# AI Ethicist Rebecca Bultsma on Trust, Verification, and When NOT to Use AI in Your Shop | Ep. 52

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2026-10-23
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 52
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your-shop-ep-52

## Summary

AI ethicist Rebecca Bultsma, who holds a master's degree in Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics from the University of Edinburgh, joins the hosts to discuss the nuances of trust, verification, and ethical AI adoption in business and manufacturing. She argues that AI is a neutral tool like money or a hammer that amplifies human intent, and advises using it as a 'thought partner' or devil's advocate rather than a ghostwriter to maintain authenticity and critical thinking. The conversation covers the risks of automation bias, the importance of verifying AI-generated research, and the ethical implications of deepfakes and AI in decision-making.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=0) Introduction: Rebecca Bultsma and AI Ethics
- [3:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=193) Defining AI Ethics and the 'It Depends' Framework
- [9:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=580) Clarity Creates Agency and Authenticity in Sales
- [17:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=1059) Using AI as a Thought Partner and Devil's Advocate
- [25:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=1545) AI Research, Deepfakes, and the Loss of Trust
- [34:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=2083) Automation Bias and Machine Monitoring Insights
- [42:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=2561) Political Bias, Echo Chambers, and Deepfakes
- [46:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your#t=2775) Protecting Children in the Age of Deepfakes

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Rebecca Bultsma (other)
- University of Edinburgh (other)
- ChatGPT (tool)
- Hennig WorkFlow (product)
- Christopher Penn (other)
- Timothy Coombs (other)
- Hire MFG Leaders (other)
- Navu (tool)
- Kennametal (company)
- HubSpot (tool)
- Salesforce (tool)
- Slack (tool)
- Claude (tool)
- Google Gemini (tool)
- Grok (tool)
- Deep Seek (tool)
- New York Times (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [112. Overcoming Risks of AI Misuse](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-03-07-112-overcoming-risks-of-ai-misuse) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Generative AI and Emotional Intelligence | millionways' Martin Cordsmeier & Max Weidemann | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-06-08-generative-ai-and-emotional-intelligence-millionways-martin-cordsmeier-max-weide) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [AI Detection with Max Spero](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2026-09-03-ai-detection-with-max-spero) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Episode 144: Robot trust in humans - Samuele Vinanzi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-13-episode-144-robot-trust-in-humans-samuele-vinanzi) (Robot Talk)
- [131: Authenticity in Marketing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-02-05-131-authenticity-in-marketing) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-23-ai-ethicist-rebecca-bultsma-on-trust-verification-and-when-not-to-use-ai-in-your. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Lights Out.