Inside AsembleAI: DeepTech, AI & Science

Mac & Sam

AsembleAI brings you thought-provoking conversations at the nexus of artificial intelligence, innovation, and leadership. In each episode, hosts Mac and Sam, veterans in data and tech world, sit down with AI researchers, fast‑scaling founders, Fortune 500 executives, and pioneering technologists to reveal how AI is reshaping business strategy, sparking breakthrough product development, and guiding executive decisions. Tune in for actionable insights, compelling case studies, and forward‑looking perspectives on the promises and pitfalls of AI‑driven innovation.

Episodes

  1. AI and Robotics: The Future of Intelligent Automation

    25 AUG

    AI and Robotics: The Future of Intelligent Automation

    Join hosts Mac and Sam for an exciting season finale as they explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI and robotics with Daniel Ritchie, veteran technologist and founding member of Brain Wave Collective. 🤖 What You'll Discover: How AI is revolutionizing robotics across industries—from disaster zones to space explorationReal-world insights from AI hackathons with Hugging Face, NVIDIA, and MetaThe role of reinforcement learning and computer vision in modern robotic controlStrategies for ensuring ethical, safe, and interpretable autonomous systemsFuture trends that will reshape the AI-robotics landscape over the next 5 yearsPractical advice for AI enthusiasts entering the robotics spaceAbout Our Guest: Daniel Ritchie brings 15+ years of experience in DevOps, software integration, and system design, with hands-on expertise in networked robotics and agentic video frameworks. His unique perspective spans enterprise environments and rapid prototyping, making him the perfect guide for understanding how to evaluate technical feasibility and iterate toward breakthrough innovations. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielritchie123/ BrainWave Collective: https://brainwavecollective.ai/ This marks the conclusion of Inside Asemble AI's first season—thank you for joining our journey through AI's transformative impact across industries. Stay tuned for Season 2! #AI #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #TechPodcast #MachineLearning #Automation

    1h 2m
  2. Building AI Communities and Driving Real-World Impact

    9 AUG

    Building AI Communities and Driving Real-World Impact

    In this episode of Inside Assemble AI, hosts Mac and Sam sit down with Claude Jones to explore how artificial intelligence is being democratized through community-driven education and strategic implementation. This episode addresses the critical question of how to turn AI access into opportunity and create meaningful change through inclusive AI education. Claude, a veteran tech leader with over 20 years of experience at companies like Yahoo, Walmart, Strava, and Centr, is the founder of San Diego Tech Hub and Do It With AI—a platform offering free AI training, certification, and consulting to help people and businesses learn faster, build smarter, and create real-world results. What makes Claude's perspective unique is his passion for turning access into opportunity and using technology to drive meaningful change through community-building. Key insights from Claude Jones include: • The mission and vision behind democratizing AI education • How AI has shifted strategic priorities across different organizations • The role of community in successful AI transformation • Surprising patterns about who adopts AI fastest • Frameworks for deciding where to integrate AI in business operations • Building AI fluency in executive teams without technical backgrounds • Overcoming internal resistance to AI adoption • Emerging trends in AI education and community building 🎙️ Runtime: ~1 hour

    1h 1m
  3. AI-First Product Strategy and the Future of Product Management

    9 AUG

    AI-First Product Strategy and the Future of Product Management

    In this episode of Inside Assemble AI, hosts Mac and Sam sit down with Jen Hanson to explore how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping product management. This episode addresses the critical question of how AI is transforming what it means to be a product professional and what success looks like when building AI-enabled products. Jen, a seasoned product leader with over 15 years of experience building and launching products at early-stage startups, currently works as a fractional product consultant helping founders define MVPs and align teams. She's also co-organizer of AI & Product Colorado, a community exploring how AI is reshaping product management. What makes Jen's perspective unique is her hands-on experience with both traditional product development and emerging AI-first product strategies. Key insights from Jen Hanson include: • How AI is reshaping traditional PM responsibilities • Practical AI workflows for day-to-day product management • Unique challenges in AI-enabled product development • Methods for evaluating when AI is the right solution • Balancing innovation with user trust and transparency • Gathering feedback and iterating on AI features • Driving AI adoption among non-technical users • Essential skills and mindsets for the future of product management 🎙️ Runtime: ~1 hour

    56 min
  4. Agentic Leadership in AI Transformation

    7 AUG

    Agentic Leadership in AI Transformation

    In this episode of Inside Assemble AI, hosts Mac and Sam sit down with David Catalano to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming business strategy and innovation. This episode, titled "Agentic Leadership in AI," addresses the critical question of how non-technical executives can successfully lead AI initiatives that drive real business impact. David, a former opera singer turned McKinsey consultant, is currently finishing his MBA at the University of Oxford, where he also tutored and presented at the university's AI summit on autonomous AI agents and his concept of agentic leadership. He coined the term "agentic leadership" in a recent LinkedIn article. Key insights from David Catalano include: • Identifying Strategic Pressure Points • Defining Well-Scoped AI Use Cases • Building Governance Frameworks • Metrics and Feedback Loops for Optimization • Quantifying ROI • Upskilling and Mindset Shifts • Avoiding Pitfalls and Addressing Concerns 🎙️ Runtime: ~1 hour (estimated)

    44 min
  5. AI in Action: From Enterprise Strategy to Technical Execution

    29 JUL

    AI in Action: From Enterprise Strategy to Technical Execution

    In this episode of Inside Asemble AI, hosts Sam and Mac sit down with Aaron Blythe, a Google Cloud AI/ML expert and seasoned cloud architect, to explore how generative AI is moving from boardroom hype to real-world, enterprise-scale implementation. Aaron shares how companies are bridging strategy and execution by weaving AI into cloud-native architectures, and dives deep into tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for coding tasks and enterprise transformation. We discuss practical challenges like trust, scalability, governance, and best practices for deploying AI agents across cloud systems. Whether you’re an executive shaping strategy or a technical leader executing it, this episode will help you understand how AI becomes reality—from pilot to production. Guest: Aaron Blythe, Google Cloud Architect, community builder, and certified Generative AI Leader, Founder of nextfive.io Topics: GenAI use cases, cloud-native agent design, LLM evaluation, AI infrastructure, enterprise trends 🎙️ Runtime: ~1 hour

    1h 4m
  6. AI in Education Innovation

    29 JUL

    AI in Education Innovation

    In this episode of Inside Asemble AI, hosts Mac and Sam sit down with a special guest Sean Mclaughlin an experienced VR educator turned certified AI training coach—to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the classroom. From advocating for tools like MagicSchool AI to developing AI-ready pedagogies, our guest shares practical insights for educators, administrators, and parents navigating this digital transformation. We unpack how AI can foster collaborative learning, promote equity for diverse and SEND learners, and preserve student ownership in an AI-assisted world. The conversation also touches on teacher development, privacy concerns, and the future of lifelong digital learning. Whether you’re just starting or already experimenting with AI in education, this episode offers actionable strategies to keep your innovation efforts both impactful and inclusive.

    44 min
  7. AI & Program Management

    26 JUL

    AI & Program Management

    In this episode of Inside Asemble AI, we explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the role of program managers—from project planners and risk managers to strategic decision-makers. Hosts Mac and Sam sit down with Shea Furey King, a seasoned program manager and technologist, to unpack what it really means to manage complex programs in the age of AI. We dive into: What AI-powered program management looks like in practiceReal-world tools that automate scheduling, resource conflicts, and stakeholder communicationHow AI is shifting the role from reactive to proactiveChallenges around ethics, transparency, and human-AI collaborationThe biggest myths—and biggest opportunities—surrounding AI in this spaceWhether you’re a tech leader, project professional, or just curious about the evolving role of AI in business operations, this episode offers both strategic insight and practical takeaways. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to augment—not replace—human intelligence in program management.

    44 min
  8. AI in Strategic Viewpoint

    20 JUL

    AI in Strategic Viewpoint

    Join Mac and Sam for the inaugural episode of Inside Asemble AI, where they cut through the hype to explore using AI as a strategic business advantage. Phil Nugent, founder and editor‑in‑chief of Colorado AI News, veteran marketer, and amateur futurist, shares his journey integrating AI into branding, content planning, and client workflows. You’ll discover practical tips for small firms to begin harnessing AI, preserve brand voice, and enhance human creativity with concrete examples. Phil also reveals the emerging skills marketers need and offers advice on which AI tools to embrace or avoid. In the end, he outlines key governance frameworks and guardrails for responsible, ethical AI adoption. Connect with Phil on LinkedIn and explore Colorado AI News at coloradoainews.com for more AI insights.

    55 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

AsembleAI brings you thought-provoking conversations at the nexus of artificial intelligence, innovation, and leadership. In each episode, hosts Mac and Sam, veterans in data and tech world, sit down with AI researchers, fast‑scaling founders, Fortune 500 executives, and pioneering technologists to reveal how AI is reshaping business strategy, sparking breakthrough product development, and guiding executive decisions. Tune in for actionable insights, compelling case studies, and forward‑looking perspectives on the promises and pitfalls of AI‑driven innovation.

Information

  • Creator
    Mac & Sam
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mac & Sam 2025
  • Show Website
    Inside AsembleAI: DeepTech, AI & Science
  • Provider

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