ROI from AI

SMEC AI

Want to see AI in action? Put aside the AI hype! ROI from AI, shows you exactly what’s actually beneficial for use in your personal and business life. I’m Andrew Lai and Brad Guy. Join us to get the latest AI lowdown, then make it work for you.

  1. AI Spotted What Doctors Couldn't: Annette Andersen and Andrew Ballard

    Jun 5

    AI Spotted What Doctors Couldn't: Annette Andersen and Andrew Ballard

    Two Australian AI founders. Two very different problems. One conversation about what it actually takes to build AI startups here right now. Annette Andersen is the founder of Axe AI. She's an autistic founder, and her 21-year-old son Axel has very complex disabilities. When he became severely unwell and nobody could find the cause, Annette uploaded his data into AI. It flagged porphyria. Testing confirmed elevated coproporphirin levels. A phytochemical called sulfurophane resolved his symptoms in 48 hours. That moment pushed her to build a multi-framework reasoning engine for complex care decisions, plus DSX, a cooperative platform for small to medium NDIS providers. Andrew "AB" Ballard is the founder of Spatiotemporal. He rides a motorbike, and he noticed that humans read motion in other drivers without thinking. AB is turning that into a foundation model for robots and self-driving cars. Small models. Train overnight. Run on a phone. Hosts Andrew Lai and Amir Nissen take both founders through their tools (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini), their methodology for shipping production code with AI, their take on local models, and what the medical community really thinks when AI flags a diagnosis. Plus AB's robot-with-a-knife thought experiment about what kitchens look like when robots become part of the family. Both guests are alumni of AI Pathfinder, SMEC AI's free 8-week accelerator for early-stage Australian founders. ROI from AI is the podcast for Australian SME owners, founders, and anyone curious about practical AI adoption. Links: Axe AI: axeai.com.auSMEC AI: smecai.auAI Pathfinder: smecai.auEmail: info@smecai.auAI Hotline: 1800 517 403Hosts: Andrew Lai, Managing Director, Boab AI and SMEC AIAmir Nissen, Head of Programs, SMEC AIChapters:00:00 Intro03:00 The CGT question04:30 From crisis to Axe AI09:00 Motion as a safety signal13:00 The AI coding stack18:00 5 million lines of code23:00 Local models are about to change everything26:00 The medical community's reaction30:00 Talking about AI with stakeholders36:00 What's next41:00 The AI Pathfinder program46:00 Final words

    40 min
  2. Australia's AI Blind Spot: Why We Need a Sovereign Model Before It's Too Late

    Apr 21

    Australia's AI Blind Spot: Why We Need a Sovereign Model Before It's Too Late

    When you use a US-based AI tool, who actually has access to your data? It's a question most Australian businesses haven't thought to ask, and the answer might surprise you. In this episode, Andrew and Amir chat with Simon Kriss, CEO of Sovereign AI Australia, to dig into one of the most important conversations in Australian tech right now: why Australia needs its own foundational AI model, what the US Cloud Act actually means for local businesses, and whether trust in AI can ever be rebuilt without sovereign infrastructure. Simon brings a rare combination of perspectives, customer experience executive, AI practitioner, and now the person pushing to build Australia's first truly independent large language model. He's not arguing that Australia needs to compete with ChatGPT. He's arguing something more urgent: that there are categories of work — agentic processes, health data, citizen records — where sending information offshore is a risk we can no longer ignore. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why Australians trust AI at home but not in business — and what the data saysWhat the US Cloud Act is and why it matters for any company using AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft AzureThe difference between a "domestic" AI model and a truly "sovereign" oneWhy fine-tuning an open-source model like Llama doesn't solve the problemHow agentic AI is creating new cybersecurity risks that most SMEs aren't prepared forWhat a $100 million Australian-built model could realistically look likeSimon's personal favourite AI use case (it involves a one-hour drive and a voice conversation)Whether you're a business owner wondering if your data is safe, or someone genuinely curious about the future of AI in Australia — this one is worth your time. About Simon KrissSimon Kriss is the CEO of Sovereign AI Australia and author of The AI Empowered Customer Experience. With a background spanning customer experience, call centres, and enterprise AI, Simon has spent years at the intersection of AI and real-world business impact. He is currently working to establish Australia's first independently funded, ethically built foundational AI model. Find out more: sovereignai.com.au About ROI from AIROI from AI is produced by SMEC AI — Australia's free government-funded AI adoption program for small and medium businesses. Each episode, hosts Andrew Lai and Amir Nissen talk to the people driving AI adoption and find out what's really moving the needle. Find out if your business is eligible at smecai.au

    41 min
  3. Inside Australia’s AI Strategy: Lee Hickin on Adoption, Confidence and the Future of AI

    Mar 5

    Inside Australia’s AI Strategy: Lee Hickin on Adoption, Confidence and the Future of AI

    In this episode of ROI from AI, Andrew Lai and Amir Nissen sit down with Lee Hickin, Director of the National AI Centre, to discuss how Australia is approaching AI adoption across government, industry and society. Lee shares insights from his 35-year career in technology, including leadership roles at IBM, Microsoft and AWS, before stepping into public service to help shape Australia’s AI future. The conversation explores: • Why the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn’t technology — it’s confidence • How Australia compares to other countries in AI adoption • Why AI may be even bigger than the industrial revolution • The role of government in enabling responsible AI use • How SMEs can safely explore AI opportunities • Real-world AI use cases in healthcare, agriculture and sport • Why Lee believes AI is fundamentally a tool for helping people This episode offers a thoughtful look at the future of AI adoption in Australia and globally, and what it will take to ensure the benefits are widely shared.

    52 min

  4. Feb 13

    ROI from AI Reboot - The Role of Accelerators in AI Adoption

    ROI from AI is back. In this reboot episode, co-hosts Andrew Lai (Managing Director of SMEC AI) and Amir Nissen (Head of Programs) interview each other to introduce SMEC AI Studio and explain why startup accelerator methods are a powerful way to drive real-world AI adoption. Amir shares his journey from early business plan competitions to co-founding the Melbourne Accelerator Program and how the rise of AI is lowering the cost and time to build software dramatically. Andrew reflects on his own startup and accelerator background, then dives into how SMEC AI supports SMEs through free consultations and Studio programs that help validate problems, build MVPs faster using modern AI tools, and focus on outcomes like customer traction, adoption, and measurable impact. They also discuss common founder mistakes, the importance of customer validation and distribution, and why SMEs are still early in the AI wave—making now a great time to start. 00:10 Intro and ROI from AI reboot 00:37 Why we are interviewing each other and what SMEC AI Studio is 01:20 Amir’s background and how accelerators replaced business plan competitions 02:48 The rise of Y Combinator style accelerators and why they work 05:58 What Y Combinator is and the famous companies it produced 09:26 Why use startup accelerator methods for SME AI adoption 11:45 SMEC AI consultations vs building new AI products for SMEs 13:54 AI is lowering the barrier to build tools and products fast 14:57 Why Claude Code and modern code generation changed recently 18:57 Customer validation and why startups fail without it 20:45 Founder self-belief vs the trap of not validating properly 24:40 Bootstrapping, traction, and why investors fund strength 28:08 The “no excuse now” era—prototyping is cheap and fast with AI 30:15 How AI might change Lean Startup build-measure-learn 32:54 Distribution and marketing still matter even with great products 33:56 The real difference between startups and big business 36:21 AI as an “oracle” for founders—learning faster across domains 37:22 Practical AI adoption for SMEs and building the habit of using models daily 39:14 Voice and AI scribes as a breakout SME use case 43:29 Downsides of the AI revolution—competition, moats, non-determinism, security 46:58 Responsible AI in Australia and why adoption comes first 50:06 The reality of AI adoption—why demand isn’t automatic 51:55 Outcomes focus—moving from advice to implementation support 56:02 You’re still early in AI and why direction matters more than speed 57:28 Why join SMEC AI Studio—community and curated best practice 59:57 Vertical programs and the added benefit of shared industry context 01:00:48 Wrap up and what’s coming next for the podcast

    1h 2m
  5. ROI from AI Reboot - The Role of Accelerators in AI Adoption

    Feb 12

    ROI from AI Reboot - The Role of Accelerators in AI Adoption

    ROI from AI is back. In this reboot episode, co-hosts Andrew Lai (Managing Director of SMEC AI) and Amir Nissen (Head of Programs) interview each other to introduce SMEC AI Studio and explain why startup accelerator methods are a powerful way to drive real-world AI adoption. Amir shares his journey from early business plan competitions to co-founding the Melbourne Accelerator Program and how the rise of AI is lowering the cost and time to build software dramatically. Andrew reflects on his own startup and accelerator background, then dives into how SMEC AI supports SMEs through free consultations and Studio programs that help validate problems, build MVPs faster using modern AI tools, and focus on outcomes like customer traction, adoption, and measurable impact. They also discuss common founder mistakes, the importance of customer validation and distribution, and why SMEs are still early in the AI wave—making now a great time to start. 00:10 Intro and ROI from AI reboot 00:37 Why we are interviewing each other and what SMEC AI Studio is 01:20 Amir’s background and how accelerators replaced business plan competitions 02:48 The rise of Y Combinator style accelerators and why they work 05:58 What Y Combinator is and the famous companies it produced 09:26 Why use startup accelerator methods for SME AI adoption 11:45 SMEC AI consultations vs building new AI products for SMEs 13:54 AI is lowering the barrier to build tools and products fast 14:57 Why Claude Code and modern code generation changed recently 18:57 Customer validation and why startups fail without it 20:45 Founder self-belief vs the trap of not validating properly 24:40 Bootstrapping, traction, and why investors fund strength 28:08 The “no excuse now” era—prototyping is cheap and fast with AI 30:15 How AI might change Lean Startup build-measure-learn 32:54 Distribution and marketing still matter even with great products 33:56 The real difference between startups and big business 36:21 AI as an “oracle” for founders—learning faster across domains 37:22 Practical AI adoption for SMEs and building the habit of using models daily 39:14 Voice and AI scribes as a breakout SME use case 43:29 Downsides of the AI revolution—competition, moats, non-determinism, security 46:58 Responsible AI in Australia and why adoption comes first 50:06 The reality of AI adoption—why demand isn’t automatic 51:55 Outcomes focus—moving from advice to implementation support 56:02 You’re still early in AI and why direction matters more than speed 57:28 Why join SMEC AI Studio—community and curated best practice 59:57 Vertical programs and the added benefit of shared industry context 01:00:48 Wrap up and what’s coming next for the podcast

    1h 2m

  6. Jan 6

    Stop Coding Robots. Start Teaching Them with Roger Chao

    What if robots could learn like people instead of being programmed? Roger Chao is pioneering a new way forward - one that makes robotics more human, more intuitive, and more accessible. But is your company ready? Find out how AI can work for you:  https://smecai.au/book-a-consultation/ 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why Does Programming Hold Robotics Back? 03:00 What's The Racing Car Analogy For AI Governance? 06:18 What Does Ethical AI Actually Mean In Practice? 10:01 Should We Think Of AI As Cost-Cutter Or Intelligence Multiplier? 14:15 Who Should Train The Robots: Engineers Or Task Experts? 17:30 Are Humans And Robots Going To Work Side By Side? 22:24 The #1 Tip For ROI From AI #SMECAI #ROIfromAI #CollaborativeRobotics Listen & Watch on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24qTwHJG4S4TMSNYX16But   Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roi-from-ai/id1829793202 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SMECAI1

    24 min
  7. The ROI of Doing Good

    12/31/2025

    The ROI of Doing Good

    Discover how this approach led to a Good Design Award for a mental health app and Cat’s biggest tip for SMEs on leveraging AI for growth today. Cat Hoang Anh, Head of Growth at No Moss, an Australian B Corp building purposeful digital products, shares how No Moss was born from a simple idea: make work more human.  Find out how AI can work for you:  https://smecai.au/book-a-consultation/ 00:00 — Who Is Cat Hoang Anh And No Moss?01:20 — How Did “Purpose At Work” Become A Core Belief?04:00 — How Did No Moss Start?07:10 — What Does “Make Work More Human” Mean?16:20 — What Awards Back This Approach?17:50 — What Is Chop Out Convos?23:10 — What Did Users Actually Want From Ai?28:00 — What’s The Real State Of Ai Today?40:10 — How Do You Get Roi From Ai? #SMECAI #ROIfromAI #PurposeDrivenAI Listen & Watch on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24qTwHJG4S4TMSNYX16But   Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roi-from-ai/id1829793202 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SMECAI1

    45 min
  8. Using AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement

    12/24/2025

    Using AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement

    How technology can make swimming safer, more efficient, and more accessible for both beginners and pros. Micahel Cardno shares his journey into swim biomechanics and reveals how the biggest challenges in swimming aren't just physical. They're psychological. Find out how AI can work for you: https://smecai.au/book-a-consultation/Timestamps:00:00 — Who is Mike Cardno and what inspired SomaFormHQ?01:30 — What exactly is swim biomechanics?03:00 — Why does fear matter in swimming performance?04:20 — How is technology changing the pool?05:40 — Can AI and human coaches work together?07:10 — What makes feedback timing so important?08:30 — How can AI turn complex data into simple guidance?10:00 — Why are most wearables missing the mark?12:00 — What fears hold people back from using AI?14:30 — How can founders and coaches start using AI wisely?#SMECAI #ROIfromAI #AIMeetsHumanPerformanceListen & Watch on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24qTwHJG4S4TMSNYX16But Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roi-from-ai/id1829793202Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SMECAI1

    18 min
See All (30)

Trailer

About

Want to see AI in action? Put aside the AI hype! ROI from AI, shows you exactly what’s actually beneficial for use in your personal and business life. I’m Andrew Lai and Brad Guy. Join us to get the latest AI lowdown, then make it work for you.

Information

  • Creator
    SMEC AI
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © SMEC AI
  • Show Website
    ROI from AI