Episode 58 – Building Conversational AI for Natural Speech and Accents with Rebecca Evanhoe

In this episode, we’re again joined by Jennifer Jones-Mitchell, CEO and AI Transformation Leader at Human Driven AI, to delve into the transformative potential of AI agents in today’s workplaces. We cover: What AI agents are and how they can help companies act on real-time data, streamline customer interactions, and automate workflows to achieve new efficiencies. Real-world examples of AI agents in action, such as how Mastercard uses AI to boost customer engagement in real-time, delivering faster, more impactful connections. Why a hybrid approach to AI agents — combining traditional methods with large language models — is crucial for creating systems that are secure, adaptable, and aligned with business goals. Jennifer also shares her take on the future of work, including new roles like prompt engineers and AI trainers that are emerging as AI technology reshapes career landscapes. "AI won’t take your job," Jennifer says, "someone who knows AI will take your job." Tune in to discover what it takes to stay ahead in an AI-powered world. Connect with us! Jennifer Jones-Mitchell on LinkedIn Human Driven AI Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Four Kitchens About Four Kitchens AI, content strategy, design systems… Keeping pace with the web is hard. We’re here to help. We help some of the world’s most forward-thinking organizations build digital platforms that stand out and stay relevant. Whether you’re looking for a complete redesign, long-term support, or an extension of your team, we’re here to help you succeed today and lead tomorrow. Learn more about how Four Kitchens is creating the future of content.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Jones-Mitchell, CEO and AI Transformation Leader at Human Driven AI, to explore advanced AI prompt engineering. We dive into: Practical strategies for using prompt sequences to create reusable AI tools that streamline workflows and enhance productivity. The power of “funnel thinking” to refine prompts and make AI a more powerful asset for marketing and operations. How Jennifer’s approach enables teams to build custom AI solutions that are easy to use and deploy across organizations. The steps to move beyond basic one-off prompts and start operationalizing AI for complex, multi-step tasks. Tune in to hear Jennifer’s insights on how to go from casual AI use to becoming a true power user of generative AI. Connect with us! Jennifer Jones-Mitchell on LinkedIn Human Driven AI Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Four Kitchens About Four Kitchens AI, content strategy, design systems… Keeping pace with the web is hard. We’re here to help. We help some of the world’s most forward-thinking organizations build digital platforms that stand out and stay relevant. Whether you’re looking for a complete redesign, long-term support, or an extension of your team, we’re here to help you succeed today and lead tomorrow. Learn more about how Four Kitchens is creating the future of content.

In this episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Evanhoe, Conversation Design Strategist at Slang.ai and co-author of Conversations with Things, to dive into the world of AI-driven customer interactions. We explore how voice AI agents are transforming industries like restaurants, where understanding natural speech is crucial for creating seamless customer experiences. We discuss: How AI systems can be trained to understand colloquialisms, regional dialects, and accents, ensuring they sound more human and relatable. The challenges of balancing precise, useful responses with a conversational tone. How hybrid AI models—combining traditional conversational design methods with large language models (LLMs)—are shaping the future of chatbots and AI agents. Why user-centered design is critical to building AI systems that effectively represent brands and provide meaningful customer experiences. Tune in to hear Rebecca’s insights on the evolving field of conversational design and the future of AI-driven interactions! Connect with us! Rebecca Evanhoe on LinkedIn Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Four Kitchens About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Learn more about how Four Kitchens is creating the future of content.  

In this episode, we’re joined by Deanna Ballew, Senior VP of Digital Experience Platforms and AI at Acquia, to discuss the future of personalized marketing in a world without third-party cookies. We cover: The pressing need for first-party data strategies that incrementally collect data from users in exchange for something of value (such as premium content or discount codes). Why a community of peers is one of the best ways to build brand trust and recognition — and demand a higher price point. How to create personalized and relevant experiences while respecting user privacy. How AI can revolutionize Content Management Systems (CMSs) by improving accessibility and localizing content. For example: automatically generating image alt tags and inserting product images into videos based on the user’s local language or market. Connect with us! Deanna Ballew on LinkedIn Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Four Kitchens  

Join us for a conversation with Deanna Ballew, Senior VP of Digital Experience Platforms and AI at Acquia, where we discuss the fundamental shifts happening right now in the world of marketing. We cover: How heightened consumer awareness and stricter privacy laws are reshaping marketing strategies. Reclaiming the humanity of marketing from the data-centric focus of the past decade. How marketing will function in a “cookieless future.” And much more! Connect with us! Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Deanna Ballew on LinkedIn About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.

In this episode, we're joined by Andy Earle, CEO and Founder of Write it Great, to explore how ghostwriting has evolved from a covert art to a respected collaboration, enabling professionals and thought leaders to articulate their thoughts more effectively. We discuss: How working with a ghostwriting team can crystallize your ideas, develop compelling metaphors, and ultimately make your communication more impactful across various channels. The types of content best suited for ghostwriting. The ethical and practical limitations of ghostwriting, particularly when dealing with deeply personal material. The transformative role AI is playing in the ghostwriting process. By handling initial tasks like transcribing interviews and generating first drafts, AI is freeing up human writers to focus more on creativity and refinement. Connect with us! Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Andy Earle on LinkedIn Write it Great   About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.  

Unlock the secrets to a more intuitive and user-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) experience with our special guest, Greg Bennett. Journey with us through the fascinating history of user interface paradigms, based on Jakob Nielsen's insights, from the early days of batch processing, to today’s command-based interactions and intent-based AI interfaces. This episode does a deep dive into the shift from users providing step-by-step commands to simply stating desired outcomes, emphasizing the crucial role of usability. Discover why the future might render prompt engineers obsolete, much like how Google revolutionized search and diminished the need for specialized query skills. In addition to exploring the evolution of prompt engineering, we tackle the pressing challenges of AI accuracy and security, addressing issues like factual correctness and prompt injection. This episode offers a practical look at the synergy between graphical and conversational interfaces, such as the difference between filling out forms and engaging in extended dialogues. With an eye toward making AI more natural and conversational, Greg Bennett shares his vision for a future where users can refine outputs through iterative dialogue, making AI not just a tool but a seamless part of our everyday lives. Tune in to see how these advancements could revolutionize your interaction with technology. Connect with us! Greg Bennett on LinkedIn Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Zeals About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.  

Discover the hidden biases in large language models and how they skew towards English, creating unique challenges for other languages when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). In this episode, Greg Bennett, head of prompt engineering at ZEALS,  dissects the influence of training data predominantly sourced from English materials and the subsequent effectiveness of English prompts. We reveal how tiny linguistic tools called discourse markers can significantly enhance conversational flow in AI-generated responses, especially when navigating non-English languages. Linguistics professionals play a critical role in prompt engineering; their expertise in language structures and sociolinguistics gives them an edge in creating natural and engaging AI outputs. Hear about the intriguing differences between OpenAI and Anthropic's language models and how each handles discourse markers. We discuss why Anthropic's models seem to have an inherent grasp of these markers, whereas OpenAI's models need explicit instructions.  Reflecting on the evolution of conversational AI, we go back to the early days of voice assistants like Cortana in 2014, sharing personal experiences and challenges faced in those formative years. Fast forward to the present and we illustrate how advancements in generative AI have transformed conversational UX. Learn how specifying discourse formats, whether for articles or chat messages, can guide AI to produce the desired style and register, making interactions smoother and more intuitive.  Connect with us! Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Greg Bennett on LinkedIn About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Click here to learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.

In Part One of our three-part series with Greg Bennett, Head of Prompt Engineering at ZEALS, we demystify artificial intelligence (AI) prompting and effective outputs. This episode shows how crafting AI prompts is like giving clear, detailed instructions to an intern, ensuring they understand the context, objectives, and specific guidelines necessary for success. Discover practical techniques such as adopting personas and offering incentives to enhance the performance of AI tools. Learn why precision is essential, from setting word limits to specifying details for better AI-generated summaries. Greg shares the pitfalls of vague personas and the value of narrowing the scope to precise roles or attributes. We compare strategies for content creation versus research, emphasizing the need to consider the audience. Additionally, we introduce the concept of recipient design from conversation analysis, highlighting the importance of tailoring communication for intended recipients. Join us for an enlightening conversation that bridges AI potential with practical application. Connect with us! Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Greg Bennett on LinkedIn About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Click here to learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.   

Remember when podcasting was just an audio medium? Now it’s virtually understood that a podcast will also have a video component because of the popularity of viewing video. In this episode, we sit down with Bob Bowdon, the visionary behind Vidafair, to uncover the transformational journey from text-based tutorials to dominant video platforms like YouTube, now the second largest search engine.  Bob brings decades of expertise in video and broadcasting, sharing how video has become indispensable for various aspects of content marketing. Bob’s new firm Vidafair empowers content creators to set their own fees, ensuring fair monetization. From TikTok's snappy clips to Joe Rogan's marathon podcasts, we unpack how different formats engage audiences – short-form videos keep users glued to the platform while long-form content builds deeper connections with creators.  This week’s episode invites viewers to ponder how they would like to use video and how artificial intelligence will or won’t play a role. Connect with us! Todd Ross Nienkerk on LinkedIn Bob Bowdon on LinkedIn VidaFair About Four Kitchens Your website needs to fulfill your mission and stand the test of time. We have a long history of helping teams like yours — those who educate, advocate, and inform — realize their website’s potential and make a positive change in the world. At Four Kitchens, we make the web a better place to teach, learn, and advocate for all. Driven by our content expertise, technical excellence, and a shared purpose of doing good, we craft websites that help organizations fulfill their missions. Click here to learn more about how Four Kitchens makes websites with love. For good.