Amy Daroukakis: AI, Culture & The Future of Human Insight

🎙️ Episode Overview:

In this episode of Changing Shapes, Tom Horak sits down with Amy Daroukakis, a cultural strategist and global trends expert who has spent over 20 years decoding the future for brands like Google, LVMH, and Airbnb. Amy doesn’t just observe trends—she sees the cultural forces shaping them before the rest of us even realise what’s happening.

From AI’s impact on human connection to the crisis of authenticity in the digital age, this episode is packed with insightful, thought-provoking discussion. We explore why AI can’t truly replace cultural intelligence, how algorithmic bias is shaping our world, and why the most valuable skill of the future is simply being human.

🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss:

✔ AI’s cultural zeitgeist – why 2023 was the biggest shift in AI perception we’ve ever seen

✔ The hype vs. reality of AI in business and culture – are we automating too much, too fast?

✔ How brands are misusing AI and where it’s actually useful

✔ The crisis of authenticity – why many consumers no longer trust online content

✔ How AI is flattening creativity – and the real opportunities that exist beyond the hype

✔ The future of human interaction – how the loss of in-person touchpoints is reshaping culture

✔ Getting lost on purpose – why the best insights don’t come from data, but from the real world

🎧 Listen Now:

📌 Youtube: https://youtu.be/N4w2jdzMHhk

📌 [Apple Podcasts]

📌 https://substack.com/@thomashorak

✨ Key Takeaways:

• AI is a mirror, not a replacement for culture. It reflects what we value and what we overlook—and unless we actively shape it, it will reinforce biases rather than challenge them.

• We’re at a turning point between AI being helpful and AI replacing too much. Businesses are outsourcing thinking, but in doing so, they’re flattening creativity and stripping away the human element.

• Authenticity is the new currency. With AI-generated content flooding the internet, people are craving realness—this is where businesses and creators can stand out.

• Your biggest advantage is being deeply human. AI can synthesise data, but it can’t ask about someone’s divorce or form relationships. The future belongs to those who know when to use AI and when to rely on human intuition.

• True insight comes from real-world experience. AI models are built on existing data, but the most valuable cultural insights come from being out in the world—observing, engaging, and getting lost on purpose.

🔗 Links & References:

• Amy’s Open-Source Trend Report Collection

• Culture Connectors Podcast

• Amy on LinkedIn

💬 Join the Conversation:

📢 Share your thoughts on LinkedIn → @TomHorak

📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more insights → [Substack]

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, rate, and leave a review—it really helps us grow. Until next time, stay curious and don’t be afraid to get lost on purpose.