Talking AI

CEO of Alteryx on Why AI Agents Need Real Business Logic

In this episode of Talking AI, Matt Paige speaks with Andy McMillan, CEO of Alteryx, to challenge the narrative that AI will make data analysts obsolete. Andy argues that AI can make analysts indispensable by automating routine tasks, enhancing scalability, and providing specific business insights. They discuss the evolving role of analysts, the importance of business logic, and how AI can aid in building useful tools. The conversation touches on applying AI in various business processes, from budgeting to sales commissions, and how analysts can leverage AI to add value. Andy also shares insights on Alteryx’s latest developments and future direction, emphasizing automation, data preparation, and AI tools designed to enhance productivity and accuracy. -- Key Moments: 00:50 The Evolving Role of Data Analysts 03:19 AI and Data Preparation: A New Era 04:04 Real-World Examples: AI in Action 07:00 The Analyst's Superpower: Business Context 10:07 AI and the Semantic Layer 12:44 Empowering Analysts with AI 21:11 The Future of AI Agents 23:46 Applying AI to Automation 23:56 The Future of AI Agents 24:55 Preparing for AI Integration 25:37 Challenges with AI in Business 27:45 AI in Finance and Data Accuracy 30:06 Strategic Shifts with AI 35:29 Build vs. Buy in the AI Era 38:56 Alteryx's New AI Capabilities 41:22 The Future Role of Analysts 42:18 Overhyped and Underhyped AI -- Key Links: Alteryx Connect with Andy on LinkedIn Mentioned in this episode: GenROI by HatchWorks AI Most companies don't have an AI problem. They have a prioritization problem. There are hundreds of places you could use AI, and the hard part is knowing which ones are worth the investment, which ones you're ready for, and what should come first. GenROI uses AI-guided discovery to gather insights from across your whole organization, not just the few people who make it into a workshop. Our strategists then work with your leadership team to turn those insights into a prioritized AI roadmap weighted by business value, feasibility, and readiness. Learn more at https://hatchworks.com/genroi

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From Vibes to Workflows: How AI Is Rewiring Modern Marketing

In this episode, Matt speaks with Thibault Imbert, Chief Product Officer and Growth Officer at The Brief, about the transformative impact of AI on marketing workflows. They discuss 'vibe marketing' and how to turn disjointed AI-generated content into cohesive, repeatable marketing workflows. Thibault shares insights from his tenure at Adobe and GitHub, highlighting the challenges and potentials of AI in marketing. They explore the evolution and current capabilities of AI models in text, image, and video generation, and the emerging trend of 'vibe coding.' The discussion also covers practical AI applications for marketers and the future of creative workflows. -- Key Moments: 00:40 Defining Vibe Marketing 01:11 The Evolution of AI in Marketing 02:21 Challenges in AI-Driven Design 03:21 The Power of Vibe Marketing 06:09 Blurring Lines Between Roles 07:07 The GitHub Copilot Revolution 09:47 Building Cohesive AI Workflows 11:43 Demo: AI-Powered Marketing Tools 16:44 Ensuring Brand Consistency with AI 19:30 The Evolution of Mobile Development 21:15 The Rise of Generative AI in Marketing 23:44 The Future of AI in Product Development 27:41 AI's Impact on Marketing Workflows 30:42 The Changing Role of Marketers with AI 33:51 Personal Insights and Future of AI -- Key Links: The Brief Connect with Thibault on LinkedIn Mentioned in this episode: GenROI by HatchWorks AI Most companies don't have an AI problem. They have a prioritization problem. There are hundreds of places you could use AI, and the hard part is knowing which ones are worth the investment, which ones you're ready for, and what should come first. GenROI uses AI-guided discovery to gather insights from across your whole organization, not just the few people who make it into a workshop. Our strategists then work with your leadership team to turn those insights into a prioritized AI roadmap weighted by business value, feasibility, and readiness. Learn more at https://hatchworks.com/genroi

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Teaching Machines to Smell with Osmo CTO Richard Whitcomb

In this episode, we explore the frontiers of multimodal AI with Richard Whitcomb, CTO of Osmo, a company pioneering AI technology that understands and generates scents. Richard, a former engineer at Twitter, Spotify, and Nvidia, delves into the intricacies of teaching machines to smell, explaining the challenges and breakthroughs in digitizing smell and chemical sensing. From designing personalized fragrances and mosquito repellents to detecting counterfeit items and diseases, Osmo's advancements promise a fascinating future where AI seamlessly integrates with our physical and chemical world. The discussion also highlights potential applications in robotics, health, and daily life, envisioning a platform where sensors can identify and recreate smells easily. -- Key Moments: 00:56 The Journey to Digitizing Smell 03:15 Challenges in Teaching AI to Smell 06:13 Generative AI and Fragrance Creation 08:34 Osmo Studio: Custom Fragrance Creation 12:34 Beyond Fragrances: Mosquito Repellent and More 16:17 Counterfeit Detection Using Scent 18:49 Future Applications and Vision -- Key Links: Osmo Connect with Richard on LinkedIn Mentioned in this episode: AI Opportunity Finder Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there? The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action. 👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/

From RPA to AI Workers: Appian’s AI Playbook

In this episode, Jake Sloan, VP of Global Insurance at Appian, discusses the transformative potential of agentic AI in the insurance industry. Sloan elaborates on how Appian is modernizing processes like underwriting and claims management through domain-specific AI solutions. He highlights the pitfalls of general AI models, the importance of contextual AI, and the significance of integrating AI into existing workflows. Sloan also touches on the cultural and operational changes required for effective AI adoption and the future of hyper-personalized insurance products. Practical insights into the use of AI in insurance processes are provided, along with Appian's ongoing innovations and partnerships aimed at driving industry change. -- Key Moments: 01:08 The Evolution of Process Automation 02:23 Challenges and Opportunities in AI for Insurance 03:51 Integrating AI into Existing Systems 04:33 Addressing AI Hallucinations and Risk 05:41 Purpose-Built AI Solutions 09:36 AI Adoption and Change Management 30:25 Future of Insurance with AI -- Key Links: Appian Connect with Jake on LinkedIn Mentioned in this episode: AI Opportunity Finder Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there? The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action. 👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/

AI Agents, LLM Crawlers, and the Future of Findability

In this episode of Talking AI, Seth Besmertnik, CEO of Conductor, discusses the profound impact of AI on search behavior and SEO. As search engines like Google and AI platforms like OpenAI transform how users discover information, the traditional rules of SEO are being rewritten. Besmertnik details how AI is becoming the new front door to the internet, emphasizing the need for brands to be present in AI-generated answers to maintain visibility. He explains that companies must now create exponentially more nuanced content to stay competitive. The conversation explores topics such as the importance of understanding AI's role in customer journeys, the emergence of new optimization terms like AEO and GEO, and the significance of using AI tools to enhance content creation processes. The episode offers a deep dive into how businesses can adapt to these changes, maintain their relevance, and excel in an AI-driven digital landscape. -- Key Moments: 01:24 The Evolution of Information Discovery 03:15 The Role of AI in Modern Search 04:44 The Future of Content Strategy 08:12 Personal Experiences with Google and AI 10:37 Emerging Terms and Concepts in AI and SEO 12:33 Conductor's Comprehensive Approach to AI Visibility 16:25 Challenges and Opportunities in AI-Driven Search 19:04 Communicating with AI: Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies 20:03 AI Bots and Content Quality 20:35 Effective Content for AI: FAQs and Structured Data 21:29 Personalizing Content for Different Personas 22:38 Leveraging AI for Content Creation and Analysis 26:04 Scaling High-Quality Content with AI 26:42 The Future of AI in Content Creation 30:06 Conductor's Vision and Roadmap 34:28 AI in Engineering and Product Development -- Key Links: Conductor Connect with Seth on LinkedIn Mentioned in this episode: AI Opportunity Finder Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there? The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action. 👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/