Edge to Knowledge – A BUas Podcast Series

Ray and Marenna are known at BUas for their thoughtful conversations and sharp questions – whether in lectures, team discussions or at the coffee machine. In Edge to Knowledge, they bring these conversations into the recording studio to reflect on AI in the context of our daily lives. Their guiding question throughout the series: Can we be happy with AI?

Rather than offering definitive answers, they explore the nuances and invite listeners to think along. “Sometimes,” they explain, “raising the question is more valuable than rushing to an answer.”

Episode 1: Exploring AI’s potential for happiness

In this first episode, Ray and Marenna look at AI on a personal level. Could an AI companion offer comfort? Is it a symptom of loneliness when people share their innermost thoughts with a chatbot – or could it signal a new kind of digital intimacy? They ask whether AI could help us feel more connected, support our well-being, or even help us experience more serendipitous moments in life.

For those looking to dive deeper, the episode’s show notes include a curated list of books, articles and podcasts, such as reflections from The Guardian’s John Naughton and titles like Brave New Words by Salman Khan.

Episode 2: Exploring AI’s potential for happiness in work

As work occupies a significant part of our lives, what role might AI play in shaping our happiness at work? Can it reduce mundane tasks or introduce new, meaningful opportunities? In this episode, Ray and Marenna discuss AI’s growing role in the workplace – including the curious concept of bots emailing other bots, and what it might mean for human connection and agency.

The accompanying show notes provide further reading, including a thought-provoking piece from the Financial Times about a world without junior employees, and a recommended podcast by Anthropic’s Dario Amodei.

Episode 3: Exploring AI’s potential for happiness

As educators, Ray and Marenna close the series with an exploration of AI in education. Will AI become the expert on stage? Will the human teacher evolve into a guide, a coach, or something entirely different? What are the risks of relying on big tech in our learning environments – and where do we draw the line?

The recourses shared with this episode are particularly relevant for fellow educators, with reading suggestions such as Academia Next by Bryan Alexander and a Dutch perspective from Tim Franssen’s In onze Tijd.

An experiment worth repeating?

Edge to Knowledge was recorded in the BUas studio – a space new to both hosts. “Talking into the mic was the easy part,” Ray and Marenna admit. “Getting to know the equipment and editing process was a bit more challenging. But with the support of our colleagues in the studio and Marketing, Communication & Student-community team, it became a truly rewarding experiment.”

Whether this series marks the beginning of more episodes or remains a summer one-off is still up for discussion. For now, the result is an insightful and accessible mini-series that invites the BUas community – and beyond – to reflect on AI from a human-centred perspective.