Maury Shenk On AI With A Worldview
AI Standards Stack #01
Podcast
Never miss a recording again; click here subscribe to Z/Yen's YouTube account .
Background: In this inaugural episode, guest Maury Shenk, CEO and Co-Founder of Ordinary Wisdom will be joined by regular hosts Professor Michael Mainelli and Adam Leon Smith to talk about how he is seeking to develop, through Ordinary Wisdom, innovative ways of shaping AI behaviour. Drawing from his background as a technology lawyer, entrepreneur, investor, and AI enthusiast, Shenk shares his journey into the field and his risk-oriented perspective on AI's potential harms, from autonomous weapons and social disruption to geopolitical tensions, while remaining optimistic about its transformative power as a general-purpose technology akin to electricity or the printing press.
The discussion examines whether AI can be imbued with something akin to a "conscience" or selected worldview, moving beyond top-down commands from tech giants toward approaches informed by human values, social consensus, and rigorous testing. The episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how standards and ethics can guide AI toward beneficial outcomes in a rapidly changing world.
Guest:
Maury Shenk is an entrepreneur, lawyer, investor, and AI-focused innovator, who co-founded Ordinary Wisdom in 2025, with a mission to enable AI with a worldview. Maury is a dual-qualified US/UK lawyer and former managing partner of the London office of global law firm Steptoe & Johnson, where he remains an advisor. He has a deep practical understanding of technology, especially artificial intelligence, edtech, IT, telecommunications and information security. Maury is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. He is founder and CEO of PlaylistBuilder, senior legal advisor for testing and certification company PeopleCert, and founder and managing director of Lily Innovation, through which he handles a portfolio of other investment and advisory activities.
