Big Technology Podcast Episode: She Wants AI To Help You Thrive, Not Just Keep You Company — Ilan Boro Host: Alex Kantrowitz Release Date: May 28, 2025

Introduction: Rethinking AI’s Purpose

In this enlightening episode of Big Technology Podcast, host Alex Kantrowitz engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ilan Boro, the founder and CEO of ThrivePal. Ilan challenges the prevailing trend in the AI industry that focuses predominantly on companionship and therapy. Instead, he advocates for leveraging artificial intelligence to help individuals thrive and lead more fulfilling lives.

Ilan’s Journey in AI: From Facebook to ThrivePal

[00:00] Ilan begins by sharing an intriguing backstory of his early career at Facebook, where he explored using AI to mediate heated online conversations by injecting factual information to reduce polarization.

“Working on AI has always been about helping people live better lives,” Ilan states [01:00], highlighting his initial belief that providing reliable facts could lessen online disagreements.

The Ineffectiveness of Fact-Checking in Reducing Polarization

Delving deeper, Ilan discusses the limitations encountered during his Facebook experiment. He explains that fact-checking often backfires, with individuals becoming more entrenched in their beliefs when confronted with contradictory information.

[02:55] “If you just show people the facts, they won’t be disagreeing so much,” Ilan reflects, “But the trust in institutions has been going down.”

He emphasizes that successful intervention requires trusted personal relationships, not just authoritative fact injection.

Transitioning Focus: From Online Conflict to Personal Fulfillment

Recognizing the shortcomings of his initial approach, Ilan shifted his focus toward understanding what genuinely makes people happy and fulfilled.

[05:34] “I wanted to understand what makes people happy or feel like their life is fulfilling,” Ilan explains, noting that online interactions are driven by varied motivations beyond just seeking facts, such as entertainment, connection, and emotional release.

The Impact of the Internet on Human Happiness

Ilan elaborates on how the internet amplifies both positive and negative human behaviors, making instant gratification more accessible and pervasive.

[08:33] “The immediate rewards online are very easy to capture, but they often lead to more fast-paced, short-term satisfaction rather than long-term fulfillment,” he observes.

He draws an analogy to the movie Wall-E, illustrating the dangers of over-reliance on technology for instant gratification, leading to diminished human resilience.

Building ThrivePal: An AI-Driven Path to Flourishing

Transitioning to his current venture, Ilan introduces ThrivePal, an AI startup aimed at helping individuals build fulfilling lives through scientifically-backed techniques.

[40:26] “We’re trying to give people tools that are very science-backed and help them discover and experiment with what works for them,” Ilan outlines the mission of ThrivePal.

Differentiating ThrivePal from Traditional Chatbots

Ilan distinguishes ThrivePal from generic chatbots like ChatGPT by emphasizing its structured, curated approach focused on long-term well-being rather than mere companionship.

[57:59] “We provide more structure and editorial choices, ensuring that the advice and techniques are reliable and aligned with our mission to help people thrive,” he explains.

Strategies for Encouraging Healthy Habits

Ilan discusses the challenges of motivating individuals to adopt healthy habits and how ThrivePal uses AI to create engaging, supportive environments without resorting to manipulative tactics.

[53:54] “We leverage techniques like temptation bundling, where you pair something you want to do with something you need to do,” Ilan shares, detailing strategies to make habit formation enjoyable and sustainable.

The Role of Community in Thriving

A recurring theme in the conversation is the importance of community and social accountability in personal growth. Ilan believes that human connections are essential for genuine flourishing.

[29:39] “Can we help people who already have some stuff figured out help their friends?” Ilan muses, highlighting the value of peer support over impersonal AI interactions.

Future Vision: A World Where Everyone Thrives

In the concluding segment, Ilan paints a hopeful vision for the future where technology empowers individuals and communities to thrive collectively rather than fostering isolation and competition.

[60:34] “I hope we can get to a world where people feel their lives have meaning, know what that means for them and their friends, and can thrive as a whole species,” Ilan passionately states.

Conclusion: A Call to Reimagine AI’s Role

Ilan Boro’s insights offer a compelling argument for reorienting AI development towards fostering human flourishing and community well-being. By moving beyond the current focus on companionship and instant gratification, ThrivePal aims to empower individuals with the tools and support needed for long-term happiness and fulfillment.

Notable Quotes:

• Ilan Boro [01:00]:

  “Working on AI has always been about helping people live better lives.”

• Ilan Boro [02:55]:

  “If you just show people the facts, they won’t be disagreeing so much.”

• Ilan Boro [05:34]:

  “I wanted to understand what makes people happy or feel like their life is fulfilling.”

• Ilan Boro [40:26]:

  “We’re trying to give people tools that are very science-backed and help them discover and experiment with what works for them.”

• Ilan Boro [57:59]:

  “We provide more structure and editorial choices, ensuring that the advice and techniques are reliable and aligned with our mission to help people thrive.”

• Ilan Boro [60:34]:

  “I hope we can get to a world where people feel their lives have meaning, know what that means for them and their friends, and can thrive as a whole species.”

Key Takeaways:

1. AI’s Potential Beyond Companionship: Ilan advocates for using AI to enhance human flourishing by providing personalized, science-backed tools that encourage long-term fulfillment.

2. Challenges with Fact-Checking: Simply injecting facts into polarized debates often exacerbates conflicts, highlighting the need for trusted interpersonal relationships in effective interventions.

3. Importance of Community: Genuine thriving is closely tied to supportive communities and social accountability, which AI can facilitate but not replace.

4. Structured and Curated AI Solutions: ThrivePal distinguishes itself by offering a structured approach to personal growth, ensuring reliability and alignment with users’ long-term goals.

5. Hope for Collective Flourishing: Ilan envisions a future where technology empowers individuals and communities to thrive together, moving away from zero-sum competition towards shared well-being.

Whether you're passionate about AI, personal development, or the intersection of technology and human well-being, this episode of Big Technology Podcast offers invaluable insights into how we can harness artificial intelligence to create a more fulfilling and connected world.