Let's Talk AI

Let's Talk AI

Let’s Talk AI is the podcast that makes you dive deeper into Artificial Intelligence. We talk with experts about topics, challenges, technologies related to AI with no fear to get into technical details. The goal is to learn from guests that are passionate about AI shares about real world cases, to take your business, career and projects to the next level!  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. #99 - The 3 Pillars Every AI Leader Needs to Master | Thomas Bustos

    1D AGO

    #99 - The 3 Pillars Every AI Leader Needs to Master | Thomas Bustos

    The role of AI leaders has quietly transformed. Not long ago, being an “AI leader” meant hiring a few ML engineers, experimenting with models, and hoping something stuck. Today, that approach fails. AI leaders are no longer just technical champions. They are system architects of decision-making, accountability, and value creation. In this episode of Let’s Talk AI, Thomas Bustos breaks down the three pillars every AI leader must master to build real, measurable impact inside an organization. He explains why teaching is no longer optional, why strategy without execution collapses, and why implementation is where most AI initiatives die. If you’re serious about becoming an AI leader, or building AI leadership inside your company, this episode gives you the blueprint. Listen now. Top Takeaways: The core goal is to balance leading and delivering technology. AI leaders must teach, strategize, and implement effectively. Successful AI adoption can compound gains for organizations. Metrics like error rates and active users are crucial for success. Every build should enhance observability for future improvements. AI leaders need to understand the latest tools and their applications. Reverting to previous versions is essential for error handling. Quantifying AI's impact in terms of revenue is recommended. A learning organization adapts and grows through shared knowledge. Effective implementation requires speed, reliability, and quality. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome! 02:50 The AI Leaders Playbook: Key Pillars 06:03 Understanding AI Adoption and Its Impact 09:10 Strategies for Effective Implementation 11:58 Metrics for AI Success 14:51 Navigating AI Tools and Technologies 18:07 Building a Learning Organization 20:59 Final Thoughts Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    24 min
  2. #98 - The Rise of the AI Native Employee | Thomas Bustos

    3D AGO

    #98 - The Rise of the AI Native Employee | Thomas Bustos

    What is an AI Native employee? It’s not someone who occasionally uses ChatGPT. It’s not someone who automates a few workflows. It’s someone who integrates AI into how they think, decide, and operate. In this episode, Thomas Bustos explores the rise of the AI Native employee—not as a job title, but as a new operating standard. Before AI, employees manually summarized, synthesized, reported, and shared knowledge. Decision-making required slow coordination. Context was fragmented. Now, the AI Native shift is changing how organizations think, decide, and execute. The AI Native employee defines what great looks like. They set constraints. They design systems. They use AI to enhance clarity, not to outsource thinking. Thomas Bustos breaks down why companies that fail to build AI Native systems will struggle with accountability, context gaps, and slow decision loops. And why the real competitive advantage is how employees integrate AI into learning velocity and decision quality. This episode is a blueprint for leaders who want to move from AI curiosity to AI Native execution. Top Takeaways: If your company is just getting seats for people to ask things to ChatGPT, you definitely need to change something. Create accountability and a motion of learning velocity. The more connected your context system is, the better decisions can be made. The quality of decisions depends on how much reality your team can see. Software is going to zero, meaning the cost of building solutions is decreasing. The jobs are not going anywhere; they are evolving with technology. If you can generate more impact, you are more valuable. Creating systems that enhance learning and context is crucial for growth. This is why we're playing this game: to continuously learn and adapt. Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    17 min
  3. #97 - AI Native Companies Explained: How Startups Should Build With AI | Thomas Bustos

    FEB 4

    #97 - AI Native Companies Explained: How Startups Should Build With AI | Thomas Bustos

    AI native companies represent a structural evolution in startup design. Unlike traditional companies that adopt AI as an efficiency layer, AI native companies integrate AI into the core decision-making fabric of the organization. In this episode, Thomas Bustos analyzes how AI native companies restructure three critical dimensions: learning velocity, decision quality, and organizational leverage. The discussion outlines how teams can use AI to improve strategic clarity, accelerate feedback loops, and create shared maps of reality across product, sales, and leadership. The episode also examines how AI native companies change internal dynamics—shifting from siloed expertise toward collaborative intelligence systems where humans and AI co-create insights. Thomas breaks down the implications for early-stage growth, team empowerment, and the future of work, highlighting why startups that fail to evolve into AI native companies will struggle to compete with organizations built natively for AI-enabled decision-making. This framework positions AI not as a productivity hack, but as an organizational multiplier. Top Takeaways: The better your questions, the more valuable you are as the founder. AI native companies focus on culture and systems, not just tools. You need blueprints and processes to exceed early revenue stages. Context lives in people's heads and dies when they leave the room. AI amplifies opinions and requires strong leadership to be effective. No human in the loop means empowering humans to make better decisions. Building a context engine can improve decision-making and growth. AI native companies have a unique competitive advantage over larger firms. Understanding core concepts is essential for strategic growth. Evaluating AI nativeness helps identify areas for improvement. Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    28 min
  4. #96 - Why Every Early Stage Founder Needs a Learning Engine | Thomas Bustos

    JAN 28

    #96 - Why Every Early Stage Founder Needs a Learning Engine | Thomas Bustos

    Most advice for early stage founders is wrong because it assumes you’re ready to scale. In this episode, Thomas Bustos challenges the obsession with growth, optimization, and “best practices.” He argues that for an early stage founder, those things are distractions without a learning engine underneath them. Instead of asking “How do we grow faster?”, the better question is “How do we learn faster?” This episode explains why premature scaling breaks teams, why metrics without context mislead founders, and why decision quality compounds more than growth ever will. If you’re an early stage founder feeling pressure to move faster without clarity, this episode is a necessary counterweight. Top Takeaways: The journey to scaling requires a clear understanding of what to do and what to stop doing. Early stage founders must focus on building a strong operating system to navigate growth. A learning engine is crucial for making informed decisions and improving outcomes. Resource allocation should be strategic, focusing on the best bets for growth. Aligning sales and product development is key to delivering value to customers. Understanding the ideal customer profile helps in refining business strategies. Pattern identification can lead to better decision-making and revenue generation. Founders should embrace chaos as a learning opportunity to refine their approach. A methodical path reduces uncertainty and enhances clarity in decision-making. The ability to adapt and iterate is essential for early stage success. Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    23 min
  5. #95 - The First 5 Customers: A Framework for Early Stage Founders | Thomas Bustos

    JAN 21

    #95 - The First 5 Customers: A Framework for Early Stage Founders | Thomas Bustos

    Most early stage founders think their job is to grow. That belief quietly kills more startups than bad ideas ever will. In this episode, Thomas Bustos challenges the default startup narrative and argues that early stage founders should delay optimization, ignore premature scale, and focus obsessively on their first five customers. Not leads. Not users. Paying, real ICP customers. He dismantles the obsession with metrics that don’t matter yet and explains why clarity, learning velocity, and decision quality outperform hustle and headcount in the early days. The discussion explores why premature scaling leads to fragile systems, how visibility enables better decisions, and why early-stage teams must prioritize shared context over efficiency.  Thomas also explains how tracking inputs and outputs creates feedback loops that prevent founders from optimizing the wrong things. This episode serves as a systems-level analysis of what actually matters for early stage founders before scale, funding, or hiring accelerates complexity. Top Takeaways: Early stage founders should optimize for learning over growth. Focus on inputs before outputs to ensure effective decision-making. Create a shared map of reality to align the team. User feedback is crucial for refining the mission and ideal customer profile. Metrics should reflect reality, not be treated as goals. High signal users provide valuable insights for progress. Building foundations is essential before scaling a startup. Learning velocity and decision quality are key to success. The early stage is characterized by messiness and uncertainty. Navigating through a dynamic map is vital for achieving product-market fit. Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    7 min
  6. #94 - Startup Growth Strategies from a YC Alumni | Max Berthelot

    11/21/2025

    #94 - Startup Growth Strategies from a YC Alumni | Max Berthelot

    In this episode of Let’s Talk AI, Max Berthelot takes us into the heart of his founder journey. It is one that spans B2B SaaS, Y Combinator’s high-pressure halls, and now the health-tech frontier with Lucis. What starts as a leap from a stable career becomes a story about obsession, discipline, and the uncomfortable truths behind real startup growth. Max shares the moment he realized community was the key to expansion. He talks about the nights spent rethinking distribution, the emotional rollercoaster of working with both technical and non-technical co-founders, and the mindset that transformed Lucis from an idea into a fast-emerging longevity platform. This is a story of a founder recounting the lessons that scarred him, shaped him, and ultimately strengthened his ability to scale a startup in one of the toughest markets. If you want startup growth lessons that go beyond clichés, this is the episode to hear. Top Takeaways: Max is the founder of Lucis, focusing on health and longevity. Building a community around health can drive engagement and growth. Distribution should be prioritized from day one in product development. It's important to start with an idea and iterate rather than waiting for perfection. Y Combinator provided invaluable lessons and a life-changing experience for Max and his co-founders. Relentlessness is key to building a successful startup. Continuous learning is essential for founders as they navigate different stages of growth. The mission of Lucis is to make preventative health accessible in Europe. Max's personal experience with health data drives the mission of Lucis Connect with Max Berthelot Max Berthelot on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximeberthelot/ Instagram: @lucislife_en    Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    40 min
  7. #93 - Designing IDEs for the AI Era: Lessons in Feedback, Speed, and Quality | Richard Wang

    11/07/2025

    #93 - Designing IDEs for the AI Era: Lessons in Feedback, Speed, and Quality | Richard Wang

    The IDE has always been the developer’s command center. But as AI systems mature, the IDE is becoming something far more sophisticated — a hybrid of automation, intelligence, and adaptability. In this episode, Thomas Bustos and Richard Wang (Clad Labs) dissect the architectural and strategic implications of building AI-powered IDEs. They discuss how real-time feedback loops, adaptive code assistance, and contextual learning models are reshaping both the developer experience and the business of software. This is a must-listen for engineers, founders, and product builders who want to understand the competitive edge behind AI-driven development tools, and why IDE innovation is the next major battleground for developer productivity. Top Insights: AI is revolutionizing the coding process for developers. Integrating ads into IDEs can subsidize development costs. User feedback is crucial for product iteration and improvement. The future of coding involves AI-native tools that enhance productivity. Democratizing access to AI tools is essential for global developers. Speed of development should focus on user-centric design. Understanding user workflows is key to building effective tools. The competitive landscape of IDEs is evolving with new approaches. Maintaining a balance between speed and quality is vital in development. The mission is to unlock coding opportunities for everyone. Connect with Richard Wang Richard Wang on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-wang-39554994/ Clad Labs AI - https://www.cladlabs.ai/  Connect with Thomas Bustos Thomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/  Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/  Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai  Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAP Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    36 min
  8. #92 - The Startup Mindset: Lessons from a Meta Engineer Turned Founder | Anmol Sood

    10/29/2025

    #92 - The Startup Mindset: Lessons from a Meta Engineer Turned Founder | Anmol Sood

    We often hear stories about engineers leaving Big Tech to chase their startup dreams, but few break down what really happens after the leap. In this episode, Anmol Sood, former Meta engineer and now founder of Alai, opens up about his journey from writing production-grade code to creating a startup that helps people build high-quality presentations in minutes. He shares how speed and quality constantly compete for attention in early-stage product development, why co-founder dynamics can make or break momentum, and the ultimate secret to building products that users love. For anyone navigating the startup ecosystem, Anmol’s story offers a grounded view of what it means to build, iterate, and keep your vision alive amid uncertainty. 🎧 Listen to the full episode and discover how startup success is built one decision at a time. Top Insights: Anmol emphasizes the importance of working on problems that matter to you. Building skills is not just about technical ability but also about caring for the problem. Transitioning from a large company to a startup requires unlearning certain practices. Identifying a clear target audience is crucial for product success. Finding early partners can provide valuable feedback and insights. Intuition plays a key role in product development, especially pre-product market fit. Understanding customer incentives is essential for effective partnerships. Design quality is a significant differentiator in presentation tools. Balancing speed and quality is vital in the development process. Strong co-founder relationships are foundational to startup success. Connect with Anmol Sood Anmol Sood on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anmolsood/ Anmol Sood on X - https://x.com/anmolsood21  Alai - https://getalai.com/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    54 min
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About

Let’s Talk AI is the podcast that makes you dive deeper into Artificial Intelligence. We talk with experts about topics, challenges, technologies related to AI with no fear to get into technical details. The goal is to learn from guests that are passionate about AI shares about real world cases, to take your business, career and projects to the next level!  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Let's Talk AI
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Thomas Bustos
  • Show Website
    Let's Talk AI