Sci-Fi and AI: Exploring Annie Bot with Sierra Greer

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel dive into the ethical, emotional, and societal complexities of AI companionship with special guest Sierra Greer, author of Annie Bot. This thought-provoking novel explores AI-human relationships, autonomy, and the blurred line between artificial intelligence and the human experience.

Sierra shares her inspiration for Annie Bot and how sci-fi can serve as a lens to explore real-world ethical dilemmas in AI development.

• The conversation covers the concept of reinforcement learning in AI and how it mirrors human conditioning
• The gender dynamics embedded in AI design, and the ethical implications of AI companions.
• The discussion also examines real-life cases of people forming deep emotional bonds with AI chatbots

The episode rounds out with a lively quickfire round, where Sierra debates whether AI should replace lost loved ones, act as conversational assistants for introverts, or intervene in human arguments.

This is a must-listen for fans of sci-fi, behavioral science, and those fascinated by the future of AI companionship and emotional intelligence.

LINKS:

• Sierra Greer website
• Annie Bot – Official Book Page
• Goodreads Profile

TIMESTAMPS:

01:43 AI Companions: A Controversial Opinion

05:48 Exploring Sci-Fi and AI in Literature

07:42 Introducing Sierra Greer and Her Book

09:12 Reinforcement Learning Explained

15:47 Diving into the World of Annie Bot

23:17 Power Dynamics and Human-Robot Relationships

32:31 Humanity and Artificial Intelligence

41:31 Autonomy vs. Agreeableness in Relationships

43:20 Reinforcement Learning in AI and Humans

46:13 Ethics and Gaslighting in AI

48:57 Gender Dynamics in AI Design

57:18 AI Companions and Human Relationships

01:06:45 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI

01:12:39 Final Thoughts and Controversial Opinions

--

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

AI and Behavioral Science in Public Policy with Laura de Moliere

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel Salzer is joined by Laura de Moliere, a behavioral scientist with deep expertise in applying behavioral insights to public policy. As the former head of behavioral science at the UK Cabinet Office, Laura has worked at the intersection of behavioral science and policymaking during some of the most high-stakes moments in recent history, including Brexit and COVID-19.

Samuel and Laura explore the evolving role of AI in behavioral science, reflecting on how AI can enhance decision-making, improve policymaking, and surface unintended consequences. Laura shares her AI “aha moment”—when she realized the potential of large language models to support policymakers in making more behaviorally informed decisions.

The discussion also covers the promises and perils of AI in behavioral science, the potential of synthetic users to test interventions, and the growing challenge of balancing AI’s capabilities with human biases and policymaking needs. The episode wraps up with a playful quickfire round, where Laura debates the use of AI in everything from tax optimization to gamified urinals.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and public policy, offering a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the future of AI in decision-making.

LINKS:

• Laura de Moliere:

• LinkedIn Profile

• INCASE Framework on Unintended Consequences

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 A Surprise Gift

05:38 Reflections on 2025

09:28 AI and Behavioral Science

19:29 Introducing Laura de Moliere

21:30 Start of Laura interview

33:08 Applying Behavioral Science to AI and Government

35:16 Behavioral Science and AI: Use Cases and Impacts

36:32 Understanding and Interacting with AI Models

47:43 Synthetic Users and Their Potential

01:01:08 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI

01:06:35 Controversial Opinions on AI

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

Predictions for 2025: AI, AGI, and the Future of Behavioral Science with Jared Peterson

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel is joined by Jared Peterson, a behavioral scientist and expert in decision science at Nuance Behavior. Together, they explore some of the most pressing questions and exciting developments at the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and the future of human-centered design.

The conversation highlights key advancements from 2024, including the rise of multimodal AI, breakthroughs in AI agents, and the transformative use of AI in scientific research. Samuel and Jared share bold predictions for 2025, tackling questions like:

• Will AI agents become trusted coworkers?
• Can AI revolutionize science?
• And how should we navigate the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI)?

The discussion is packed with hot takes, nuanced perspectives, and thoughtful reflections, including Jared’s controversial prediction about the future of AI in predicting research replicability.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its implications for behavioral science, creativity, and society at large.

For questions or comments - email samuel@nuancebehavior..com

LINKS:

• Jared's website
• Jared's linkedin
• The Science of Context
• A Failure to Disagree

• 
  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Meet Jared Peterson: Behavioral Scientist and AI Expert

01:01 – Reflections on 2024: Key Breakthroughs and Predictions

03:36 – The Multimodal Evolution of AI

10:06 – AI Surpassing Human Benchmarks

21:25 – The Rise of AI Agents and Synthetic Content

35:18 – Musical Turing Test: AI vs. Eurovision

43:26 –Predictions for 2025: AI Coworkers and Beyond

44:06 – AI Coworkers: The Future of Work?

51:11 – AI in Science: Revolutionizing Research

01:05:56 – The Hype and Reality of AGI

01:10:42 – Adoption Challenges and Future Predictions

01:25:40 – Final Thoughts and Controversial Predictions

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

Exploring Psychological Targeting and the Power of AI with Sandra Matz

In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel sit down with Sandra Matz, leading expert on psychological targeting and Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School.

As a computational social scientist, Sandra uses Big Data analytics and experimental methods to study human behavior, uncovering how psychological traits influence business outcomes like financial well-being, consumer satisfaction, and team performance.

The conversation covers how digital footprints from social media, GPS data, and more are leveraged to create psychological profiles, shaping everything from advertisements to decision-making. Sandra provides unique insights into the controversial Cambridge Analytica case and discusses the democratization of personalized content generation through tools like ChatGPT.

Whether you're curious about personality psychology, the ethics of data privacy, or the evolving role of AI, this episode is a must-listen.

LINKS:

• Sandra Matz:

  • Sandra's Website
  • Her New Book: Mindmasters

• Relevant Research and Resources:

  • Cambridge Analytica and the Evolution of Psychological Targeting
  • The Social Dilemma Documentary
  • Big Five Personality Model Explained
  • Moral Foundations Theory Overview

TIMESTAMPS: 02:03 – Personality Tests
09:23 – ChatGPT Gift Experiment
19:50 – Introducing Sandra Matz
21:35 – Understanding Psychological Targeting
24:27 – Real-World Examples and Implications
34:58 – Cambridge Analytica and Data Privacy
39:38 – The Social Dilemma and Personality Representation
41:19 – Understanding Personality Traits
43:49 – Dynamic Personality and Context
46:26 – AI's Role in Psychological Targeting
50:32 – Generative AI and Personalized Content
58:40 – Ethical Considerations and Future of AI
01:11:40 – Final Thoughts and Sandra’s New Book

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

Behavior Change Score with Roos van Duijnhoven

In this special episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel continues the mini-series featuring expert practitioners from the Nuance Behavior team. This week’s guest is Roos van Duijnhoven, a behavioral scientist with a deep passion for designing human-centered digital solutions that drive meaningful behavior change.

Samuel and Roos explore a wide range of topics, including the Behavior Change Score Framework, strategies for improving onboarding and retention in digital health products, and the importance of focusing on real-world behavior (‘big E’ engagement) versus in-app behavior (‘little e’ engagement). They also dive into insights from Nuance Behavior’s ‘Behavior Change Score Report,’ which evaluates fitness apps and provides actionable lessons for designing more effective digital interventions.

This episode offers a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in applying behavioral science to digital product design and health interventions!

LINKS:

• ⁠⁠Roos's LinkedIn⁠
• The Behavior Change Score Report
• ⁠Nuance Behavior Website⁠
• Engagement with Heather Cole-Lewis

TIMESTAMPS

00:36 Meet Roos van Duijnhoven

01:06 Recap of Susan Murhpy episode

07:31 Insights from the Behavior Change Score Report

20:14 Big E vs. Little e Engagement: Real-World vs. In-App Behavior

26:31 Controversial Opinions: Electric Bicycles

29:32 Conclusion and Farewell

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

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The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

Real-Time Behavior Change Algorithms with Susan Murphy

In this thought-provoking episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel explore the cutting edge of AI in behavioral science with Professor Susan Murphy, a world-renowned expert in statistics and behavioral research.

The conversation dives into Susan's groundbreaking work on micro-randomized trials and just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI) to create personalized, real-time behavior change algorithms. Together, they explore the role of reinforcement learning in adapting interventions over time, tackling ethical challenges, and sustaining user engagement in a rapidly evolving world.

This episode also includes a fun "To AI or Not to AI" quickfire round and Susan’s reflections on the "frontier" nature of behavioral science today, making this a must-listen for anyone passionate about technology, psychology, and innovation.

LINKS:

• ⁠Susan Murphy's Faculty Page⁠

• ⁠Learn more about JITAI
• Heart Steps Study⁠
• ⁠Nuance Behavior Website

• 
  

• TIMESTAMPS

  01:00 – AI Voice Assistants in Everyday Life

  07:22 – Introduction to Susan Murphy

  08:06 – Micro-Randomized Trials Explained

  11:08 – Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAI)

  27:19 – Reinforcement Learning and Behavioral Science

  35:15 – Adaptive Algorithms for Personalized Support

  40:30 – Micro-Randomization and Personalized Interventions

  45:19 – Maintaining Engagement in Digital Interventions

  49:51 – The Frontier Nature of Behavioral Science

  51:39 – Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI

  57:13 – Ethical Considerations in AI and Behavioral Science

  --

  Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

  Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

  Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@habitweekly.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠

AI Chatbots and Synthetic Users with Hassan Aleem

In this special episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel kicks off a new mini-series featuring expert practitioners from the Nuance Behavior team.

This week’s guest is Hassan Aleem, a respected behavioral practitioner with a Ph.D. in neuroscience and extensive experience in industries like fintech, health wearables, and public health.

Together, Samuel and Hassan explore the fascinating intersection of AI and behavioral science. They discuss AI’s impact on user research, the opportunities and challenges of AI-powered chatbots, the role of synthetic users in behavioral research, and the potential of AI to streamline literature reviews.

The conversation culminates in a thought-provoking discussion: can AI truly understand and design for beauty?

This episode is packed with insights on how AI can enhance behavioral science practice while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human expertise.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to the Behavioral Design Podcast
02:00 Meet Hassan Aleem: Neuroscientist and Behavioral Practitioner
02:37 Exploring AI in Behavioral Science
03:42 The Role of AI in User Research
10:21 Chatbots and Behavioral Design
18:50 AI in Literature Reviews and Research
34:59 Can AI Understand Beauty?
40:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

LINKS:

• ⁠Hassan's LinkedIn
• Nuance Behavior Website

--

Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nuancebehavior.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.

Every Monday our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Habit Weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.

Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@habitweekly.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The song used is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Murgatroyd by David Pizarro⁠