Authority in the Wild #141 - The $3M Truth About AI Careers w/ Chris Hood
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There's a 7-year gap between what AI can actually do and what people believe it can doâand that gap is costing businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in failed pilots.
Chris Hood is an AI strategist and author with over 20 years of pioneering enterprise AI initiatives at Google Cloud, Fox, Disney, and Domino's. Named a Top 30 Customer Experience Thought Leader by Global Gurus in 2024 and 2025, Chris authored "Infallible" and "The Customer Transformation." He currently advises Fortune 500 companies on AI transformation and teaches AI ethics at Southern New Hampshire University.
In this episode, Chris exposes the invisible mechanics behind AI hype, revealing why "agent washing" has turned every company into an overnight AI expert, why Taco Bell is losing revenue from their AI implementation, and the shocking salary gap that proves data scientists (earning up to $3 million annually) are vastly more valuable than AI engineers.
You'll discover the customer-first framework that prevents costly AI failures, why autonomous AI doesn't actually exist despite the marketing claims, and the exact tools and processes Chris uses to help Fortune 500 companies separate signal from noise. This isn't about chasing trendsâit's about building authority through competence and systems that actually work.
đȘ Timestamps
(00:00) Introducing Chris Hood
(02:05) The Reality vs. Hype in AI
(07:40) Understanding AI Capabilities and Misalignment
(09:59) The Fear of Missing Out in AI Adoption
(16:58) Practical AI Implementations
(20:24) Leveraging AI for Customer Insights
(24:39) Tools for AI Research and Implementation
(31:01) Chris Hoodâs AI Strategy Frameworks
(35:42) Career Advice in AI and Tech
(40:20) The Value of Data Scientists
(42:43) Cybersecurity and AI
(46:30) Ethics in AI
(55:11) Connect with Chris Hood
đȘ Key Topics Discussed
- Why data scientists command $3 million annual salaries while AI engineers top out at $600K
- The concept of "agent washing"
- Why Taco Bell's revenue declined after implementing AI in their drive-throughs
- The exact framework Chris uses with Fortune 500 companies
- Why autonomous AI literally doesn't exist, despite it being the most overhyped concept in tech
đȘ About the Guest
Chris Hood is an AI keynote speaker, strategist, and author recognized as a top leader in AI-driven customer experience. With over 20 years pioneering enterprise AI initiatives, he has led AI strategy at Google Cloud, deployed production AI models, and developed innovative recommendation systems at Fox, Disney, and Domino's. He currently advises Fortune 500 companies on AI transformation and intelligent CX platforms while teaching AI ethics and business strategy at Southern New Hampshire University.
đȘ Connect with Chris Hood
- Website: https://chrishood.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishood/
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Until Next Week,
Pura Vida!