Episode Summary

Laura McClure, Member of Parliament for the ACT Party in New Zealand, joins In the Blink of AI to unpack her viral deepfake experience, her groundbreaking member’s bill, and why tech regulation must protect victims without stifling innovation.

In a powerful conversation, Laura reveals how she created a deepfake of herself in minutes—and why it’s a wake-up call for policymakers worldwide. She shares insights on balancing tech freedoms with responsible safeguards, why regulation is about behaviour not banning tools, and how New Zealand’s slow policy-making could leave them lagging behind.

Laura also discusses how ACT’s libertarian values shape her pro-innovation, pro-startup stance and why deepfakes are a threat not just to teenagers, but to democracy itself. From the electricity grid challenges that could stall New Zealand’s AI adoption to the opportunities in agriculture and defence, this is a must-listen for founders, policymakers, and anyone passionate about the future of technology.

Time Stamps

02:20 – Meet Laura McClure (ACT Party MP): From accidental politician to tech advocate

07:25 – Why Laura Entered Politics: Tackling New Zealand’s alarming government debt

09:13 – AI Hacks of the Week: Game-changing educational tech and viral LinkedIn strategies

13:24 – Going Viral with a Nude Deepfake: The shocking truth behind Laura’s Parliament demonstration

23:47 – Why Target Individuals, Not Tech: How Laura’s bill tackles deepfake abuse effectively

27:16 – Pro-Tech, Not Pro-Regulation: Laura’s vision to accelerate AI adoption in NZ and Australia

35:01 – The Infrastructure Challenge: What NZ must fix to power an AI-driven future

39:57 – Skills for the AI Era: Why critical thinking trumps rote learning

44:50 – Laura’s AI-Powered NZ: Her 5–10 year vision of an AI-enabled economy

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