1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,160 Speaker 1: It's Night's Eyes with Dan Ray. 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 2: I'm going Easy Boston's news radio. 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome back every one to our and the ninth 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: nine o'clock hour tonight here on night Side. My name 5 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: is Dan Ray, host of the program where we are 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: here every Monday through Friday night from eight until midnight. 7 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: My guest this hour is a really interesting individual who 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: just about a little over a week ago announced that 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: he was going to give a million dollars to kickstart 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: the artificial intelligence program in Boston public schools. I have 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: known of Paul English for some time now. He and 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: I traveled kind of similar paths. We both went to 13 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: Boston landin school, although me much earlier in the last 14 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: century than than Paul did. And Paul's a graduate, not 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: only an undergraduate and graduate degree from UMass Boston and 16 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: as a Boston State College undergraduate. I am also a 17 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: graduate for UMass Boston. He has been much more successful 18 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: than I though, for sure. Paul English, Welcome to NIGHTSID. 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: How are you. 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 2: It's great to talk to Dan. 21 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, my pleasure, My pleasure. I was interested 22 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: as I did a little bit more research. You grew 23 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: up in West Roxbury in what would be considered a 24 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: very traditional Boston family, the sixth of seven children, and 25 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: I guess your parents must have set a pretty high 26 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: standard of academic achievement. Yeah. 27 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 2: My parents, my mom in particular, was a pretty pretty 28 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: serious about school. She was a school teacher in Boston. 29 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: My dad was a pipefeder for Boston Gas for I 30 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: believe forty nine years, just with a couple of years 31 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: off to do a tour of Germany during World War Two. 32 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: But aside from that, he was at Boston gassa forty 33 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: nine years. And yeah, they were serious about school. 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, my dad did two and a half years on 35 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: the other side of the world China, Berman India during 36 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: World War two. So yeah, very very similar. But you 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: also liked computers. You were someone who understood coding early, 38 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: and you had a very successful travel company that I'm 39 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: sure people will remember called Kayak, and that was a 40 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: tremendous success. Let's just leave it at that. But you 41 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: have now turned your good fortune and your intelligence to 42 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: some issues and concerns that probably people do not know. 43 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: You do not know of you. You were the founder 44 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: I did not realize you were the founder of the 45 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: the Embrace monument statue on the Boston Common, which was 46 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: dedicated to doctor Martin Luther King. How did you come 47 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: up with that idea? 48 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah that I'm embarrassed how long it took 49 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: me to get it done. I created it in twenty seventeen. 50 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 2: It was a time in the country where there was 51 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: a lot of nationalistic, anti immigrant, racist rhetoric, and I 52 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: was visiting an MLK and Oryland in San Francisco, a 53 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 2: site I've been to many times and just really moved 54 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 2: by it and knowing that Martin Luther King Jr. And 55 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: Coreta Scott King met in Boston, that love stories started 56 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: here in our city. I thought, we need something like 57 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: this in Boston to really showcase and talk about the 58 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: beginning of their the love story at the beginning of 59 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: their professional career together. So that was the idea. It 60 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: took me six years to get it done. There's a 61 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: lot of help, a lot of people, a lot of meetings, 62 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: but we got it done. 63 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: Was that a lot of red tape you had to 64 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: deal with? 65 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: Or yeah, I don't want to name names, but a 66 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: lot of people were against it. They thought what we're 67 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: doing was too large, too dramatic. It didn't fit with 68 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: the Boston Common, the Boston Commons a bunch of dead 69 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 2: white soldiers, and this like modern art abstracting, really fitting 70 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: with the Boston Common. Some people said, go build it 71 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: in Roxbury, don't build it in the Boston Common, But 72 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: we have a bunually got it done and we had a 73 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: great team. I worked with Reverend Liz Walker who you 74 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 2: know Liz, Yeah, Liz was at that time they had 75 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: a Roxbury Presbyterian Church and she became my co founder. 76 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: And then you know, we did I think thirteen meetings 77 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 2: around the city asking people what they wanted if we 78 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: built something to memorialize Martin Luther King Junior and credit 79 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: Scott King in the relationship, what they wanted out of 80 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: the project, and we since have gone on to raise 81 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 2: thirty five million dollars a racial justice projects in Boston. 82 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 2: The project now was led by Amari Paris. Jefferies has 83 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: been an exceptional executive director for US the last few years. 84 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: People forget that doctor King went to Boston University graduate 85 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: school and his papers, many of his papers are at 86 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: Boston University. So let me move forward if I can. 87 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: There have been other causes that you have been involved in, 88 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: For example, the annual Winter walk. You've done that for 89 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: ten years for the Massachusetts Homeless Coalition, and now you're 90 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: going to try to take that nationally. 91 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: As I understand it, Yeah, we've done it for ten years. 92 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 2: We had thirty five hundred walkers in Boston just a 93 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: couple of weeks ago around the Boston Common We raised 94 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: about six million dollars for homeless shelters. This year we 95 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: did walks in Boston, Chicago, New York, and a few 96 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 2: other smaller cities. But next year we really want to 97 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: take it national, and we're rebranding ourselves from the Winter 98 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: Walk to the More Homes Coalition, and we really want 99 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 2: to highlight innovation in homeless care around the country. So 100 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: if we find something exceptional be done in Denver or 101 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: San Diego or Seattle, we're going to highlight that, give 102 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: a cash reward to the nonprofit in the most interesting 103 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 2: thing with homeless care, and then trying to spread the 104 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: knowledge across the country about where what are the innovation 105 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 2: is happening, Like who's doing the best job? 106 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: Well, that's that is interesting because it is Homeless in 107 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: America has been a problem in this country for as 108 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: long as I can remember, going back to before you 109 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: were in high school in the nineteen seventies when I 110 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: was getting out of law school that the homeless population, 111 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: obviously we have it exacerbated by Mass and cass here 112 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: in Greater Boston as well, and it's been a problem 113 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: in you know, in so many cities. It's complicated. There's 114 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: no easy solution. That that's a big problem you're taking on, Paul, 115 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: I'm sure you understand the magnitude of that one. 116 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've been working on this for ten years, and 117 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: I'm working with doctor Jim O'Connell, who's our chair of 118 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: a nonprofit gym is from Boston Healthcare and homeless And 119 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 2: the thing about homelessness is we have to realize this 120 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 2: affects many families, and it's something that could happen to 121 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: any of us or any of our family members. The 122 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: two most common things that put people on the street 123 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: is either struggling with some type of mental illness and 124 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: or some type of addiction. But the thing about those 125 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: two conditions, which often can cause homelessness, they're both curable 126 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: in most cases. You know, we have the Great Mass 127 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 2: General here in Boston. They're the number one mental health 128 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 2: hospital in the US doing research on different ways of 129 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: cure schizophrenia, bipolar, you know, different types of mental illnesses, 130 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: and if you get someone into therapy and get them 131 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: on the right medications, they can be cured of that. 132 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: So almostness is a horrible thing to happen to a 133 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: person and to a family. But with the right services 134 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: and the right support, we can get people jobs. We've 135 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: done it. We've gotten people jobs, We've gotten them into housing, 136 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: and we just need more attention on it. 137 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I kind of imagine what it would be like 138 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: to have a family member, or for that matter, of 139 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: a child who you knew when you went to sleep 140 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: at night, you knew that that child was out on 141 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: this shoe. 142 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: It's horrible, It's horrible. 143 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: How did you how were you drawing to this subject homelessness? 144 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a it's a problem that affects people 145 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: all across the country. Me this, you know, yeah, I 146 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: can understand a lot of but this is a huge problem. 147 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. There's really two incidents of my life that caused 148 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: me to pay more attention to the people living in 149 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: the street. One is I had sold a company. I 150 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 2: had an e commerce company which I sold to into 151 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 2: it in California during the Dot com one. Oh, and 152 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: I made a bunch of money. And I'm someone who 153 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: grew up with no money and I so when I 154 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: made all this money, I was uncomfortable with it. I 155 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: wanted to give it away because I didn't know what 156 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 2: I would do with millions of dollars. And so I 157 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 2: called uh the uncle of one of my childhood friends. 158 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 2: His name was Thomas J. White. He was firm uh 159 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 2: Ran Jfy Construction Company, which is one of the big 160 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: four builders in Boston. And I met him. I was 161 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 2: forty at the time, he was eighty, and I said, Hey, 162 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: I made this money. I want to give it away, 163 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 2: Like what should I do? Who should I give it to? 164 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: And he said, go to Haiti and visit my friend, 165 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: doctor Paul Farmer, and then go visit a HOMSS shelter 166 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 2: in Boston and I'll get you set up to meet 167 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: some people there. And that really opened my eyes. I 168 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: was twenty years ago. I now look at I've given 169 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: away most of my kayake money at this point, and 170 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: the biggest recipients of my giving has been Homo shelters 171 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 2: and education in Haiti. So I feel like I'm honoring 172 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 2: my mentor, Tom who passed away ten years ago now. 173 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 2: But then the second thing that really drew me closer 174 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 2: to homeless causes was dropping downtown one day with my 175 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: son Michael. He's probably four years old at the time, 176 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: and we had a street light and there was a 177 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: man laying on the side of the road and my 178 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 2: son got very upset and said, Dad, is at a man? 179 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: Is he alive? He's okay? Said son actually asked me 180 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: to check on this guy, like what four year old 181 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 2: would do that, And he made me get out of 182 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: the car make sure the guy's okay. And it just 183 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 2: reminded me like up until then, when I saw someone 184 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: in homeless in the street, I'm guilty, I look the 185 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 2: other way and I walked past them. You know, try 186 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 2: not to engage. But through the eyes of a child, 187 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: we see a different world. And that opened my eyes 188 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: and I said maybe I should say hello to people 189 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: and talk to them. And when I started talking to 190 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: people living in the street, I learned a lot, like, 191 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: for example, one of the things that they say is 192 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: really difficult from friends of mine who are formerly homeless 193 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: now employed and you know, living in homes. But when 194 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: they told me they were in the street, they said 195 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 2: sometimes they would go months without someone saying their name. 196 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 2: And so one thing I do when I count on 197 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 2: the street right now is I'll say, hello, what's your name? 198 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 2: My name is Paul. You know it going to help you. 199 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 2: A lot of times I carry around like dunk Donuts 200 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 2: gip stificates that I give out, but I'll talk to people, 201 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 2: you'll treat them like a human. 202 00:10:54,720 --> 00:11:00,319 Speaker 1: Well, I think I think that is an incredible reach. 203 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 1: I know that I'm not going to compare my efforts 204 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: meek as mild as they are compared to yours. But 205 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: whenever I am and I broadcast from home for the 206 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: last few years remotely, but whenever I'm was at the 207 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: station at night, it was generally me, my producer and 208 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: the cleaning crews, and I always when I had a 209 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: chance to just say hi, how you doing? And I 210 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: introduced myself and I asked them what their name was. 211 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: And it was an amazing response that I got from 212 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: those people, just you know what they they they they 213 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: responded very well that someone, and a lot of them 214 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: didn't speak English, but they knew the concept of what 215 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: is your name? And I think that is exactly what 216 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: you were doing. And it must have had even a 217 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: greater impact on people who were out on the street 218 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: and in need of help. 219 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: It makes a big difference. And you know, if people 220 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: want to learn more about the stories, who are these 221 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: super living in the streets, you see downtown, you see 222 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 2: association whatever. Tracy Kidder, a beloved author of Massachusetts, has 223 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: passed away just a couple weeks ago. His last book 224 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: was called Rough Sleepers. It's about doctor Joe O'Connell. It 225 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: was a six year project. He spent six years walking 226 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 2: the streets with Jim O'Connell. And the book is incredible. 227 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: It's a page can't put it down, and just the 228 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 2: stories and how multifaceted and colorful these people are, what 229 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 2: their lives were like before they ended up on the street. 230 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 2: It really will open your eyes to read that book. 231 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've had I've had doctor O'Connell on and I 232 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: know that the phrase rough sleepers comes not from Boston, 233 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: but from London, where that's a homeless population. My guest 234 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: is Paul English. He is described in headlines in John 235 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: Cesto's piece Last Week. Tech entrepreneur Paul English gives one 236 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: million dollars to start the artificial intelligence program in Boston 237 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: public schools. We get to that and and and how 238 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: we can deal as a society with artificial intelligence. Obviously 239 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: there's a lot of upside, but there's also potentially a 240 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: lot of downside. If you like to join the conversation 241 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: and ask Paul English a question or make a comment. 242 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: Six one seven thirty six one seven. My name is 243 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: Dan Ray, and I like every once in a while 244 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: to have an interesting Bostonian on the show. And looking 245 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: at John Chesto's piece from a couple of weeks ago, 246 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: and also knowing what Paul English has done for our 247 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: alma mater, but his alma mater, you Mass Boston, is extraordinary. 248 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: We'll get into all of that right after the break 249 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: here at. 250 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 2: Night Side Night Side with Dan Ray, I'm telling you 251 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 2: BZ Boston's news radio. 252 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: I referenced earlier. My guess is Paul English, a tech 253 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: entrepreneur who has just given a million dollars to kickstart 254 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: at the artificial intelligence program in Boston public schools. And 255 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: in the article that John Cesto, who's a good friend 256 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,839 Speaker 1: from the Boston Globe wrote about you in late March 257 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:23,479 Speaker 1: March thirtieth, actually that you were posed a seemingly innocuous 258 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: question last year by Boston Magazine. You were amongst this 259 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: group of twenty one prominent local leaders, which was if 260 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: you were mayor of Boston, what's the one thing you 261 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: would do to improve the city. 262 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 2: And your answer was, I would make AI learning of 263 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 2: AI mandatory to get a degree from any Boston public 264 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 2: high school. 265 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: And in that conversation or that question, you came up 266 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: with the idea of developing an AI proficiency plan. You 267 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: reached out to Mayor Wu in January, and what is 268 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: going to happen. This is now also connected to UMass Boston, 269 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: where you have an institute, an AAI center the teachers. 270 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: This money will fund a program to get Boston teachers 271 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: to spend some time this summer doing. 272 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: One So the million dollars is not a huge amount 273 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: of money, but it's enough to do intensive teacher training 274 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: this summer. We're going to select I hope to announce 275 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 2: in May that Mary Skipper, the Visionary Superintendent of bost 276 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: Public Schools, will announce the selection of the teacher Ambassadors. 277 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 2: There the one teacher from each of the high schools 278 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: in Boston, and they will be undergoing intensive training with 279 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 2: u MASS Boston's AI Institute, which is a three year 280 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: old program this summer, and then instruction will begin in 281 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: the high schools in September. So it's really a very 282 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 2: aggressive timeline. Yes, But the way to think about it 283 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: is these kids are already using AI. They're kind of 284 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 2: figuring it out for themselves at home. We want to 285 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 2: put a little bit of structure behind it to teach 286 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 2: these kids things about like the ethics of AI, things 287 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 2: about when AI is biased, why is it biased, how 288 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 2: to detect that, when AI hallucinates, when to trust AI, 289 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: what other tools you should use it with. And we're 290 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 2: trying to put just a little bit of formal academic 291 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 2: rigor around AI. So these kids graduate either with AI 292 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 2: knowledge which will help them in their college careers, or 293 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: for the kids who don't want to go to college, 294 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: not of our needs to go to college these days. 295 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 2: If they take a job at a local company in Boston, 296 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: how they can use their AI skills at Boston Public 297 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 2: High School to improve business for any local business in Boston. 298 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: Well, you said it's aggressive, It certainly is aggressive. I 299 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: would say it's on a fast track. If September is 300 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: what four or five months away to have these teachers 301 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: from each high school in Boston trained up and ready 302 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: to get the the classes that resume in September. That's 303 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: going to be great. The AI Institute at you Mass 304 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: Boston was funded by you three years ago, if I'm correct, 305 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: and if I'm wrong, correct me with five million dollars. 306 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: When we get back, I'd like to talk about what 307 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: that institute, which is, you know, which is a little 308 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: bit more heavily funded, that is intended to be there 309 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: for a while, and I want to find out from 310 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: you what the goal of that is. And also again 311 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: it raises the identity of school that I feel close to, 312 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: and I know you feel very close to you Mass Boston. 313 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: My guest is Paul English. We have to take news break. 314 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 1: Paul at the bottom of the hour, see what's going 315 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: on in the world. If you'd like to join the 316 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: conversation six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six 317 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: one seven, nine three one ten thirty. I think that 318 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,479 Speaker 1: having a guest like this talking about something that is 319 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: very much futuristic and will affect all of us in 320 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: some way or another, is invaluable. I appreciate his time tonight, 321 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: and you are more than welcome to join the conversation 322 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: and ask questions and make comments. We will be back 323 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: right after the news and we'll talk a little bit 324 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: about the Institute at UMass Boston, which is also supported 325 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: and funded by Paul English, dealing with artificial intelligence, and 326 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: we're where we're going to be five ten years from now. 327 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: I mean, it's sometimes some people thinking it's scary. I 328 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: see some reports that say that, well, we will be fine. 329 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: I'll be interested to see what Paul English thinks, because 330 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: he knows a heck of a lot more about this 331 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: than I do. We'll be and most of you as well, 332 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: back on night Side right after this. 333 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: With Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio. 334 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: We're delighted to be joined by tech entrepreneur as John 335 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: Cesto in the Globe described we're talking about his donation 336 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: of a million dollars to help kickstart an artificial intelligence 337 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: program for Boston public school students. Prior to that, I 338 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: believe you donated five million dollars to U Mass Boston 339 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: to file to establish an AI center. What what is 340 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,159 Speaker 1: the goal of the AI center? Obviously, this this training 341 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: for teachers in Boston is going to be incorporated in 342 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: the U MASS Boston AI Center this summer, in anticipation 343 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: of teachers starting to teach this September. What is the 344 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: goal of the AI center at you Mass Boston and 345 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: are there other schools in the area who are doing 346 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: the same thing or is the program at U MASS 347 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: Boston unique at the moment? 348 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: What we did We started discussing plans for an AI 349 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 2: curriculm that you Mass four years ago, actually before AI 350 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 2: got super super hot. We saw that a big changes 351 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 2: were coming. We wanted our students U MASS to be 352 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 2: prepared for this. The thing that was unique about U 353 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 2: Mass as the largest research public research university in New 354 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 2: England and the most diverse college in New England. But 355 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 2: what we saw is that an opportunity to teach AI, 356 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 2: not to compete as science students, where traditionally you had 357 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 2: to study computer decigence to learn about AI. We wanted 358 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 2: to teach it to every student in your mouse, whether 359 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 2: you're a nursing student, education student, climate student, And we 360 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 2: wanted to experiment if we could teach every student across 361 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 2: the campus, anyone who wanted to study AI. We had 362 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 2: a course for them and then we put these students 363 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 2: together in teams. What could they invent? And so U 364 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: Mass has been running a hackathon every semester. We are 365 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 2: student teams and there'll be a nursing student with a 366 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 2: marketing student, you know, with a math student, and they're 367 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 2: building apps and it's incredibly impress of what's getting done 368 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 2: the other thing. In addition to focusing on cross functional, 369 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 2: collaborative team work with AI to all students, UMass also 370 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 2: has a really big focus on the ethics of AI. 371 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 2: You know, when should AI be used? When should it 372 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 2: not be used? People cheating when they use AI? How 373 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 2: can AI lead you down the rung paths sometimes? And 374 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 2: when teaching the students that U MASS how to have 375 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 2: a critical eye and know where and how they should 376 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 2: use AI to become better students and to become more 377 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 2: valuable employees when a enter the workforce. 378 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: Wow, let me get a caller a two in here, 379 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 1: and then I want to get from you your view 380 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: of is AI something that we should look at as 381 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: a threat or as an opportunity? Let me get a 382 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,439 Speaker 1: caller of two in here. Just to incorporate some of 383 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,479 Speaker 1: the callers, let me go to Maureene in Winchester. Maureene, 384 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: welcome your first This Hour with Paul English on Marien. 385 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: Where wouldn't Maureen be Rob. 386 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 3: I just want to say that we are so lucky 387 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 3: and fortunate to have people like you, Dan and Paul 388 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 3: to be part of the Boston Saying to help innovate 389 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 3: and and help everybody grow. I think AI has more 390 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 3: benefits than negatives. I do support AI. I use it 391 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: a little bit. My sister is a computer scientists. Since 392 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 3: the eighties, she made me use computers, learned computer Since then, 393 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 3: I've gabbled a little bit en coding myself, and there 394 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 3: are she's leading the AI efforts at her current employer, 395 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 3: and there's definitely more pros and cons and I think 396 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 3: we shouldn't be afraid of it. We need to learn 397 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 3: how to embrace it. And like Paul was saying about 398 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 3: the ethics. So that's that's my opinion. And I think 399 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 3: it's really great that Paul is doing tons of social work, 400 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 3: philothropic work and work with the homeless. I just learned 401 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 3: somebody in my church in Winchester was homeless and he 402 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 3: does the walk, you know, for the homeless. And another 403 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 3: lady goes to South Station every Wednesday night she collects 404 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 3: items from people in our free cycle and donates it. 405 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 3: And a lady that in another church. She goes and 406 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 3: counsels to the homeless and South Station and Harvard Square, 407 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 3: and I've connected with some of those people on Facebook, 408 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 3: and you know, sometimes they pass away and I've been 409 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 3: invited to some of their funerals. I haven't been any, 410 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 3: just more to timing, but they do need somebody to 411 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 3: talk to. And one thing that haunts me to today, 412 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 3: I've noticed Boston's gotten rid of a lot of chair 413 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, seating like in downtown Boston. 414 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,719 Speaker 1: You mean like bench benches and things like that. 415 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 3: I was walking back from the Boston bor Holiday party 416 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 3: a few years ago, and it haunts me to today. 417 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 3: There was a man that was shivering on the concrete. 418 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 3: It's at Walgreens, and I wish to God i'd given 419 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 3: him my coat. I was two blocks away from the car. 420 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 3: It was really wendy. But you know, that's why I 421 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 3: think that it's just great to have so many people 422 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 3: taking initiatives to help other people out, because that's what 423 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 3: we're here on this earth to do. 424 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: Okay, Paul Say had him Maureene from Winchester. She obviously 425 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: is a big fan of yours in terms of doing 426 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: anything for the city. I stand way in the background. 427 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: This guy isn't uh is in the foreground and is 428 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: and is making an immense difference. Mareene Paul Say had him. 429 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 2: Maureen Marverne, thank you for coming in and I appreciate 430 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 2: your car men. I think you know where Dan has 431 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 2: us on a number of topics tonight, So this is 432 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 2: going to be exciting hour on the topic of homelessness. 433 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 2: I mean, it is something that touches many, many, many families, 434 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 2: and if they're our way for people to get involved, 435 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 2: either by volunteering at a soup kitchen or a food 436 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 2: pantry or a shelter, there's a lot of different ways 437 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: for people to get involved. So I really appreciate that 438 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: you have gotten involved in a lot of people in 439 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 2: Winchester doing so as well. 440 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 3: And our mess Withist Church in Wuburn also feeds the 441 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:39,680 Speaker 3: homeless in Mouburn. There's a we need to I think, 442 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 3: take these empty office spaces and convert them into micro 443 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 3: apartments to help people. I think California has some program 444 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 3: going on. I saw it on TV. But anyway, thank 445 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 3: you for the time, and I'm really excited to see 446 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 3: about this how this AI probe is going to grow. 447 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 3: And I think it will really help out the students. 448 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 2: So thank you, Paul, Thank you, You're very welcome. 449 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 1: Thanks Mario, Paul. Coming back to and this is a 450 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: question that I want to get into you. Obviously, in 451 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighties saw something in terms of the computer revolution, 452 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 1: and you immersed yourself in that and it worked out 453 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: great for you. When most of us weren't thinking about 454 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: the computer revolution and the internet, you perceived that you 455 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: saw the advantages to it. As you look at AI 456 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: artificial intelligence, now, do you see it as something that 457 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: somehow has to be controlled or do you think that 458 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: on its own people will learn about it and be 459 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: able to incorporate it into their lives. I mean, there 460 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: are some people out there who think it's going to 461 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: be a disaster for the country because jobs will be replaced. 462 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: And I'm sure you know that those theories better than anyone. 463 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 1: And yet there were some who were saying, hey, look, 464 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: we've had things like the internet before, for that matter, 465 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: the assembly line. When Henry Ford invented the assembly line, 466 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: everybody was afraid horses and carriages were going to go away. 467 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: But are you an optimist on it or. 468 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 2: I am an optimist If you look at if you 469 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 2: study the history of technology going back a thousand years. 470 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,159 Speaker 2: It's true the things that you mentioned and the factories. 471 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 2: Every time there's a new invention, people think job loss, 472 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: but economies continue to grow. I do think AI might 473 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 2: be a little bit different than some of the prior 474 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 2: things because AI really involves thinking, not just physically doing labor, 475 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 2: but how people process information that AI can do in 476 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 2: many cases better then people can do on their own. 477 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: But the thing about education is AI is here. It 478 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 2: is not going away. If we tried to regulate and 479 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 2: slow it down in the US, the other country is 480 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 2: going to raise ahead of us. So what we need 481 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 2: to do is train our students how to use it ethically, responsibly, 482 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 2: how to use it accurately, how to use it to 483 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 2: become a better student. We expect that when these students 484 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 2: in BOSS public school learning AI, informed by the work 485 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: done at UMass for the last three years, that they 486 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 2: will go home and after school and they'll teach their 487 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 2: parents how to use AI. When they get hired in 488 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 2: local boss of businesses, they'll teach those businesses how to 489 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 2: use AI. So I really to look at this something. 490 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 2: It's great for us students, it's also gonna be good 491 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 2: for their families and good for their employers, so I'm 492 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 2: excited about it. We've had my collaborator on this effort 493 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 2: is Ellen Rubin, who's a three time CEO in Boston, 494 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 2: very well known in the tech scene here, and Ellen 495 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 2: and I have been everyone's been ringing off the hook 496 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 2: since we announced this two weeks ago with the mayor, 497 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 2: and there's other cities now who want to join in. 498 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 2: So we're now looking at collaborating with some other organizations. 499 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 2: We have big companies volunteering to give resources to Boston 500 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 2: mobile schools to make it so they have computing available, 501 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 2: So we're trying to figure that all out. And what 502 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: I've been telling other people this week of it last 503 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 2: week is we're going to open source our project. What 504 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 2: that means is we have a website which will be 505 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 2: launching soon. We're going to show the curriculum, the courses, 506 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 2: the tools we use, the budgets, how much we're spending 507 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 2: on each thing, and we're going to try to put 508 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: it out there as a template so that other cities 509 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 2: might wander the same thing, will be informed by what's 510 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 2: working in Boston. 511 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: It's pretty exciting stuff. Paul English is my guest, we 512 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: have a final segment coming up. If you let to 513 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: ask a question, make a comment six one seven two 514 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. You 515 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: know when you were talking about people who have come 516 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: along and with open a with aill will teach the children, 517 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: The students will learn, and they'll teach older young adults 518 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: and their and their parents. I mean, I learned as 519 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: much about computers probably from my kids as they learned 520 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: from me when when they were in a place like kindergarten, 521 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: the first and second grade. Got to know your alphabet, 522 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: got to know your numbers, got to know this, got 523 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: to know how to add, got to know how to subtract, 524 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: pretty basic stuff. My guess Paul English. He makes it 525 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,959 Speaker 1: sound simple, and it may be simpler than we've been 526 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: led to believe. We'll be back with Paul English a 527 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: final segment coming back on night Side. 528 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 2: Right, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's 529 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 2: news radio. 530 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 1: My guess is Paul English. Paul, just since you have 531 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: a much better sense of a grasp of AI than 532 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,959 Speaker 1: I'm sure ninety nine point nine percent of my audience, 533 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 1: certainly better than name. Look. One of the concerns I've 534 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,719 Speaker 1: had and I'd love you to address it. Is that 535 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 1: AI and I think about like chat, GTP and all 536 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 1: of that GPT. I should say, it is only as 537 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: good as the information that is submitted and is ingested. 538 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: How do we you know if people are going to 539 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 1: relate rely on AI to get information? I mean, one 540 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 1: of the concerns that I have is are kids going 541 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,959 Speaker 1: to use it to write, you know, term papers? And 542 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: how will we know that their actual work? I'm sure 543 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: that takes you back to your Latin school days and 544 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: me as well. But how do we control what goes 545 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: into artificial intelligence? Who's going to monitor the information that 546 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: people are going to have to rely upon? 547 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 2: A couple of things there. First of all, in the classroom, 548 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 2: the way teachers can prevent students using AI to do 549 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 2: the homework is simply some of the test given classroom 550 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 2: with laptops clothes. So if your kids are writing big 551 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: papers but they're not to answer questions of class, they're 552 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 2: probably using technology not really learning the materials in their own. 553 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 2: As far as how AI gets information, the most interesting 554 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: thing happening in AI this year is the rise of 555 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 2: the agents, and the agents are a way to use 556 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 2: AI to plug into different systems. So the first versions 557 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 2: of chat GPT was trained on Wikipedia and Reddit and 558 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 2: new sources and everything you can read on the internet. 559 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 2: The aid is being built today in twenty twenty six. 560 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 2: People are building these custom agents that will go out 561 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 2: and read your email to find something you need to 562 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 2: be reminded of. It will look at your account, it'll 563 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 2: make appointments for you, it'll look at documents on your 564 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 2: drive and help you. It'll take meeting minutes. It really 565 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: interacts with every type of communication you're doing. You can 566 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 2: build tools that work for you, almost like as a 567 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 2: chief of staff. They can look at all the information 568 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 2: of AI, but plus being plugged into any live system 569 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 2: on the internet. 570 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 1: So in effect, you have an administrative assistant. How does 571 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: that administrative you know again a theoretical administrative assistant. How 572 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: does that administrative assistant have access to your records and 573 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: your appointment calendar. I assume you would go out and 574 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: hire some company to When you say agents. 575 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 2: People are doing this. People are doing this in their 576 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 2: own Yeah, it's called agents. And when you install an 577 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 2: agent on the computer, whether you're using Gemini by Google Cloud, 578 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 2: by Anthropic chat Top, by open ai, whichever language model 579 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 2: you're using. There's a way to plug in agents on 580 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 2: top of that. When you install an agent, it's the 581 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 2: system is going to say, do you want to allow 582 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 2: this CRM to access your calendar U, S and O? 583 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: And you have to give permission for the agents for 584 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 2: what it can access. But when you if you're careful 585 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 2: about selecting which AGENC you want to install or what 586 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 2: agent you might be building in your own, by giving 587 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 2: them some access, you get tremendous return on investment. 588 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: The the the acronym CRM. What does that's when. 589 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 2: Oh, customer relationship management. It's the tools that like hab 590 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 2: Spot here in Boston is the number one CRM company 591 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 2: h for midsize, small and mid sized businesses. They have 592 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 2: a incredibly great agentic platform they built about how people 593 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,360 Speaker 2: can build agents on top of HubSpot and which integrate 594 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 2: with HubSpot. 595 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 1: Okay, and then one final question which I think people 596 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,839 Speaker 1: probably are thinking about. One of the things I was 597 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:19,319 Speaker 1: I was looking at a video the other night that 598 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: popped up so much stuff pops up on your your 599 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: computers and on your cell phones, and it was a 600 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: video of of It's a fake it was a fake video. 601 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:34,439 Speaker 1: It's a video of a deer with a small deer 602 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 1: whose hoof was caught in the middle of a highway, 603 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 1: a two lane highway, and they were cars speeding by, 604 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: and the mother deer was sort of trying to be 605 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: protective and also seeming Finally someone stopped and they got 606 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,839 Speaker 1: out of the car and they helped the little deer 607 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:56,759 Speaker 1: escape and everybody was happy. Now that's also known as clickbait. 608 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 1: I mean, that's the sort of stuff that a lot 609 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: of kids are going to sit and watch. Mh is 610 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 1: is your do you think that you'll be able to 611 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: convince these these kids and say, look, you look at this, 612 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 1: and you say this is horrible. This poor deer was 613 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 1: sitting there with the baby deer stuck in the middle 614 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:15,320 Speaker 1: of the highway and cars were buzzing back. Why didn't 615 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: the person who was taking the video of this help 616 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: the baby deer? If you think about it for a 617 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 1: second and you know at that point that it is 618 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: it's a deep fake or whatever term you use. Is 619 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,319 Speaker 1: that the sort of knowledge that young people have to 620 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: understand that hey, I'm looking at something that's that's not 621 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: real and I'm wasting my time? Is that right? 622 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 2: I mean, you have to you have. You have to 623 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 2: trust your sources. You got to think about what source 624 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 2: do I trust. I know a lot of people turn 625 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 2: to you, Dan for your interpretation about what's happening in Boston, 626 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 2: what's happening in the news, And if they read something 627 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:53,360 Speaker 2: from BZ, they trust BZ because it's a known media 628 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 2: entity that's been as a lot of reporters. I'm doing 629 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 2: work for years, and so I can trust something I 630 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 2: see on BZ more than I trust some random thing 631 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,320 Speaker 2: I see on TikTok or on YouTube. So we have 632 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 2: to figure out where we're getting the source from. But 633 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 2: what I want to teach these kids in Bossby schools 634 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 2: is one how to tell when something is a deep fake, 635 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 2: and two how they can use AI to create their 636 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 2: own content. And I'm not opposed using AI of great videos. 637 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 2: I want it labeled that AI created this video, or 638 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 2: AIR was used as one tool for helping assemble a video. 639 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:26,840 Speaker 2: But I think if you give kids these tools, and 640 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 2: you allow anyone to compose music, write poetry, write papers, 641 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 2: create videos, it's going to be a really exciting set 642 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 2: of years we have ahead of us. 643 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: And you're going to be in the forefront, that is 644 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: for sure. I so appreciate the time, Paul. This was great. 645 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,879 Speaker 1: I have a much much better understanding of several things 646 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,320 Speaker 1: as a result of our conversation. I hope my audience 647 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,359 Speaker 1: does as well. Wish all the success in the world here, 648 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: and I hope I hope that all of these programs 649 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:02,120 Speaker 1: that you're getting involved in and beer fruit because you 650 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: were very dedicated to anything that you undertake from the 651 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:10,719 Speaker 1: time you're at Latin School right right through your professional career. 652 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,359 Speaker 1: I just want to say thanks for spending the time 653 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 1: with us tonight. More information about AI tonight on this 654 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:21,080 Speaker 1: hour than I've had in months here on Nightside. I 655 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:22,359 Speaker 1: just want to say thank you very much. 656 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 2: Thanks Anam. 657 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 1: We will We'll see you again, and I like to 658 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 1: periodically maybe have you come back, particularly when the program 659 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 1: gets started this summer at UMass Boston, and want people 660 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: to be aware of it even more. We'll talk again. 661 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:36,840 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Paul, appreciate. 662 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:37,960 Speaker 2: It, right, Thank you, You're welcome. 663 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: We're welcome. When we get back, we're going to talk 664 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: about less pleasant subjects, which are going to include what 665 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 1: may happen to around tomorrow. We'll try to get the 666 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 1: latest on what is going on around the Globe tonight. 667 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 1: The President and others had some comments today and we 668 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:01,720 Speaker 1: will we'll get to all of them before the before 669 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 1: the evening is out, we're going to open up phone lines. 670 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: We have the great news this weekend of the of 671 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,640 Speaker 1: the return of the two American pilots safe and sound 672 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 1: on Easter weekend. It was indeed an Eastern miracle when 673 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:18,520 Speaker 1: you hear what the second pilot went through. We're coming 674 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:21,240 Speaker 1: back on Night's side right after the ten o'clock news