This week on AI Lab Unfiltered, we’re replaying one of our most-listened-to episodes. Drew and Pete sit down with Alex Mead to explore some of the big conversations shaping AI right now—from AI reasoning and chain of thought to data privacy, running models locally, and the technical side of quantization. They also dig into the difference between AI automation and AI agents, how the definition of AI is evolving, and what the future might look like with AI influencers, digital companions, and new forms of communication. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about where the technology is headed and what it could mean for society.

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to AI and Guest Background
(01:29) DeepSeek: The New AI Model
(03:50) Understanding Chain of Thought and Reasoning in AI
(09:04) DeepSeek's Impact on the AI Landscape
(11:59) Concerns About Data Privacy with DeepSeek
(14:56) Running AI Models Locally and Their Accessibility
(18:14) Understanding AI Automation and Agents
(21:37) The Evolution of AI Definitions
(24:54) AI Frameworks and Their Applications
(27:57) The Future of AI Influencers
(34:39) AI Companions and Their Impact
(35:26) The Role of AI in Combating Loneliness
(38:16) Open Source vs Closed Source AI Models
(41:10) Regulation and Its Impact on AI Development
(44:51) The Future of AI: Tools and Applications
(48:09) Innovative AI Solutions in Communication

AI adoption doesn’t fail because the tools aren’t powerful—it fails because organizations don’t treat AI like a system.

Drew Veach (BizStream) and Pete Terryn (NuWave) sit down with Taryn Kutches, co-founder of Joyn Collective, to unpack what “systems thinking” actually looks like in the real world: aligning people, process, and data, mapping your current state vs. future state, and building a now/near/next roadmap that teams can follow.

They also dig into the most overlooked part of AI transformation: behavior change. From balancing “business architecture” with “behavioral architecture” to reframing AI from “efficiency” to “new value,” this conversation is a practical guide for leaders who know they need to do something with AI—but aren’t sure where to start.

Chapters
(00:00) Systems Thinking in AI: People, Process & Data
(01:36) Meet Taryn Kutches + The Joyn Collective Origin Story
(02:42) Mechanical Engineering → Why Systems Thinking Matters
(06:23) What “Systems Thinking” Actually Looks Like in Organizations
(08:39) Mapping Current State → Future State → Now/Near/Next Roadmap
(11:20) AI Is Just the Tool — Don’t Start With Implementation
(12:43) Business Architecture vs. Behavioral Architecture
(16:23) Fear, Leadership Vulnerability & AI Adoption
(21:08) “The Future Is Collective” — Why Transformation Takes Partners
(24:07) Why Behavior Change Is Harder Than Technology
(30:06) From Efficiency to New Value — Reframing AI’s Purpose
(36:00) The Future of AI: More Human Work, Not Less

What if AI isn’t about replacing people… but restoring them?

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, Drew Veach (BizStream) and Pete Terryn (NuWave) sit down with Josh Ross, founder of Scalable AI, to explore how AI is transforming real businesses — not with flashy avatars or hype, but by eliminating the soul-crushing, repetitive work that keeps talented people stuck.

From invoice anomaly detection to automating RFQ routing in manufacturing, Josh shares practical, boots-on-the-ground AI implementations that are saving companies time, increasing margins, and giving employees their strategic thinking back.

You’ll hear how:

• A $20M business owner reclaimed 8-hour workdays from manual invoice review
• AI is filtering RFQs and boosting profitability in manufacturing
• Companies are preserving “tribal knowledge” before senior employees retire
• Internal AI chatbots are becoming the “brain” of modern businesses
• Development teams are using tools like Claude and AI agents to multiply output

This isn’t about replacing jobs.
It’s about removing the robotic parts of work — so humans can do what they’re actually good at.

If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be a better way to do this,” this episode is for you.

Chapters

(00:00:07) Welcome to AI Lab Unfiltered + ThinkTank Shoutout
(00:02:00) Josh Ross and the Origin of Scalable AI
(00:03:00) The 20-Year-Old Who Told a $20M Founder “There’s a Better Way”
(00:04:30) Invoice Review Automation: AI as an Anomaly Filter
(00:08:30) Accounts Payable Automation & Human-in-the-Loop Governance
(00:14:00) “Make People Human Again” – Eliminating Robotic Work
(00:17:00) RFQ Routing in Manufacturing: Filtering for Profitability
(00:19:00) Engineering Time Is Gold: Let AI Handle the First Pass
(00:22:00) Preserving Tribal Knowledge Before It Retires
(00:23:30) The AI Brain for Your Business: Internal Chatbots & BizBot
(00:28:30) From Snowblower Manuals to AI-Powered Document Search
(00:32:00) From Custom Builds to Scalable AI SaaS
(00:35:00) How Much Code Is AI Actually Writing? (Claude, Agents & Skills)
(00:41:00) Will AI Replace Developers? Or Elevate Them?
(00:43:00) Stop Chasing Shiny AI — Solve Real Problems First