AI just taught me this cool thing... keep on listening to find out what it is! Today we talk about the massive and fast-moving implications of AI. We share the personal experiences with how AI challenges traditional business structures and workflows, requiring users to reimagine how work is done. We also explores how AI may replace many functions within organizations, from marketing to operations, while still lacking in areas like math accuracy and sales conversations. We also talk about Mary Meeker’s AI report, noting unprecedented user adoption, the rapid rise of global competitors like China’s DeepSeek, and the prediction that LLMs will become personal, customizable, and nearly costless. We need to rethink AI’s role in business, its deflationary impact on cost, and how fast-changing technology may render old tools and concepts obsolete. Today we discuss...
- How humor and sarcasm could be the final frontier in distinguishing AI from humans.
- The greatest investment in AI is learning how to use it personally and professionally.
- How limited human imagination, not technology, is the biggest barrier to innovation with AI.
- AI’s limitations in math were noted, with a warning not to fully trust it as a CFO despite its operational usefulness.
- AI isn’t quite ready for high-touch sales calls but is rapidly closing the gap in other business areas.
- Global AI adoption is surging, with China’s DeepSeek gaining ground quickly through much lower-cost models.
- Token costs have dropped nearly 100% in two years, and energy efficiency in GPUs has improved drastically.
- With the penny going out of circulation, it might be time to start saving them as collectibles.
- AI development curves are moving much faster than traditional SaaS models, making this a truly disruptive moment in tech.
- Meta’s LLaMA has been downloaded 1.2 billion times in 10 weeks, with over 100,000 derivative models created.
- The performance gap between open-source and closed AI models is shrinking rapidly, with DeepSeek nearly matching OpenAI on benchmarks.
- The AI ecosystem is becoming decentralized, much like the shift from centralized platforms to blockchain-based alternatives.
- Decentralization is praised for enabling free speech, innovation, and diversity of thought, unlike centralized control.
- Most employees are already using AI tools like ChatGPT personally, even if companies haven’t officially adopted them.
- AI is increasing personal productivity, but there’s concern it may ultimately compress work rather than improve quality of life.
- Over 60,000 new AI-related job titles have emerged in just two years, indicating a massive career reshuffle.
- Without earned knowledge, people can misuse powerful tools like AI, just as they did with nuclear weapons.
- The future with AI could resemble either Skynet or Star Trek, and no one truly knows which way it will go.
- There is risk of psychological strain and social dysfunction if people are displaced without purpose.
- AI tools can now bypass paywalls and summarize articles, challenging traditional media revenue models.
- The current wealth gap and collapse of the middle class is unprecedented, even before full-scale AI disruption.
- Decentralized AI (e.g., having your own local models) is seen as essential to maintain independence and avoid manipulation.
- A growing imbalance of more sellers than buyers suggests further downward pressure on real estate prices.
- Political pressure is influencing Fed policy, with previous rate cuts seen as potentially timed to impact elections.
- Global conflict, such as recent Middle East tensions, is having surprisingly little impact on the stock market.
- Investors should focus on risk management given the unpredictability and detachment from fundamentals.
"Cash is not trash... Cash is King" - Kirk Chisholm
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Today's Guest: Kirk Chisholm
Kirk Chisholm is a Wealth Manager and Principal at Innovative Advisory Group, an independent Registered Investment Advisor located in Lexington, MA. He has been providing wealth management services to individuals, executives, entrepreneurs, and their families since 1999. He is an outside the box thinker, risk manager, inflation expert, blogger, podcaster, and all-around interesting guy. Kirk is dedicated to developing lasting relationships with all of his clients and their families. One of the benefits of working with Kirk is his patience, empathy, and his ability to provide clear and easy-to-understand explanations to complex financial topics.
Kirk developed a unique philosophy for the wealth management industry called Risk Management First. The medical field has a similar way of thinking of “first do no harm”. This philosophy focuses on risk management for clients in all aspects of their lives in ways the industry does not address. Risk management does not stop with investments. It also requires working closely with other professionals to address areas of their financial lives not currently being met.
In 2008, Kirk co-founded Innovative Advisory Group to address the needs not being addressed by the wealth management industry. It started with specializing in alternative assets held in retirement accounts (i.e. self directed IRAs/401ks). Then the company expanded into the specialization of college funding (i.e. planning, strategy, and paying the least possible for a high quality education), Risk Management First, exit planning for business owners, advanced planning (estate, tax, etc), and providing practice management and leadership training to other financial advisors, accountants and attorneys.
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Today's Panelists
- Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
- Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors