In this lively and thought-provoking episode of Creatives WithAI, host Lena Robinson partners up with fellow Startups WithAI host and the OG of this show, David Brown as she is joined by AI entrepreneur and digital platform expert Doug Ayres. Doug shares his insights from nearly two decades in digital innovation, including his latest ventures at EBM and Chat2Impact, where AI is reshaping how charities and nonprofits interact, automate, and support the people who need them most.

This episode also marks the debut of the show’s refreshed format, featuring an open discussion on zeitgeist-defining stories brought by hosts and guests. From the ethics of real-time AI "cheatware" like Cluely, to government use of generative AI tools like Redbox, to the potential of Agentic AI via the new Model Context Protocol (MCP), no corner of the AI conversation is left unexplored. The trio also reflects on future-of-work shifts, generational resilience, and how creativity and human empathy might be our greatest differentiators in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Key Takeaways:

Doug’s consultancy Chat2Impact is using AI to create safe, smart, and low-cost chatbot solutions for charities like Childline and Turn2Us, supporting high-need communities at scale.
The team discusses Cluely, a controversial AI interview assistant, sparking debate on the blurry ethics between cheating and preparing for the future of work.
Lena spotlights New Scientist’s reporting on AI in UK government operations, raising questions about transparency and accountability in leadership.
Doug explains MCP (Model Context Protocol) and its promise for truly Agentic AI, where LLMs go beyond chat to perform real actions based on personal context and secure permissions.
The conversation closes with big questions: What jobs will still exist in 5-10 years? What happens to knowledge work? And how can we lead with creativity, not fear?

Want to help shape future episodes? Drop us a question on our socials or your listening platform of choice so hosts can provide the answers you seek.

Connect Online with Doug (Co-founder of EBM and Chat2Impact):

Doug on LinkedIn
EBM on LinkedIn and Website
Chat2Impact on LinkedIn and Website

Creatives WithAI Host // Lena Robinson //

and Co-host Startups WithAI Host // David Brown //

Stay Curious

Key people and brands referenced in this episode:

Michael Crawley (Former guest) Episode 122
Roy Lee (Creator of “Cluely” AI cheat tool) LinkedIn
Dan Brown (Author of Origin) Book
Stephen Fry (Recommended guest) Website
Jordan Peterson (Recommended guest) Website
Barbara Broccoli (James Bond Director) Wikipedia
Childline (NSPCC helpline) https://www.childline.org.uk/
NSPCC (Charity) https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Turn2us (Charity) https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
New Scientist (Keir Starmer using AI as an advisor) Article
CogX (AI and tech conference) https://www.cogxfestival.com/
OpenAI https://www.openai.com/
Anthropic (Claude AI) https://www.anthropic.com/
Perplexity AI (agentic voice interface) https://www.perplexity.ai/
Stripe (Online Payments) https://stripe.com/
PayPal (Online Payments) https://www.paypal.com/
Visa / Mastercard (Debit/Credit Cards) https://www.visa.co.uk/ / https://www.mastercard.co.uk/
EY (Ernst & Young) and PwC (Management Consultants) https://www.ey.com/ / https://www.pwc.com/
Replit (no-code AI integration) https://replit.com/
Genspark (Slide-creation AI tool) https://genspark.ai/

Creatives/Startups: The Old Way, The New Way, and the AI-Powered In-Between with Doug Ayres