AI First with Adam and Andy

A fast, practical look at building agent-like workflows today using prompts, context, and existing tools. They explain how coding advances inform nontechnical leaders and show a holiday-built app that benchmarks restaurants without centralized data. Discussion covers the spectrum from hard-coded apps to executive-driven smart workflows and why AI proficiency is becoming a core leadership skill.

In this inside look from an AI First community call, Keith Fairclough, CIO of Cabi, explains how a direct sales women’s apparel brand built AI literacy across the company before chasing shiny use cases. He details the executive bootcamp that aligned leadership, the in person training that drove adoption, and the practices that sustained momentum, including weekly office hours and monthly AI competitions. Keith then shows what the foundation enabled: an AI styling tool that generates on brand outfits from the product catalog, creates shoppable flat lays, and can incorporate a customer’s closet history, plus an early virtual try on capability. He also shares how he used Lovable to create a clickable, gamified POS training prototype using screenshots, helping prepare 2,000 stylists for a Shopify rollout before go live. Practical lessons on culture, governance, and shipping value fast.

Greg Gottesman, a seasoned venture capitalist and co-founder of Pioneer Square Labs, dives into the complexities of startup success in today's AI landscape. He reveals that distribution is the true bottleneck for startups, even as AI reduces product development costs. Gottesman contrasts AI-native companies—where every function integrates AI—with those that only have isolated teams. He discusses the evolving role of humans in oversight as AI takes on more tasks and emphasizes the need for leadership in AI adoption across businesses.

Are we in an AI bubble, or at the early stages of the most consequential technology shift of our lifetime? In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack unpack the tension executives are feeling as AI investment, valuations, and infrastructure spending accelerate at historic speed.They explore why AI can feel both economically fragile and fundamentally real at the same time, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era while highlighting critical differences, including unprecedented usage growth, enterprise demand, and near-term impact. The conversation examines hyperscaler investment, competing research on AI ROI, market sensitivity to headlines, and what makes AI adoption feel less speculative than past technology cycles.For business leaders navigating strategy, capital allocation, and workforce implications, this episode offers a clear-eyed perspective on risk, opportunity, and why long-term conviction in AI does not eliminate short-term uncertainty.

In this special annual predictions episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack are joined by Rose Kelly, Head of AI Consulting at Forum3, for a fast-paced, candid look at what 2026 will bring for artificial intelligence, business leadership, work, and society.The conversation explores whether CEOs will be hired or fired based on AI strategy, if the AI boom is headed toward a bubble or sustained growth, and how AI will reshape jobs, enterprise tools, and executive decision-making. Adam, Andy, and Rose also unpack the rise of AI-generated media, the growing challenge of distinguishing real from fake online, and why 2026 may mark the beginning of a true post-truth era.Other predictions include the future of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot in the enterprise, whether voice-first AI becomes mainstream, what’s next for AI-powered devices and hardware, and when humanoid robots may actually appear in everyday life. The episode also examines AI’s role in U.S. politics, regulation, labor markets, and the emerging backlash alongside a growing pro-human movement in creativity and culture.Designed for executives, operators, and builders, this episode goes beyond hype to focus on real-world implications, adoption timelines, and strategic signals leaders should be watching as AI continues to accelerate.

OpenAI’s “code red” memo marks a pivotal moment in the AI landscape. In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack analyze why Sam Altman is sounding the alarm and how the rapid rise of Gemini 3.1 and Google DeepMind is reshaping competitive dynamics across the AI ecosystem.The conversation explores what this shift means for ChatGPT’s long-held dominance, whether OpenAI is stretching itself too thin, and how Anthropic’s focused strategy in enterprise and coding compares to OpenAI’s broader ambitions. Adam and Andy also examine the role of user experience, product design, memory features, and advanced voice interfaces in determining which model will win long-term market share.For business leaders, this episode delivers clear insight into how the AI platform race is evolving, what signals matter, and why the future may involve using multiple models rather than relying on a single provider.A candid and practical breakdown of one of the most important competitive moments in generative AI to date.

Dive into the transformative year of AI in 2025 as the hosts dissect how AI search evolved amidst Google’s stronghold. Explore Elon Musk's strategic maneuvers and his rising influence. Discover Apple’s struggles in the AI space and the unexpected breakthroughs of reasoning models. The conversation also highlights the widening gap between infrastructure growth and consumer applications, along with the shifting landscape for executives as they navigate regulatory uncertainties. Get practical insights for what executives must prioritize moving forward.

Benji Koltai, co-founder and CEO of Galley Solutions, delves into how AI revolutionizes kitchen operations. His personal health journey inspired him to create a recipe-first platform that addresses the age-old reliance on spreadsheets. Benji highlights the need for systematic data in kitchens, showcasing how AI can enhance planning and reduce waste. He discusses the evolution from data schemas to using LLMs for digitizing recipes and encourages a culture of 'asking AI first' to improve efficiency and ease employee fears about AI adoption.

In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, Andy Sack and Adam Brotman unpack one of the most common questions they hear from executives: which AI model should your organization use? Andy explains why comfort, workflow, and use case matter more than brand loyalty, and why toggling between models is a powerful way to learn their strengths.The conversation turns to the launch of Gemini 3, including Adam’s early impressions of its increased speed, stronger reasoning, and more agentic behavior. They explore what this shift means for enterprise AI and why companies should never limit themselves to a single model for every team and task.Whether you are leading an AI initiative, managing adoption across departments, or experimenting on your own, this episode offers clear, practical guidance on building a flexible, resilient, AI-first culture.

In this episode of AI First with Adam and Andy, hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack explore a recent New York Times opinion piece by Eric Schmidt and Andrew Sirota titled “Use AI to Reinvigorate Democracy, Not Replace It.” The article highlights examples from Albania and Taiwan, showing how governments are already using AI to reduce corruption, analyze constituent feedback, and create more responsive policies.Adam and Andy reflect on the larger question behind these stories. AI can help leaders synthesize information, listen to the public more effectively, and make smarter decisions faster. But turning decision-making over to the algorithm risks accountability, trust, and democratic values. They also discuss why governments need AI literacy, training, and communities of practice to ensure these tools are used in ways that strengthen institutions rather than weaken them.A thoughtful look at how AI could shape the future of governance.