What to Expect for AI Topics in Business

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Macro AI Podcast! Hosts Gary Sloper and Scott Bryan introduce their new series dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on businesses globally. 

Podcast Mission 

The Macro AI Podcast aims to serve as your comprehensive guide through the AI revolution, offering practical insights for business leaders, technology enthusiasts, and anyone curious about AI's growing influence. The hosts plan to cut through the hype, focusing on tangible applications and real-world implications of AI technologies. 

What to Expect 

Future episodes will navigate the complex AI landscape, exploring: 

• How AI is reshaping business operations and competition across industries 
• The balance between automation and human workforce development 
• Industry-specific applications from manufacturing to healthcare 
• The practical implementation of AI tools in everyday business contexts 
• Global perspectives on AI adoption and regulation 
• Success stories and cautionary tales from real-world AI deployments 

Content Preview 

Listeners can anticipate discussions on timely topics such as: 

• Supply chain automation and optimization 
• AI's role in transforming customer experiences 
• Predictive analytics and maintenance in manufacturing 
• Ethical considerations including bias prevention and privacy concerns 
• The explosion of generative AI tools and their business applications 
• How to navigate AI implementation challenges 

…and much more. 

The hosts will examine both technological innovations and broader implications, including government regulation, international AI competition, and the changing nature of work in an AI-augmented world. 

Coming Up Next 

The next episode will focus on "Rise of the AI Agents," exploring how autonomous AI systems are beginning to transform business processes. 

Audience Value 

Whether you're a CEO looking to integrate AI into your business strategy, a tech professional staying current with innovations, or simply curious about where AI is taking us, The Macro AI Podcast promises valuable insights delivered in an accessible, engaging format. 

Subscribe now to join Gary and Scott on this journey through the AI frontier, with new episodes released regularly to keep you informed on this rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

About your AI Guides

Gary Sloper

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsloper/

Scott Bryan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjbryan/

Macro AI Website:

https://www.macroaipodcast.com/

Macro AI LinkedIn Page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-ai-podcast/

Transcript

“Welcome to The Macro AI Podcast, where your expert guides, Gary Sloper and Scott Bryan, navigate the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence. Step into the future with us, as we uncover how AI is revolutionizing the global business landscape, from nimble startups to fortune 500 giants. Whether you're a seasoned executive, an ambitious entrepreneur, or simply eager to harness AI's potential, we've got you covered.

Expect actionable insights, conversations with industry trailblazers and service providers, and proven strategies to keep you ahead in a world being shaped rapidly by innovation. Gary and Scott are here to decode the complexities of AI and to bring forward ideas that can transform cutting-edge technology into real-world business success. So join us.

Let's explore, learn, and lead together.

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the very first episode of The Macro AI Podcast. I'm Gary Sloper, and I'm here with my co-host, Scott Bryan.

We're thrilled to kick off this journey into the wild, fascinating, and rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its impact on business around the globe.

That's right, Gary. I'm Scott Bryan. And together, we're diving deep into how AI is reshaping the way companies operate, innovate, and compete.

“We're not just here to geek out, though we'll probably be doing some of that. We're here to delve into what AI means for business leaders, employees, and the customer experience, no matter where business operates around the globe.

Yeah. So, kicking it off, maybe Scott, you gave everybody a little bit about your background, what you've done over your career.

Yeah, sure. So, I have a pretty extensive background in global network design. I worked in engineering and sales engineering management for major telecom companies, going back to the early dot.com days.

So, in fact, back in the old days, my team of Cisco certified engineers designed and implemented some of the very first dedicated internet access connections for businesses up in the Boston area. And these were links that were provisioned via Frame Relay down to May East in Virginia. So definitely, early days of the internet.”

“So in these roles, I was forced to work on large enterprise network designs, like Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS, and later SD-WAN and SASE SD-WAN. So we were deep into the complex voice and large call center solutions, and then dedicated hosting started to come out. So we worked on data center and co-location as that took off.

And then as technologies evolved, I found myself having more and more business-centric conversations with CIOs and other business leaders who are trying to navigate all these technology life cycles. So right around that point, I made the risky move to go out of my own. I started a technology services distributorship that allowed me and my team to find the best network solutions for our clients.

So not just one, you know, working for an individual company, but finding the best out of our portfolio of services. So taking that leap turned out to be a great decision. I was fortunate to have a successful PE-backed exit after 10 years.”

“And we sold that to E78 Partners. They're a firm of about 550 employees in Chicago area, offering a wide portfolio of business services that help drive value creation. So that brings me to today.

So right now, a lot of stuff going on out there, and I'm fully energized by the amazing capabilities of next-generation machine learning, which I've been following for years, but obviously now things are really taking off, and artificial intelligence. So my latest venture is Macronomics.AI, and I'm thoroughly enjoying working with clients to help them position their companies for success in the new world of AI.

That's great.

Yeah, I think that's really how this came about. We teamed up for this podcast, and we're exploring all the latest in AI innovation, and also see what's coming around the corner. Gary, how about a little bit about you?

Yeah, and I'm honored to be on this podcast with you. I mean, we've known each other for a number of years. My background is similar to yours.”

“I spent about 20 years in tech, mostly on the solution architecture side. So I started my career honestly as a programmer. I went to school to become an accountant, and I realized I didn't want to do those types of numbers all day, so I moved into programming.

And that eventually led me into the data center space back in the late 90s, early 2000s, working at Exodus Communications, which ultimately became part of Savas and Centrelink. Their data centers are actually still out there today, but it really gave me a good foray into layer one through three solutions. I got to do a lot of on-the-job learning and security routing and switching.

So I remember taking a lot of those Cisco exams as well. And then as I progressed in my career, I went and worked for a couple of large global 200 tech companies leading billion-dollar revenue organizations on the pre-sale side. So having similar engineers that you did, Scott.”
“And throughout the tenure of my career, I've worked also in early-stage companies, mid-stage. Had some exits, some good ones, some bad ones. I think we can all attest to some of those.

But really, I think my most exciting part of my career, and Scott's very well aware of this, is I helped co-found Macronet Services, which is based outside of Boston, Massachusetts. And today, we really focus on lowering enterprises' OPEX while improving their technology, specifically now in AI. So we help with AI consulting, and continue to focus on the core concepts of, you know, what I learned early on.

So still involved in a lot of global, wider network designs, still support unified communications, contact center, environment security, and ultimately cloud optimization. And what's interesting about that is, you know, we're supporting companies globally, again, from early stage, similar to what I've worked on in the past, all the way up to global 1000 companies. And really, you know, my goal here in the podcast too, is to continue to learn from others, as we have on guests.”

“So I can share that out with you all, and to, you know, my client base as well.

Yeah, that's awesome. I feel like based on our backgrounds, we're really well positioned to take advantage of, you know, what's happening with AI and help people learn based on our extensive history in global wide area network and the evolution of AI. So Gary, why don't you just take a minute and just tell us what, from your perspective, people should expect from The Macro AI Podcast.

Yeah, I think what you all should expect from this podcast is if you were to picture one episode, we might be breaking down how AI is automating supply chains and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities or lowering the cost of production. The next episode, we could be debating whether AI is about to take your job or create a better one. So it could vary.”

“Yeah, no, definitely. And so areas that we'll definitely try to cover, areas that will impact consumers day to day, like how retailers use AI for very specific, personalized marketing. And then there's large scale operations, like how manufacturers can predict machine breakdowns before they happen.

But we'll also be tackling big questions. How do you prevent bias in an AI system? And what do you do about it?

How do businesses balance privacy with all the data that AI needs? And how do you stay current with all this massive explosion in generative AI tools? Are they the future of creativity, or are they just overhyped toys?

Yeah, I mean, that's a good point. So it's not just going to be about the tech. We really need to look at the global stage.

You mentioned privacy. So think about how governments are racing to regulate AI. So we'll talk about that.”

“Why are some countries ahead of the game, and what that means for businesses trying to stay competitive? So expect anything in our discussions from Wall Street to small startups all the way across to rural towns. So if you think about this, AI is leaving its mark everywhere, and we'll certainly continue to do so.

Yep. And we'll definitely bring you stories too, and use cases. So successes like companies thriving with AI, flops that might make you laugh or maybe even cringe, a few of those out there.

But think of us as your guides through this AI revolution, cutting through the noise with practical insights that you can put to use.

Yeah, totally agree. So this show is for everyone. So whether you're a CEO or a tech enthusiast or someone just curious about where the world's headed, we've definitely have something for you in future episodes.

We're recording this today on March 5th, 2025. And trust me, the AI landscape is moving fast. So we'll be keeping up with the latest every step of the way.

Yeah. Looking forward to it. So stick with us in the episodes ahead.”

“We'll guide you through everything from AI and healthcare to what's happening with quantum computing and how that applies to AI. So hit that subscribe button because you won't want to miss what's coming.

So thanks for joining us on this intro episode. Next time, we'll dive into the rise of AI agents. Until then, I'm Gary Sloper.

And I'm Scott Bryan, and we look forward to guiding you to the AI frontier.”

From The Macro AI Podcast: What to Expect for AI Topics in Business, Mar 5, 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-macro-ai-podcast/id1800617578?i=1000698211494&r=571
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