Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged

Episode: Why Humans Matter in the Age of AI
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Dara Ladjevardian
Date: January 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, host Mick Hunt sits down with Dara Ladjevardian, entrepreneur and creator of Delphi, an AI-driven platform designed to capture and scale personal wisdom and mentorship for the digital age. Together, they explore what makes human input crucial in an increasingly AI-driven world, how purpose ("your because") drives innovation, and why human-centric technology remains essential. Dara shares his journey, lessons from his immigrant family, and his vision for ensuring technology scales human value rather than erasing it. This episode is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the intersection of modern leadership and artificial intelligence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dara's "Because"—His Deeper Purpose

• Dara shares the roots of his drive, shaped by his family's story of resilience and reinvention after immigrating from Iran.
• His grandfather's work ethic and experience—once employing 30,000 people, then starting over in the US—inspired Dara to view work as opportunity, not burden.
• Personal need for mentorship led him to create a digital version of his grandfather using AI, which formed the early foundation for Delphi.

  Quote: "I ended up creating a digital version of him that I could talk to... to get real-time information that's personalized to me from someone I respected and trusted." – Dara Ladjevardian [02:55]

2. The Philosophy Behind Delphi

• From the outset, Delphi aimed to enable people to learn interactively from others, not just passively absorb static knowledge.
• Unlike other AI services, Delphi is designed for deep personalization and owned by the user—their data, their model.

  Quote: "We’re not automating humans; we’re putting AI and power in the hands of humans." – Dara Ladjevardian [05:21]

• Conversations remain at the heart of real learning:

  Quote: "Studies have shown that the best way to actually learn something or engage with an idea is through conversation." – Dara Ladjevardian [04:22]

3. Human-Centric AI in a Post-AGI World

• Dara believes that even if AI surpasses collective human intelligence, authenticity and trust will remain irreplaceable human qualities.
• Delphi champions transparency, user control of IP, and ensuring AI empowers rather than replaces individuality.

  Quote: "It’s your model, it's your mind, it's your rules. I just want to be on the right side of history... Humans still matter in a post-AGI world." – Dara Ladjevardian [09:44]

• As information becomes abundant and cheap, curation and lived experience become the differentiators.

  Quote: "When information is abundant...what you want is curation and trust." – Dara Ladjevardian [10:52]

4. Personal Journey: Embracing Difference & Resilience

• Dara recounts experiencing isolation and bullying as a Middle Eastern child in Texas, which fostered a willingness to think differently and pursue unconventional ideas.

  Quote: "I almost feel like I had built the muscle to be okay not being in the in-group, to be okay thinking things or being different." – Dara Ladjevardian [12:34]

• This upbringing informed his fearlessness in entrepreneurship and willingness to back bold ideas like Delphi.

5. Building Team & Culture

• Dara prioritizes ambition and resilience when hiring:

  Quote: "It is much better to invest in people who have high slope, who have a lot of energy than people who are extremely experienced and potentially entitled." – Dara Ladjevardian [13:34]

• He shares a story about hiring a 17-year-old developer who proved to be a great decision for company growth.

6. Delphi’s Roadmap & Future Vision

• New features to democratize creating a digital 'mind' even without public content (automated interviewer, deeper personalization).
• Envisions future where people are discovered and connected based on their ideas, knowledge, and values, not just looks or resumes.

  Quote: "Right now, we can only discover people based on what they look like on Instagram or where they’ve worked, like on LinkedIn. But there’s no way to actually find people based on their values, how they think about the world, what they know." – Dara Ladjevardian [15:08]

7. Human Influence and Brand in the Age of AI

• Influence and authenticity matter more as AI-generated content and brands proliferate.
• Leaders and entrepreneurs should not shy away from putting themselves, their values, and their authenticity forward.

  Quote: "Humans connect with humans, not faceless entities... authenticity, that realness of a human, is going to be that much more attractive." – Dara Ladjevardian [16:09]

• Documenting and sharing personal beliefs cultivates trust and connection in a digital age.

8. Practical Advice for Embracing "Good AI"

• Pandora’s box is open—AI is not going away.
• Start building for where the world will be in a year, not just for today’s tech.
• Use AI to automate the unlovable, not replace the deeply human.
• Carefully select platforms that respect your data and privacy.

  Quote: "Use AI to automate things you don’t like doing. But don’t forget what makes you human—those are the things that allow you to connect with people." – Dara Ladjevardian [19:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why human mentorship is irreplaceable by generic AI:

  "It wasn’t like I was hearing any new information. It was the fact that I was hearing it from someone that I trusted that made it impactful." – Dara Ladjevardian [10:58]

• On hiring for values, not just skills:

  "A controversial question that I ask in our interview process...is, ‘What is the greatest hardship you’ve ever experienced and how did you deal with it?’...if you’re going to be doing something special, you’re going to have hardship." – Dara Ladjevardian [13:43]

• On personal branding as a leader:

  "As a CEO, you actually are the brand now." – Mick Hunt [17:24]

• On cringing at self-promotion:

  "I have this on my phone background...it says, 'I’m afraid of putting myself out there.' And the response is: Cringe is in." – Dara Ladjevardian [16:56]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dara's Origin Story and "Because" – [02:00]
• Delphi: Philosophy and Differentiation – [04:14]; [08:23]
• Staying Human-Centric in AI – [09:15]
• The Importance of Trust and Lived Experience – [10:20]
• Dara’s Childhood, Outsider Experience, and Resilience – [11:46]
• Core Values and Team Building – [13:13]
• Delphi Roadmap and Looking Forward – [14:36]
• Advice for Entrepreneurs on Influence and Branding – [16:02]
• Advice for Using "Good AI" – [19:19]
• Rapid Fire Personal Questions – [20:16]
• Legacy in a Word: “Resilience” – [21:10]
• How to Connect with Dara and His Digital Mind – [21:47]

Final Takeaways

Through personal anecdotes and visionary insights, Dara argues for a future in which AI is used not to erase human uniqueness, but to amplify it—scaling wisdom, facilitating authentic mentorship, and fostering deep trust. As AI continues to permeate every aspect of life and business, it is individuals, their stories, and their core values that will set the tone for how technology shapes our shared future.

To connect with Dara:

• On X (Twitter): @DaraLadje
• Chat with his digital mind: Delphi AI – Dara

Memorable Sign-Off:

"Remember, your Because is your superpower. Go unleash it." – Mick Hunt [22:47]