The other day, I got a message out of the blue - would I be up for chatting on the radio about AI and its impact? Now, I love a good natter about tech (it’s kind of our thing), so I was all over it! “Yes,” I said.
It all started off with a call from the producer, who wanted to get a feel for what I’d say on air. We talked about the usual AI debates - excitement vs fear, the way AI is shaping our lives, and what’s actually happening beyond the headlines. I explained that AI isn’t some distant sci-fi concept - it’s been around for ages, quietly working behind the scenes in everything from predictive text to music recommendations. She was excited and said, “Brilliant, we’ll get you on live.”
Fast forward, and I’m sitting there with a Zoom link, ready to go live on BBC Radio Stoke with Stuart George. Now, I should say, I’m no stranger to the station - I pop up from time to time as BBC Radio Stoke’s ‘Digital Doctor’, helping make sense of the fast-moving world of tech with my Wavemaker Lab Coat on. But this time, the focus was on AI: should we be celebrating it or bracing for impact?
Stuart jumped straight in with the big questions, and I gave him the honest answer - both. AI is a game-changer, and with big shifts come big opportunities, but also big responsibilities. The media loves a ‘run for the hills’ AI apocalypse story, but in reality, this tech has massive potential to improve lives—if we steer it in the right direction.
We got talking about jobs, misinformation, and AI’s growing role in everyday life. Stuart asked the big one: Is AI going to take all our jobs? My take? AI will definitely change jobs, but it’s not about humans vs. robots - it’s about how we adapt, use AI to work with us rather than replace us, and make sure the benefits aren’t just scooped up by the big tech firms.
One thing I really wanted to highlight is that this is the ‘worst’ AI will ever be - it’s only going to get better. So instead of just reacting to it, we need to be actively shaping it, making sure it works for everyone. And that’s where my work at Wavemaker Stoke comes in.
At Wavemaker, we’re all about tech for good - giving young people and communities the digital skills they need to thrive. Whether it’s AI, coding, digital creativity, or just getting to grips with tech in a way that actually makes sense, we’re here to make tech accessible, useful, and fun. This AI shift is massive, and if we want to make sure it benefits everyone - not just big companies - we need more people involved in the conversation.
The chat flew by, and before I knew it, we were wrapping up. Stuart said how interesting it was (always nice to hear!), and that was that - another radio slot done! Watch out Chris Evans!
So yeah, that was my little stint on national radio.
If you fancy having a listen, here’s the link:
BBC Sounds. 1:14:27 mins in.
And if you’ve got thoughts on AI -whether you love it, hate it, or just aren’t sure what to think - give Wavemaker a call. Always up for a good chat about tech, the future, and what it all actually means for us regular folks.
Ben
If you fancy having a listen, here’s the link:
BBC Sounds. 1:14:27 mins in.
And if you’ve got thoughts on AI -whether you love it, hate it, or just aren’t sure what to think - give Wavemaker a call. Always up for a good chat about tech, the future, and what it all actually means for us regular folks.
Ben