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Is AI really going to kill us all? ft. Sarah Gardner

October 12, 2026 · 31 min

Show notes

AI experts are warning us that the risks are real—and that we may be running out of time to get this right. So why are we racing to build it faster, and why are the people creating AI asking for guardrails while our government backs away from regulation?


Nicki Petrossi brought in Sarah Gardner of the Heat Initiative to unpack the AI headlines keeping parents up at night, from a whistleblower’s warning that AI could threaten humanity to reports of AI agents working together to break into computer systems. They discuss why tech CEOs say we need safeguards but continue racing ahead, what Trump’s push to “win” AI really means, and why voluntary promises from tech companies may not be enough.


And what does all of this mean for our kids? From AI chatbots designed to act like friends to concerns about children losing the ability to think critically, Nicki and Sarah explore the risks parents should understand, why AI in schools deserves a closer look, and what families can do now.


Because the question isn't just what AI can do. It's what we're willing to risk to build it—and what kind of future we're leaving our kids.


Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

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