Forewarned for the Future

About this episode

As we complete production on an Over Coffee® special-edition program, please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2025!

"We've crossed a dangerous threshold," warns futurist, entrepreneur and Ubertrends CEO Michael Tchong.

He's talking about the ways scammers can use AI.

Michael, whose entrepreneurial background has included creating four successful startups, has based his career on reaching beyond watching trends, to educate others in what he has termed “ubertrends”.

Ubertrends, Michael explains, are trends that change human values.

Michael, who is the author of three books, is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco.

In addition, he is the founder of four successful startups, including Ubertrends,

In his most recent book “Ubertrends – How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future“, he identifies eight "ubertrends"of the twenty-first century.

Staying ahead of the "wave"

With the motto, “I help you catch the next wave, before it catches you”, he explores the ways these "ubertrends" can affect future success--as well as pitfalls to be avoided.

And artificial intelligence, he says, comes with "a lot of great benefits", but can also help scammers on an unprecedented scale.

While Michael says senior citizens are a prime target of AI scammers, these scams can affect anyone.

"Scams can take all different forms, but the typical ones are the ones that ask for money," he says.

"Innovation is not about predicting the future. Innovation is preparing for it."

Michael shared some of the ways to be prepared and possibly avoid getting “scammed”, talked about his background and discussed ways artists and “arts people” can stay relevant amid the AI surge.