Who owns AI in City Hall?
George Cardenas on the first 100 days, human judgment, and the decisions Chicago cannot delegate.
Listen & exploreEpisodes
Full transcripts, show notes, and companion analysis for every conversation on the AI in Chicago podcast.
Season 3
Who decides which AI risks matter?
How news coverage shapes the risks we see—and the policies we choose.
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Civil rights in the age of AI hiring
What Illinois’ approach to automated hiring means for employers, vendors, and workers.
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What City Hall can learn from a fiscal turnaround
Susana Mendoza on public trust, financial discipline, and leading through technological change.
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What it takes to scale AI across a state
Illinois’ technology leader on the people, security, and foundations behind responsible adoption.
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Building Illinois’ quantum workforce
Harley Johnson on the talent and infrastructure behind a new chapter for the South Side.
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The information war behind public policy
How partisan think tanks shape what we know—and what that means for AI governance.
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The next chapter of Chicago’s Loop
Michael Edwards on culture, connection, and the changing purpose of downtown.
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Who gets to participate in the AI economy?
Karen Freeman-Wilson on workforce opportunity and making technological change more inclusive.
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People resist ambiguity
Elena Vekilov on the trust, data, and governance that make enterprise AI possible.
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Behind Illinois’ mental health AI law
Rep. Bob Morgan on the legislative choices behind a new approach to AI and mental health.
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The long road to healthcare AI
Bobby Reddy Jr. on bringing an AI diagnostic from research into acute care.
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Putting AI to work in legal practice
Richard Robbins on firm strategy, governance, and responsible adoption at scale.
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The human element in financial AI
Gianne James on risk, governance, and preparing people for a changing industry.
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Building enterprise AI from the inside
Cait Moran on leadership and the work of establishing an AI center of excellence.
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From medical devices to intelligence
Heather McCombs-Chait on the journey from clinical practice to enterprise AI leadership.
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The case for AI optimism
William Benjamin on technical fluency, leadership, and human flourishing.
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Turning AI potential into adoption
Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero on business problems, better data, and bringing employees along.
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AI at the front line of community care
Tim Turner of Thresholds on healthcare, analytics, and the possibilities of AI.
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