In The Loop

Jack Houghton

Stay in the loop with the biggest stories in AI—without the noise and nonsense.

Each week, Jack Houghton (CPO at Mindset AI) unpacks the latest news, research, and product trends shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

From OpenAI breakthroughs to unicorn startups, In The Loop delivers sharp, less than 20-minute episodes packed with insights for product leaders, engineers, and AI-curious innovators.

Subscribe to get smarter about AI, every week. Don't forget to rate and share the show with other AI enthusiasts.

Check out Mindset AI: https://bit.ly/40lJr6B

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70 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes70

Newest first

Aug 27, 2025 · 16 min
Has Google Just Beaten Apple With The New AI Phone? (Google Pixel 10)
Has Google just leapfrogged Apple in the AI device race with its brand-new Pixel 10? After months of talking about AI trends and whether we’re in a bubble, I wanted to take a closer look at how this technology is actually showing up in the real world—and there’s no better example than smartphones. In this episode of In The Loop, I break down the new AI features Google has built into the Pixel 10, why they matter, and how they compare to Apple’s faltering “Apple Intelligence” rollout. From on-device models to context-aware assistants, Google may have just redefined how we’ll all be using our phones in the years to come. But the real question is: will people actually switch from iPhone to Pixel? Let’s unpack it together. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (00:50) - The clever Google Pixel 10 ad taking direct aim at Apple (03:40) - Gemini Live, Magic Cue, and other exciting new AI features in the Google Pixel 10 (10:07) - The role of context engineering in AI device development (12:40) - What this all means for Apple’s strategy moving forward (14:45) - Closing thoughts: Will you switch from Apple to Google? 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog Related episodes: EP23 - What Is Context Engineering And Why Should You Care? EP20 - Apple Is Cooked—Here Are Three Reasons Why If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Aug 20, 2025 · 15 min
Is The AI Bubble About To Burst?
This week’s topic: Are we in an AI bubble? Sam Altman himself recently said yes—and called today’s startup valuations “insane.” Meanwhile, ChatGPT faced a user rebellion, and massive infrastructure investments are being announced at a scale that rivals entire industries. So what’s really happening? Are we watching history repeat itself with another dot-com-style bubble, or are we in the middle of something much bigger and more durable. In this episode of In The Loop, I break down Altman’s comments, explore the narratives driving the AI bubble thesis, and examine the data that both supports and challenges it. We’ll look at margins, adoption metrics, and infrastructure spending to separate hype from reality—and I’ll share why I think the truth might be more nuanced than the “bubble” label suggests. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (00:40) – Sam Altman’s view on the AI bubble (05:50) — Reasons why people compare AI to the dot-com bubble (06:30) – Why I don’t think AI isin a bubble: user demand, pricing structure, and enterprise integration (11:55)-- Conclusion: two likely scenarios 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Aug 14, 2025 · 19 min
GPT-5 Review: Everything You Need To Know
GPT-5 has finally arrived—but is it the AI revolution we were promised, or just a clever business move + marketing hype After months of speculation, heated debates, and a very memorable launch event, OpenAI has dropped GPT-5 into the wild. The reaction? Let’s just say it’s been… complicated. In this episode of In The Loop, I cut through the noise to give you the real story: what’s genuinely new, what’s actually useful, and what’s just marketing fluff. We unpack the features that could reshape coding forever—from massive context windows to hybrid reasoning models—and explore why GPT-5 might be less about pure AI leaps and more about aggressive pricing strategies aimed squarely at Anthropic and others. Expect real talk on the benchmarks, the “chart crimes,” and why prediction markets flipped on OpenAI minutes after the launch. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (00:50) – Setting the scene: GPT model chaos, market shifts, and Anthropic’s growing lead (02:30) – What’s actually new in GPT-5: hybrid models, 400k-token context, and UI-savvy coding (07:30) – Benchmarks, reasoning gaps, and the hidden “model routing” system (10:40) – Prediction markets flip, “chart crimes” at the GPT-5 launch, and independent reviews (16:15) – Competitive threat to Anthropic and the enterprise coding market (17:25) – Closing thoughts: technical leap, business masterstroke, or both? 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Aug 7, 2025 · 17 min
The Top Four AI Trends & Predictions Of Summer 2025
This summer, the world of AI has taken a sharp and fascinating turn. In this episode of In The Loop, I break down four powerful trends that are quietly—and not-so-quietly—reshaping the future of our digital economy. From AI companies being forced to pay for content, to Wall Street trading computing power like it's oil, things are shifting fast. And these aren't just random changes—together, they signal a much bigger story. Let’s explore the rise of ambient agents, the monetization of web data, the financialization of compute power, and a surprising new twist in how products are being built not for humans but for AI agents. This is one of those episodes that connects the dots between what’s happening now and where we're all headed next. You don’t want to miss it. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (00:55) - Trend #1: What are ambient AI agents? (08:30) - Trend #2: Pay-per-crawl: How AI is disrupting the web’s free content model (12:30) - Trend #4: Computing power as a commodity: Wall Street’s new gold rush into GPU futures (15:20) - Trend #5: AX (Agent Experience) is here: Why websites are now being designed for AI, not humans (16:30) - What these trends say about the bigger AI transformation ahead 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Jul 31, 2025 · 26 min
Why is learning at work so bad & how do we fix it with AI?
AI is reshaping work while corporate learning stays stuck. Compliance-first courses, born after Enron and locked into SCORM, waste time and budget. Companies spend $340B a year; 70% is forgotten within 24 hours. As automation threatens up to 800M jobs by 2030, workers need real upskilling-personalised, in-the-flow coaching, triage by need, and conversational support- not “click next” modules. Lori Niles-Hofmann has spent 20+ years inside L&D across banking, consulting, and marketing, leading large digital transformations and building data-driven frameworks that turn L&D from support to strategy. She’s published courses with 100K completions, serves on EdTech/HRTech boards, and wrote The Eight Levers of EdTech Transformation. Her ER “triage” insight—sparked by a chaotic airport-to-hospital day—explains how to prioritise skills, kill duplication, escape SCORM’s limits, and move to AI-powered learning coaches tailored to each person’s work. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (03:12) – The compliance trap: Why early e-learning became "legal documents to protect the company" rather than actual learning (07:02) – Meet SCORM: The 25-year-old technical standard that has trapped corporate learning in "click next to continue" modules (12:22) – Lori's vodka-fueled revelation: How a hospital emergency room visit revealed the solution to broken workplace learning (15:06) – The triage model: Why learning should work like an ER- prioritized by need, personalized by context (18:28) – The AI future: Learning coaches that know your calendar, projects, and work context to provide just-in-time development 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. Where to find Lori: LinkedIn Personal website Her consultancy The Eight Levers To EdTech Transformation Book 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Jul 17, 2025 · 13 min
The Crazy Story Of How OpenAI Lost Everything In One Week
Episode Description: In just ten days, OpenAI went from market leader and top dog to a series of very painful events that threaten its market leadership. This episode breaks down the dramatic collapse of their $3 billion Windsurf acquisition, the power play from Microsoft that unraveled it, and how Google swooped in for a surgical “hackquisition.” But that was just the beginning. We unpack how Elon Musk’s Grok 4 leapfrogged OpenAI’s GPT lineup to become the best AI model in the world (for now), and how Meta pulled off the most aggressive talent raid in recent memory with jaw-dropping offers and the promise of research freedom. This isn't just a bad week. It might be the turning point where OpenAI's grip on the AI race starts to slip. ⏭️ Episode Highlights (00:35) - $3 billion Windsurf AI acquisition deal collapses (03:00) - The Microsoft partnership agreement lands Windsurf AI's technology in Google's hands (07:35) - Elon Musk's Grok 4 beats the best ChatGPT models (09:45) - Meta talent war continues: Mark Zuckerberg pouches 20+ AI researchers from OpenAI (11:40) - What does this all mean for OpenAI? 🔗 Links & Resources Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Jul 9, 2025 · 18 min
What Is Context Engineering And Why Should You Care?
Context engineering is more than just the latest AI buzzword—it’s shaping up to be the future of how we build truly intelligent systems. In this episode of In The Loop, I explore the shift from prompt engineering to context engineering, why this evolution matters, and how it impacts the effectiveness of AI agents. If you’ve ever wondered why some AI tools feel magical while others fall flat, context engineering holds the answer. I unpack what "context" actually means in the world of AI—from prompts and system instructions to long-term memory and external data. You’ll hear how building multi-agent systems without proper context coordination often fails, and why simpler, sequenced workflows are currently more effective. Whether you’re building AI products or simply using tools like ChatGPT, this episode will change how you think about how they work. ⏩ Episode Highlights (01:00) - What is context engineering—and how is it different from prompt engineering? (09:20) - What role are orchestration and multi-agent systems help maintain context and improve p (16:05) - The impact of context engineering: personalization, privacy, and better UX (16:00) - Closing thoughts: what this means for the future of AI 🔗 Links & Resources: 📖 Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Jul 2, 2025 · 17 min
22 New Jobs AI Will Create—And Do AI-Pessimists Have A Point?
In this episode of In the Loop, I bring you a very top-of-mind topic: how AI is transforming the job market—but this time, we’ll focus on the jobs AI will create. I unpack a recent New York Times article that outlines 22 new roles AI is expected to create, and contrast it with a powerful historical perspective on the Luddites, offering a surprising lens on the current AI discourse. This isn't just about technology—it's about people, work, and the way progress reshapes our lives. From fears of job loss to the deeper ethical and societal implications, I explore the big questions: Should we slow down innovation to protect current livelihoods? Or do we owe it to the future to push forward, even if the transition is tough? Whether you're anxious or excited about AI, this episode brings clarity, context, and a little hope. ⏩ Episode Highlights (00:50) - Exploring the global tension around AI and economic anxiety. (04:50) - A little history: Did the Luddites have a point? What they really fought for and what we can learn. (09:20) - Why today’s comforts are built on past generations’ risks. (11:15) - AI job displacement vs. AI job creation: 22 new jobs AI will create. (16:25) - Closing thoughts: Compassion for a successful AI transition. 🔗 Links & Resources New York Times article: 22 New Jobs AI Could Give You Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀 🤝 We’re Social Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast. Jack Houghton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/ TikTok - @jackschats Mindset Ai Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI TikTok - @get.mindset.ai
Jun 25, 2025 · 18 min
How Enterprise CIOs Build & Buy AI In 2025 (a16z Report)
This week, I’m diving into one of the most insightful pieces of research I’ve come across lately—a report by a16z based on interviews with over 100 enterprise CIOs across five industries. If you’re building, selling, or using AI in a big company—or just trying to understand how enterprise AI is evolving—you’ll want to hear what’s really driving AI adoption at scale. In this episode of In The Loop, I break down three of the most interesting trends from the report that totally shifted how I think about enterprise AI today. From the dramatic shift from “build” to “buy,” to a budget explosion that shows just how serious companies are about integrating AI, to how wrong we all were about model consolidation—this research is packed with mind-blowing insights. Whether you're a SaaS founder, enterprise tech leader, or AI enthusiast, there's something in here for you. ⏩ Episode Highlights (01:00) – Why enterprises are ditching "build" for "buy" when it comes to AI solutions (06:40) – Budget explosion: AI spending grows 75% beyond expectations (09:55) – Customer-facing AI: the next wave of enterprise adoption (11:10) – How wrong we were about LLM consolidation—and why multi-model is the future (16:45) – What this all means for builders: why it’s time to move faster than ever Links & Resources 🤖 Check out Mindset AI’s customer-facing embed AI agents 📊 a16z How 100 Enterprise CIOs Are Building and Buying Gen AI in 2025 📖 Episode transcript + graphs on the Mindset AI blog If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Jun 18, 2025 · 15 min
EP20 - Apple Is Cooked—Here Are Three Reasons Why
In this episode of In The Loop, I unpack what feels like a turning point for Apple—and not in a good way. From a lackluster WWDC 2025 filled with buzzwords instead of breakthroughs, to a baffling research paper, The Illusion Of Thinking, that downplays the entire AI industry, Apple seems more confused than ever about its future. And then comes the gut punch: Jony Ive, the design visionary behind nearly every iconic Apple product, has joined forces with OpenAI to shape the next era of AI hardware. It’s a move that says more about Apple’s current state than any press release or gimmicky marketing campaign ever could. I’ll break down the three major signals that Apple may be spiraling. ⏩ Episode Highlights (00:50) - Apple WWDC 2025 keynote letdown: Liquid Glass instead of Siri innovation (02:50) - Reason 1: Siri’s downward spiral and Apple’s decade-long AI fumble (07:05) - Reason 2: The controversial Apple research paper on AI reasoning (The Illusion of Thinking) (11:10) - Reason 3: Jony Ive joins OpenAI to design the next generation of AI devices (13:50) - The big takeaway: Apple’s lost identity and the cost of playing it safe 🔗Links & Resources: 🎧 EP9 - Apple’s AI Crisis Exposed: Is It Having A Nokia Moment? 🍎 Apple’s The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Jun 11, 2025 · 19 min
EP19 - Mary Meeker AI Trends 2025: Three Reasons Why AI Is Different Than Any Other Tech In History
Mary Meeker is back after six years with a deep dive into AI—and in this episode of In The Loop, I break it down and explain why this technology isn’t just another trend. From lightning-fast adoption to its global reach and disruptive potential, I explore how AI is unfolding in ways no tech ever has before. But beyond the big headlines, I also dig into the real-world implications. What’s actually working when it comes to AI implementation? Where is the hype overshooting the reality? I share where the real value is being created—and why most of it isn’t happening where you’d expect. If you want a grounded, honest take on the state of AI right now, this one’s for you. ⏩ Episode Highlights (01:00) - How AI adoption is outpacing every tech wave before it (08:10) - Global reach and geopolitical power plays: AI leadership as global leverage (10:50) - The breadth of AI’s disruption—exponential leaps (12:15) - My honest take on all of this data: Why AI agents are promising in theory but fragile in practice—right now—and what the future holds Links & Resources 💹 Mary Meeker’s AI Trends Report 2025 📖 Written version with charts here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Jun 4, 2025 · 12 min
EP18 - What Happens To Entry-Level Jobs In The AI Era? State Of Talent Report 2025
Are we witnessing the end of entry-level jobs as we know them? In this episode of In The Loop, I’m tuning in from a shed on the coast of Scotland—yes, seriously—to dig into one of the most urgent and overlooked consequences of AI: its impact on early career opportunities. Based on fresh insights from SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025, World Economic Forum, and LinkedIn data, I explore how AI and automation are rapidly dismantling traditional junior roles and what this means for economic mobility, education, and the next generation of talent. I’ll unpack the widening disconnect between digital labor and human development, the rise of experience paradoxes, and whether employers have a structural responsibility to train and invest in new talent. If you're a graduate, a hiring manager, or simply concerned about the future of work, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss. ⏩ Episode Highlights (00:15) - The State of Talent Report 2025: the urgent questions raised by tracking 650 million professionals’ career prospects. (02:15) - The data: a 50% drop in junior hiring and the “experience paradox”—is AI creating a Lost Generation? (06:00) - The societal impact: rethinking education in a world with fewer traditional pathways—and the moralities. (08:00) - Commercial responsibilities: global apprenticeship models that might offer solutions. (11:25) - The call to action: Why 2025 might be the inflection point we can’t ignore. 🔗 Links & Resources 📊 SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
May 28, 2025 · 12 min
EP17 - Google I/O & Microsoft Build In 10 Minutes: What We Learned From The Two Biggest AI Conferences
In this episode of In the Loop, I dive into the biggest AI reveals from Microsoft’s Build and Google I/O—two landmark conferences that showcased over 150 new AI features in just one week. But this isn't just a recap. I cherry-pick the announcements that I believe signal the future of AI, particularly in how Microsoft and Google are taking radically different routes in shaping our digital world. From Microsoft’s bold vision of an "open agentic web" to Google’s consumer-driven experiments and AR glasses revival, I break down what these strategies mean for developers, businesses, and everyday users. Whether you're an enterprise builder, a curious consumer, or just someone trying to keep up with the rapid pace of AI innovation—this one’s for you. ⏩ Episode Highlights (00:40) — 7 days, 150 AI features, and AI agents mentioned 300 times: an overview of Microsoft Build and Google I/O 2025 (01:23) — Microsoft Build: Open Agentic Web, Model Context Protocol, and layoffs → Enterprise AI strategy (07:10) — Google I/O: Agent Mode, AI Search & Shopping, wearables → Consumer AI strategy 🎧 Related Episodes What is Model Context Protocols (MCP)? At 3:55 What is Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A)? 🔗 Links & Resources Microsoft Build overview Google I/O 2025 overview 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
May 21, 2025 · 16 min
EP16 - The Top Five AI Features SaaS Companies Are Shipping In 2025 (And Why They Work)
By the end of this In The Loop episode, you’ll have a clear breakdown of the five categories of AI features SaaS companies are launching right now—and the frameworks product teams can use to design them. From small, delightful UX enhancements to semi-autonomous AI agents and powerful standalone AI-native platforms, I walk you through how companies like Google, Stripe, Notion, Attio, and Mindset AI are thinking about their AI strategy. After reading Rich Holmes' fantastic analysis from the Department of Product, which reviewed 25+ major AI feature launches, I was inspired to dig into this topic. I’ve taken that foundation and layered on what I’m seeing firsthand with Mindset AI customers and in the AI products we’re building. Whether you're a founder, product manager, or just AI-curious, this episode will give you a practical lens for understanding how the next wave of software is being built. ⏩ Episode Highlights (00:40) – Type 1: Embedded UX—invisible, contextual, yet powerful AI features (07:00) – Type 2: AI Agents that control existing functionality and why they’re a game-changer (10:40) – Type 3: Domain-specialized workflow agents tailored to Jobs To Be Done (JTBD) (13:25) – Type 4: Gen Ai-focused features (glance-over) (14:05) – Type 5: AI-native standalone apps and how they’re redefining entire categories—while disrupting traditional SaaS Links & Resources: 🔗 Rich Homes, Department of Product: Deep (on Substack) 💌 Interested in our upcoming product launches and the private Beta? Subscribe here to get notified. 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
May 15, 2025 · 14 min
EP15 - Google, OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic & The Three Battles To Own All AI
This week’s In The Loop dives into the battle for the future of AI computing—and it’s getting fierce. In this episode, I break down three major AI battlegrounds that could reshape how we code, search, shop, and interact online. It’s Google vs. OpenAI vs. Meta in a high-stakes war that’s as much about market dominance as it is about redefining how we use technology every day. From Google's game-changing Gemini 2.5 launch to Meta’s bold push into consumer AI with their latest app, and OpenAI’s stealthy assault on Google Search, I connect the dots between strategy, product releases, and billion-dollar plays. There’s a lot happening under the surface—and some of these moves could fundamentally shift who owns your digital attention. ⏭️ Episode highlights (00:35) – Battleground #1: AI coding (02:20) – Battleground #2: Consumer AI market (09:30) – Battleground #3: Search & Shopping 🔗 Related Links EP14 - What's AI ReallyUsed For: The Real State Of AI Adoption In 2025 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends.
May 7, 2025 · 16 min
EP14 - What's AI Really Used For: The Real State Of AI Adoption In 2025
In this episode of In The Loop, I unpack the most compelling AI research released so far this year—highlighting how generative AI is being used not just as a productivity booster but as a deeply embedded layer in both personal and professional lives. Drawing on new data from Harvard Business Review and KPMG, I explore what the top 10 use cases in 2025 really say about the direction of society, the workplace, and how business leaders need to respond. You'll hear my take on the rise of use cases like organizing life, enhanced learning, and even therapy and companionship—and why these shifts reflect a broader redefinition of how we measure value, capability, and contribution. I’ll also dig into the hidden AI behaviors inside companies, including the 57% of employees who still conceal their AI usage from management. This isn’t just about tools—it’s about trust, talent models, and the next evolution of organizational design. ⏭️ Episode Highlights: (00:40) – The top 10 global use cases for AI in 2025—and what’s been displaced since last year. (04:05) – AI in our everyday life: The sharp rise in AI for personal support, therapy, and companionship. (06:30) – Lessons from OpenAI’s recent ChatGPT update, the most sycophantic model out there. (10:00) – AI at the workplace: How AI is augmenting, not replacing, human-centric roles like coaching, education, and wellness. (15:00) – A call to action for leaders: build trust, lead from the top, and reshape how your teams work with AI. 🔗 Related Links Harvard Business Review – "How People Are Really Using Gen AI in 2025?" by Mark Sanders KPMG x University of Melbourne – Global AI Trust Study I, Robot book by Isaac Asimov EP11 - Shopify Memo: No Humans Hired Without AI Approval—Tobias Lütke's Vision 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Apr 30, 2025 · 15 min
EP13 - Cluely: The AI App That Made Cheating Viral—And Maybe Acceptable?
In this episode of In The Loop, I unpack the viral storm surrounding a startup that’s made headlines—and sparked outrage—with a bold statement: “We want to cheat on everything.” Cluely, has built an AI tool designed to help users breeze through interviews, exams, and more by feeding them real-time answers. Is this tech genius or just glorified dishonesty? We’ll take a look at the firestorm Cluely has ignited, break down the biggest critiques (and why they matter), and explore how society, education, and even hiring might be forced to evolve. I also share my personal perspective on why narratives shape our cultural reaction to tools like this—and why this conversation is way bigger than just one startup’s viral campaign. Episode Highlights (01:00) - How Cluely’s Roy Lee and his co-founder went viral—and got suspended from Columbia (03:35) - Clash of values: The three main criticisms: dishonesty, human development, and societal collapse (07:00) - Cluely’s defense: is this just the next wave of tech progress? (10:30) - Cheating or smart strategy? The grey areas of AI-assisted testing (13:30) - Where we go from here—and what it means for us all 🔗 Related Links Cluely's viral ad (YouTube) EP11 - Shopify Memo: No Humans Hired Without AI Approval—Tobias Lütke's Vision 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Apr 24, 2025 · 20 min
EP12 - Google Agent2Agent (A2A): The Future Of AI Agent Protocols Or A Flop?
Google’s Agent2Agent (A2A) is a brand new protocol to facilitate communication between independent AI agents—but what does this actually mean? Imagine waking up to a push notification that your fridge has been restocked, your flight’s been rerouted around bad weather, and your taxes were filed—all while you were sleeping. No apps. No tabs. Just invisible agents handling your life. Sounds futuristic? In this episode of In The Loop, I dig into what could make that scenario a reality: Google’s new Agent-to-Agent protocol, or A2A. This isn’t just a nerdy dive into AI plumbing—this is the foundation that might define how AI agents talk, collaborate, and make your digital life seamless. We explore why A2A could become the “HTTP for AI,” how it works with the Model-Context Protocol (MCP), and why it matters for developers, companies, and, yep, even governments. If you're building in the AI space or just fascinated by how the future gets built, you’re gonna want to listen to this. Episode Highlights (01:00) - A recap of multi-agent systems (02:50) - Why Google’s Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol is crucial for the next phase of agentic AI (06:55) - Orchestrator agents and what can go wrong when agents don’t work together (09:50) - The key components of the A2A protocol (12:05) - What the A2A protocol means to You: the future of personal assistants—and the dark side of this innovation (18:40) - Where does this leave us? Will A2A become widely adopted or will it flop? Links & Resources 👀 Related episodes you might like EP8 - Model Context Protocol (MCP): The Newest AI Buzzword Explained EP6 - Multi-Agent Systems: The Next Big Shift In AI—Yet People Have No Clue About Them EP3 - The Real AI Challenge: Designing Human-Agent Interfaces That Work 📕 Book recommendation AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future by Chen Qiufan and Kai-Fu Lee 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Apr 16, 2025 · 21 min
EP11 - Shopify Memo: No Humans Hired Without AI Approval—Tobias Lütke's Vision
This week, I’m unpacking one of the boldest corporate moves we’ve seen for a while—a memo from Shopify’s CEO that might just signal the beginning of a new AI-first era in the workplace. Shopify’s Tobias Lütke dropped a bombshell: no new human hires unless it’s been proven first that AI can't do the job. The policy has sparked everything from praise to panic, and we need to talk about what it really means. In this episode of In The Loop, I deep dive into the Shopify AI memo, dissect the reactions it’s stirred online, and explore what this could mean for your job, your future, and the broader workplace. Will other CEOs follow suit? Is this about cutting costs or doubling down on innovation? And what happens to junior workers in an AI-first world? Let’s break it all down. Episode Highlights (00:50) - The Shopify memo from Tobias Lütke: a CEO mandate to justify human hiring - Read the memo on our blog (08:10) - Breaking down the key points Tobias Lütke made in his AI-first message (09:15) - Saying the quiet part out loud (17:00) - How does the next five years look like? (20:00) - My final takeaway: this is either visionary leadership, or the start of a tough reckoning Links & Resources 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀
Apr 9, 2025 · 18 min
EP10 - Does ChatGPT's Viral Image Generator & The Ghibli Craze Spell The End Of Art & Creativity
In this episode of In The Loop, I break down one of the most jaw-dropping AI updates we’ve seen for a few years—the new ChatGPT image generator that’s now baked directly into GPT-4. It’s fast, playful, and wildly powerful. You can take any photo and instantly transform it into something that looks straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. It’s fun—until it gets complicated… I dive into how this model actually works, why it’s such a leap forward, and what it means for artists, creatives, and entire industries. From copyright dilemmas and lawsuits to cultural questions and job displacement, this tech is stirring up some big conversations. Whether you’re experimenting with AI art for fun or thinking deeply about its implications, this episode helps you make sense of it all. Episode Timeline: Key Highlights (01:00) – The magic of the ChatGPT image generator and why it’s blowing up (02:40) – What makes GPT-4o’s image generator tool different from DALL·E and diffusion models (06:30) – The cultural and ethical impact – The Ghibli debate: Art homage vs. imitation and cultural appropriation (08:25) – Copyright grey zones: can style be protected by law? (13:10) – The business and workforce impact – How creative careers might shift—and who’s at risk of being replaced (15:30) – Final thoughts: will AI homogenize art, or spark a new wave of creativity? Links & Resources: 📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here. If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀