No Brainer - An AI Podcast for Business

Special guest Eyelevel.ai CEO Neil Katz joins Geoff and Greg to discuss generative AI's hallucination problem. Large language models' (LLMs') propensity to hallucinate in their answers represents one of the biggest barriers to enterprise adoption. Eyelevel boasts a 95% accuracy on private instance responses by using its APIs and tools to prepare proprietary data for LLM consumption.The trio dives into the LLM marketplace, including discussions about why brands choose to implement a private instance, how the LLM market has evolved, and what causes the hallucination problem. Then, they discuss the enterprise data problem and how retrieval augmented generation (RAG) techniques still need additional help to strengthen LLM responses.Chapters include:0:00 Start4:40 Private instance versus licensing enterprise editions of LLMs7:32 Eyelevel’s Air France implementation achieving 95% success rates12:29: The need for enterprise data preparation18:14 The hallucination problem with LLMs and RAG approaches28:23 How governance can or cannot help enterprises32:32 Why some use open source versus proprietary LLMs39:12 The future of AI and an incredible visionLearn more about Eyelevel at https://www.eyelevel.ai/ or contact Neil Katz via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkatz/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of No Brainer, Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino chat with Steven Freidkin, Founder and CEO of Ntiva. Ntiva offers a full range of IT managed services to growing businesses. It’s no surprise that they’re implementing AI internally and fielding plenty of calls from clients about everything from Microsoft Copilot to more sophisticated AI business use cases driven by proprietary data.In today’s conversation, we cover everything from why even 15 minutes of AI per day will put individual performers ahead of the pack to whether it’s worth paying attention to the hype around artificial general intelligence (AGI.) And we discuss it all through the lens of a tech pro who has rolled up his sleeves and done the work.Chapters00:00 Start02:50 Introducing Steven Freidkin, CEO, Ntiva04:10 How Ntiva uses AI internally and with clients10:10 AI hype vs real world action13:20 Is AI-driven productivity a double-edged sword?15:45 Why Steven challenges everyone on his team to use ChatGPT 15 minutes every day17:00 What about businesses that aren’t adopting AI yet?19:25 Dispelling the myth that AI is “easy” and “cheap”23:00 Is Microsoft Copilot an AI gateway drug?27:00 Is AI the product or just a feature?33:00 The importance of AI guardrails37:00 What does the AI sector need to do better to drive real business adoption?43:45 Is AGI real, hype, or somewhere in between? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg and Geoff answer listener questions from Lisa Nirell, Phil Gerbyshak, last week's guest Paul Chaney, and TikTok commenters in an open-mic mailbag format. They discuss the challenges of educating organizations on AI integration, emphasizing the importance of alignment, change management, and training. They explore why people prefer fake AI-generated images of themselves and the potential impact on corporate recruiting. And they delve into the topic of AI marketing ethics and the need for marketers to prioritize ethical considerations in their work.The conversation covers the importance of making small improvements, the need for responsible AI, the bare minimum approach in marketing, connecting ethics with day-to-day work, the divide between marketers who get it and those who don't, the power of authenticity, the divide between brands who get social and those who don't, and the importance of providing value to customers.00:00 Start00:31 Introduction and Open Mic Mailbag03:40 Educating Organizations on AI Integration17:48 Fake Imagery with AI and Social Media28:34 AI Marketing Ethics (Again!)36:06 – Divide Between Marketers Who Get It and Those Who Don’t53:58 -.Appreciation for the Audience and Final Word Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of No Brainer, we're joined by Paul Chaney. Paul is the editor of the AI Marketing Ethics digest -- a newsletter that explores the intersection between marketing and (you guessed it) ethical AI. Paul is a digital marketing veteran who was drawn to the subject of responsible and ethical AI when he saw how how few of the marketers who are racing to adopt generative AI tools are having serious conversations about key ethical issues like bias, fairness, human rights, and even environmental impact. He launched his newsletter to close this gap, and has been engaged the conversation ever since.Paul, Geoff, and Greg discuss the definition of AI ethics, why they matter for marketing, what it will take to get more marketers to take ethics seriously, and how brands can determine what's "right." Along the way, they explore how the choices we make today aren't so different from the choices marketers made (or didn't make) in the early days of the internet, email, and (especially) social media. And they land on a fundamental truth: AI ethics aren't about technology but humanity.Here's what to listen for in today's episode:00:00 Introduction01:30 What is AI ethics and why does it matter for marketing?10:33 Are marketers thinking and doing enough about AI ethics?14:36 What needs to happen to put responsible AI on the front burner?25:49 Are generative AI companies inherently unethical?31:00 Marketing history repeats: the internet, email, social media, and AI38:05 How can marketers figure out what’s “right?”46:00 The Ethical Implications of AI and Job Loss52:15 The Future of AI Ethics in Marketing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yahoo! Finance found that executives are only half as likely to mention AI on their earnings calls. Research from BCG found that enterprises aren't as enthusiastic as they used to be about generative AI. Even Sequoia Capital -- a major investor in AI startups --- has argued that the majority of AI tech companies are struggling to nail their value proposition. And all of this is happening as researchers find that OpenAI's ChatGPT plagiarizes its training data 70% of the time and Google's latest releases amount to a series of self-inflicted wounds.AI -- and generative AI in particular -- sure seems like it has teetered from the peak of hype and fallen into the trough of disillusionment. Greg and Geoff discuss why this might be the case. And why this is a good thing for any company serious about AI.What to Watch/Listen For:00:00 Introduction02:44 AI Hype is Dead10:32 Challenges of Implementing AI15:41 Generative AI and its Limitations31:58 The Hype Around OpenAI33:27 OpenAI's Success and Merit34:54 The Importance of Basic Marketing36:18 Salesforce's Focus on Trust37:45 The Success of Companies like Nvidia and Amazon40:00 AI as a Baked-in Technology42:06 Diminished Hype and the Importance of Trust43:03 The Potential Consolidation and Failures in the AI Space48:16 Differentiation and the Need for Viable Products53:54 The End of Hype and the Importance of Getting SeriousAs always, you can visit NoBrainerPodcast.com for complete show notes, including links to the articles referenced during this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's podcast, the conversation centers around Google's deprecation of third-party browser cookies, its impact on marketers, and whether AI might be part of the plan for moving digital marketing forward. Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston discuss the importance of first-party data, the challenges of unifying data, the role of AI and machine learning in data cleaning and personalization, and -- of course -- the need for a strategic approach to data, marketing, and AI.What to Listen For00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage09:00 How Google's Deprecation of Third-Party Cookies Impacts Marketers20:00 The Importance of First-Party Data and the Challenges of Unifying Data33:30 The Role of AI and ML in a Post-Cookie Marketing Environment42:00 AI Depends on Strategy and Strategy Depends on Data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taylor Swift is taking over the world... Fake Taylor Swift is taking over the Internet (and hawking Le Creuset pot and pans). In this episode of No Brainer, Greg and Geoff explore the effects of AI-generated deep fakes, misinformation, and disinformation on brands.In the second part of the show, the guys flip the script to look at how some brands are using the same technology behind deep fakes to put synthetic spokespeople to work for their own marketing purposes.What to Listen For:00:00 Intro05:10 (Not) Taylor Swift, Le Creuset, and Fake Celebrity Endorsements12:00 (Not) Jason Aldean, "Go Woke Go Broke," and AI Narrative Attacks22:50 Fake News! And How AI Generated Clickfarms Steal Ad Dollars33:10 How Virgin Cruises and Cadbury Use Synthetic Celebrities Right38:58 Levi's and Volkwagen Generate Controversy with AI47:30 Brainer and No BrainerVisit https://nobrainerpodcast.com/ai-brand-fakes for the full show notes, including links to the stories we discussed on this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston, principal analysts from CognitivePath run down the most important AI news stories from this year's Consumer Electronics Show and give their take on what they mean for marketing decision-makers.Correction: During this episode, Greg refers to the FTC banning Walgreens from using facial recognition technology for five years. He misspoke. The correct retailer is Rite Aid. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/12/rite-aid-banned-using-ai-facial-recognition-after-ftc-says-retailer-deployed-technology-without Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our big year-end blow-out! For this episode, we're joined by AI expert extraordinaire, Jeremiah Owyang, as we each make three bold predictions for AI in 2024. Anyone who knows Jeremiah knows that he's made a career out of being a step or two ahead of just about everyone else when it comes to making sense of the intersection between business and technology. For anyone who doesn't know him, Jeremiah is a long-time industry analyst turned entrepreneur and venture capitalist whose Llama Lounge events have become must-attend soirees in Silicon Valley's AI startup scene.Geoff and Greg first met Jeremiah back in the early days of social media. So, what happens when you get three veteran martech monsters together to share their takes on what lies ahead for artificial intelligence? Fireworks!00:00 Start of Show03:40 Prediction #1 (Jeremiah) -- AI agents in your email09:10 Prediction #2 (Greg) -- AI startup bloodbath (bye-bye, GPT wrappers)15:21 Prediction #3 (Geoff) -- The race toward multimodal AI sparks an acquisition frenzy20:36 Prediction #4 (Jeremiah) -- Google loses search market share to generative AI tools24:36 Prediction #5 (Geoff) -- OpenAI feels more fallout from its recent drama30:30 Prediction #6 (Greg) -- The rise of small or "specialized" language models35:56 Prediction #7 (Greg) The end of aimless experimentation as marketers get strategic with AI39:32 Prediction #8 (Geoff) D.C., the presidential election, and the rising rhetoric about regulation (and more) will make us "hate" AI.43:05 Prediction #9 (Jeremiah) Hyper-personalized content gets real Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year! That's right -- it's been a full year since ChatGPT came onto the scene and sent the world into a tizzy over generative AI. To celebrate the occasion and because 2023 is winding down, Greg Verdino and Geoff Livingston taking a look back at the "Year of AI." What trends, tech, big news, and boo-boos caught and kept our attention during a year that was (shall we say) eventful? Listen or watch this pipin' hot episode of No Brainer to find out.As a bonus, you'll also find out why Geoff regrets buying a fancy new webcam!What to Watch For00:00 Start05:50 Geoff's Trend 1: AI Euphoria – Business communities were abound with excitement during the first half of the year.07:10 Greg's Trend 1: AI Hype Cycle — From Euphoria to existential risk, and everything in between.15:05 Greg's Trend 2: The Generative AI Horse Race — Open AI has opened the door, and it is a dynamic market with many competitors, including Claude and Google.18:40 Geoff's Trend 2: Fake AI — From shrink-wrapped GPT solutions masquerading as new solutions to bolt-ons, we saw a lot of masquerades.24:20 Geoff's Trend 3: The Struggle for Ethical AI — From data sourcing and public figures to government regulation and Open AI’s board scrap, ethical AI is a constant discussion point.31:20 Greg's #3: Coca-Cola's Bain and OpenAI Partnership — Coke has paved the way for corporate marketing AI innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices