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Don't Stop Us Now AI Edition

Mandy Birch – On Being Yourself (in a Man’s World)

Our guest this week is former military leader and now Quantum Computing pioneer, Mandy Birch. Born and bred in the USA, Mandy is super qualified . . . she has a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT; another Masters in in Military Operational Art & Science, and a third Masters in International Relations! Mandy’s entire career has been in male dominated industries. She spent 16 years climbing to senior ranks in the United States Air Force and now she’s working on Quantum Computing with a company called Rigetti. Rigetti is one of four companies (Sept 2019) to have a fully operational quantum computer.  During our conversation, we were fascinated to hear how Mandy only truly thrived in her career in the military when she learnt to be herself. She talks about how important it has been to her career to feel comfortable in her own skin, even when she was different to nearly everyone else in the room.  In this episode you’ll learn:  How to summarise Quantum Computing in a single sentence How being under-estimated became a positive and shaped Mandy’s leadership style  Why she believes over-planning your career can be a problem And why getting used to being different and seeing the value in that made all the difference.  Enjoy this episode with the passionate and mission-driven Mandy Birch.      Links of Interest Mandy on LinkedIn Rigetti Computing  

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  • 207. AI Will Replace Jobs But …. - Peter Guagenti

    49:02||Ep. 207
    This week we're sharing an AI conversation many executives are afraid to have. Our guest, Peter Guagenti, CEO of agentic platform and AI agent builder, EverWorker, is one of those rare voices willing to say what others won't: "AI will replace jobs”. Perhaps surprisingly, he goes on to explain why that’s not necessarily a bad thing.While many in the industry underestimate or downplay AI's capabilities, Peter speaks plainly about what he's seeing happen right now in businesses across multiple industries.Peter has been at the forefront of enterprise AI adoption for nearly a decade. Before EverWorker, he was President of TabNine, a pioneering AI code assistant, and he’s held leadership roles at major data infrastructure and dev tools companies including Cockroach Labs.What you'll hear Peter share in this episode:Why job replacement fears are missing the bigger picture Which "boring" businesses are actually leading early AI agent adoptionSkills you need to successfully implement AI for automation in any businessWhy Peter calls AGI talk "nonsense" and what leaders should focus on instead, andThe one thing about AI's future that genuinely worries him most.Peter has a gift for cutting through the hype with plain talking, concrete examples and practical insights in an easy to understand way.This is a refreshing and informative conversation for anyone wanting a glimpse into early adoption of AI agents and much more. Enjoy this conversation with the plain-speaking and savvy Peter Guagenti. Useful LinksEverWorker websiteEverWorker AI Academy - free AI fundamentals course for business leaders
  • 206. Pulse Check on AI’s Global Rollout

    21:13||Ep. 206
    We’re not long back from attending the AI Summit in London - the headline event for London Tech Week. And so this week’s episode is all about sharing the sometimes surprising key insights we took away. The Summit brought together an incredible cross-section of nationalities, perspectives, and industries, giving us what felt like a real-time pulse check of where AI stands right now. We were there on your behalf, identifying amazing leaders and securing some fantastic upcoming guests for the show.In this episode, we share our biggest takeaways from the event - and we suspect at least one of them will challenge what you might expect about AI's current impact in the business world.What you'll hear:The surprising reality about AI's bottom-line impact in most organisations Why even the biggest companies are missing a crucial strategic opportunity with their AI approachThe coming wave of autonomous AI Agents and what this means for how we'll all be working soon, Some rare ‘behind the curtain’ examples of how some of the most forward thinking businesses are applying AI, and . . . The fascinating cultural divide we observed between how Europeans and Americans are talking about AI's impact on jobs.We also explore why so many AI pilots are failing to scale, the risks of unauthorised AI tool usage in workplaces, and what successful AI deployment actually looks like when companies think beyond just automating existing processes.If you've been wondering whether your organisation is behind the curve with AI, or if you're curious about what's really happening beyond the hype, this episode offers some much-needed perspective from the front lines of the AI world around the globe.Useful LinksThe AI Summit LondonMcKinsey report on the 'Gen AI Paradox'
  • 205. Demystifying Hiring in the Age of AI - Magdalena Orascanin

    41:46||Ep. 205
    Ever wondered what really happens after you hit 'apply' on that dream job? We're pulling back the curtain on modern recruitment with Magdalena Orascanin, an international HR consultant and speaker who advises and trains HR teams globally on strategic AI implementation.Based in Switzerland and founder of Magnate HR, Magdalena has a wealth of HR experience, and a refreshingly honest perspective on how AI is actually being used in hiring and in HR today - spoiler alert: it's not what most people think. Magdalena speaks regularly about AI and HR including at the AI Summit London where we can also be found this week. :-)In this episode we explore:The ATS Mythology Magdalena reveals the biggest myth about Applicant Tracking Systems and shares what's really screening your CV The Application Avalanche Why recruiters are drowning in applications like never before and what this means for your job search strategyHow to successfully apply for rolesUsing AI as Your Career Coach How to flip the script and use AI tools to your advantage, and . . .Future-Proofing Your Career Essential skills for staying relevant as AI reshapes the workplace.Magdalena shares fantastic insider knowledge and tips in our conversation.  She also reveals her favourite AI tools for automation and content creation, plus why she believes we're still at the "dial-up internet" stage of AI development.Whether you're actively job hunting, or just want to understand how the hiring landscape is shifting, or how roles will change as AI is deployed, this conversation offers priceless insider insights. Enjoy this episode with the dynamic and optimistic Magdalena Orascanin. Useful Links: Magdalena on LinkedInMagdalena’s business Magnate The AI Summit London
  • 204. Women, AI Needs YOU! - Dr Nici Sweaney

    43:50||Ep. 204
    In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr Nici Sweaney, founder of AI Her Way, who brings a powerful perspective on why women urgently need to engage with artificial intelligence - not just for their own personal productivity, but for the future quality of AI itself.Nici's journey into AI consulting and training began with a moment of clarity while rocking her toddler to sleep. As an academic, data scientist, and mother of four, she realised women,  especially those juggling multiple responsibilities, stand to benefit enormously from AI assistance. More importantly, she recognised a concerning gender gap in AI adoption that could have far-reaching consequences.In our fascinating conversation, Nici shares:Why the current gender imbalance in who is using AI presents both a personal productivity loss AND a broader societal challengeHow AI tools are actively learning from us and re-presenting our world back to us - making women's voices critical in these formative stages of the techPractical strategies for moving beyond ‘tinkering’ with AI to integrating it throughout your work and personal lifeA revealing look inside Nici's own business, where AI ‘staff members work alongside humans in every function, andNici’s vision for how AI could transform our future - from solving global challenges to enabling more entrepreneurial thinking.We were particularly struck by Nici's perspective that women have a "moral obligation" to engage with AI. As she explains, these systems are currently being shaped predominantly by male users, and without diverse input they risk perpetuating bias for generations to come.So whether you're AI-curious but hesitant, already experimenting with these tools, or looking to take your AI skills to the next level, this episode offers valuable insights on claiming your place in the AI revolution - not just for your benefit, but for all the women who follow.Enjoy this episode with this forward thinking champion of women, Dr Nici Sweaney.Useful LinksAI Her Way websiteNici on LinkedInNici on InstagramSpecial Offer for ListenersDr Nici has generously offered our listeners free 14 day trial access to her AI for Impact Hub, which includes comprehensive education on the five levels of AI integration, from basic prompting to agentic AI.Access it here: https://aiherway.short.gy/DontStop
  • 203. Reality Check - Isar Meitis

    52:25||Ep. 203
    This week we share a thought-provoking episode of Don't Stop Us Now AI Edition, where we tackle head-on some of the most challenging realities of the AI revolution.Our guest, Isar Meitis, Founder of Multiplai AI, gives us a reality check, without the sugarcoating, explaining the potential disruption heading our way. As an entrepreneur, investor, podcaster and AI strategist who's deeply embedded in this space, Isar brings a refreshingly frank perspective about what's coming, perhaps sooner than many of us expect.In this compelling conversation, Isar shares his predictions about the dramatic workforce changes we're likely to see in the next 2-3 years. While many experts talk about gradual transitions, Isar believes we're approaching a tipping point where AI's capabilities may create significant employment challenges across numerous industries.We explore:Why AI's impact on jobs could be more sudden and widespread than most people realiseHow staggeringly capable autonomous Agents will become in the next few yearsHow to think about creating a comprehensive and winning AI strategy for your organisation, and Specific AI tools Isar loves and uses in his own business. Isar also shares practical strategies for listeners looking to remain relevant and valuable in an increasingly AI-enhanced workplace. This is an ‘edge of your seat’, fascinating and somewhat controversial conversation which, as you’ll discover, runs a little longer than our usual episodes. We think you’ll know why once you hear for yourself.  Enjoy this unmissable episode with the knowledgeable and straight-talking Isar Meitis. Links mentioned:Isar Meitis LinkedInMultiplai AI website Isar’s AI Business Transformation Course (starts May 12 2025) **Listeners get a discount for this or future sessions of this course using the code: LEVERAGINGAI100Leveraging AI Podcast (on YouTube) * Don’t forget to share this episode with any friends, family or colleagues who may be interested in this reality check on what's coming with AI
  • 202. How Others Are Using AI - Claire and Greta

    26:36||Ep. 202
    Our episode this week tackles that quiet question many of us ponder: are others using AI more effectively than we are?We explore some fascinating new research just published by Harvard Business Review that reveals the top 100 AI use cases based on actual user reports. It shows some dramatic changes in how people are using AI compared with just one year ago. We know it will give you new insights on how you could be using AI right now too.What's particularly interesting is that the top five use cases have been completely reshuffled. Entirely new entrants making their debut straight into the top five spots. From deeply personal uses to professional applications, we were surprised by the findings.The research has a unique approach which we explore in this episode as well as:Explore the top 5 use case types and share prompts and experiences Share personal examples of how others are using AI to save hours organising their livesDiscuss why certain uses have skyrocketed in popularity, and Examine a thought-provoking observation from AI thought leader Andrej Karpathy about why AI is unfolding completely differently than any other tech.If you’ve been fretting that your workplace is falling behind in the AI race we share exactly why this might be. And if you have been wondering how your use of AI compares to other peoples’, then this episode may answer that question too. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to use AI then stay tuned for a wealth of practical ideas. Enjoy this episode. Useful LinksFull list of HBR’s Top 100 AI use cases - check our website for the complete list - www.dontstopusnow.coHarvard Business Review article on Top 100 AI use casesAndrej Karpathy's blog post on consumers as AI power usersSubscribe to Don't Stop Us Now – AI Edition wherever you get your podcasts to stay in the loop on what you need to know to remain relevant in this fast-changing world.
  • 201. Writing Authentically with AI - Anneli Knight

    34:20||Ep. 201
    Can you imagine spending two decades working in a field you’re totally passionate about and then having an expert friend tell you that within 6 months AI would likely make your career redundant? Well that’s exactly what happened to our guest this week, Anneli Knight. Anneli is a strategic writing consultant, author and journalist. She regularly runs workshops helping executives write more effectively with her business, Eloquence Consulting.Writing isn't just Anneli’s profession but her passion, so since that conversation with her friend, she’s been on quite the rollercoaster journey coming to terms with the reality of what AI does and what it means, not just for her own business but for all people wanting to write using Gen AI.Anneli is very candid as she shares with us her journey of confronting a future shaped by AI, as well as the key learnings from her extensive experimentation with AI as a tool. In this episode we cover:Anneli's initial reaction to her friend’s blunt message and what she did nextThe "three sets of three sleepless nights" she experienced while wrestling with what AI means for writersPractical techniques for working effectively with AI for writing without sacrificing your authentic voiceCreative ways to use voice mode in ChatGPT to accelerate the writing you need to do, and . . .The limitations and ethical questions around the use of AI when it comes to creative writing. This episode shares invaluable practical tips to improve your AI-supported writing including insightful advice on how to craft effective prompts. And, needless to say, Anneli has reworked what she teaches business executives! If you need to write anything in your day job then you’ll love this conversation. So enjoy this episode with the passionate and thoughtful Anneli Knight. Useful LinksEloquence ConsultingThe book Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick  Subscribe to Don't Stop Us Now – AI Edition wherever you get your podcasts.
  • 200. Get AI Working For You – Meg Smith

    38:02||Ep. 200
    Our guest this week, for our 200th episode, is a digital strategist, author, and purpose-driven entrepreneur. After spending a decade at Google, Meg Smith co-founded Cloverbase, a training company focused on AI literacy and tech enablement based in New Zealand.Meg's journey with AI began, like many of ours, with a genuine fear about what these powerful tools might mean for her career. While on maternity leave in November 2022, she had her first encounter with ChatGPT, which sparked concerns about whether she would be relevant in the workplace anymore. Fast forward to today, and Meg has transformed that fear into expertise, helping others navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.In this episode, Meg shares specific prompting techniques to get better results from AI tools, why daily practice matters, and how organisations can implement AI safely through what she calls a combined "top-down and bottoms-up" approach. She also brings some great insights on balancing the risks and benefits of these powerful technologies.We particularly loved Meg's take on the human skills that will remain valuable as AI evolves - especially conversation, critical thinking, and storytelling. Her concept of "triangulation" for verifying AI outputs is super practical too. We were drawn to Meg's down-to-earth, thoughtful approach to AI adoption that acknowledges the real fears many people have while offering practical pathways forward. Her focus on making AI accessible through "just in time learning" rather than trying to know everything is such a no-brainer approach for busy people.Enjoy this conversation with the practical and insightful Meg Smith.Useful links AKO - How to Become AI Enabled free course Cloverbase Superhuman AI Newsletter (daily AI newsletter Meg recommends) Microsoft AI Fundamentals (this is a really great basic course) Google AI Essentials (this too is an excellent free course) NVIDIA AI Fundamentals HiTech Hippies (Meg's sustainability blog)
  • 199. Practical AI Use Cases You Can Try Today

    25:40||Ep. 199
    This week's episode of Don't Stop Us Now AI Edition brings you something a little different as we share behind the scenes insights into the different ways we’re currently using and experimenting with AI to improve our productivity.AI tools are evolving so fast and we know how hard it is to try and keep up with it all. This is exactly why we’re sharing specific use case examples with you in this week’s episode. These practical use cases are all things you can try out for yourself today if you're curious about easy ways to incorporate AI into your work and life but aren't sure where to start. As you'll hear, we’ll share some useful and fun ways to test Perplexity's Deep Research, Open AI’s image generation capabilities, and Google's Notebook LM. In this episode, you'll hear:How we transformed some everyday tasks using Perplexity's new Deep Research How AI-generated images have become dramatically more useful and accurate in recent months and what we’re using these images forHow to easily digest lengthy business reports by turning them into interactive audio conversations you can listen to while commuting or exercising, andPractical advice for navigating privacy considerations while experimenting with AIYou'll also get to listen in on a live conversation we have showcasing a new feature on Notebook LM that really ups the ante for quickly and easily finding the information you want in a dense and lengthy document. There’s something for everyone to try here so enjoy this practical episode sharing real-world AI use cases and tips.Useful LinksPerplexity AI Google's Notebook LMChatGPT (includes image generation capabilities)Greta’s LinkedIn article on data poisoningIf you haven’t already, subscribe to Don't Stop Us Now – AI Edition to stay in the know Why not connect with Claire and Greta on LinkedIn to share your own AI use cases and experiences