Episode 1 | Flipping the Script: AI, Data Privacy, and a New Digital Economy

In this premiere episode of And We Feel Fine, Beth Rudden and Katie Smith crack open the big questions: Who owns your data? What does ethical AI look like? And how do we reclaim digital spaces for safety, joy, and human connection?

Through stories, sharp critique, and vision-casting, they explore how ontologies shape AI systems, the hidden harms of bias in tech, and why personalization can be a force for good—if driven by care, not clicks. They call for a future where technology supports thriving communities, not extraction.

This is not just a conversation about AI. It’s a conversation about us—what motivates us, what we value, and how we build a more humane internet from the ground up.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• How Big Tech extracts and profits from your data
• What ontologies teach us about understanding people and systems
• Cognitive bias in AI—and how to design for cultural nuance
• Data privacy, ethical marketing, and digital safety
• Reimagining social media beyond toxic engagement loops
• The future of work and the call for a care-centered economy
• Everyday miracles, digital dignity, and collective power

📌 Key Takeaways:

• Data isn’t neutral—it’s powerful, and it’s personal.
• Cultural bias in AI can be mitigated with better ontologies and diverse input.
• We need a new digital economy grounded in human connection and care.
• The business model of the internet must shift from extraction to trust.
• Personalization can be beautiful—when we drive it, not algorithms.
• Reclaiming our online lives means rethinking the system itself.

⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps):

• 00:00 Understanding (as an example) Palantir and Big Tech's Data Extraction
• 07:34 The Role of Ontologies in AI and Human Understanding
• 21:00 The Future of AI and Its Societal Implications
• 33:55 Safety and Moderation in Online Spaces
• 40:17 The Pursuit of Happiness and Community
• 46:52 The Need for a New Economy56:56 Building Genuine Relationships Online