AI in NYC Show

Ben Guo is a former early Stripe engineer, Brooklyn musician, and now the co-founder and CEO of Zo Computer.In this episode of AI in NYC, Rob May sits down with Ben to explore a refreshing vision for personal AI: how managed cloud computers and autonomous AI agents can give regular, everyday people the power to reclaim the internet from corporate tech giants.We dive deep into the cultural "scaremongering" around AI replacing human potential, why the current attention economy functions like a techno-feudal system making us slaves to algorithms, and the reality of building a company for the pure love of the game rather than just an exit.This episode is proudly brought to you by Lorimer Ventures an early-stage New York City venture fund with a network of 100 operators who know exactly what it looks like to scale!Check them out here:Lorimer Ventures: Check out their hands-on advice at lorimerventures.comZo Computer: Explore their consumer-grade server experience at https://zo.computer#AI #Startups #ZoComputer #Stripe #Entrepreneurship #SaaS #TechPodcast #NewYorkTech

We're closing out 2025 by showcasing 6 incredible AI startups building right here in New York City — the applied AI capital of the world.Rob May and Ryan Eppley sit down with founders solving real problems across legal tech, elder safety, AI security, compliance automation, manufacturing intelligence, and AI-powered SEO.🎯 STARTUPS FEATURED:*CounselPro - Ian O'Brien*AI-powered forensic accounting for legal professionalsAutomates financial document analysis for divorce, bankruptcy, and fraud cases50+ customers, fully bootstrappedWebsite: https://www.counselpro.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-obrien*Silvershield - Alec Glassman*Protecting older adults from digital fraud and scamsAI assistant that analyzes suspicious texts and emailsLaunching across New York State in January 2026Website: https://www.silvershield.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-glassman*Krnel - Peyman Faratin*AI model security and control at runtimeLooks inside models to detect vulnerabilities and control behaviorDemocratizing AI safety toolsWebsite: https://krnel.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfaratin*Koop - Sergey Litvinenko*Compliance automation for tech companiesHandles SOC 2, AI governance, and regulatory requirements23x growth since seed roundWebsite: https://www.koop.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-from-koop*Tendrel - Akash Nandi*Operations intelligence for manufacturingAI-powered insights for industrial frontline workersMinimizing downtime, maximizing productionWebsite: https://www.tendrel.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnandi*OpenForge - Jason Patel*AI SEO platform (Answer Engine Optimization)AI agents that optimize businesses for ChatGPT and AI search50,000+ YouTube subscribers, six-figure ARR in 4 monthsWebsite: https://www.openforge.ai/aboutLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pateljasonYoutube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCnxPG10xnU5-WB2RpnxAivQ💡 KEY THEMES:Applied AI solving real business problems todayNYC's diverse AI ecosystem beyond frontier model labsBootstrapped and early-stage funded companiesFrom elder care to manufacturing to compliance🗽 WHY NEW YORK?New York City is emerging as the applied AI capital — hundreds of startups focused on bringing AI to real industries with real customers. Less hype, more substance.Support these founders:✅ Check out their websites✅ Connect with them on LinkedIn✅ Share with relevant connections✅ Help grow NYC's AI ecosystemHOSTS:Rob May - Co-founder & CEO, NeuroMetricRyan Eppley - Co-founder & CEO, Root Access📍 Recorded in NYC | December 2025🎙️ AI In NYC PodcastSubscribe for weekly AI insights from New York City's tech scene!#AIinNYC #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #NYCTech #AIStartups #Startups #TechPodcast #MachineLearning #AppliedAI #Founders #Entrepreneurship #2025YearEnd

In Episode 10, we sit down with Doug O’Laughlin, President of SemiAnalysis and author of Fabricated Knowledge, to break down the truth behind GPUs, the semiconductor supply chain, and the massive power demands coming with AI’s next phase. From the behind-the-scenes AMD exposé that forced a turnaround, to why Nvidia’s GPU dominance is not just about specs, to how fragile the global chip ecosystem really is—this episode dives deep into the hardware, economics, and geopolitics driving the AI boom. We also cover the rise of alternative accelerators, the future of U.S. chip manufacturing, Intel’s identity crisis, nuclear vs. on-site generation for data centers, and whether we’re already sliding into an AI bubble. GUEST Doug O’Laughlin – President, SemiAnalysis Founder, Fabricated Knowledge Leader in AI semiconductor + data center research

Why Nonprofits Need AI Now — With Jenni Warren & Jake Porway of Decoded Futures In Episode 8 of AI in NYC, hosts Rob May (CEO & Co-founder, Neurometric) and Ryan Eppley (CEO & Co-founder, Root Access) sit down with Jenni Warren and Jake Porway from Decoded Futures — a Tech:NYC Foundation initiative powered by Robin Hood and Google.Jenni, a Program Director with 15+ years of experience across Magpie Literacy, Success Academy, and DSST Public Schools, and Jake, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Co-founder of DataKind, join the table for a wide-ranging, philosophical, and fun conversation.Decoded Futures website: https://www.decodedfutures.nyc/Featuring:Jenni Warren — Program Director, Decoded FuturesJake Porway — Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Decoded Futures & Co-founder, DataKindRob May — CEO & Co-founder, Neurometric (Host)Ryan Eppley — CEO & Co-founder, Root Access (Host)Producer: Madi DonlanFor guest inquiries:aiinnycshow@gmail.comaiinnycshow.com | @aiinnycshow on instagram

FeedbackNow VP of AI, Sam Koch, joins the show to share how he’s actually using AI, not just talking about it. From automating real workflows to bringing hardware back into tech, Sam breaks down what works (and what doesn’t) when scaling automation in Private Equity.Why watch:Real examples of AI that save hours of workWhat failed (and why some automations aren’t worth it)Why hardware gives startups defensibility againHow culture and management make or break AI transformationActionable lessons from hand-labeling data to scaling lean startupsTopics:AI in Private Equity · Workflow automation · Real-world data · Hardware comeback · State space models · Culture in digital transformationArticles discussed:State Space Model gets major funding (LinkedIn)Data Centers and Jet Engines (IEEE Spectrum)Michael Burry bets against Palantir and NVIDIA (Yahoo Finance)Amazon vs. Perplexity AI Agent (Bloomberg)Hosts:Rob May (NeuroMetric) · Anna Kirk (Nadia Partners) · Ryan Eppley (Root Access)Want us to wear your company swag on the show or talk bookings?Email: aiinnycshow@gmail.comLike, subscribe, and drop your favorite NYC burger in the comments!