The Neuron: AI Explained

Will AI turbocharge our output—or erode our standards in the rush to automate? In this episode, strategist Andreas Welsch (ex-SAP, author of The AI Leadership Handbook) joins Corey Noles and Grant Harvey to weigh the promise of higher productivity against the peril of slipping quality. Expect plain-language insights on agentic AI, governance that scales, and the human skills and metrics that reveal whether AI is lifting the bar—or lowering it.Guest: Andreas Welsch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasmwelschAI Leadership Handbook: https://www.aileadershiphandbook.com/order What's the BUZZ? Podcast: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcast The AI MEMO Newsletter: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletterWork with Andreas (AI strategy, workshops, training): https://www.intelligence-briefing.com OWASP Top 10 LLMs: https://owasp.org/www-project-top-10-for-large-language-model-applications/There are no new ideas in AI, only new datasets: https://blog.jxmo.io/p/there-are-no-new-ideas-in-ai-only N8N to start automating your own tasks (not a promo; this is just the best tool for the job): https://n8n.io/ or https://n8n.io/workflows for template workflows to try. The Neuron Newsletter: https://www.theneuron.ai

In Ep 3 we explore DeepSeek's open-source R-series models that claim GPT-4-level performance at a fraction of the cost. We unpack whether you can realistically run DeepSeek on a laptop, where it beats (and lags) OpenAI, and the serious security implications of using Chinese AI services. Listeners will learn the economics, hardware realities, and safe alternatives for using these powerful open-source models.How to pick the best AI for what you actually need: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/how-to-pick-the-best-ai-model-for-what-you-actually-needArtificial Analysis to compare top AI models: https://artificialanalysis.ai/ Previous coverage of DeepSeek: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/deepseek-returns https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/10-wild-deepseek-demoshttps://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/deepseek-r2-could-crush-ai-economics-with-97-lower-costs-than-gpt-4 U.S. Military allegations against DeepSeek: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/deepseek-aids-chinas-military-evaded-export-controls-us-official-says-2025-06-23/ ChatGPT data privacy concerns: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/your-chatgpt-logs-are-no-longer-private-and-everyones-freaking-out OpenAI’s response to NYT lawsuit demands: https://openai.com/index/response-to-nyt-data-demands/ How to run Open source models: Go to Hugging Face for the models: https://huggingface.co/ Use Ollama or LM Studio (our recommendation) to run the model locally: https://ollama.com/ https://lmstudio.ai/

In Ep 2 we ask: "Panic or Progress? Reading Between the Lines of AI Safety Tests." We unpack the recent Claude Opus 4 "blackmail" test result, OpenAI's new transparency pledge, and why safety evaluations sometimes sound scarier than they are. Listeners will leave with a clear framework for interpreting headline-grabbing safety reports—and practical advice on when to worry, when to wait, and how to separate red flags from red herrings.

Will AI really erase half of all white-collar jobs, as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns? We unpack the numbers, the hype, and the hidden opportunities, then hand the mic to Microsoft's Alexia Cambon for fresh research on how to thrive in an AI-saturated workday. Listeners will learn how roles are shifting, which skills stay scarce, and concrete moves to keep their careers future-proof.

After a long wait, Apple is finally in the game with AI. They’re launching Apple Intelligence with MacOS Sequoia and iOS 18. Pete breaks down some top features and how our devices will change moving forward. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

The US government is opening up antitrust inquiries into the likes of Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft. Who's leading the charge, and what could they be looking at? Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com ⁠Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner has released a series of essays talking about how he sees AI playing out and what we should all do about it. Pete digs into his extremely impressive background and his arguments around why we’re about to get AGI. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has announced their next line of products called Rubin as Nvidia races to build what he calls “intelligence factories”. Pete breaks down the big picture and what it all means for us. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Anthropic did something no other AI lab has done: cracked the code on what’s happening while an AI model is working. Pete breaks down the latest research and what it means for steering AI models. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Microsoft’s launch event for Copilot+ PCs was only available to press and content creators. Pete’s taking you through the launch, what stands out and what to look for next. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and Head of Alignment Jan Leike have left the company, with the latter citing concerns around OpenAI’s approach to building safe AI systems. Pete gives you the 101 on the debate at hand, the history of this debate at OpenAI and what to expect moving forward. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Google I/O 2024 was a laundry list of AI launches, with Google trying their best to position themselves as the leading company in AI. Pete breaks down the key parts of their long keynotes and how to understand Google’s approach to AI moving forward. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

In a surprise launch, OpenAI dropped GPT-4 Omni, their new leading model. They also made a bunch of paid features in ChatGPT free and announced a new desktop app. Pete breaks down what you should know and what this says about AI. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

OpenAI releases its Model Spec, which tries to define how AI models should behave. Some highlights and examples, along with some more existential questions. Next, you know what Gen Z ought to really love about AI? Customer support. The patterns in their behavior and some unexpected ways that AI is impacting the field. Finally, we’ve heard so many times that OpenAI is partnering with media companies. Now, we finally know what’s behind those deals. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Researchers designed AI agents that simulated doctors and patients, and they found surprisingly good results from the experiment. Pete breaks down how we got here and what it all means. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Microsoft is opening up new competition with MAI-1, it’s large language model effort that will compete with OpenAI, Meta and Google. It’s led by Mustafa Suleyman. Pete found some spicy quotes about him. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

ChatGPT Search is expected to launch May 9th. Pete breaks down how we know it's happening, the big moment of weakness for Google and what startups like Perplexity and You.com need to win. Transcripts: https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: https://theneurondaily.com Watch The Neuron on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

A mysterious new chatbot hit the market, blew everyone away, then disappeared. I unpack some of the leading hypotheses behind it. An email surfaced in court uncovering the motivation behind Microsoft’s deal with OpenAI. I unpack the scene at the time and what happened. Tech folks are up in arms about a new AI bill in the California State Senate. I show you Bill 1047 and what people are saying about it. Transcripts: https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: https://theneurondaily.com Watch The Neuron on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Apple is talking with OpenAI about powering AI features in iOS. The story to-date with Apple and AI and what type of new features we could see in the new iOS. Meta has been releasing AI models for free. I break down a simple question: how do you make money by doing that? Finally, there’s a new AI survey. What people are saying about AI and what I think is missing. Transcripts: https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: https://theneurondaily.com Watch The Neuron on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Elon’s raising $6 billion for his AI lab. I dig into how much of this is Elon hype versus banking on real potential. Worldcoin and OpenAI. What this eyeball-scanning, crypto fever dream has to do with the leading AI company. Synthesia’s new expressive avatars. The new upgrades are soon to dominate work. But will they break into our personal lives? Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: https://theneurondaily.comWatch The Neuron on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theneuronai