AI Automation Alchemist

AI Automation Alchemist

Practical AI for small business entrepreneurs! AI shouldn’t be overwhelming or overhyped. AI Automation Alchemist breaks the noise into actionable playbooks for small business owners and scrappy founders. We cover the headlines that matter, de-risk adoption (security, compliance, costs), and walk through real workflows for leads, service, and back-office. Informational, honest, and inspiring, so you can do less manual work and drive more growth.

Episodes

September 1, 2026 45 mins
Two stages, one week, AI news and more

Rey Ortega breaks down a packed week that moved from live AI news to two very different stages, one in healthcare and one for entrepreneurs. The episode matters because it connects current AI product shifts with real-world lessons about data access, culture, security, and how small businesses can actually use AI without the hype. In this episode, Rey shares what he learned from an AI M...

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Can you be successful and still experience imposter syndrome?

Absolutely.

In this episode of the AI Automation Alchemist Podcast, Rey Ortega shares the story behind a major software and AI implementation that recently went into production after nearly two years of development.

What started as a technology modernization project expanded into a much larger AI initiative — including a prototype that achieved approximately ...

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content type

Interview

primary goal

Educational

summary

Rey Ortega discusses the realities of agentic AI versus traditional AI models, emphasizing when to use each and the importance of human oversight in AI systems.

keywords

AI, agentic AI, artificial intelligence, automation, business automation, AI models, AI tools, AI systems, AI in business, AI automation

key topics

Difference between AI and agentic AI

Cost implications of AI sy...

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Rey Ortega discusses his recent podcast episode, his work on the Digital Strike program, and the impact of AI on marketing for beginners. He also shares insights on the use of AI agents in business operations and the successful launch of a software application by Grata Software. Rey Ortega shares his journey of learning sales and marketing through trial and error, the frustration of hiring ineffective marketing companies, and the s...

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Rey Ortega shares insights on artificial intelligence, its current state, misconceptions, and future challenges, sparked by a social media interaction. This episode explores the depth of AI knowledge, industry realities, and the importance of research and expertise.

keywords

Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, AI Industry, Tech Entrepreneurship, Deep Research, AI Costs, AI Future, Tech Industry Cycles

key topics

Current state of...

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Rey Ortega discusses the realities of AI in the workforce, its capabilities, limitations, and the importance of expert involvement in AI development and deployment. He addresses common fears about AI replacing jobs and emphasizes the need for security and expertise in AI applications.

keywords

AI, artificial intelligence, jobs, automation, security, neural networks, large language models, AI safety, AI in business

key topics

AI's prob...

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Rey Ortega provides an update on his podcast and discusses his recent public speaking engagements on artificial intelligence. He delves into the rise of agentic AI experts, the challenges with AI models, and the government's push for AI education. Rey also covers the fundamentals of computer science, AI sales and marketing systems, email automation, and the anatomy of a social media post. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging ...

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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...
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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...

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April 26, 2026 78 mins

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 ...
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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 ...

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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...

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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, ...

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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...
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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...

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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...

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February 3, 2026 12 mins

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...
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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...
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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 ...

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January 25, 2026 23 mins

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 ...
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