The AI Guys

In this episode of the AI Guys, hosts Lee Dickson and Rich Swier tackle the "Build vs. Buy vs. Embed" dilemma. They explore why so many companies are tempted to simply "upgrade" their existing SaaS tools (like CRMs or Support desks) to include AI, and why Rich believes this often results in the "worst version of AI you could imagine."

They discuss the economic reality that forces SaaS vendors to use cheap,...

The "per seat" SaaS model is dead. The AI Guys break down "tokenomics", the new utility-based pricing model for AI that is replacing software subscriptions. Follow along with us as they show how productivity will likely be measured in corporations. Saas companies everywhere will need to pivot, and likely sooner than they think.

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Are you feeling the squeeze? The era of free APIs and comfortable user interfaces is over. Lee and Rich discuss why the "battle for the middle"—the space between foundation models and user interfaces—is the new focus for tech giants. Learn the three immediate actions SaaS providers, e-commerce, and service companies must take to protect their revenue and redefine their value. Discover why your old business models (per-...

Are high AI usage costs crippling your budget? Many are overspending by defaulting to the newest, most expensive reasoning models for simple tasks. The problem: The temptation to use "the biggest brain" for every job, leading to ballooning token costs and slow performance. The solution: Discover the power of specialized, smaller models and asynchronous agentic workflows to dramatically reduce your usage fees and speed ...

Struggling with the limits of your custom GPT prompts? Lee and Rich discuss the essential shift from simple desktop prompts to full, autonomous, and scalable AI agents. You've hit the memory wall and document limits; it's time to untether your best workflows. Discover how graduating to an agentic platform with vector stores, persistent memory, and security wraps your creations with the enterprise-hardened structure nec...

A CFO shares how her finance team, initially hesitant about AI, found excitement and a path to business automation by participating in an AI-powered music video contest. The episode details how they went from creating a music video with tools like ChatGPT and Neural Frames to applying those same skills to their day-to-day financial tasks. They discuss the challenges of bridging creative AI use with enterprise-level sol...

Software as a Service (SaaS) companies are overspending on 'SaaS fat'—bloated software with features nobody uses. The AI Guys reveal how the traditional per-seat licensing model is becoming outdated, inefficient, and expensive. They reveal how AI is set to disrupt the SaaS industry by automating tasks and providing a more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly experience, making it easier for businesses to slim d...

Offshoring was once a strategic move for cost savings and scalability, but the rules are changing. Join the AI Guys as they discuss how the rise of AI is making it possible for companies to bring jobs back onshore. They break down how AI agents are becoming the new offshore workforce, handling tasks like customer support and routine operations, helping companies save money and work faster—without the headaches of time ...

Many businesses are still relying on traditional chatbot builders and live chat solutions that are tethered to a single channel and burdened by expensive seat licensing models. This episode explains why a platform-based approach is the future of business. Learn how to untether your AI agents, orchestrate them across multiple channels, and own your proprietary AI model—the digital employee you can't afford to lose.

Many businesses confuse a workflow engine with a comprehensive AI platform, leading to "spaghetti code" and unmanageable, brittle solutions. This episode clarifies the crucial difference, explaining why platforms are essential for centralized management, security, and control of your AI agents. Learn how to use a workflow engine as a component of a larger, more robust stack, not as a standalone solution.

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Are you struggling to implement AI in a traditionally slow-to-change industry? Ed Buckley and Marlee Strawn, co-founders of Scholar Education, a platform using AI to transform learning, reveal their strategy for winning over skeptical teachers by co-designing a solution that reduces workload and personalizes student support. Learn how they're tackling the complex "education elephant" and why their approach, which focus...

Is your company's AI project spiraling out of control? Many organizations get excited and push for rapid development, but without proper governance, a solid plan, and a focus on core problems, these projects can spread like a virus. They lead to chaotic development, wasted spending, and developer burnout. We discuss why a "build versus buy" mentality can backfire, how to prevent projects from failing before they start,...

Ever wonder why so many AI projects fail? In this episode, Rich and Lee expose the "missing middle" of AI—the intensive data science work that happens between collecting your data and getting real value from it. They share three foundational laws of AI that challenge common misconceptions. Learn why a large investment isn't the key to success and how understanding the journey from data to a useful AI agent can prevent ...