QualsTalks

E22: AI has no discretion so stop asking it to behave like it

We’re excited to share a new episode in our podcast series: a candid conversation on a topic that’s becoming increasingly important for research, strategy, and product teams—“AI has no discretion.” In this episode, we unpack what “discretion” really means in practice—judgment, reasoning, and agency—and why it’s risky when teams (and clients) assume AI can make the same calls a human can. We explore where AI can be incredibly helpful, where it can overreach, and how to set clear “stop conditions” so AI-supported probing doesn’t drift into awkward, unproductive, or ethically fuzzy territory. Expect a practical, easy-to-follow discussion—with a light philosophical touch—connecting real-world qualitative work to bigger ideas about agency and responsibility.

E21: Sensitive topics: grief, health, finances, identity

We’re excited to share a new podcast episode from our team 🎙️ This time, we dive into one of the toughest areas of human-centered research: navigating sensitive conversations—grief, health, finances, and identity—with care and rigor. In a candid chat between Bilge Terzioğlu and our AI-powered qualitative research tool, we explore when an AI moderator can feel safer (consistent, nonjudgmental, steady)—and what to watch for in prompt design to avoid “creepy curiosity,” canned empathy, or drifting into advice.

E20: AI accidentally misrepresenting brand values

Excited to share a new QualsTalks episode — a casual (and slightly paranoid) chat on “AI accidentally misrepresenting brand values.” When an AI moderator’s tone, phrasing, or follow-ups drift even a little, the brand can start “sounding” like someone else — more preachy, more salesy, more corporate, more something. And in qualitative research, that subtle shift doesn’t just change the vibe… it changes the data. In the episode, we dig into how to guardrail it in practice: tone templates, persona settings, pilot transcripts, QA rubrics, and review loops — treating moderation like a designed system, not a default feature. If you’re scaling AI-moderated qual (or even just testing it), this one’s for you.

E19: The “Beer Test” for moderation quality

If the conversation doesn’t feel human and fluid, it’s not qual — it’s fancy surveying. We talk about why “native in language” isn’t the same as “native in culture,” and how AI (and humans) can miss meaning when slang isn’t just translation — it’s intent.

E18: Do participants know they’re talking to AI—and does it matter?

Do participants know they’re talking to AI — and does it matter? In this episode, we unpack the real tradeoff: transparency vs “natural conversation.” When does disclosure build trust, and when does it change behavior? We also get into the part people miss: why participants spare their time to answer strangers in the first place — and how a good “listener” (human or AI) earns real answers through tone, pacing, and reciprocity.