AI with Kai

About AI with Kai

AI with Kai is a quick, easy-to-follow podcast for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to understand how AI can actually help their work. In about 20 minutes each week, get the latest AI news, real-world business insights, and practical tips you can use right away with The Rundown, The Spotlight, and The Playbook. Hosted by Kai Gray.

Publisher

TSPN

Category

business · news · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Mar 2026

Latest episode

21 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Jul 2026

   NanoBanana vs ChatGPT vs Midjourney for Small Business

   Most small business owners think AI image generation requires design skill or "prompt engineering." It doesn't. This week Kai and Tim break down the three tools actually worth using right now — Google's NanoBanana (free inside Gemini), ChatGPT's GPT Image 2 (the tool formerly known as Sora), and Midjourney's new v8.1 model — plus the five-part prompt formula (subject, action, setting, composition, style) that gets you a usable image on the first try instead of the twentieth. They also cover what you actually own when you generate an AI image, why you might not be able to copyright it, and how invisible watermarks like SynthID work. Timestamps 0:00 — Cold open: ChatGPT's one tip for small business owners 1:00 — Free guide, intro, and today's topic: AI image generation 2:00 — Why this is about volume work, not replacing your designer 3:00 — 88% of businesses already use AI somewhere (McKinsey) 5:00 — How to access NanoBanana for free inside Gemini 7:00 — NanoBanana's limits, pricing, and visible watermark 8:00 — ChatGPT's GPT Image 2: a eulogy for Sora 10:00 — Midjourney v8.1 fixes its old text-rendering weakness 11:00 — Midjourney's commercial rights catch for larger companies 12:00 — Why each AI tool needs a differently written prompt 14:00 — Tim's real estate rendering story (and mom Jan Scott) 16:00 — Just let AI write the prompt for you instead 18:00 — Two ready-to-copy prompt examples from the show 20:00 — Using AI for headshots and video call backgrounds 21:00 — What you own vs. what you can copyright 22:00 — Invisible watermarks: SynthID and C2PA explained 23:00 — The Playbook: building a real thumbnail prompt live 27:00 — The results: ChatGPT vs. NanoBanana vs. Midjourney 28:00 — Wrap-up and a look at the episode's AI thumbnail What You'll Learn The three AI image tools worth using right now, and how they actually differ (NanoBanana, ChatGPT/GPT Image 2, Midjourney v8.1). How to access NanoBanana for free inside Gemini, including daily image limits and what the $19.99/month Pro tier removes. Why the same prompt doesn't work across tools — ChatGPT and NanoBanana want conversational prose, Midjourney wants structured, bullet-style parameters. The five-part prompt formula — subject, action, setting, composition, style (lighting, camera detail, color mood) — for prompts that work on the first try. Why you can just ask AI to write the prompt for you, instead of memorizing the formula yourself. Two small habits that improve results: put exact text in quotes, and list your parameters in order of importance. What commercial rights you actually have on AI-generated images — and the simple trick that restores copyright protection. How invisible watermarks (Google's SynthID, OpenAI's C2PA credentials) mark AI-generated images even when you can't see them. Tools Mentioned NanoBanana / NanoBanana 2 / NanoBanana 2 Lite — Google's image generation model, free inside the Gemini app (gemini.google.com (https://gemini.google.com)). 20 free images/day with a visible watermark; Pro is $19.99/mo for 100 images/day, no watermark. ChatGPT (GPT Image 2) — OpenAI's image generation, built into ChatGPT (chatgpt.com (https://chatgpt.com)). Formerly a standalone app called Sora, shut down and folded into ChatGPT; still the strongest at rendering text correctly. Midjourney (v8.1) — Image generation known for the most visually striking output (midjourney.com (https://midjourney.com)). No longer requires Discord to use. Note: paid plans don't include commercial rights for companies over $1M in revenue. Claude (Fable 5) — Used in this episode to translate a rough brief into a properly structured NanoBanana prompt (claude.ai (https://claude.ai)). Quote “Treat it like a sketchpad, not a printing press.” — ChatGPT, on how small business owners should approach AI image generation Get More from AI with Kai Grab the free guide, "AI Wins You Can Start This Week" (https://aiwithkai.com/#get-guide) — three sections: Get Started, Work Smarter, Think Bigger. If you found this useful, hit follow wherever you're listening — it helps the show a lot. More episodes and AI with Kai Shorts: youtube.com/@aiwithkaipodcast (https://youtube.com/@aiwithkaipodcast) Know a small business owner who should hear this? Send them our way. Questions or ideas for the show? hello@aiwithkai.com (mailto:hello@aiwithkai.com)

2. 

   14 Jul 2026

   AI for Financial Advisors: Wes Coody Saves 15+ Hours a Week

   This week on AI with Kai: Wes Coody, founder and president of C2 Wealth Strategies in Mobile, Alabama, and president of NAIFA's Alabama chapter, walks through the real AI stack running underneath a modern financial advisory practice. That's a meeting note-taker that gave the firm back 12 to 15 hours a week, a sentiment tool that scans Reddit and Google for what clients are actually worried about, a tax planning tool that turns a return into a two-page action plan, and an estate planning tool that reads a trust and builds the family tree for you. Plus: GPT-5.6 lands with government oversight, why the model you default to might be burning your usage cap for no reason, and the first-3-seconds rule that's quietly deciding which of our own YouTube Shorts take off. Timestamps • 0:00 — Cold open: "We were saving 12 to 15 hours a week" • 1:00 — Welcome, the free guide, and an AI elephant impression • 2:00 — Tim's Take: what our own Shorts data revealed • 4:00 — The Rundown: GPT-5.6 arrives, and how AI model tiers work • 8:00 — The Spotlight: Wes Coody, C2 Wealth Strategies • 20:00 — The Playbook: retiring the notepad with AI voice recorders • 23:00 — Wrap-up and where to find the show What you'll learn • Why C2 Wealth Strategies stopped sending two advisors to every meeting once their AI note-taker proved it captured more than a human ever would • How compliance actually works when a broker-dealer has to vet every AI tool before an advisor can touch it • Why tax planning that used to cost a client $4,000 to $6,000 is becoming affordable for everyday households, not just the ultra-wealthy • The three phases of every advisor-client meeting (prepare, conduct, follow-up) and where AI fits into each one • Why the first three seconds of a YouTube Short, not the title or post time, decide whether it gets distributed • What GPT-5.6's government review process signals about where frontier AI regulation is headed Tools mentioned Zocks (https://www.zocks.io/) — the AI meeting note-taker that gave Wes's team 12 to 15 hours back a week, vetted and approved by their broker-dealer, Cambridge Investment Research AdvisorListen (https://advisorlisten.com/) — scans Reddit, Bluesky, and Google daily for client sentiment around financial services Holistiplan (https://www.holistiplan.com/) — turns an uploaded tax return into a two-page tax planning summary Wealth.com (https://www.wealth.com/) — reads uploaded wills and trusts and extracts beneficiaries, grantors, and a full family tree Granola (https://www.granola.ai/) — Kai's pick for an AI meeting recorder (also mentioned: Fathom, Zoom AI Companion, Microsoft Copilot) Guest Wes Coody is founder and president of C2 Wealth Strategies (https://c2wealth.com/) in Mobile, Alabama, and president of the Alabama chapter of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors). Now in his 22nd year as a financial advisor, he built C2 Wealth Strategies alongside C2 Insurance Group, C2 Accounting and Tax, and C2 Network Holdings. Quote "No more taking notes in meetings. We could be present, we could listen. And quite frankly, it gets a lot more details than we would ever take down on a notepad." — Wes Coody, on the moment his team realized what their AI note-taker actually saved them This episode is supported by Harris Vacations — ourgulfshoresvacation.com (https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com/) Get more from AI with Kai Grab the free guide, "AI Wins You Can Start This Week," at aiwithkai.com/#get-guide (aiwithkai.com/#get-guide). New episodes weekly. Follow the show wherever you listen, and catch golf-cart-format Shorts every week on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@aiwithkaipodcast). Questions or guest ideas: hello@aiwithkai.com.

3. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Getting Started with AI: Answers Every Business Owner Needs

   What happens when real business owners start asking practical AI questions? In Episode 10, Kai and Tim open the mailbag and answer questions submitted by listeners across the Gulf Coast and beyond. This episode covers: • Where should I start with AI? • Is ChatGPT Plus worth paying for? • How do I make AI sound more like me? • Will customers know if I'm using AI? • How can I improve how AI sees my business online? • Using Claude to create professional pitch decks in minutes Along the way, Kai shares practical advice on building a voice guide, improving your company's visibility inside AI search, and using AI as a true business partner instead of just another tool. Get Our Free AI Guide Want practical AI tips you can start using today? Download our free AI Tips & Tricks Guide packed with prompts, workflows, and real-world business ideas. https://aiwithkai.com/#get-guide (https://aiwithkai.com/#get-guide) Connect with AI with Kai Website https://aiwithkai.com (https://aiwithkai.com/) YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@aiwithkaipodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@aiwithkaipodcast) Questions or future mailbag ideas? hello@aiwithkai.com (mailto:hello@aiwithkai.com) Follow AI with Kai on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with another business owner. With AI, today is the worst it's ever going to be.

4. 

   23 Jun 2026

   How a Realtor Uses AI to Win More Listings (and Get Her Evenings Back): Anne Dorman on relationships, real estate, and the human edge

   What does AI look like inside a relationship-first business? In Episode 9 of AI with Kai, Kai sits down with Anne Dorman, a Fairhope realtor and co-owner of Mobile Bay Realty — and one of the co-creators of the 100,000-member Fairhope Now Facebook group. Before real estate, Anne spent 15 years as a licensed child and family therapist. That background turns out to be exactly the right training for an industry built on trust, high stakes, and emotional decision-making. This week's conversation explores where AI helps in real estate and where the human has to stay in the room. 🔹 The Rundown: 5 AI Stories You Need to Know A new survey finds nearly 4 in 5 small business owners say AI tools are more useful than a year ago — but most feel no pressure to rush in Congress introduces the Great American AI Act, proposing one national set of AI rules instead of a patchwork of state laws Anthropic's Fable 5 — built on the restricted Mythos model — launches Tuesday and is pulled from shelves by Friday after a Commerce Department export control order KPMG pulls a major consulting report after AI fabricated citations and named companies that had nothing to do with it Customer trust in AI-heavy brands is declining — nearly doubling in one year among those who say they trust brands less when companies lean too hard on AI 🔹 The Spotlight: Anne Dorman, Mobile Bay Realty Anne co-owns Mobile Bay Realty in Fairhope with five partners and 28 agents. She came to real estate after 15 years as a licensed counselor — and says the skills transfer directly: sitting with someone in a stressful, high-stakes moment and helping them think clearly. In this conversation, Anne talks about: Why she sees AI as a tool to slow down and enjoy life, not just work faster How automating email follow-up gave her back her mornings and evenings Using AI to prioritize tasks when she hits decision fatigue Why she tells AI to use "no typical real estate verbiage" when writing property descriptions — and why that matters more than most agents realize Fair housing compliance risks in AI-generated listing copy and how to guard against them How the Fairhope Now Facebook group uses AI to surface local news — with humans still in the loop before anything posts Memorable quote: "I specifically say, use no typical verbiage that you would use in any real estate description. Because every time I open a description now, it's nestled in, tucked away." 🔹 The Playbook: Use AI as Your Pre-Meeting Research Partner Before your next meeting, don't walk in cold. Use Perplexity or ChatGPT to research whoever you're meeting with before you walk in the door Go beyond a Google search — ask AI to surface connections between you and the other person you might not have noticed Use the voice function if you're in the car Let AI suggest conversation starters based on their background, interests, or career path 🔗 Resources & Links Mobile Bay Realty: https://mobilebayrealty.com (https://mobilebayrealty.com/) Fairhope Now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FairhopeNow (https://www.facebook.com/FairhopeNow) Connect with Kai: https://motiveai.ai (https://motiveai.ai/) Connect with Tim: https://timscott.me (https://timscott.me/) Sponsored by Harris Vacations AI with Kai is sponsored by Harris Vacations. They manage vacation homes across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, helping families plan memorable Gulf Coast getaways. Plan your next stay at https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com (https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com/) About AI with Kai AI with Kai helps business leaders understand what matters in artificial intelligence through practical conversations, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways you can use right away. Hosted by Kai Gray with producer Tim Scott. Learn more at https://aiwithkai.com (https://aiwithkai.com/)

5. 

   9 Jun 2026

   How Growing Companies Use AI to Work Smarter: Wills Moore on leadership, change, and organizational effectiveness

   This week on AI with Kai, Kai sits down with Wills Moore, founder of Agilitas Consulting, to discuss how growing organizations can successfully navigate change, improve operational effectiveness, and prepare their teams for an AI-powered future. Wills shares lessons from working with business leaders across a wide range of industries, including why so many companies get stuck working in the business instead of on the business, how to identify AI champions inside your organization, and why learning agility may be one of the most valuable skills in the years ahead. In this episode: • Why growing companies often struggle to implement change • How AI can help organizations work smarter and scale more effectively • The importance of learning agility and internal AI champions • Anthropic’s new Mythos model and the debate around AI safety • New AI capabilities coming to Slack, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace • Visa’s vision for agentic commerce and AI-powered purchasing • How ChatGPT’s evolving memory systems are becoming more personalized • A practical AI Playbook for creating interactive presentations without traditional slide decks Resources & Links Connect with Wills Moore https://agilitashcc.com (https://agilitashcc.com) Connect with Kai https://motiveai.ai (https://motiveai.ai) Connect with Tim https://timscott.me (https://timscott.me) Memorable Quotes “Everybody’s maxed out. Nobody has the capacity to take on new projects or manage change.” “Working in the business instead of working on the business.” “You’ve got to identify who’s going to be your champion.” Sponsored by Harris Vacations AI with Kai is sponsored by Harris Vacations. They manage vacation homes across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, helping families plan memorable Gulf Coast getaways. Plan your next stay at https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com (https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com) About AI with Kai AI with Kai helps business leaders understand what matters in artificial intelligence through practical conversations, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways you can use right away. Hosted by Kai Gray with producer Tim Scott. Learn more at https://aiwithkai.com (https://aiwithkai.com)

6. 

   2 Jun 2026

   How AI Helps One Producer Do the Work of Many: Tim Scott on podcasting, streaming radio, and creative workflows

   This week on AI with Kai, we turn the interview around and put producer Tim Scott in the guest seat. Tim shares how he uses AI across real-world creative projects, from organizing large content libraries and producing podcasts to building social content, creating voiceovers, and launching a streaming radio station. Drawing from a career that includes national radio, Apple Music, and podcast production, Tim explains how AI has become a practical tool that helps him work faster, stay organized, and create more value for clients. The conversation also explores an important lesson for business owners: AI works best when paired with experience, creativity, and a willingness to experiment. In This Episode Tim's journey from national radio production to Apple Music and podcasting How AI helps organize large amounts of content and uncover themes Using AI to create show notes, titles, and episode packaging Turning podcast episodes into stronger LinkedIn and social media content Why you should "fight back" instead of accepting AI's first draft Using AI voiceovers for podcasts, ads, and production workflows How AI helped build Country Vibe Radio Why AI can help experienced professionals expand their capabilities Kai's Deep Research workflow for creating comprehensive reports and content Resources & Links AI with Kai: https://aiwithkai.com (https://aiwithkai.com/) Country Vibe Radio: https://countryviberadio.com (https://countryviberadio.com/) Tim Scott Productions: https://timscott.me (https://timscott.me/) Connect with Tim If you're thinking about starting a podcast, need voiceovers or audio production for social media and marketing, or want to explore a custom streaming radio station for your website or brand, connect with Tim at https://timscott.me (https://timscott.me/). Memorable Quotes "Fight back to get better content." "AI can help you turn the work you're already doing into content people actually might want to read." "It might take something from you, but I found that I gained a lot of skills I couldn't do before." "AI can help organize large libraries of information and speed up repetitive decisions." Sponsored by Harris Vacations AI with Kai is sponsored by Harris Vacations. They manage vacation homes across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, helping families plan memorable Gulf Coast getaways. Plan your next stay at https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com (https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com/). About AI with Kai AI with Kai helps business leaders understand what matters in artificial intelligence through practical conversations, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways you can use right away.

7. 

   19 May 2026

   How Malouf Furniture uses AI to work smarter: Gardner Malouf on retail, culture, and customer experience

   What happens when a third-generation furniture retailer starts building an AI operating system for their business? In Episode 6 of AI with Kai, we break down the five biggest AI stories this week and then sit down with Gardner Malouf, owner and president of Malouf Furniture & Design, to talk about how AI is reshaping customer experience, operations, communication, and retail strategy. Gardner shares how his Gulf Coast furniture company is using AI tools like Claude, ElevenLabs, AI receptionists, and custom data systems to improve both employee and customer experience without losing the human side of the business. This episode is packed with practical insight for small business owners trying to move beyond disconnected AI experiments and toward real operational transformation. The Rundown: 5 AI Stories You Need to Know Anthropic launches Claude for Small Business New research shows most SMBs are still stuck in AI experimentation OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT image generation AI-generated marketing and design tools keep improving Visita launches fully agentic AI for small business workflows The Spotlight: Gardner Malouf, Maloof Furniture & Design Gardner explains: Why employee experience comes before customer experience How COVID exposed communication problems in retail What it means to build an “AI operating system” Why most AI projects fail How they’re using ElevenLabs for voiceovers The future of AI-powered retail experiences Why he believes AI should empower employees, not replace them Learn more about Maloof Furniture & Design: Malouf Furniture & Design (https://www.malouffurniture.com) The Playbook Kai breaks down “argumentative prompting,” a practical prompting technique that helps AI challenge ideas instead of simply agreeing with you. You’ll learn: Why AI tends to be overly agreeable How to make AI argue both sides of an idea How argumentative prompting improves decision-making Better ways to validate business ideas with AI Visit AI with Kai (https://www.aiwithkai.com) for more episodes, tools, and practical AI insights for business leaders.

8. 

   5 May 2026

   How an Amazon HR Leader Is Helping Women Use AI: Marie Kline on She Leads AI and the future of work

   What does AI look like when it moves from buzzword to everyday work? In Episode 5 of AI with Kai, we break down the latest AI stories business leaders should be watching, including what happens when AI agents are given too much access, how privacy filters could protect sensitive information, and why workplace AI agents are becoming more practical for teams. Then Kai sits down with Marie Kline, a global tech HR executive at Amazon, trained Amazon Bar Raiser, founder of She Leads AI, and founder of a new AI startup called Client Intelligence. Marie shares her journey from Robertsdale, Alabama to working inside one of the world’s most important AI environments, and why she believes AI is not here to replace people, but to enhance what they can do. 🔹 The Rundown: 5 AI Stories You Need to Know A Claude-powered AI agent reportedly wipes a startup’s database and backups OpenAI releases a privacy filter model to help redact personally identifiable information ChatGPT Workspace Agents bring team-based agents closer to everyday business use ChatGPT Images 2.0 adds reasoning for more complex image creation Why AI agents need clear permissions, guardrails, and deployment hygiene 🔹 The Spotlight: Marie Kline, Amazon / She Leads AI Marie works in global tech HR at Amazon supporting ads and core AI organizations. She is also a trained Amazon Bar Raiser and the founder of She Leads AI, a Lower Alabama community helping women, moms, business owners, and busy professionals learn how to use AI in practical ways. In the conversation, Marie talks about: Her path from Robertsdale, Alabama to Amazon What an Amazon Bar Raiser does in the hiring process How AI is changing HR, hiring, onboarding, compliance, and productivity Why AI should be viewed as an enhancer, not a replacement How busy professionals can use AI tools to simplify their work and personal lives The story behind launching She Leads AI Why people who refuse to learn AI may be at a disadvantage One of the strongest takeaways: “You won’t be replaced by AI. You’ll be replaced by somebody who knows how to use AI.” 🔹 The Playbook: Map Your Data Sources Before you try to add AI to your business, you need to know where your business information actually lives. This week’s move: List every place your business stores data Include databases, spreadsheets, apps, CRMs, emails, project tools, documents, and internal systems Look for hidden or scattered sources of information Start thinking about what data AI would need in order to actually help your business Most businesses think they have one main data source. Once they start looking, they often find many more. That matters because AI is only as useful as the information it can access and understand. 🔗 Links & Resources She Leads AI Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346686614147749 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346686614147749) She Leads AI on Instagram: @sheleadsai_ AI with Kai: https://www.aiwithkai.com/ (https://www.aiwithkai.com/) 🎯 Key Takeaway AI is not just a tool for technical teams. It can help with hiring, HR, compliance, business operations, productivity, and everyday decision-making. The opportunity is not just in having access to AI. The advantage goes to the people who actually learn how to use it.

9. 

   28 Apr 2026

   How a Health & Performance Business Uses AI to Save Hours: Blake Martin on research and data cleanup

   What does AI actually look like inside a real business? In Episode 4 of AI with Kai, we break down the five biggest AI stories this week and then go beyond the headlines with Blake Martin, Director of Coaching & Performance at Telomere and Co-founder of Connexus Clinic. Blake shares how he’s using AI inside a growing healthcare business to save time, clean data, and make better decisions without adding complexity. 🔹 The Rundown: 5 AI Stories You Need to Know Microsoft rolls out “vibe working” with Copilot agent mode Google makes Gmail and Drive searchable by conversation Salesforce adds AI to all SMB plans for free Microsoft Teams flags AI bots in meetings Shopify releases an open-source AI toolkit 🔹 The Spotlight: Blake Martin (Telomere / Connexus Clinic) Blake is working at the intersection of health, performance, and data and using AI in practical ways that immediately save time. Here’s how he’s using it: Running competitor analysis across multiple websites in minutes Cleaning messy spreadsheets instantly instead of hours of manual work Supporting marketing and decision-making with AI insights Testing tools like Claude vs ChatGPT to find what works best One of the most practical takeaways: “Instead of visiting 10 different websites… I’m plugging them into Claude and it’s doing the analysis for me, saving me hours.” 🔹 The Playbook: Use Projects (Game Changer) If you’re asking AI the same thing over and over, you’re missing one of the most powerful features. This week’s move: Create a Project in ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity Load it with context, documents, and goals Let AI build memory around your work Examples: A podcast project (like this show) A business workflow Even a personal/home project Once you start using projects, AI becomes far more useful and consistent. 🔗 Links & Resources Connexus Clinic: https://www.theconnexusclinic.com/ AI with Kai: https://www.aiwithkai.com/ Connect with Blake: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-martin-64087631/ 🎯 Key Takeaway AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about removing the repetitive work that slows you down. The advantage goes to the people who actually use it.

10. 

    14 Apr 2026

    How a CPA Uses AI to Make Better Decisions Faster: Micah Wheeler on Smarter Research

    In this episode of AI with Kai, we break down the five biggest AI stories this week and then go beyond the headlines with a real-world conversation from the Gulf Coast. You’ll hear how a CPA firm is using AI to speed up research, improve decision-making, and rethink how work gets done without needing to be “technical.” If you’ve ever wondered how AI fits into industries like accounting or finance, this episode gives you a clear, practical look. 🔥 This Week’s Big 5 (AI News That Matters) Anthropic’s new model raises concerns after identifying software vulnerabilities faster than ever Slack rolls out 30+ new AI tools for paid users, including daily recaps and workflow features Visa introduces agentic commerce, preparing for AI to make purchases on behalf of users Microsoft Copilot pricing changes raise questions about ROI for businesses Google expands AI video and avatar tools inside Workspace for easier content creation 💡 Real Business Use Case: Micah Wheeler (Wilkins Miller) Kai sits down with Micah Wheeler, partner at Wilkins Miller, to talk about how AI is being used inside a modern accounting firm. Key takeaways: Moving from Google searches to AI conversations for faster research Using AI as a thinking partner, not just a tool Why organized data is becoming a major competitive advantage The importance of validating AI outputs with source information How AI is shortening the gap between question and answer Why security and data privacy are still slowing adoption 🛠️ The Playbook: Build Your Slide Deck as a Website Still using PowerPoint or Keynote? This week’s practical tip walks through a faster, more dynamic approach: Use AI to generate your presentation as a webpage Add interactive elements, transitions, and media Share it instantly with a simple link Skip the friction of traditional slide tools Try it with tools like: ChatGPT (Canvas) Claude (Artifacts) 🌊 Learn More About This Episode’s Guest Wilkins Miller 👉 https://www.wilkinsmiller.com 🔗 Links & Resources AI tools mentioned: ChatGPT Claude Perplexity Microsoft Copilot NotebookLM Learn more about the show: https://aiwithkai.com (if/when live) ⚡ Quick Takeaway You don’t need to be technical to use AI. Start by using it as a thinking partner, ask better questions, and let it help you get to answers faster.

11. 

    7 Apr 2026

    How Economic Developers Use AI to Work Smarter: Lee Johnson on Dashboards & Data

    In this episode of AI with Kai, host Kai Gray and producer Tim Scott break down the week’s most important AI stories for real business leaders — including Oracle’s major AI-driven layoffs, why many CEOs are misapplying AI according to Bain Capital, new 2026 HR compliance risks, and how AI is reshaping entry-level jobs and college majors. In the Spotlight, Lee Johnson, Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development at Baldwin EMC, shares how he’s using AI right now as a department of one to build custom dashboards, track legislation in real time, generate leads, and support smarter economic development on the Gulf Coast. Kai wraps up with a simple Playbook tactic: journal (or audio journal) your week to quickly spot where AI can remove the biggest points of friction in your work. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & intro 01:00 – The Rundown: Key AI stories for business leaders 01:30 – Oracle reallocates $8–10B via layoffs to fund AI efforts 02:45 – Bain Capital’s David Gross: Why CEOs are misapplying AI 03:45 – SHRM 2026 State of AI in HR: Compliance risks and Alabama notes 05:00 – AI reshaping campus-to-career paths: 47% of students considering major changes 07:00 – Spotlight: Lee Johnson on practical AI in economic development 19:00 – Playbook: Start a business journal this week 21:30 – Wrap-up The Rundown – Five AI Stories You Need to Know Oracle’s AI-Driven Layoffs — Oracle laid off thousands to reallocate $8–10 billion into AI infrastructure. → CNBC Report (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/oracle-layoffs-ai-spending.html) → The Next Web Coverage (https://thenextweb.com/news/oracle-layoffs-march-2026) Bain Capital on Misapplying AI — David Gross warns that treating AI like just another tool misses the real opportunity: redesigning workflows around it. → Bloomberg Interview (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-01/bain-s-gross-says-ceos-get-ai-wrong-focus-on-tech-over-strategy) SHRM State of AI in HR 2026 — 19 large U.S. states have AI laws affecting hiring; only 57% of HR pros know them. Alabama relies on existing anti-discrimination rules. → SHRM Report (https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/state-of-ai-hr-2026) AI and the Future of College Majors — A new study finds 47% of college students have considered changing majors because of AI’s impact on entry-level jobs. → Gallup/Lumina Survey (https://news.gallup.com/poll/704087/college-students-weigh-impact-majors-careers.aspx) → Inside Higher Ed Summary (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/04/02/ai-pushing-students-consider-changing-majors-data-shows) Spotlight Highlights – Lee Johnson, Baldwin EMC Lee explains how he uses AI to optimize government affairs, build real-time legislative dashboards, distill data for business recruitment, and treat AI as an extension of his team — all while navigating the growing demand for data centers and the associated power challenges on the Gulf Coast. Guest Bio & Links Lee Johnson is Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development at Baldwin EMC, Alabama’s largest electric cooperative. He brings 15+ years of experience in economic development and prior work at TVA. → Baldwin EMC Announcement (https://www.baldwinemc.com/baldwin-emc-announces-new-vice-president-of-external-affairs-and-economic-development/) → Baldwin EMC Website (https://www.baldwinemc.com/) This Week’s Playbook Journal everything you do for one week (or record quick voice memos). Highlight the annoying or time-consuming tasks, then ask an AI tool which ones it can help automate first. Tim’s tip: Voice memos + transcription keeps it easy. If this episode gave you useful ideas, consider sharing it with another business leader or economic developer on the Gulf Coast. Subscribe to AI with Kai for more practical AI insights every week at aiwithkai.com.

12. 

    2 Apr 2026

    How a Vacation Rental Company Uses AI to Save Time: Brian Harris on Reviews & Operations

    What does AI actually look like inside a real business? In this first episode of AI with Kai, we break down the five biggest AI stories this week and then go beyond the headlines with a real-world example from the Gulf Coast. You’ll hear how a vacation rental company is already using AI to save time, uncover insights, and improve operations without hiring developers or overcomplicating the process. If you’ve been wondering where to start with AI in your business, this episode is your starting point. 🔥 This Week’s Big 5 (AI News That Matters) The White House proposes a national AI regulatory framework Anthropic vs. the Pentagon and what it means for AI adoption Xero + AI integration bringing financial data into AI tools The growing push toward AI inside small business workflows A proposed pause on AI data centers and the real-world impact on energy and local communities 💡 Real Business Use Case: Harris Vacations Kai sits down with Brian Harris, CEO of Harris Vacations, to talk about how AI is being used inside a fast-moving service business. Key takeaways: Turning 6,000+ customer reviews into actionable insights Using AI as a decision support tool, not a replacement The power of a “draft zero” mindset (just try it) How leaders can introduce AI without overwhelming their team A simple example that saved 30+ minutes instantly using AI on a lease document 🛠️ The Playbook: AI Video Avatars Need to create a presentation without being on camera? This week’s practical tip walks through: Creating a digital avatar version of yourself Tools like: https://www.heygen.com/ https://www.elevenlabs.io/ 🌊 Learn More About This Episode’s Guest Harris Vacations 👉 https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com/ 🎯 Why This Podcast Exists AI is moving fast, but most business owners don’t have time to sort through the noise. This show is built to give you: The most important AI updates each week Real examples from real businesses One practical idea you can actually use 🔗 Links & Resources AI tools mentioned: https://www.heygen.com/ https://www.elevenlabs.io/ Learn more about the show: https://aiwithkai.com (if/when live) ⚡ Quick Takeaway You don’t need to learn coding. You don’t need a full strategy. You just need to start with one task and try it.

13. 

    24 Mar 2026

    AI with Kai: Practical AI for Real Businesses (Trailer)

    AI is changing how businesses operate, but it’s not always clear what actually matters. AI with Kai is built for business owners who want to cut through the noise, understand what’s worth paying attention to, and start using AI in a practical way. Each episode is built around three simple parts: The Rundown: the five biggest AI stories that impact your business The Spotlight: real conversations with business owners using AI right now The Playbook: one practical way you can start using AI this week If you’re trying to figure out where AI fits in your business, you’re in the right place

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Contact AI with Kai

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.