Claim OwnershipAI First with Adam and Andy
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AI First with Adam and Andy: Inspiring Business Leaders to Make AI First Moves is a dynamic podcast focused on the unprecedented potential of AI and how business leaders can harness it to transform their companies. Each episode dives into real-world examples of AI deployments, the "holy shit" moments where AI changes everything, and the steps leaders need to take to stay ahead. It’s bold, actionable, and emphasizes the exponential acceleration of AI, inspiring CEOs to make AI-first moves before they fall behind.
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In this focused mini episode, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack explore how Claude Co-Work is reshaping executive productivity and redefining the future of work. Moving beyond traditional prompt-and-response AI tools, they describe what changes when AI operates directly on your desktop with browser access, document parsing, and step-by-step task execution.Through real examples, from synthesizing board materials and investor updates to rebuilding strategic diagrams and navigating shared drives, they explain how agentic AI reduces friction, increases parallelization, and shifts leaders into a managerial role over virtual agents. Instead of conversing with chatbots, executives begin delegating, orchestrating, and supervising digital coworkers.The discussion highlights a critical inflection point for 2026: the transition from conversational AI to computer-use agents with growing autonomy. For C-suite leaders, this shift is not incremental. It changes how strategy documents are created, how research is conducted, and how time is allocated across priorities.If you are evaluating AI adoption inside your organization, this episode offers a practical, executive-level perspective on what agentic workflows mean today and where autonomous agents are heading next.
As AI capabilities accelerate at a weekly pace, enterprise leaders face a critical question: how do you choose the right AI tools for your organization without compromising security or governance? In this episode, Andy Sack and Adam Brotman provide a CEO-level playbook for becoming AI-first while navigating existing enterprise technology environments.They argue that this moment requires leadership, not delay. Rather than relying on a single platform or waiting for capabilities to mature, executives should empower a focused group of employees with secure, enterprise-grade access to multiple leading AI systems. Clear AI use policies, strong governance, and disciplined experimentation are essential. So is resisting the urge to demand immediate ROI before learning what the technology can unlock.The discussion highlights the importance of portability, organizational change, and hands-on experience with frontier models. Over the next 12 to 24 months, companies that move responsibly but decisively will build internal capability, accelerate learning, and position themselves for meaningful competitive advantage in an AI-first economy.
This episode of AI First with Adam and Andy is an intentional experiment. The script, ideas, and analysis are entirely Adam Brotman and Andy Sack’s own. The on-screen hosts and voice delivery were generated using AI tools as part of a hands-on exploration of what these technologies can and cannot yet do. It is not perfect, and that is precisely the point.In this conversation, Adam and Andy tackle the increasingly popular claim that “software is dead.” Against the backdrop of roughly $830 billion in software market value repricing, they unpack the rise of AI agents, the pressure on seat-based SaaS models, and the market’s tendency toward one-sentence apocalypse narratives.They explain why software is not disappearing but evolving, as the interface shifts from dashboards and logins to ask, decide, execute workflows layered over systems of record. For restaurant and retail operators, this shift has real implications for permissions, audit trails, orchestration layers, and enterprise control.The core message is clear: software is not dying, but the way leaders interact with it is changing.
As AI enters 2026, many enterprises are still measuring success through narrow efficiency gains and license utilization, while missing the larger opportunity for growth and innovation. In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Paul Roetzer breaks down why AI transformation is fundamentally a leadership and change management challenge, not a technology rollout. The conversation explores why delegating AI to IT limits outcomes, how CEOs can raise their own AI literacy, and what it takes to empower teams to find high value use cases across every function. Paul and Adam share executive level examples using tools like NotebookLM and custom GPTs to accelerate strategic planning, competitive analysis, and decision making in ways that were not possible even months ago. They also discuss the rise of agents, why expectations are ahead of reliability, and how leaders should think about staffing and organizational design when AI capabilities evolve every few months. The message for CEOs is clear: leading AI is now part of the core job.
In this mini episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack explore the growing conversation around AI agents and why most executives are still waiting for something that is not fully here yet. They explain why coding agents are advancing fastest and how those lessons apply to non-technical leaders across strategy, marketing, operations, and analytics. Drawing on a hands-on example built over the holidays, they show how executives can combine prompting, context, and existing AI tools to create agentic workflows that accelerate insight and execution without needing clean, centralized data or engineering teams. The discussion addresses common misconceptions about readiness, the gap between hype and reality, and why AI proficiency has become a leadership skill. A grounded, executive-focused conversation on how to capture real value from AI today while true autonomous agents continue to evolve.
In this inside look from an AI First community call, Keith Fairclough, CIO of Cabi, explains how a direct sales women’s apparel brand built AI literacy across the company before chasing shiny use cases. He details the executive bootcamp that aligned leadership, the in person training that drove adoption, and the practices that sustained momentum, including weekly office hours and monthly AI competitions. Keith then shows what the foundation enabled: an AI styling tool that generates on brand outfits from the product catalog, creates shoppable flat lays, and can incorporate a customer’s closet history, plus an early virtual try on capability. He also shares how he used Lovable to create a clickable, gamified POS training prototype using screenshots, helping prepare 2,000 stylists for a Shopify rollout before go live. Practical lessons on culture, governance, and shipping value fast.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Greg Gottesman of Pioneer Square Labs shares hard-earned lessons from nearly three decades as a venture capitalist, founder, and startup studio operator. Greg explains why startups rarely fail due to product or technology challenges, even in today’s AI-driven landscape, and why cost-effective distribution remains the defining constraint for success.The conversation explores how AI has dramatically lowered the cost and speed of building products, intensifying competition while making customer acquisition harder than ever. Greg also offers a clear framework for understanding AI-native companies, contrasting isolated AI teams with organizations where every function uses AI as a core capability. He outlines a future where companies move from humans augmented by AI to AI systems doing the work with humans in oversight roles.For executives and founders navigating AI adoption, this episode provides a grounded perspective on how AI is changing startups, established companies, and the future of work, without hype and with a focus on real business impact.
Are we in an AI bubble, or at the early stages of the most consequential technology shift of our lifetime? In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack unpack the tension executives are feeling as AI investment, valuations, and infrastructure spending accelerate at historic speed.They explore why AI can feel both economically fragile and fundamentally real at the same time, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era while highlighting critical differences, including unprecedented usage growth, enterprise demand, and near-term impact. The conversation examines hyperscaler investment, competing research on AI ROI, market sensitivity to headlines, and what makes AI adoption feel less speculative than past technology cycles.For business leaders navigating strategy, capital allocation, and workforce implications, this episode offers a clear-eyed perspective on risk, opportunity, and why long-term conviction in AI does not eliminate short-term uncertainty.
In this special annual predictions episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack are joined by Rose Kelly, Head of AI Consulting at Forum3, for a fast-paced, candid look at what 2026 will bring for artificial intelligence, business leadership, work, and society.The conversation explores whether CEOs will be hired or fired based on AI strategy, if the AI boom is headed toward a bubble or sustained growth, and how AI will reshape jobs, enterprise tools, and executive decision-making. Adam, Andy, and Rose also unpack the rise of AI-generated media, the growing challenge of distinguishing real from fake online, and why 2026 may mark the beginning of a true post-truth era.Other predictions include the future of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot in the enterprise, whether voice-first AI becomes mainstream, what’s next for AI-powered devices and hardware, and when humanoid robots may actually appear in everyday life. The episode also examines AI’s role in U.S. politics, regulation, labor markets, and the emerging backlash alongside a growing pro-human movement in creativity and culture.Designed for executives, operators, and builders, this episode goes beyond hype to focus on real-world implications, adoption timelines, and strategic signals leaders should be watching as AI continues to accelerate.
OpenAI’s “code red” memo marks a pivotal moment in the AI landscape. In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack analyze why Sam Altman is sounding the alarm and how the rapid rise of Gemini 3.1 and Google DeepMind is reshaping competitive dynamics across the AI ecosystem.The conversation explores what this shift means for ChatGPT’s long-held dominance, whether OpenAI is stretching itself too thin, and how Anthropic’s focused strategy in enterprise and coding compares to OpenAI’s broader ambitions. Adam and Andy also examine the role of user experience, product design, memory features, and advanced voice interfaces in determining which model will win long-term market share.For business leaders, this episode delivers clear insight into how the AI platform race is evolving, what signals matter, and why the future may involve using multiple models rather than relying on a single provider.A candid and practical breakdown of one of the most important competitive moments in generative AI to date.
The 2025 Year in Review episode of AI First with Adam and Andy offers an in-depth look at what truly shaped the AI landscape this year. Hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack revisit the predictions they made at the end of 2024 and evaluate how those expectations aligned with real developments across search, agentic systems, generative video, large language models, enterprise adoption, and the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.This episode explores how AI search evolved without significantly weakening Google’s dominance, why reasoning models became the unexpected breakthrough of 2025, and how xAI and Elon Musk surged into greater influence. Adam and Andy also examine Apple’s limited progress in AI, the rise of new competitive pressures among leading AI labs, and the public debate around an emerging AI bubble.For executives seeking clarity, the conversation highlights the shifts that matter for 2026, including regulatory uncertainty, the slowing but still resilient labor market, and the widening gap between infrastructure advancements and consumer-facing applications. With transparent commentary and practical insights, Adam and Andy cut through hype and offer a grounded, strategic view of where AI is headed next.Ideal for leaders building AI roadmaps, this episode delivers essential perspective on the year’s biggest developments and lessons.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, we sit down with Benji Koltai, co-founder and CEO of Galley Solutions, to unpack how AI is transforming one of the most complex operational environments: the kitchen.Benji shares the personal story that led him to build Galley and reveals why most food service companies still operate using analog systems and spreadsheets. He explains how Galley’s recipe-first, culinary resource planning platform gives kitchens a true “system of record”, enabling better planning, reduced waste, improved labor efficiency, and scalable operations.The discussion also dives into AI adoption: why teams must learn to “ask AI first,” how LLMs now support everything from recipe digitization to customer support, and why leaders need to address the philosophical and emotional barriers employees face when bringing AI into their workflow.Whether you're in food service, technology, or simply curious about vertical AI and the future of operations, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how data, systems of record, and generative AI come together to reshape an entire industry.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Andy Sack and Adam Brotman unpack one of the most common questions they hear from executives: which AI model should your organization use? Andy explains why comfort, workflow, and use case matter more than brand loyalty, and why toggling between models is a powerful way to learn their strengths.The conversation turns to the launch of Gemini 3, including Adam’s early impressions of its increased speed, stronger reasoning, and more agentic behavior. They explore what this shift means for enterprise AI and why companies should never limit themselves to a single model for every team and task.Whether you are leading an AI initiative, managing adoption across departments, or experimenting on your own, this episode offers clear, practical guidance on building a flexible, resilient, AI-first culture.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack explore a recent New York Times opinion piece by Eric Schmidt and Andrew Sirota titled “Use AI to Reinvigorate Democracy, Not Replace It.” The article highlights examples from Albania and Taiwan, showing how governments are already using AI to reduce corruption, analyze constituent feedback, and create more responsive policies.Adam and Andy reflect on the larger question behind these stories. AI can help leaders synthesize information, listen to the public more effectively, and make smarter decisions faster. But turning decision-making over to the algorithm risks accountability, trust, and democratic values. They also discuss why governments need AI literacy, training, and communities of practice to ensure these tools are used in ways that strengthen institutions rather than weaken them.A thoughtful look at how AI could shape the future of governance.
Adam Brotman and Andy Sack unpack the true meaning of AI First. Too many executives still treat AI as a tool for efficiency. But as Andy explains, AI is an “alien intelligence” that reshapes how organizations think, plan, and operate. Together, Adam and Andy explore the difference between being AI-curious and being truly AI-first, a shift that requires courage, cultural change, and daily use across every function. Listen in to understand why AI First isn’t just a strategy; it’s the future of work.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, IgniteTech CEO Eric Vaughan offers a candid inside look at one of the boldest AI transformations in enterprise software. After realizing that AI was an existential shift for his company, Vaughan led IgniteTech and its sister companies through a sweeping cultural reinvention that ultimately turned over 80% of staff to build what he calls an AI DNA organization.Vaughan, alongside hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, unpacks the messy middle of change, from resistance within technical teams to the importance of belief and mindset, and the challenge of moving fast without losing operational stability. He shares how IgniteTech’s teams now create new products in weeks instead of quarters, integrate multiple LLMs across workflows, and empower every employee to innovate through AI.This conversation reveals what it truly takes to be an AI-first CEO, from funding experimentation and rethinking org design to cultivating a company culture where AI is not just a tool but part of every employee’s daily toolkit.
In this bite-size episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, the hosts tackle one of the most common misconceptions in enterprise AI adoption: that you need a perfect data lake before you can begin.Adam and Andy explain why this “wait until the data is ready” mindset slows innovation and how forward-thinking leaders are getting results now by experimenting with the data they already have. Through real client examples, they contrast the old IT-led playbook with a faster, executive-driven approach that emphasizes iteration, accessibility, and speed.If you have ever wondered when to start your AI-first transformation, the answer is simple: today.
In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack explore what it really takes for organizations to transform with AI. They argue that the journey doesn’t begin with data lakes, councils, or playbooks, it begins with leadership.The conversation dives into why CEOs need their own “aha moment,” how to empower internal change agents, and what it looks like when teams stop waiting for readiness and start making better decisions, faster. Adam also shares a real-world example of helping a CEO unlock major business value using GPT-5 Pro in just minutes.It’s a candid look at the mindset, culture, and urgency that define truly AI-first companies.
The global economy is undergoing a seismic shift that rivals the Industrial Revolution in scale and impact. In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, the hosts dive into the massive recent deals shaping the AI landscape, from Nvidia’s multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI to OpenAI’s unprecedented infrastructure agreement with Oracle.Far from being financial hype, these moves point to a deeper truth: we are still at the very beginning of the AI era, and the next five years will demand enormous investments in data centers, compute, and energy to power this transformation. Andy and Adam explain why executives should look beyond the headline numbers, what this means for the future of knowledge work, and how AI will reshape global productivity at every level.
In this special three-part episode, AI First with Adam and Andy follows Influence Mobile CEO Dan Todd through a 90-day journey to become an AI-first company. Listeners will hear how a 65-person team with $40–50 million in revenue moved from scattered experimentation to structured adoption. Dan shares how they introduced enterprise ChatGPT and Gemini, tracked usage, and built momentum through Slack contests and creative prompt sharing. The conversation covers measurable wins such as developers cutting project time by more than half, marketing and BI teams using AI for deeper insights, and leadership leading by example. Dan also discusses the pitfalls of AI use, including accuracy risks and lessons from one costly prompt mistake. This candid case study offers a real-world look at AI transformation in progress, giving business leaders practical takeaways to accelerate their own journey toward AI-first operations.
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