In Episode 18, Pasquale Totaro joins Robert De La Rosa and Mitchell Newberger to talk building consumer AI that feels like a friend—not a dashboard. We get into designing agents you can text or call, why the browser layer might disappear, the privacy tradeoffs of “always-listening” devices, and Pasquale’s journey from MIT and Apple’s iPad team to launching Oddball—a bouncy ball that makes music—with 40k units sold.We also cover go-to-market lessons from DTC vs. retail, designing for community, and how AI can augment everyday life (translation, memory, safety) without adding more clicks.Show Notes Pasquale’s path: engineering → MIT → Apple → Royal College of Art → founderBuilding an AI “friend” you reach by phone/SMS (agency without the app layer)Privacy & affordances: recording pendants vs. lightweight voice/textOddball: playful music creation, community features, and DTC learningsUsing AI for connection, not just productivity🎮 Insert Coin, Unlock Conversation.

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