Talking AI

In this episode of Talking AI, Matt Paige speaks with Andy McMillan, CEO of Alteryx, to challenge the narrative that AI will make data analysts obsolete.
Andy argues that AI can make analysts indispensable by automating routine tasks, enhancing scalability, and providing specific business insights.
They discuss the evolving role of analysts, the importance of business logic, and how AI can aid in building useful tools.
The conversation touches on applying AI in various business processes, from budgeting to sales commissions, and how analysts can leverage AI to add value.
Andy also shares insights on Alteryx’s latest developments and future direction, emphasizing automation, data preparation, and AI tools designed to enhance productivity and accuracy.
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Key Moments:
00:50 The Evolving Role of Data Analysts
03:19 AI and Data Preparation: A New Era
04:04 Real-World Examples: AI in Action
07:00 The Analyst's Superpower: Business Context
10:07 AI and the Semantic Layer
12:44 Empowering Analysts with AI
21:11 The Future of AI Agents
23:46 Applying AI to Automation
23:56 The Future of AI Agents
24:55 Preparing for AI Integration
25:37 Challenges with AI in Business
27:45 AI in Finance and Data Accuracy
30:06 Strategic Shifts with AI
35:29 Build vs. Buy in the AI Era
38:56 Alteryx's New AI Capabilities
41:22 The Future Role of Analysts
42:18 Overhyped and Underhyped AI

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Key Links:
Alteryx
Connect with Andy on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:
Free report from HatchWorks AI — State of AI 2026
What’s real in AI this year, what’s hype, and what leaders should prioritize — including production lessons, designing for agents, and governance.
https://hatchworks.com/state-of-ai-2026/

In this episode, Matt speaks with Thibault Imbert, Chief Product Officer and Growth Officer at The Brief, about the transformative impact of AI on marketing workflows.
They discuss 'vibe marketing' and how to turn disjointed AI-generated content into cohesive, repeatable marketing workflows.
Thibault shares insights from his tenure at Adobe and GitHub, highlighting the challenges and potentials of AI in marketing.
They explore the evolution and current capabilities of AI models in text, image, and video generation, and the emerging trend of 'vibe coding.'
The discussion also covers practical AI applications for marketers and the future of creative workflows.
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Key Moments:
00:40 Defining Vibe Marketing
01:11 The Evolution of AI in Marketing
02:21 Challenges in AI-Driven Design
03:21 The Power of Vibe Marketing
06:09 Blurring Lines Between Roles
07:07 The GitHub Copilot Revolution
09:47 Building Cohesive AI Workflows
11:43 Demo: AI-Powered Marketing Tools
16:44 Ensuring Brand Consistency with AI
19:30 The Evolution of Mobile Development
21:15 The Rise of Generative AI in Marketing
23:44 The Future of AI in Product Development
27:41 AI's Impact on Marketing Workflows
30:42 The Changing Role of Marketers with AI
33:51 Personal Insights and Future of AI

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Key Links:
The Brief
Connect with Thibault on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:
Free report from HatchWorks AI — State of AI 2026
What’s real in AI this year, what’s hype, and what leaders should prioritize — including production lessons, designing for agents, and governance.
https://hatchworks.com/state-of-ai-2026/

In this episode, we explore the frontiers of multimodal AI with Richard Whitcomb, CTO of Osmo, a company pioneering AI technology that understands and generates scents.
Richard, a former engineer at Twitter, Spotify, and Nvidia, delves into the intricacies of teaching machines to smell, explaining the challenges and breakthroughs in digitizing smell and chemical sensing.
From designing personalized fragrances and mosquito repellents to detecting counterfeit items and diseases, Osmo's advancements promise a fascinating future where AI seamlessly integrates with our physical and chemical world.
The discussion also highlights potential applications in robotics, health, and daily life, envisioning a platform where sensors can identify and recreate smells easily.
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Key Moments:
00:56 The Journey to Digitizing Smell
03:15 Challenges in Teaching AI to Smell
06:13 Generative AI and Fragrance Creation
08:34 Osmo Studio: Custom Fragrance Creation
12:34 Beyond Fragrances: Mosquito Repellent and More
16:17 Counterfeit Detection Using Scent
18:49 Future Applications and Vision

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Key Links:
Osmo
Connect with Richard on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:
AI Opportunity Finder
Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there?

The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point.

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action.

👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/

In this episode, Jake Sloan, VP of Global Insurance at Appian, discusses the transformative potential of agentic AI in the insurance industry.
Sloan elaborates on how Appian is modernizing processes like underwriting and claims management through domain-specific AI solutions.
He highlights the pitfalls of general AI models, the importance of contextual AI, and the significance of integrating AI into existing workflows.
Sloan also touches on the cultural and operational changes required for effective AI adoption and the future of hyper-personalized insurance products.
Practical insights into the use of AI in insurance processes are provided, along with Appian's ongoing innovations and partnerships aimed at driving industry change.
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Key Moments:
01:08 The Evolution of Process Automation
02:23 Challenges and Opportunities in AI for Insurance
03:51 Integrating AI into Existing Systems
04:33 Addressing AI Hallucinations and Risk
05:41 Purpose-Built AI Solutions
09:36 AI Adoption and Change Management
30:25 Future of Insurance with AI

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Key Links:
Appian
Connect with Jake on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:
AI Opportunity Finder
Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there?

The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point.

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action.

👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/

In this episode of Talking AI, Seth Besmertnik, CEO of Conductor, discusses the profound impact of AI on search behavior and SEO.
As search engines like Google and AI platforms like OpenAI transform how users discover information, the traditional rules of SEO are being rewritten.
Besmertnik details how AI is becoming the new front door to the internet, emphasizing the need for brands to be present in AI-generated answers to maintain visibility.
He explains that companies must now create exponentially more nuanced content to stay competitive.
The conversation explores topics such as the importance of understanding AI's role in customer journeys, the emergence of new optimization terms like AEO and GEO, and the significance of using AI tools to enhance content creation processes.
The episode offers a deep dive into how businesses can adapt to these changes, maintain their relevance, and excel in an AI-driven digital landscape.
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Key Moments:
01:24 The Evolution of Information Discovery
03:15 The Role of AI in Modern Search
04:44 The Future of Content Strategy
08:12 Personal Experiences with Google and AI
10:37 Emerging Terms and Concepts in AI and SEO
12:33 Conductor's Comprehensive Approach to AI Visibility
16:25 Challenges and Opportunities in AI-Driven Search
19:04 Communicating with AI: Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies
20:03 AI Bots and Content Quality
20:35 Effective Content for AI: FAQs and Structured Data
21:29 Personalizing Content for Different Personas
22:38 Leveraging AI for Content Creation and Analysis
26:04 Scaling High-Quality Content with AI
26:42 The Future of AI in Content Creation
30:06 Conductor's Vision and Roadmap
34:28 AI in Engineering and Product Development

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Key Links:
Conductor
Connect with Seth on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:
AI Opportunity Finder
Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there?

The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point.

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action.

👉 Try it now at https://hatchworks.com/ai-opportunity-finder/