Podcast: Keeping humanity in the soul of AI

A partnership between Groq and Rapport

In the latest episode of the Building Rapport Podcast, Mark Heaps, Chief Tech Evangelist and VP of Brand at Groq, shared insights into his journey, the ethos behind the AI-driven innovation at Groq, and the unique collaboration with Rapport.

With a shared vision to put humanity at the center of AI, Groq is a key partner for Rapport allowing users to bring to life their digital characters with ultra-fast large language models (LLMs). Rapport integrates with a number of LLMs deployed by Groq, including the latest Llama 3.2, making user experiences faster, more efficient, scalable, and predictable. But what does that mean exactly for the user? It means that the experience is more natural and more human.

Log in to Rapport to test Groq out for yourself, listen to the full podcast, or read the summary blog below. 

Merging Creativity with AI Hardware

Mark Heaps has a diverse background that includes a degree in fine art, experience in creative direction, and brand development, as well as deeply technical roles. Reflecting on his unconventional path, he said, “I straddled these two worlds—graphic designer and technologist—passionate about how people experience software and hardware." This philosophy, and deep belief in design thinking, have directly influenced his work at Groq, where human experience is at the core of technological advancement.

Heaps aligns with Groq CEO, Jonathan Ross, through their shared belief in integrating design thinking into everything, from brand to product development. Heaps emphasized, "Jonathan said early on that brand touches everything here... it's fused with product development all the way through to what customers and users get to see."

Why Human-Centric Design Matters

A central theme in Heaps’ approach to AI is ensuring that technology enhances human experiences. He explains how the design team at Groq tackled a seemingly small but impactful challenge of branding servers used in data centers: "Has anyone thought about what this would look like if you had 50 of these in a row, and what it would feel like to a data center admin walking down that row?" The solution came from a holistic view, not just technical capability but drilling down to the human experience.

However, what Heaps describes goes beyond just aesthetics, urging a focus on how people emotionally connect with a brand or technology. His team strives to "keep the soul of humanity" in AI. He is always asking “How will this make people feel?" He noted the importance of demos that resonate emotionally, recalling how early Groq Day events focused on delivering experiential demos to communicate the power of their technology.

The Power of Experience in
Driving Adoption

The success of Groq stems from its ability to transform technical achievements into tangible, human-centered experiences. Heaps described his challenge when joining the company, working with brilliant engineers who were focused on technical aspects rather than user experience. He shifted the narrative, explaining, "people won’t appreciate the amazing technology until they can feel it." Heaps likened the experience to riding a motorcycle: “I can tell you all about the engineering of riding at 150 miles per hour, but until you feel it, you’ll never truly understand it.” This hands-on approach has positioned Groq as a leader in delivering high-performance AI experiences.

AI’s Human Face: The Rapport Collaboration

The collaboration between Groq and Rapport adds another dimension to AI by making it feel even more personal and approachable. Heaps envisions a future where digital assistants are not just functional but engaging and emotionally resonant, much like Rapport’s work with avatars. “Interfacing with a voice in the ether robs you of a range of interactivity,” he said. He sees avatars as a way to bring human touch into AI, giving examples like a digital educator or an adaptive customer service avatar that adjusts its tone and style based on the person interacting with it.

Heaps’ excitement for this collaboration stems from how it enables more accessible human-technology interaction, blending the high-performance computing power of Groq with Rapport’s vision for more engaging AI. 

Conclusion: Keeping Humanity at the Heart of AI

Heaps’ thoughtful approach to technology, brand, and design sets the tone for the future of AI development—one where human experience is not sacrificed for the sake of innovation. As AI continues to integrate deeper into our daily lives, the collaboration between Groq and Rapport serves as a powerful example of how design, technology, and empathy can come together to create experiences that feel both futuristic and deeply human.

To explore more about Groq, you can visit groq.com, 

Try out Groq-powered digital characters for free on the Rapport explorer tier.