She Wants AI To Help You Thrive, Not Just Keep You Company — Y-Lan Boureau

Video Description

Y-Lan Boureau is the founder & CEO of ThrivePal, an OpenAI-funded AI startup, and a former Meta AI researcher. Boureau joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss why the next frontier for AI should be science‑backed coaching that nudges us toward healthier habits and deeper real‑world relationships. Tune in to hear how large‑language models can push users to lift weights, regulate emotions, and support their friends’ growth. We also cover Boureau's abandoned Facebook fact‑checking experiment, the dopamine traps of engagement‑first design, and whether “AI wrappers” can survive against base models. Hit play for a candid, actionable conversation that will reshape how you design—or simply use—AI tools aimed at human thriving. #ai #artificialintelligence Chapters 00:00 Opening & intro 02:00 Facebook days and the polarization experiment 05:50 Why fact-checking backfires online 09:30 Trust, tribes, and the limits of “truth” 13:15 From Facebook research to ThrivePal 18:00 Chatbots then vs. now 26:00 The case against AI companionship 30:40 Coaching through friends and accountability 35:15 Exercise, resistance work, microbiome care 41:00 Game design for healthy habits 47:00 Meaning, Nicholas Winton, and purpose-driven goals 53:00 Can a startup win on top of big LLMs?