence is only one piece of the broader technology landscape, and advancements in other technological fields remain vital to human progress. ● Claim your stake in the future. The future of tech is unwritten, meaning everyone has an equal voice in deciding how, where, and to what extent automated systems enter our lives. “[Give] yourself a little bit of freedom there to say that you don't have to keep up with every headline as it comes out, but periodically checking in is important." — Afua Bruce "Don't try to learn about the technology on your own. Don't try to go through the pros and cons of how AI is working on your own, but really find others in community." — Afua Bruce "The future is not written, so we are all equally experts in the future, and that means that we all can still have a stake and a voice in shaping what the future is to include, to what extent we allow AI in different systems in different ways, and how we decide for it to show up in our lives." — Afua Bruce About Afua Bruce: Afua Bruce is a leading voice at the intersection of technology, strategy, and impact. She is the CEO of ANB Advisory Group, advising organizations across sectors on responsible technology and data strategy. Previously, Afua held senior science and technology roles at the White House, the FBI, and IBM. Afua is an affiliate at Harvard Kennedy School’s Berkman Klein Center, serves on the board of Code the Dream, and holds degrees from Purdue University and the University of Michigan. Her debut picture book, "Bessie the Inventor: The STEMinist who Forged Her Own Path," is now available for pre-order. Pre-order Bessie the Inventor: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bess... Connect with Afua: Website: https://www.anbadvisory.com/ Personal Website: https://www.afuabruce.com/ Instagram:   / afua_bruce   LinkedIn:   / afua-bruce   Connect with Kristine: The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram:   / impactfull_inc   LinkedIn:   / kristine-breese-michie   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.