2024.04.09: Solar Eclipse, AI future, and Other Important Randomness

The latest episode of the Visioncast Network podcast was filled with humor, insight and a touch of randomness as the hosts and guests discussed a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence, living with partners, and the recent solar eclipse. 
Hosted by Rachel,  the show featured an entertaining back-and-forth between Rachel and her co-host George, who called in from "the sea of borrowers." Other guests who joined via phone and Zoom included Chrissy, Donald, Angela, Nora, Katie, JC, Jonathan, Haley, and Salvis, the show's assistant producer and audio editor who hails from Latvia.
Much of the lively discussion centered around artificial intelligence and its current and potential future applications. The hosts and guests speculated about having AI girlfriends, housekeepers and even an AI president. "I love AI. So you have an AI president that would do everything we wanted," Rachel quipped.
There was also talk of AI music generation platforms like Sonauto and Udeo. "AI songs are cool. I love everything to do with AI," said Rachel. The conversation also touched on replica AI companions and AI-powered robots Apple is reportedly working on.
Amidst the AI chatter, the hosts found time to playfully rib each other. Rachel repeatedly called George a "doodles" and at one point dunked him and Chrissy in a virtual swimming pool via sound effects.
On a more serious note, Rachel and Haylie shared that they recently celebrated two years of living together, the last year of which has been in Cincinnati. "I do enjoy living with Haley 99.9% of the time. Living with Haylie is amazing," Rachel said sincerely. "It's just the tiny, tiny, tiny percent of the time when we both get under each other's skin."
The group also discussed the recent solar eclipse, with Nora mentioning that she listened to coverage of the celestial event. Salvis noted that the next solar eclipse will be visible in Spain in 2026. 
In between the segments of witty banter, the hosts gave shoutouts to listeners, the Visioncast team, and special guests like Samuel Green and David Dunphy from The Beacon podcast who were recently interviewed.
Rachel also demoed her new Zoom H4n audio recorder on air, showcasing its stereo microphone capabilities. Despite a few technical glitches with screen sharing, Rachel seemed pleased with her new equipment. 
As the show wrapped up, the hosts reflected on Visioncast's success and growth. "Just be on the lookout for updates," advised Preston regarding the show's Facebook page. "I would say you all did a good job, even though the VP wasn't here, but it was well worth it. So let's go enjoy more spring weather and more excitement for all."
With its unique blend of humor, heart, and an eagerness to dive into the topics of the day, this episode of Visioncast Network offers an engaging escape into a world where, as the show's intro proudly states, "dreams are unveiled" and "fun, talent and randomness never, ever be derailed."