On this episode of That Tech Pod, we talk with Logan Lawler, Senior Director at Dell Technologies, about what it takes to make AI actually work in the real world. Logan shares his 16-year journey at Dell and why his focus today is less on hype and more on practical infrastructure choices that enable AI at scale.

We break down Edge AI versus Cloud AI with clear, concrete examples, including how GPU-accelerated desktops, workstations, and hybrid cloud setups can turn “that’s impossible” AI problems into manageable ones. Logan also highlights why storage, not compute, is often the biggest bottleneck, and the common mistakes organizations make when data can’t keep up with GPUs. The conversation gets into energy and sustainability, from the environmental cost of massive data centers to what it means when nuclear power and AI collide. We also explore the human side of AI: whether instant answers are making us lazier, why struggle is still essential for learning, and how that idea shows up in parenting, education, and work. We close with real-world edge AI success stories, a few cautionary tales, and some lighter moments, making this a grounded discussion on AI, infrastructure, and the tradeoffs we rarely talk about.

Logan Lawler works at Dell Technologies, where he leads strategy for Dell Pro Precision AI Solutions. Over his 16-year career at Dell, he’s worked across sales, marketing, and e-commerce, and now helps enterprises and creative studios leverage high-performance AI workstations and hybrid cloud infrastructure. A frequent speaker and media guest, Logan explains how GPU-accelerated PCs and storage solutions are transforming industries from film and animation to healthcare research. Logan was raised in Missouri and is a graduate of the University of Missouri. He now lives in Texas with his family.

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, to talk about the power structures hiding in plain sight across the internet, money, surveillance, and AI. Cindy breaks down what EFF actually does and why access to the internet is not just an infrastructure problem, but a civil liberties issue that shapes who gets heard, who gets tracked, and who gets left out.

We get into how mass surveillance quietly became normal, from license plate readers to cell phone tracking, and why most people would be genuinely shocked if they saw the full picture. We also look ahead at financial surveillance, using Europe’s move toward a Digital Euro as a case study, and ask where legitimate oversight ends and control begins. On the AI front, Cindy pushes back on the idea that privacy is already lost, and explains why treating opaque systems as inevitable only benefits the most powerful actors. Cindy makes a clear case that defending digital rights does not require being a technologist or a lawyer. It starts with staying skeptical, asking hard questions, and refusing to accept tools we are not allowed to understand or challenge. That is exactly why this conversation mattered, and why we were so glad to have her on.

Cindy Cohn is the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and previously served as EFF’s Legal Director and General Counsel from 2000 to 2015. She has been involved with EFF since 1993, when she served as lead outside counsel in the landmark Bernstein v. U.S. Department of Justice case, a successful First Amendment challenge to U.S. export restrictions on cryptography. Her work has been widely recognized, with honors from Forbes, The National Law Journal, and The NonProfit Times for her influence in technology, law, and civil liberties. She is also the co-host of EFF’s podcast, How to Fix the Internet, and the author of Privacy’s Defender, published by MIT Press. More information about the book can be found at https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262051248/privacys-defender/

Today Kevin and Laura chat with Bala Muthiah, Director of Engineering at Lyft, to talk about what leadership looks like when your product moves real people through the real world. Bala shares his path from immigrating to the U.S. to leading teams responsible for systems that make time-sensitive decisions at massive scale, and how those experiences shaped his views on power, responsibility, and trust in technology.

We talk about what privacy and safety actually mean at scale, where data is not abstract and mistakes have real consequences. Bala is candid about where rideshare platforms have improved, where industries such as these still struggle, and how leaders decide where to draw hard lines around data use even when the tech makes it more possible. The conversation also gets into the human side of engineering. How do you push for speed and performance while building teams that care about ethics, psychological safety, and consent? Bala shares how AI can be used to surface collaboration risks, why that can feel uncomfortable, and how transparency and boundaries matter just as much as capability.

Bala Muthiah leads teams that power real‑time decision systems for millions of users. An immigrant from India turned Silicon Valley leader, he’s also a startup advisor, nonprofit board member, and mentor across multiple platforms. Bala blends technical expertise with people‑first leadership and community impact—showing how to scale teams, startups, and even personal growth with empathy, innovation, and AI.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this conversation are personal and do not represent the views of his current or former employers or affiliated organizations.