Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

72: Using AI at Work for SaaS Advantages and Organizational Change with Jim Curry

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Oct 6, 2025

In this discussion with Jim Curry, co-founder of BuildGroup and former Rackspace GM, the focus is on how AI is transforming business strategy. Jim highlights why SaaS companies hold an edge in AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of leveraging proprietary data. He discusses the shift in organizational roles and the critical balance between efficiency and competitive differentiation. Importantly, Jim advises leaders to embrace AI thoughtfully, centering on workflow transformation rather than jumping on the latest trends.

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INSIGHT

AI As An Infrastructure Wave

AI is an infrastructure wave that, like cloud and open source, lifts all boats and changes how software and businesses are built.
It makes non-developers into effective builders and turns many employees into de facto data scientists.

INSIGHT

Data And Expertise Drive AI Moats

AI advantage comes from proprietary data plus deep domain expertise, not just model quality.
Workflow SaaS companies with unique data and user knowledge are better positioned than AI-native startups.

ADVICE

Build To Learn Before You Buy

Build internal AI agents to learn how they reshape workflows rather than buying every external tool immediately.
Train agents with product docs and customer conversations to mirror real SDR or rep behavior before automating.

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Chris Daigle sits down with Jim Curry, co-founder and investor at BuildGroup, to explore how AI is reshaping business strategy and organizational design.

Jim breaks down why SaaS companies have unique advantages in the AI era, and how AI adoption mirrors past infrastructure shifts like the rise of cloud and open source. He explains why most businesses shouldn’t chase AI-native hype, but instead focus on workflow transformation that drives measurable results.

This episode dives into:

• How to view AI adoption through the lens of past technology waves
• Why SaaS businesses are best positioned to integrate AI
• The organizational shifts AI will create, from agents to evolving job roles
• Balancing efficiency gains with true competitive differentiation
• How leaders should approach AI adoption without falling into the “shiny object” trap

Key Insight: AI is less about replacing businesses and more about re-architecting how they operate — and the winners will be those who align people, process, and technology together.

🔎 Find Out More About Jim Curry
BuildGroup ➡ https://www.buildgroup.com
LinkedIn ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimncurry/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt

📌 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Jim Curry
04:13 – AI as the next infrastructure wave
09:00 – Why SaaS companies are best positioned for AI adoption
13:01 – Efficiency vs differentiation in AI strategy
18:13 – Organizational shifts: agents, workflows, and new roles
23:07 – Avoiding the shiny-object trap with AI tools
36:16 – Lessons from cloud and open source adoption
42:59 – Building AI-driven organizations with sustainability
44:42 – How to connect with Jim Curry

Episode tags:
AI in the workplace, AI for business leaders, Generative AI at work, Real-world AI applications, Workplace AI adoption, Executive AI training, AI productivity tools, AI transformation stories, Ethical AI business, AI strategy for executives, SaaS and AI adoption, AI in organizational change