Lead With AI – Episode Summary
Podcast: Lead With AI
Host: Dr. Tamara Nall
Guest: Winchie Nguyen Duc Tri (Winchi), Creator of Adaptive OS
Episode Title: This AI Operating System Is Teaching Technology To Think Ethically
Release Date: November 11, 2025
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode centers on Adaptive OS, a new AI-powered operating system designed to embed ethics and self-reflection directly into the technological infrastructure. Host Dr. Tamara Nall and her guest Winchi discuss how Adaptive OS goes beyond traditional software, aiming to fundamentally change the relationship between humans and machines by building trust, ethical grounding, and evolution into the foundational layer of technology. The conversation spotlights the practical challenges and philosophical vision behind making technology that “thinks ethically,” aiming for real-immediate impact in AI-augmented cybersecurity and infrastructure.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Winchi’s Background and Vision
- Introduction to Winchi:
- 21-year-old computer science student from Hanoi, Vietnam, specializing in cybersecurity.
- Motivation: Realized, “most AI systems are on fragile ground” and asked, “what if infrastructure itself could learn, defend and evolve?” ([03:00])
- Vision: Infrastructure as an intelligent, adaptive, and ethical backbone for technology that evolves with humans—not above them.
What is Adaptive OS?
- Not another app or classical OS:
- “Adaptive OS is like an ecosystem...every node learns contextually, remembers ethically, and evolves cooperatively.” ([04:27])
- Scope:
- Not limited to a single device—envisions integration across mobile, desktop, servers, and even robotics.
- Focuses on adaptability, learning, and protecting—aiming for “infrastructure that can self-reflect and act ethically.”
- Project Components:
- Built from several projects: Additive AI, IBCS, Driver, Introspective Proxy, AI for Driver.
- “Each [project] can help attach the purpose of adaptive infrastructure for future installations as well.” ([05:35])
Positioning & Competition
- Not a direct Windows/Linux competitor:
- “Every single operating system today can be better...we need something that can solve big problems, not just in each separate domain.” ([07:26])
- Integration over Replacement:
- The goal is to enhance existing platforms with adaptive, ethical capabilities rather than overthrowing them.
Development Status
- Started in April 2025:
- Solo founder—initial proof-of-concept projects are available on GitHub now ([09:03])
- Release Timeline:
- Current: Pre-release, aimed at tech community experimentation.
- 2026 Goal: Open source, more stable versions and easier integration for broader audiences ([21:37]).
The Holy Smokes Moment
- A Multi-layer Ethical Architecture:
- Three layers: Reflective Core (monitors itself), Behavior Fabric (adapts to context), Ethical Corners (judges what should be done). ([11:07])
- “Ethics is not external control. It’s like an internal consciousness.” OS can refuse unethical commands—even roll back when exploited. ([11:50])
Technical Deep Dive
- How it works:
- Operating system observes its process, interacts with behavior fabric for contextual adaptation, and recommends decisions for the next phase.
- “The funniest thing I figure out is that we can communicate with the operating system...it always comes with humans in most situations.” ([13:53])
Ethics in Practice
- Three ethical principles ([15:09]):
- Primacy of Human Safety: “AI does not hurt humans. AI must have a responsibility to protect humans.”
- Infrastructure’s Limits: “Infrastructure has to know its own limits...always connects with human beings.”
- Adaptive Ethics: “…ethical corners can adapt to context...still prevent humans from danger.”
Looking To The Future
- AI Beyond Generation:
- “AI will not just generate ideas...it must maintain integrity.”
- “In the 21st century, we need more integrators, not just builders.” ([17:14])
- Urgency for Ethics:
- “AI is not just tools anymore. It’s like a new world, and we always find something bigger...but we still worry about ethical.” ([18:40])
- Not AGI, but technical-human co-evolution:
- “We don’t need AI that knows everything. We need AI that learns ethically.” ([23:31])
Getting Involved & Testing Adaptive OS
- For Developers:
- Check documentation, code samples, and releases on Winchi’s GitHub and LinkedIn ([19:40]).
- For Non-technical Users:
- Current product is not ready for immediate mainstream use; 2026 is the target for broader accessibility ([21:11]).
- Future Plans:
- Move toward open source organization, with eventual website for simplified access and demos ([27:44]).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Motivation:
“Adaptive operating system begins as an ethical experiment, to see if intelligence could exist at the infrastructure level...as the moral backbone of technology itself.”
— Winchi ([03:24]) -
On Adaptive OS’s Uniqueness:
“It’s not an application...It’s like an ecosystem—every node learns contextually, remembers ethically and evolves cooperatively.”
— Winchi ([04:27]) -
On Ethics:
“Ethics is not external control – it's like an internal consciousness. So OS can refuse unethical commands, self-loss when exploited...and maybe have rollback functions to save states.”
— Winchi ([11:48]) -
On Development Struggles:
“The difficult thing with starting a project is you have no people to trust. Some of my friends told me I'm crazy when I'm trying to build an intelligence object that defines the whole future.”
— Winchi ([09:13]) -
On AI’s Role:
“Automations give precision, intuitions give purpose. My rule: Let machines handle certainty; humans handle ambiguity. Because wisdom grows in uncertainty...We don’t need AI that knows everything; we need AI that learns ethically.”
— Winchi ([22:50]) -
Rapid-Fire Bonus:
- Most Overrated Tech Trend: “Speed without stability.” ([24:06])
- Most Under-hyped AI Trend: “Infrastructure-level cognitions.” ([24:13])
- Book Recommendation: “Cybernetics” by Norbert Wiener ([24:25])
- AI Prediction: “The next solutions will not just be agile—they will be additive infrastructure that can self-reflect. Parallel development with AGI, I think so.” ([24:37])
- On AI and Emotion: “AI with emotions is something dangerous we cannot control...Contextualize would be a better choice.” ([25:15])
Important Timestamps
- Winchi’s Introduction & Background – [02:43]
- What is Adaptive OS? – [04:19]
- How Adaptive OS Differs from Other OSes – [07:12]
- Project Development Status – [09:03]
- System Structure (Three Layers) – [11:07]
- Technical Deep Dive – [12:58]
- Building Ethical Principles – [15:09]
- Vision for the Future of AI – [17:07]
- How to Get Involved or Try Adaptive OS – [19:40]
- Balancing AI and Human Creativity – [22:50]
- Rapid-Fire Questions – [24:04]
- Finding Adaptive OS Online – [26:04], [27:44]
Resources & How to Connect
- Follow Winchi / Adaptive OS:
- LinkedIn: Winchi Nguyen Duc Tri (Searchable via name)
- GitHub: Links to be posted on LinkedIn and Reddit ([26:04])
- Product Availability:
- Developers: Pre-release, documentation, and source code available on GitHub ([19:40])
- Non-technical users: Broader, user-friendly release targeted by mid-2026, with a planned website ([27:44])
Conclusion
This episode delivers both practical and philosophical insight into Adaptive OS—a vision for ethical, self-evolving technology infrastructure. Winchi’s work demonstrates that trust, safety, and collaboration between machines and humans are not abstract ideals but urgent necessities as AI becomes more deeply woven into the fabric of society. If you’re interested in the ethical edge of AI, open source innovation, or how future operating systems might truly “think for themselves” with integrity, this episode provides a unique, thoughtful primer.