In this conversation, we talk with Vilas Dhar about the intersection of AI, dignity, and human agency, emphasizing the importance of including diverse voices in the conversation about technology. He shares inspiring stories of individuals using AI to address real-world problems, highlights the significance of dignity in technology, and explores the role of creativity and spirituality in shaping a better future. The discussion also touches on the importance of imperfection and the human touch in creativity, as well as the need for wisdom from spiritual traditions to guide the development of AI.

What happens when AI filmmaking keeps its heart in human storytelling?

In this episode, Dylan Thomas Doyle speaks with Jagger Waters, writer, director, and creative lead at Escape—a streaming platform for “neo cinema” that blends cutting-edge tools with timeless story craft.

We talk about the opportunities and tensions at the intersection of AI and traditional film, why comedy remains the hardest genre for AI to master, and how in-person, immersive experiences might be the perfect counterbalance to our tech-saturated lives. Along the way, we explore prompt writing as a new art form, the ethics of transparency in AI use, and why the most exciting stories might come from creators who’ve never set foot in Hollywood.

About the Guest:
Jagger Waters is a Los Angeles–based writer, director, and AI filmmaker with a background in theater, television, and film. She entered the AI cinema space during the 2023 writers’ strike, driven by curiosity and a belief that emerging tools could democratize storytelling. At Escape, she curates and supports innovative work across live action, animation, and AI-driven film, all while advocating for original, ethical uses of the technology.

Topics Covered:

• Defining “neo cinema” and where it fits in the future of film
• The creative potential and pitfalls of AI filmmaking
• Why certain genres—especially comedy—are tough for AI to replicate
• Using AI to expand, not replace, human creativity
• The role of immersive, offline events in a digital world
• Prompt writing as an emerging creative discipline
• Navigating ethics, transparency, and copyright in AI-generated content
• Breaking down barriers for creators outside traditional industry hubs

Resources & Links:
🔗 Learn more about Escape: escape.watch
📚 Book Recommendation: Ways of Being by James Bridle
📷 Follow Jagger: Instagram | X
🎥 Curious Refuge AI Filmmaking Course: curiousrefuge.com

Contact the Show:
📧 Email: aiforalltomorrows@gmail.com
💬 Social: @aiforalltomorrows
🌐 More episodes: aiforalltomorrows.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show! It helps more listeners discover conversations like this one.

What happens when a nation declares AI dominance its top priority? In this episode, Dylan Thomas Doyle speaks with Justin Hendrix, editor of Tech Policy Press, about the Trump administration’s newly released America’s AI Action Plan—a sweeping agenda aimed at accelerating innovation, expanding infrastructure, and securing global leadership in artificial intelligence.

We talk about what this plan means for democracy, privacy, and power. We also talk about why the language of “winning” and “dominance” might obscure more urgent questions about equity, safety, and public voice. Along the way, we explore the tension between regulation and innovation, the role of journalism in tech policy, and what it means to imagine alternative futures in an age of concentrated influence.

About the Guest:
Justin Hendrix is the CEO and Editor of Tech Policy Press, a nonprofit media venture dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology and democracy. With a background in media, civic tech, and academic research, Justin works to elevate rigorous, public-interest reporting and analysis on emerging technology and its political, social, and ethical implications.

Topics Covered:

• What’s inside the America’s AI Action Plan
• The politics of “dominance” in global tech leadership
• Deregulation, infrastructure, and the private sector’s growing role
• How content moderation and age verification impact human rights
• The U.S.’s patchwork approach to privacy
• Free speech, surveillance, and who sets the rules online
• Why we need more democratic, inclusive visions of AI futures

Contact the Show:
📧 Email: aiforalltomorrows@gmail.com
💬 Social: @aiforalltomorrows
🌐 More episodes: aiforalltomorrows.com