AI Automation Alchemist

Rey Ortega shares insights on AI hype, misconceptions, and practical tools for small businesses, including his experiences with public speaking, social media strategies, and AI resource management.

keywords:

AI automation, AI misconceptions, small business AI, public speaking, social media marketing, Gamma presentation tool, digital marketing, AI influencers, AI resource management

key topics:

• AI misconceptions and hype cycle
• Pract...

In this episode of the AI Automation Alchemist Podcast, Rey Ortega breaks down a busy day speaking at BizFest on Florida’s Space Coast, where small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals gathered to learn practical ways to use artificial intelligence.

Rey shares the five quick AI wins he presented at the event, including writing faster emails, creating short-form video scripts, building a reusable prompt library, re...

AI is moving fast, but most people are still stuck at the starting line.

In this episode of the AI Automation Alchemist Podcast, Rey Ortega sits down with Max Kyllonen for a deep conversation about where AI is really headed, why most business owners are overwhelmed by it, and why the future may not be about better prompts… but better intentions.

We talk about:

• Why AI feels “alien” to most people
• The problem with ...

In this episode, Rey Ortega interviews Rob Wright, a member of Waffle, a company that leverages artificial intelligence for small businesses. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the AI industry, the distinction between AI and automation, and the impact of AI on various business functions. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to AI, token usage, and the impact of AI on small businesses. It delves into ...

The conversation covers the challenges faced by small businesses, the journey of Grata Software, the importance of automation and AI, the promise of Perplexity, the challenges of podcasting and AI automation, the evolution of technology in business, the complexity of new tools and technologies, the power of Perplexity in research and analysis, and an exploration of the Perplexity interface and features. The conversation delves into...

AI is everywhere right now, but what actually works in business and what is just hype?

In this episode, Kyler Cheatham breaks down the reality of AI and automation in both enterprise and small business settings. He shares why so many companies get distracted by flashy promises, where AI can create real value, and what business owners need to watch out for when adopting new tools.

This conversation covers the biggest myths around AI, ...

Are you a small business owner overwhelmed with daily tasks? Discover how to work smarter, not harder, by effectively using AI tools like Claude to streamline your operations and focus on growth!

In this video, we dive deep into the capabilities of Claude and how it can transform your daily workflow. Here’s what we cover:

Key Points:

• Understanding the Difference (0:00): The crucial distinction between working in...

In this episode, I show how I actually use ChatGPT to run my business: settings, models, custom GPTs, and Projects.

Then we do a live demo: I ask ChatGPT to write the prompt, and we generate an ad image from 2 photos.

ChatGPT updates constantly. New models, new features, new hype cycles.

But the real advantage isn’t the latest update — it’s how you use the tool.

In this episode, I walk you through my real Chat...

Most people don’t understand how AI actually works — and that’s okay.

In this episode, I explain Large Language Models using a simple story anyone can understand.

Neural networks, transformers, hallucinations, and RAG are usually explained with math, code, and diagrams that look like spider webs.

So I did something different.

In this bonus episode of the AI Automation Alchemist podcast, I use a simple story &mdash...

ChatGPT isn’t thinking — it’s calculating probabilities.
In this episode, I explain how Large Language Models actually work, in plain English.

Most people use ChatGPT daily without understanding what it’s actually doing.

In this episode of the AI Automation Alchemist podcast, I break down:

• What Large Language Models (LLMs) are
• How neural networks work (simplified)
• What transformers actually do
• Why context m...

Next week we go tactical: AI tools that help you find customers, target them, message them, and convert them.

This week we talked about AI hype, conferences, and the wild claims people make about “AI expertise.”
Now we’re moving forward.

Next week’s episodes focus on tactical AI tools for business owners, especially:

• How to identify the right customers (demographics + psychographics)
• How to craft an o...

Using AI tools doesn’t make you an AI expert — and pretending it does is hurting businesses.

In this episode, I explain the difference between tool users and real AI expertise.

I’m recording this episode from an indie game jam where I’m mentoring engineers, and it perfectly highlights a growing problem in the AI industry.

Too many people — especially marketers — are calling themselves “AI ...

The conversation delves into the misconceptions surrounding AI and automation, particularly focusing on the Chat GPT technology. It addresses the false notion of 'genius mode' and the reality of how the technology functions. Additionally, it explores the Chat GPT ecosystem and its various components.

Takeaways

• AI and Automation Misconceptions
• Understanding Chat GPT Ecosystem

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to AI and Automation ...

Most AI implementations fail because people start with tools (the 10%) instead of culture (70%) and process (20%).

In this episode, I break down the 70/20/10 rule for AI and how to use it to actually implement automation.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What the 70/20/10 rule is (and where it came from)
• Why “AI consultants” often teach tools with no purpose
• The #1 problem: you can’t automate what doesn&rsqu...

Someone told a room full of people: ‘I know AI like nobody else… I started in 2022.’ That’s when I knew we had a problem.

AI was everywhere at the conferences I attended — especially PodFest — and a lot of it was oversold.
In this episode, I explain why “using AI tools” ≠ being an “AI expert,” and I highlight **3 presenters who did it the right way.

You’ll learn:

If someone could teach you how to build your own apps that make you millions of dollars in 15 minutes or less, would you run to that opportunity?

While attending Podfest 2026, one of the presentations touted this capability.

So, being a software engineer for over two decades and building over 250 applications in my career, I went into that presenetation to get the facts.

My post-presentation response will shock...

Summary

In this introductory episode of the AI Automation Alchemist podcast, host Rey Ortega discusses the significance of artificial intelligence and automation in business. He clarifies the distinction between AI and automation, addresses common misconceptions, and emphasizes the importance of context in AI applications. The episode also explores practical applications of AI in business workflows, customization options, and how to...