Work Less: AI at Work

Work Less

Each week, Tom and Justin—founders of two leading AI automation consultancies—explore how AI is reshaping the way businesses operate. From industry news to playbooks and tactics pulled straight from the trenches, they break down how teams and organizations can practically and tactically use AI to drive impact. They deliver real-world insights and actionable strategies for teams ready to embrace the future of work.

Episodes

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    AI That Works for Workers? Plus Atlassian Buys a Browser & the Orchestration Buzzword

    This week we dig into a new survey on AI and workers from Kyla Scanlon that asks the big question: do employees actually trust their employers to use AI in their favor? Spoiler: real estate agents and Hollywood don’t. Healthcare somehow does. We also unpack the messy state of AI training at work (hint: most people aren’t getting any) and why “upskilling” is the thing employees want most, even if it means learning the tools that could replace them. Then we shift gears into tech drama: Atlassian just dropped $610M in cash on The Browser Company (makers of Arc). Why would a project management giant buy a browser? Two words: orchestration layer. Everyone from Zapier to OpenAI is fighting to be the conductor of the SaaS orchestra, and browsers might just be the new front line. Oh, and we end up talking about Alien (the new TV show) and Dexter because of course we do. Companies & Tools Mentioned: Kyla Scanlon’s “AI That Works for Workers” survey → linkAtlassianThe Browser Company (Arc)LoomHelp (ticketing system)ZapierPerplexity (Comet browser beta)OpenAI (rumored browser project)AWSArea, Trace (AI orchestration tools)

    26 min

  2. 4 SEPT

    Voice AI, Nano Banana & the 95% Failure Rate of AI Projects

    Is voice the real future of AI? Tom and Justin dig into Assembly AI, Whisper Flow, and why typing might already be outdated. We also get into the banana-shaped elephant in the room: Google’s new Nano Banana model, a tiny but scary-good image editor that could replace half of Photoshop. But here’s the kicker: MIT says 95% of AI projects fail. We break down why, which departments actually should automate, and which ones you should absolutely keep away from AI (spoiler: don’t trust it with your finance team). If you’ve ever wondered whether AI should talk to your customers, design your ads, or just stay in its lane, this one’s for you. 🛠️ Tools & Companies Mentioned Assembly AI - voice-to-text + AI phone agentsWhisper Flow / Super Whisper - hands-free dictation appsEleven Labs - voice generationNano Banana (Google) - new image model with scary good consistencyMIT - study on AI project failure rates

    31 min

  3. 25 AUG

    From Executive Hackathons to Shadow IT: Making AI Normal at Work + Is Notion Mail replacing Superhuman?

    Justin and Tom dig into the growing exec–team AI gap, and what actually works to close it.  From exec hackathons (yes, that's a thing now) and weekly “show your prompts” rituals, to putting bumpers on shadow IT before someone wires a weekend AI toy to your codebase, it’s a playbook for making AI normal at work.  We also side‑eye Apple’s latest Siri/Gemini rumor, explain why Notion Mail finally pried Justin off Superhuman, and kick the tires on Airbook, aka “cursor for analytics.” What’s inside: Leaders who model the behavior win. Exec retreats turned into mini hackathons (with Replit) and “show your prompts” at all‑hands beat vague “use AI” mandates. Make it impossible not to use AI, set clear behaviors, cut red tape, and carve out time to tinker. Kill shadow IT with a “happy path.” The AI era version isn’t someone using Asana instead of Jira, it’s giving an AI wrapper to your codebase and CRM. Define approved tools and data guardrails so folks can experiment in the open. Bumpers on, bowling starts.Apple’s Siri situation. Rumors of Gemini as an option signal Apple still shopping for a story, and maybe for a model. Interesting strategy, messy execution.App of the Week: Notion Mail. Justin finally jumps from Superhuman: similar shortcuts and clean UX, but better AI‑assisted labeling + flexible custom views. (Gmail only, for now.)Tool test: Airbook (cursor for analytics). Connects data, writes SQL from chat, spits out charts. Nice power‑user flow (you can even copy code to ChatGPT), but the credit model bites and it struggles with messy, inconsistent spreadsheets. Verdict: shines with structured data; do your data homework first. Tools & companies mentioned: StockX (exec hackathon), Replit, Headspace, Lenny’s Newsletter/Podcast (25 adoption tactics) Apple, Siri, Google GeminiNotion Mail, Notion Calendar, Superhuman, Gmail/Google WorkspaceAirbook (analytics), Fivetran, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), ChatGPT

    27 min

  4. 19 AUG

    GPT-5: What we think of the “S” Model of AI (And Why People Want Their Old Bots Back)

    This week, we unpack the drama around GPT-5, a release so incremental that some folks are mourning GPT-4 like it’s a lost pet. We dig into why OpenAI quietly pulled the old models, the emotional attachments people have to LLM quirks, and why the thinking mode might be the only real upgrade worth caring about. We also get into: The hidden superpower of GPT-5’s massive context window (and why it matters more for devs than casual chatters)Pricing drops that could make Nano-powered AI features the next SaaS gold rushWhy Anthropic’s vertical-specific models might dodge alignment headachesWhether we’ve hit an innovation plateau, and which lab might break through firstThe weird moment where Tom got genuinely mad at an AI for cropping images wrongBy the end, you’ll either be cautiously optimistic or ready to join the “bring back my model” movement.

    32 min

  5. 7 AUG

    Slack's AI Fail, Arc vs Dia Browser & Google's AI SEO Salvation?

    In this week's episode, we break down: Why Slack’s AI summaries are hilariously ineffective •  Our hands-on review of Dia, the new AI-first browser • Early impressions of Arc Browser's controversial pivot to an AI browser, Dia • Google's strategy to compete with the new "Web Guide" AI search and SEO's uphill battle • Thoughts on Meta’s AI (uninspiring) ambitions with personalized AI glasses ___________________________ Follow Tom: • XRay: https://xray.tech/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomnassr    Follow Justin: • Switchboard: https://www.withswitchboard.com/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wattjustin     • Twitter: twitter.com/just_watt ___________________________ Tools & Companies Mentioned: • Slack (AI summaries, Huddles) • Arc Browser • Dia Browser (Arc's AI-first replacement) • Notion • Airtable • Salesforce • Anthropic • OpenAI

    29 min

  6. 25 FEB

    Building AI Agents That Actually Work. Plus Grok 3 & Microsoft's Quantum Leap

    In this episode, we cut through the AI agent hype flooding LinkedIn feeds to reveal what's actually working for small and mid-market businesses today. We talk about: • Current AI agent capabilities versus marketing promises (00:00) • How reasoning models have changed the agent landscape (03:13) • Code vs. no-code approaches for different team structures (07:15) • Model flexibility in agent workflows (10:36) • Practical security considerations for implementation (17:39) • Top agent-building tools worth your attention (22:25) • Grok3's launch analysis and business implications (28:21) • Microsoft's quantum computing breakthrough (32:44) Plus, we break down context window limitations and how to build an effective agent strategy using the right models for specific tasks. __________________________ Follow Tom: • XRay: https://xray.tech/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomnassr    Follow Justin: • Switchboard: https://www.withswitchboard.com/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wattjustin     • Twitter: twitter.com/just_watt

    40 min

  7. 11 FEB

    Building Business Tools in the AI Age: Lessons from Boardy

    This week we're exploring how AI is reshaping business interactions through Boardy's innovative approach to networking. We also chat about OpenAI's Deep Research and Google Gemini 2.0's release. Learn about: • How Boardy raised $8M using its own AI networking tool • Converting conversations into structured business data • Internal vs. external uses of conversational AI • Building tools that meet users where they are • The latest capabilities of Google's Gemini 2.0 • Real-world cost comparisons of different AI models Follow Tom: • XRay: https://xray.tech/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomnassr     Follow Justin: • Switchboard: https://www.withswitchboard.com/ • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wattjustin     • Twitter: twitter.com/just_watt     Tools mentioned: • Boardy: https://www.boardy.ai/ • OpenAI Deep Research: https://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/ • Gemini 2.0: https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/gemini-model-updates-february-2025/ Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Intro: Boardy & Recent Viral Moment 05:20 - What is Boardy?: The AI Super Connector Explained 08:29 - Rethinking Business Tools with AI 12:41 - Structured Data & Architecture Behind Conversational AI 15:08 - Is Boardy an AI Agent? Breaking Down the Buzzwords 17:17 - Real-World AI Agent Applications 22:47 - AI Model News & Updates 26:23 - Evaluating AI Models 30:48 - Palette Cleansers

    33 min

  8. 3 FEB

    How to Figure Out Your Team's AI Readiness + DeepSeek's Automation Impacts for Teams

    This week we're diving into the "levels of readiness" for AI in your business and how to know where to start. Learn why team-based automation delivers exponentially higher ROI, plus get an insider look at DeepSeek and how it's performing and going to effect how teams build AI automations.  We break down: • The crucial differences between personal and team AI automation • How to assess where to start with AI Automation for your team • DeepSeek's capabilities and potential in business Follow Justin: • Switchboard: https://www.withswitchboard.com/ • LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattjustin • Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/just_watt Follow Tom: • XRay: https://xray.tech/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomnassr Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Individual vs Team Automation: The Key Differences 04:12 - Understanding Your Team's AI Readiness Level 11:36 - Real World Example: From Sticky Notes to AI 14:40 - DeepSeek Deep Dive: What It Means for Business

    29 min

  9. 28 JAN

    Replit AI vs Lovable AI, Zapier Agents Are Here, and Why RPA is Toast

    This week we're diving into the AI dev tool showdown. Tom and Justin put Replit and Lovable.dev to the test. Tom rebuilt a year-long project in 3 hours. Justin built a deployable Applicant Tracking System in 5 hours. Learn why this changes everything about how internal teams build custom software. Real-world build comparison: • Replit vs Lovable.dev • Why traditional RPA tools are getting left behind • The truth about Zapier's new AI agents • Cost breakdown and ROI of AI development tools • What this means for your internal development strategy Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: Rebuilding X-ray Tools with Lovable.dev 4:38 - Testing Replit AI: Building an ATS System 14:16 - The Future of Low-Code Development 17:35 - Cost Breakdown: Replit vs Traditional Development 30:15 - Zapier's AI Agents and the Death of RPA 37:02 - Real Talk: Internal Tooling Revolution 45:41 - Key Takeaways for Enterprise Teams Follow Tom: XRay TechLinkedInFollow Justin:  SwitchboardLinkedInTwitterTools mentioned: Replit AILovable

    49 min

  10. 19 JAN

    2025 AI Predictions

    2025 AI Predictions 2025: Agents, Adoption, and Energy This week we dive into our top AI predictions for 2025.  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Weekly AI Discussions 00:58 Deep Dive into AI Agents 15:17 The Role of IT in AI Adoption 22:54 Power Consumption and AI 30:25 Honorable Mentions and Final Thoughts 35:21 Palate Cleansers and Wrap-Up Follow Tom: XRay TechLinkedInFollow Justin:  SwitchboardLinkedInTwitter Tools mentioned: Exa AI

    39 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Each week, Tom and Justin—founders of two leading AI automation consultancies—explore how AI is reshaping the way businesses operate. From industry news to playbooks and tactics pulled straight from the trenches, they break down how teams and organizations can practically and tactically use AI to drive impact. They deliver real-world insights and actionable strategies for teams ready to embrace the future of work.

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  • Creator
    Work Less
  • Years Active
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  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2025 Work Less: AI at Work
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    Work Less: AI at Work

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