In this episode 187 of the Disruption Now Podcast, we sit down with Benjamin Ko, the CEO of Kaleidoscope Innovation, a firm leading the way in human-centered design and engineering — especially in healthcare. From developing wearable technologies for spinal cord injury patients to crafting surgical tools built around human ergonomics, Ben and his team are proving that empathy is a competitive advantage in the age of AI.

We dive into the central question: If AI can optimize everything, where do we still matter? Ben argues that empathy isn’t just a soft skill — it’s a design superpower. He discusses how Kaleidoscope’s cross-functional teams of designers, engineers, and researchers bridge the gap between physical and digital worlds, why 95% of AI projects fail due to lack of human context, and how clarity of thought and ethical design can shape a better, more responsible tech future.

If you’re a founder, product designer, healthcare innovator, engineer, or policymaker interested in building smarter systems with deeper purpose — this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch, Listen & Subscribe:
👉 YouTube: @DisruptionNow
👉 Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Amazon

📍 Recorded live at MidwestCon, hosted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the 1819 Innovation Hub.

Special thanks to Ben Ko, UC, and the 1819 Innovation Hub for supporting innovation and human-centric AI.

🔗 Connect with Benjamin Ko & Kaleidoscope Innovation:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminleeko/

Credit music:
Cookie Fox - AlexGuz

What does it take to lead digital transformation when fear, culture, and AI disruption collide? 🎓

In this deep-dive, Bharath Prabhakaran — award-winning VP & Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati — shares how he’s driving innovation with empathy, influence, and UC’s groundbreaking Bearcat GPT.

👉 You’ll learn:

-Why every AI solution must be 10x better to overcome resistance
-How empathy & influence drive true leadership
-What “AI literacy” means for the future workforce
-UC's blueprint for balancing security, ethics, and speed in adoption

Bharath’s journey from Oracle to higher ed shows why education must evolve fast — and how leaders can design organizations to thrive in the AI era.

🔗 Connect with Bharath:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bharathprab

🙏 Special thanks to Bharath Prabhakaran, the University of Cincinnati, and the 1819 Innovation Hub at UC for hosting MidwestCon, where this episode was recorded.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on technology, leadership & disruption.
Music credit: Funky Day - Aleksandr Krivtsun

#AI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork

Most artists get left behind in tech—but not Kaila Love.

Once a homeless teen sleeping in her car, Kaila became a UC Berkeley grad, hip-hop artist, and founder of KailaLove.ai—a pioneering AI education company blending music, automation, and empowerment. Known as The AI Homegirl, she teaches creatives how to protect their IP, grow fanbases with AI, and own their digital destiny.

Timestamps:
00:00 – From Homeless to Berkeley
05:00 – Sync Deals & Music Wins
10:00 – Building with AI
17:00 – Bootleg Brain & IP
25:00 – Responsible Tech
32:00 – Future Vision
35:45 – Final Message

🎤 Her track landed on NBA2K.
📚 She authored Bootleg Brain, a radical AI manual for artists.
🧠 She runs “Prompt Parties™” that turn AI theory into actionable career fuel.

On this episode 185 of the Disruption Now podcast you’ll Learn:
– How to use AI to scale your creative work
– Why sync licensing = your power move
– Why “build your digital real estate” is her #1 rule
– The mindset that turns invisible labor into leverage

💡 If you’re a creator, rebel, or disruptor—this is your blueprint.

👉 More from Kaila:
• Website: https://www.kailalove.ai/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailalove.ai/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kailalove.ai
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailalovemusic/
• Book: Bootleg Brain (linked in description)

#AIforArtists #MusicTech #DigitalOwnership

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com