In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan speak with James Francis—investor, technologist, and founder of Paradigm Asset Management and Sol.ai—about his groundbreaking framework, Artificial Integrity. With decades of experience managing billions through data-driven systems, James now focuses on a question that impacts us all: How do we build AI that elevates humanity rather than flattens it?

Drawing from his own upbringing in a “can-do” family culture, James shares how curiosity and bold experimentation shaped his thinking—and why those same qualities are vital as we face the opportunities and risks of AI. He explains why traditional approaches to AI ethics fall short, and how Artificial Integrity calls for embedding empathy, justice, and cultural intelligence into AI systems from the ground up.

You’ll Hear:

• Kind vs. Convenient AI – Why a moral compass, not just risk mitigation, must guide how we build technology
• The Loudest Voice Problem – How AI reflects (and magnifies) dominant narratives while silencing marginalized voices
• From Flattening to Amplifying – Why preserving cultural nuance and language is essential to trust and belonging
• Voice Is Not Enough – The difference between mimicking communities and truly understanding them through context, memory, and respect
• Leadership Over Code – Why the future of AI depends less on smarter machines and more on better human leadership

Whether you’re a technologist, business leader, or simply curious about the impact of AI on culture and democracy, this conversation challenges you to think beyond efficiency—and toward building systems rooted in empathy and integrity.

LINKS ~

Artificial Integrity

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• X (Twitter): @thesoleai
• LinkedIn: SOLE on LinkedIn

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