The AI Guys

The AI Guys
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Welcome to "The AI Guys" podcast! Join hosts Lee Dickson and Rich Swier as they take you on a journey through the world of AI. In this episode, they share their personal journeys and experiences in the tech world. From discussing the parallels between the rise of the internet and AI, to exploring practical and technical aspects, Lee and Rich aim to make AI accessible and easy to understand for entrepreneurs, business owners, and the everyday consumer. With candid conversations and expert insights, they will demystify AI's impact on our daily lives and future possibilities. Discover why AI is not just another tech trend, but a fundamental shift in how we interact with technology.

  1. 21h ago

    How Smart Companies Are Turning Employees Into AI Managers (w/ Special Guest: Rich Partridge)

    What happens when AI stops being just a tool and starts becoming part of the team? In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee and Rich sit down with returning guest Richard Partridge of New Line ASP to unpack what real AI transformation looks like inside a business. This conversation goes beyond hype and gets into the shift from casually using AI to building with it, managing it, and creating real operational impact. The episode explores how teams move from experimentation into structure, including centralizing tools, tracking ROI, controlling token spend, and assigning real ownership to AI agents. Richard shares how different departments, from sales to customer service, are building practical AI solutions, why adoption only works when managers reinforce usage, and how small wins can unlock bigger company-wide momentum. The team also digs into a major truth many businesses are learning right now, AI works best when it amplifies human judgment, not when it tries to replace it. If you are trying to figure out how to roll out AI inside your company without chaos, this episode is packed with lessons from the front lines. Watch now, then let us know where your team is in the journey from user to builder to manager. * http://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * http://raiaai.com/ * All links: http://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: http://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: http://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d

  2. Aug 31

    Pre-IPO Shopping Spree - Why the Giants are Buying Everything

    The AI arms race is entering a new phase, and this episode breaks down why the biggest players are suddenly buying, partnering, and consolidating at full speed. Lee and Rich unpack the pre IPO shopping spree happening across the AI landscape, from frontier model companies chasing platform control to the growing pressure to justify massive valuations. They dig into what these moves could mean for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, and the broader open source ecosystem. Along the way, they explore whether model quality is really improving as much as the hype suggests, why token costs may be more manipulated than most people realize, and how businesses can protect themselves from vendor lock in as AI dependency grows. If you are trying to understand where the market is heading, this episode gives you a practical lens on the strategy, incentives, and risks behind the headlines. Subscribe to stay in touch, and follow along as The AI Guys keep translating fast moving AI news into real business insight. * 00:28 Market strategies and the race for dominance in AI 05:16 The role of platform building and vertical integration 10:21 Challenges faced by open AI, Anthropic, and Google 15:10 Market dynamics, regulation, and the AI winter 20:09 The importance of control and ownership in AI ecosystems 25:07 The cost paradox and token inflation in AI models 30:21 Market manipulation, hype, and the race for valuation * https://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * https://www.raiaai.com/ * All links: https://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: https://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  3. Aug 3

    AI Agents Are Not What Most Businesses Think (w/ Special Guest: Devin Kearns)

    What does it really take to build an AI native business right now? In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Rich and Lee sit down with Devin Kearns, founder of CustomAI Studio, to unpack the real state of AI agents, why so many early AI products got wiped out fast, and what businesses are still getting wrong as they try to adopt this technology. It is a grounded, honest conversation about where the space is today, and where it is actually headed next. They dig into the difference between true agents and basic automation, why companies still judge AI more harshly than human employees, and how legacy systems, messy internal data, and weak documentation are slowing adoption down. The conversation also explores AI readiness, the growing importance of capturing unstructured business knowledge, the shift from traditional SaaS thinking to AI native operations, and the rising debate around model pricing, open source models, Chinese AI labs, and token costs as a new form of labor spend. If you are trying to understand how AI will reshape real businesses, this episode is packed with practical insight and big picture thinking. Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations that make AI easier to understand. Custom AI Studio (CAIS) is a custom AI consulting and engineering firm that designs, builds, and deploys production AI systems for mid-market and enterprise companies. Unlike off-the-shelf SaaS, every system is built for a single client, who owns all the code, models, and IP outright, with no vendor lock-in and no multi-tenant platform. Since 2024, CAIS has shipped 60+ production deployments. Website: https://www.customaistudio.io YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAnMAQvxQDJ3Wtl3oMLF5Q Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/custom-ai-studio Devin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-kearns-15895a42/ * http://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * http://raiaai.com/ * All links: http://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: http://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: http://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: http://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  4. Jul 13

    Your Agentic Dream Team: The Four Roles That Make AI Projects Work

    What does it actually take to launch AI successfully inside a business? In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee Dickson and Rich Swier break down the four essential roles every company needs to move AI projects from idea to execution. If your team has been treating AI like a side project, this conversation shows why that approach usually falls apart. Lee and Rich unpack the functional expert, the technical agent builder, the integration and IT lead, and the agent power user. They explain how each role contributes to building smarter agents, securing system access, improving adoption, and creating feedback loops that help AI tools get better over time. The episode also explores why so many AI initiatives stall before launch, and how the right team structure can dramatically improve your chances of success. If you are planning to build AI agents in your business, this episode gives you a practical framework to start with. Subscribe for more conversations that make AI easier to understand and easier to implement. substack.aiguyspod.com/ raiaai.com/ All links: lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  5. Jul 6

    Your AI Spend Is Rising, But Where’s the ROI?

    What happens when AI adoption goes up, but business results do not? In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee and Rich break down why so many companies are pouring money into AI tools, burning through tokens, and still struggling to connect that spend to real outcomes. They unpack the shift from basic tool adoption to a more agentic, centralized approach that actually gives businesses visibility, control, and a path to ROI. The conversation centers on four key lenses businesses should use to evaluate AI: dependency, cost, outcome, and scalability. Lee and Rich dig into vendor lock in, the rising reality of token spend as the new cloud bill, the danger of duplicated work across teams, and why centralized AI infrastructure beats letting disconnected tools run wild at the edge of the company. They also explore why faster coding does not automatically mean faster shipping, and why AI usage without accountability can quickly turn into expensive noise. If your team is trying to become AI native without losing control of cost, workflow, or strategy, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations that make artificial intelligence easy to understand, and check out the links below for more resources. 00:00 Introduction 00:17 The Evolution of AI in Business 00:50 Understanding AI Deployment Lenses 03:53 Control and Functionality in AI Usage 06:51 Dependency and Cost Management in AI 09:49 Navigating AI Vendor Relationships 12:14 Navigating the SaaS Trap 15:12 Control and Integration in AI 18:43 Shared Organizational Intelligence 21:32 Cost Management in AI Deployment 27:13 Scalability and Future-Proofing AI Strategies * https://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * https://www.raiaai.com/ * All links: https://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: https://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  6. Jun 22

    Is the AI Bubble About to Burst?

    AI is moving fast, maybe too fast. In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee and Rich break down why the current AI boom is starting to look a lot like a bubble, and what that means for businesses trying to keep up. From hype-driven valuations to real-world adoption lag, this conversation gets into the growing gap between what AI promises and what companies are actually using in production. Lee and Rich dig into the bigger market signals shaping the space, including government pressure on frontier models, the strange logic behind massive AI acquisitions, and why pricing, token burn, and overvaluation are becoming impossible to ignore. They also unpack the difference between AI being widely used versus truly adopted, especially inside large organizations with legacy systems, tight budgets, and real operational risk. If your team is experimenting with AI but struggling to measure value, this episode will hit close to home. If you are trying to separate signal from noise in the AI market, this is the episode for you. Subscribe for more honest conversations on where AI is headed, what businesses should actually pay attention to, and how to avoid getting swept up in the hype. 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Salesforce Acquisitions: Validation or Consolidation? 02:57 SpaceX and the AI Landscape 06:10 Comparative Analysis of AI Acquisitions 10:49 The AI Regulatory Landscape 13:38 The Speed of AI Development 16:45 Business Adaptation to AI 19:40 Valuation and Market Dynamics 22:42 The Reality of AI Adoption 25:38 Measuring AI Impact 28:43 The Future of AI and Consumer Behavior * https://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * https://www.raiaai.com/ * All links: https://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: https://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  7. May 25

    AI Speed vs AI Strategy, Why Fast Builds Still Fail

    What happens when AI lets you build faster than your business can actually adapt? In this episode of The AI Guys, Lee and Rich unpack the gap between rapid AI-powered development and real-world business readiness. They explore why speed alone does not create ROI, and why launching AI products without the right support systems can create more chaos than value. The conversation digs into the hidden infrastructure behind successful AI adoption, from documentation and legacy code support to training, ticket handling, and operational alignment. Lee and Rich also break down the mindset shift required to become truly AI-native, including motivating teams to use AI, finding practical use cases tied to real pain points, and embracing the messy learning curve that comes with experimentation. This episode is a sharp look at why businesses need more than fast prototypes, they need a full AI ecosystem. If you’re thinking about how AI fits into your company, this episode will challenge the way you approach adoption, scale, and transformation. Subscribe for more practical AI conversations, and check out these links for more content from The AI Guys. https://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * https://www.raiaai.com/ * All links: https://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: https://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

  8. May 18

    Every SaaS Company Has "AI Agents" Now — Here's Why That's a Problem

    In this episode of The AI Guys Podcast, Lee and Rich break down the growing AI agent war and why every software company suddenly wants to own your intelligence layer. They unpack what this shift means for businesses, why the market is getting louder and more confusing, and how leaders should think about control, customization, and long term AI strategy. If you are trying to make sense of where AI fits into your business, this conversation cuts through the hype. Lee and Rich explore the difference between helpful AI tools and overreaching SaaS platforms, why not every vendor should be trusted with your agentic workforce, and how horizontal software companies may be pushing too far beyond their core value. They also dig into SaaS sprawl, platform lock-in, the importance of systems of record, and why vertically integrated software may be better positioned to support meaningful AI adoption. Along the way, they compare today’s AI boom to the dot com era and explain why the next wave will reward companies that stay focused on fundamentals instead of buzzwords. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe and follow The AI Guys for more practical conversations on AI, business, and emerging tech. Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know how your company is thinking about AI agents, vendor strategy, and control. https://substack.aiguyspod.com/ * https://www.raiaai.com/ * All links: https://lnkd.in/eXDpww6V Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ee9h9GYB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/etDvqQ7d Apple: https://lnkd.in/epYT2GSi

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About

Welcome to "The AI Guys" podcast! Join hosts Lee Dickson and Rich Swier as they take you on a journey through the world of AI. In this episode, they share their personal journeys and experiences in the tech world. From discussing the parallels between the rise of the internet and AI, to exploring practical and technical aspects, Lee and Rich aim to make AI accessible and easy to understand for entrepreneurs, business owners, and the everyday consumer. With candid conversations and expert insights, they will demystify AI's impact on our daily lives and future possibilities. Discover why AI is not just another tech trend, but a fundamental shift in how we interact with technology.

Information

  • Creator
    The AI Guys
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The AI Guys

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