🤷‍♀️ Robots are here. Are we?

Author

Helen Todd (Human)
August 14, 2025

In partnership with 

Creativity Squared: On Being Human in the Age of A.I.
❝

“The future does not belong to the fastest machines. It belongs to those who get better at being human.”

Dr. Eric Solomon

Dear Creativity Squared Collective —

Hope this finds you well wherever in the world you’re reading this!

In today’s newsletter, I want to spotlight my good friend and Creativity Squared guest Dr. Eric Solomon and his latest and fantastic TEDx talk: Robots are here. Are we? 

In Episode 8: A.I. Will Never Be Human, Eric made his first appearance on Creativity Squared with a call to look inside ourselves instead of to tech for how to be more human.

His TEDx talk expands on this theme, and against the backdrop of pervasive tech, he asks who's driving us — are we powerless to the algorithms and machines in our lives?

Eric is also an Imagination Age thought partner, and we both champion human agency, especially in light of Sam Altman’s A.I. determinism. Sam’s “Intelligence Age,” which I’ve written about before, is missing one big thing in his vision for our shared future:
human agency.

In Eric’s TEDx talk, he reminds us that often more technology doesn’t help us be more human. In fact, it often weighs us down and distracts us.

In a world where technology is more interwoven into every aspect of our lives, I appreciate Eric’s message that the future doesn't belong to machines. It belongs to those brave enough to take the wheel and to co-create and steer our shared future.

It’s a question we’ll explore more here, on the show, and in my book — how do we stay fully human in a world run more and more by machines?

As Eric shared: we have choice, and if we’ve handed our power over for the convenience of these systems, then we can take it back and be in the driver’s seat of how tech fits into our lives — the choice is ours.

Paqui Lizana, Dr. Walter D. Greason, and Helen Todd

And for more on human agency, please vote for my SXSW 2026 panel submission: The Imagination Age: Reawaken Human Agency vs AI Determinism.

It’s quick and easy to vote: Create or log in to a PanelPicker account and simply “heart” to vote for it: Vote here today! And thank you for your support — it really helps and means a lot.

Tried vibe coding, but it isn’t enough? Our newsletter sponsor Big Kitty Labs, with 14 years in business and 330+ customers, is what you’re looking for. Don’t miss their offer of a free software strategy session and bonus blueprint visualization of your idea — a $2K value. Book your free call today!

Until next week, here’s to playing in the playground of possibility to manifest more magic in 2025! 🪄✨

-Helen

Helen Todd (she/her)
Human behind Creativity Squared
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How creatives are collaborating with A.I.

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💝 PRE-ORDER YOUR BOOK

Become a Creativity Squared and #ImaginationAge supporter today! Pre-order my forthcoming book as a crowd-funded advance, enabling me to bring it to life. The book is based on my SXSW presentation of the same name, “Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age.” Your financial support enables the movement and this independent female voice to champion it — thank you to everyone’s who’s already ordered a copy!

Bots now account for over half of all internet traffic

Plenty of the traffic falls on bad bots

www.techradar.com/pro/security/bots-now-account-for-over-half-of-all-internet-traffic

Larry Ellison and Oracle Beat Microsoft for Largest Tech Contract Ever: $100-Billion OpenAI Stargate Deal

OpenAI will pay Oracle over $82 million daily starting FY28, cementing the largest tech partnership ever and signaling a major realignment away from Microsoft.

cloudwars.com/ai/larry-ellison-and-oracle-beat-microsoft-for-largest-tech-contract-ever-100-billion-openai-stargate-deal

OpenAI Scrambles to Update GPT-5 After Users Revolt

GPT-5 was touted as a major upgrade to ChatGPT, but not everyone thinks that’s the case: “Kill 4o isn’t innovation, it’s erasure.”

www.wired.com/story/openai-gpt-5-backlash-sam-altman

Porn websites now require age verification in the UK – the privacy and security risks are numerous

Online age verification technology is not as mature and safe as government and regulators would like it to be.

theconversation.com/porn-websites-now-require-age-verification-in-the-uk-the-privacy-and-security-risks-are-numerous-261592

How Wikipedia is fighting AI slop content

Wikipedians are wading through the muck.

www.theverge.com/report/756810/wikipedia-ai-slop-policies-community-speedy-deletion

The EU AI Act aims to create a level playing field for AI innovation: Here's what it is | TechCrunch

The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, known as the EU AI Act, has been described as “the world's first comprehensive AI law” by the European Commission.

techcrunch.com/2025/08/05/the-eu-ai-act-aims-to-create-a-level-playing-field-for-ai-innovation-heres-what-it-is

Fear Of AGI Is Driving Harvard And MIT Students To Drop Out

AGI — a theoretical AI that can do many of the same tasks as humans can — could come within a decade. College students, including from elite universities, are abandoning school now to work full-time on preventing it from turning on humanity.

www.forbes.com/sites/victoriafeng/2025/08/06/fear-of-super-intelligent-ai-is-driving-harvard-and-mit-students-to-drop-out

Tesla signs $16.5B deal with Samsung to make AI chips | TechCrunch

The deal for next-generation chips is a boon for Samsung. 

techcrunch.com/2025/07/28/tesla-signs-16-5b-deal-with-samsung-to-make-ai-chips

Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone

Electricity rates for individuals and small businesses could rise sharply as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other technology companies build data centers and expand into the energy business.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/business/energy-environment/ai-data-centers-electricity-costs.html

Consumer safety groups are demanding an FTC investigation into Grok’s ‘Spicy’ mode

The letter comes after Grok Imagine spat out topless deepfakes of Taylor Swift.

www.theverge.com/x-ai/759554/consumer-safety-groups-are-demanding-an-ftc-investigation-into-groks-spicy-mode-elon-musk-grok-imagine-xai

💝 SUPPORT CREATIVITY SQUARED & ARTSWAVE

How can you support this show? I’m so glad you asked! ☺️

Here are a few ways you can contribute to this independent female voice’s platform who’s championing Responsible A.I. and a human-centered future where it’s Dolly Parton and Holly Herndon — protectors of dreams and generative in their generosity and work — ushering in the #ImaginationAge (not AI ushering in the Intelligence Age, where humans are erased, starting with the framing…but I digress!).

Please consider supporting Creativity Squared in whatever way you can and would like to:

✅ Subscribe to the Creativity Squared YouTube channel (one day in the near future, I’ll be making money from this channel!)

🎨 I want to live in a world where artists not only coexist with A.I., but thrive. And because it’s important to support artists, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates goes to ArtsWave, a nationally recognized non-profit that supports over 150 arts organizations, projects, and independent artists. Consider becoming a Premium Member today or making a one-time tip!

🦋 I'm SUPER excited to share that my SXSW presentation, Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age, is becoming a book! 📗 The conversations on my podcast Creativity Squared have informed many of the concepts. Pre-order your copy today as a crowd-funded advance to support an independent female voice. Your support will enable me to bring this idea to life — and is greatly appreciated! 🥰💛

🎉 And as a reminder, when you support this show, you’re also supporting ArtsWave! Because it’s important to support artists, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates goes to ArtsWave, a nationally recognized non-profit that supports over 150 arts organizations, projects, and independent artists. For the third year in a row, we’re proud to partner with ArtsWave to also amplify the phenomenal artists selected for their 2025 Black and Brown Artist Program, elevating underrepresented voices and bridging cultural divides through art. You can get caught up on previous years’ ArtsWave interview series here!

🚀 Interested in becoming a sponsor of Creativity Squared? Reach out!

👍 AFFILIATE RECOMMENDATIONS 

💝 Using these links also supports Creativity Squared, and we only recommend what we actually back!

🐝 We use Beehiiv for this newsletter and are big fans! (If you’re not aware of Substack’s racist issues, this NYT article is for you.)

🎙 Riverside is the platform we use for recording podcast episodes, and recommend the web-based software!

🎶 Play Audio Agency, headquartered in Cincinnati, is home to the team that helps produce the show and are audio rock stars!

🖥 Need a new website or the slightest of help on your current site? Check out e9 Digital — they created, and help us host and manage Creativity Squared’s website! They know how to make accessible websites which I love. Mention Creativity Squared for 20% off too!

📆 EVENTS, A.I. CONFERENCES & MORE! 

🤝 SEPTEMBER 2 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), September meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
🎤 SEPTEMBER 10-11 MidwestCon (#MidwestCon), Cincinnati (CincyAI Community Partner)
📍 SEPTEMBER 24-26 TEDAI Vienna, Vienna, Austria
📍 SEPTEMBER 26 OhioX Ohio Tech Day (OhioX, #OhioX), Columbus

For the full calendar, check it out here!

Interested in having me speak at your event or host a workshop for your organization? Reach out!

🗞 PRESS & PODCAST INTERVIEWS

📺 BBC News (June 5, 2025) — What is the future of digital clones? 

Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age!

SXSW 2025 Schedule | Embark on an adventure into the Imagination Age, where economic value derives from the power of ideas and anything you envision can materialize. A.I. is ushering in an era where human creativity — not productivity — reigns supreme. Ideas are the new currency and thoughts the new prompts, with the gap between concept and creation rapidly shrinking. To be human is to be creative, and this moment beckons us to shift our focus from human DOING to human BEING — ethically and responsibly. Join this...

schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP154406

🎙 Fulcra Dynamics podcast, “The Augmented Life,” with CEO Michael Tiffany (April 29, 2025) — The Imagination Age Is Here: Reclaiming Attention, Creativity, and the Future of AI with Helen Todd

🎙 AI Explored with Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner (November 5, 2024) — Using AI to Expand Your Ideas and Creativity 

🎙 Reflections with an Accent with Kike Calvo (October 18, 2024) — Unveiling AI's Creative Power with Helen Todd | Reflections with an Accent 

🏆 Cincinnati Business Courier’s Fire Awards (May 2025) — Finalist in “Disruptor” category for CincyAI for Humans

🏆 Aviatra Accelerators (September 5, 2024) — Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award 

📖 Movers & Makers Magazine (October 1, 2024) — Notables in AI + Print

📖 Cincinnati Magazine + Print (December 19, 2023) — Clone Wars + Print

🖥 SXSW Conference Community Newsletter (December 5, 2024) — SXSW 2025 Speaker Helen Todd talks Digital Twins

🖥 UC News (June 4, 2024) — Community of AI enthusiasts expands in Cincinnati

🖥 UC Office of Research (February 28, 2024) — CincyAI and Digital Futures Partnership: Growing AI Talent in our Region & Beyond 

Listen: Ep.75 BBL Drizzy, A.I. & Manifesting A.I.: Discover How Will Hatcher Manifested His Way to a Time100 A.I. 2024 Honoree

Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Pandora | Amazon | Google | SoundCloud | iHeart Radio

“If you're trying to play life safe, then I don't think you can fully experience life, you know. So you gotta go to places that you never been before, be in uncomfortable situations, because that's where the real growth is.” -King Willonius

Discover the magic of manifesting in a Creativity Squared exclusive interview from the ONLY comedian (and one of two artists!) who’s a Time100 AI 2024 honoree in the Innovators category: King Willonius. 👑 

His real name is Willonius Hatcher (his first name is pronounced “Will-OWN-ee-us,” and he also goes by Will). 2024 has been a breakout year for Will after his “BBL Drizzy” comedy song went viral — the first song made in collaboration with A.I. that became a cultural phenomenon, transcending genres and mediums!  

What do Burning Man, Dune 2, and the Frost Planetarium have to do with his story? Listen in to our 75th episode — and the last one for 2024! — to find out.

Creativity Squared interviewed Will live at the FilmGate Miami Interactive Festival XI, one of the top ten immersive festivals in the world! You’ll hear why it’s so special from the festival’s Head Curator, Co-Founder, and Executive Producer, Diliana Alexander. 

On opening night, the FilmGate Miami audience got a preview of the “BBL Drizzy Musical Dome Experience”. Next year, Creativity Squared will be back to see the full production and host another time capsule conversation with Will. 

Once you check out the interview, you’ll know that Will is just scratching the surface of what’s possible — he’s ahead of the entertainment industries, and is definitely one to follow!

Why did he make the Time100 AI 2024 Innovators list? 

For Creativity Squared Founder and Podcast Host, Helen Todd’s take, check out the dedicated blog post accompanying this episode (we recommend starting with this first 😉):

Ep75. King Willonius: BBL Drizzy, A.I. & Manifesting - Creativity Squared

Ep75. King Willonius: BBL Drizzy, A.I. & Manifesting: Discover How Will Hatcher Manifested His Way to a Time100 A.I. 2024 Honoree

Our 2025 podcast season will kick off again in April, but we’ll keep the newsletter going between now and then, aside from the holidays.

Here’s to manifesting more magic in the new year — enjoy! 💝🪄✨

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