175 - How Big Tech Layoffs Signal the Future of AI Integration with Elizabeth Knopf Artwork

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

175 - How Big Tech Layoffs Signal the Future of AI Integration with Elizabeth Knopf

May 21, 2025 • Nikolas Hulewsky • Season 1 • Episode 175

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Join me, Nik ( https://x.com/CoFoundersNik ), as I interview Liz Knopf ( https://x.com/leveragedupside ) about the latest developments in AI and what they mean for boring businesses.

This week was massive, and we're finally seeing real-world applications of AI that move beyond the hype. We dive into the recent layoffs at major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Google, Workday, Intuit, and CrowdStrike, discussing how they signal a shift towards prioritizing AI infrastructure and boosting efficiency.

Liz shares insights on how companies like Duolingo and Shopify are going AI-first and seeing incredible results. We also explore why, despite automation and companies like Klarna automating roles, human skills and interaction are becoming even more critical.

Plus, we get hands-on with Custom GPTs, discuss their "actions" feature for integrating with tools like Zapier via APIs, navigate the challenges of AI hallucinations, and look at tools like Notebook LM and Claude projects for extracting value from data using RAG12.

Enjoy the conversation!

Questions This Episode Answers:

How are major tech companies using AI to become more efficient?

Why are big tech companies having layoffs and shifting focus to AI infrastructure?

Are managers obsolete in the age of AI?

Why are human skills becoming more valuable as AI automates tasks?

How can AI tools help you find specific information in large documents or transcripts?

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