#154: AI Answers: The Future of AI Agents at Work, Building an AI Roadmap, Choosing the Right Tools, & Responsible AI Use

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Jun 19, 2025

Delve into the fascinating world of AI as experts explore a human-first approach and the importance of preserving human qualities in an AI-driven future. Discover the current state of AGI and how companies can stand out as AI becomes more accessible. Learn about the differences between ChatGPT Projects and Custom GPTs, along with efficient workflow management tips. The discussion also touches on the ethical implications of AI use, responsible practices, and how AI tools are transforming marketing and agency models.

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ADVICE

Human-First AI Approach

Put humans at the center of AI integration, considering impacts on employees, customers, and partners.
Avoid using AI solely for efficiency or cost-cutting without regard for human experience and value.

INSIGHT

Preserving Critical Human Skills

Critical thinking is the uniquely human quality most threatened by easy AI outputs.
Imagination, creativity, empathy, and critical thinking are vital, but preserving them is a moving target.

INSIGHT

AGI Could Arrive Soon

AGI definitions vary, but many labs are close to achieving human-level average task performance.
We may see claims of AGI achievements within the next 12 months.

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In this episode of AI Answers, Paul Roetzer and Cathy McPhillips tackle 20 of the most pressing questions from our 48th Intro to AI class—covering everything from building effective AI roadmaps and selecting the right tools, using GPTs, navigating AI ethics, understanding great prompting, and more.

Access the show notes and show links here

Timestamps:

00:00:00 — Intro

00:08:46 — Question #1: How do you define a “human-first” approach to AI?

00:11:33 — Question #2: What uniquely human qualities do you believe we must preserve in an AI-driven world?

00:15:55 — Question #3: Where do we currently stand with AGI—and how close are OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta to making it real?

00:17:53 — Question #4: If AI becomes smarter, faster, and more accessible to all—how do individuals or companies stand out?

00:23:17 — Question #5: Do you see a future where AI agents can collaborate like human teams?

00:28:40 — Question #6: For those working with sensitive data, when does it make sense to use a local LLM over a cloud-based one?

00:30:50 — Question #7: What’s the difference between ChatGPT Projects and Custom GPTs?

00:32:36 — Question #8: If an agency or consultant is managing dozens of GPTs, what are your best tips for organizing workflows, versioning, and staying sane at scale?

00:36:12 — Question #9: How do you personally decide which AI tools to use—and do you see a winner emerging?

00:38:53 — Question #10: What tools or platforms in the agent space are actually ready for production today?

00:43:10 — Question #11: For companies just getting started, how do you recommend they identify the right pain points and build their AI roadmap?

00:45:34 — Question #12: What AI tools do you believe deliver the most value to marketing leaders right now?

00:46:20 — Question #13: How is AI forcing agencies and consultants to rethink their models, especially with rising efficiency and lower costs?

00:51:14 — Question #14: What does great prompting actually look like? And how should employers think about evaluating that skill in job candidates?

00:54:40 — Question #15: As AI reshapes roles, does age or experience become a liability—or can being the most informed person in the room still win out?

00:56:52 — Question #16: What kind of changes should leaders expect in workplace culture as AI adoption grows?

01:00:54 — Question #17: What is ChatGPT really storing in its “memory,” and how persistent is user data across sessions?

01:02:11 — Question #18: How can businesses safely use LLMs while protecting personal or proprietary information?

01:02:55 — Question #19: Why do you think some companies still ban AI tools internally—and what will it take for those policies to shift?

01:04:13 — Question #20: If AI tools are free or low-cost, does that make us the product? Or is there a more optimistic future where creators and users both win

This week’s episode is brought to you by MAICON, our 6th annual Marketing AI Conference, happening in Cleveland, Oct. 14-16. The code POD100 saves $100 on all pass types.

For more information on MAICON and to register for this year’s conference, visit www.MAICON.ai.

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