The AI Panic Button

What do Mission: Impossible and real-world AI development have in common? More than you think.

In this episode of Next Gen Biz, host Natasha Navarro Gundersen unpacks the growing ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, through the lens of pop culture, public trust, and personal reflection. Inspired by Dead Reckoning: Part One, Natasha explores what a fictional AI villain reveals about our real fears: who controls this tech, who benefits, and what happens when accountability disappears.

Drawing on a university research project and a Gen Z survey, we dive into critical theory, the “responsibility gap,” and the cultural demand for a kill switch. If you’ve ever wondered whether AI will save us or surveil us, this one’s for you.

Because the question isn’t just Can we build it? It’s Should we trust the people who are?

In this episode of Next Gen Biz, I explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping our moral and political landscape through the unexpected lens of a blockbuster film. Inspired by Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, I break down what a fictional AI villain reveals about real-world fears around ethics, accountability, and power. From survey insights to critical theory, this episode challenges the hype and asks the deeper questions: Who’s building this technology? Who’s profiting? And what values are baked into the code?

A sharp, thoughtful look at the systems behind the screen. Whether you’re into tech, politics, or just trying to make sense of it all. this episode blends storytelling and analysis in a way that’s fresh, human, and deeply relevant.