RIoT Underground

V: The Power of Industrial Design in an AI World, LIVE with Mike Laut, Founder & CEO, Laut Design

AI may be transforming entire industries, but what about the products we hold in our hands every day? In this special live episode of RIoT Underground, RIoT’s Tom Snyder sits down with Mike Laut, Founder & CEO of Laut Design, to explore how physical product design shapes the way we experience and trust AI.Laut Design is a product and brand design firm that helps turn emerging technologies into market-ready products, offering expertise in industrial design, engineering, prototyping, branding, and digital experiences.Together, Tom and Mike dive into the intersection of AI-powered technology and hardware design, uncovering how thoughtful, user-centered products play a pivotal role in making AI systems both functional and trustworthy.Tune in to discover why design isn’t just about looks—it’s about building the future of human-AI interaction.Support the showProduced by: RIoTLearn more about RIoT: https://riot.org/Newsletter Sign-Up: http://tinyurl.com/ncekm63m Follow RIoT on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin

IV: Adapting For Success As AI Reshapes Business, LIVE with Don Shin, Founder & CEO, CrossComm

At the end of July 2025, the Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed a stunning shift in the U.S. economy: spending on artificial intelligence added more to GDP last quarter than consumer spending.This isn’t just a headline—it’s a turning point. We are officially entering an AI-driven economy.In this special live podcast recording, RIoT’s Tom Snyder sits down with Don Shin, Founder and CEO of CrossComm, Inc., to explore how AI is reshaping growth, daily life, and work faster than any previous technology shift. Don discusses the skills that matter most in the AI age, what we should teach our children, what organizations must value, and how to build teams empowered by AI rather than disrupted by it.Takeaway: The future of work and growth depends less on competing with AI and more on building with it.Connect with Don Shin and check out CrossComm!Support the showProduced by: RIoTLearn more about RIoT: https://riot.org/Newsletter Sign-Up: http://tinyurl.com/ncekm63m Follow RIoT on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin

III: Culture vs Code, Rethinking Strategy & Leadership in the AI Era, LIVE with Ryan Abel, Managing Partner, Atomic Object

In this special LIVE episode of the RIoT Underground, RIoT’s Tom Snyder sits down with Ryan Abel, Managing Director at Atomic Object, to explore the real-world impact of AI, how companies are navigating the hype, and why culture and values matter more than ever in the age of automation.As AI rewrites the rules of business, the real question isn’t what you’ll automate — it’s who your company will become in the process.Ryan draws from deep experience at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and human-centered technology to tackle a challenge many leaders are only beginning to face: how to move fast without losing what makes your company worth building. Whether you're a tech founder, developer, startup enthusiast, or enterprise leader, this episode delivers valuable insights into how AI is reshaping the tech landscape—and what it means for the future of work.Support the showProduced by: RIoTLearn more about RIoT: https://riot.org/Newsletter Sign-Up: http://tinyurl.com/ncekm63m Follow RIoT on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin

II: Breaking Barriers & Building Deep Tech, LIVE with Krista Covey, President & CEO, First Flight Venture Center

In this special LIVE episode of the RIoT Underground, we sit down with Krista Covey, President & CEO of First Flight Venture Center—North Carolina’s oldest business incubator—in front of a live audience to explore what it takes to build world-changing companies in the deep tech and high science space. Krista shares her personal journey from kid entrepreneur to recovering banker to startup ecosystem champion, and unpacks the critical role of long-term investment and ecosystem support in bringing high-impact innovation to life. We dig into how economic development intersects with startups, what’s trending in AI and life sciences, and why building allergy-free peanuts might just be the next big thing. If you’re curious about the people and programs helping startups go from idea to impact, this episode is for you.Learn more about First Flight Venture Center and how to engage: https://www.ffvcnc.org/Support the showProduced by: RIoTLearn more about RIoT: https://riot.org/Newsletter Sign-Up: http://tinyurl.com/ncekm63m Follow RIoT on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin

I: Smart Sight, Safe Site - Video Analytics for Injury Prevention with Bobby Shkolnikov, Principal IoT Commercialization, SAS

In this episode of the RIoT Underground podcast, we sit down with Bobby Shkolnikov, Principal IoT Commercialization at SAS, to explore the game-changing role of video analytics in workplace safety. Today's safety standards fall short, risking lives in industrial workplaces. Learn how existing security cameras and wireless infrastructure are being transformed into proactive tools for monitoring safety risks and preventing injuries before they happen. From identifying hazardous behavior to enabling real-time interventions, this conversation uncovers how cutting-edge IoT solutions are reshaping industrial safety standards—and saving lives in the process.Learn more about SAS’s solution: https://www.sas.com/en_us/industry/manufacturing/solution/worker-safety.html Support the showProduced by: RIoTLearn more about RIoT: https://riot.org/Newsletter Sign-Up: http://tinyurl.com/ncekm63m Follow RIoT on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin