
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.
Episode Sponsors:
Chapters:
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
Resources:
👩💼 Laura McClure on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7330443186185613312/