Is AI helping us think better—or quietly replacing our ability to think at all?

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, hosts Drew Veach and Pete Terryn dig into one of the most important questions leaders face today: how AI is reshaping critical thinking, decision-making, and responsibility inside organizations.

They break down why instant answers can weaken judgment, how leaders should model better thinking in an AI-driven world, and why responsibility—not technology—is the real differentiator moving forward.

This conversation is essential for founders, executives, and operators who want to use AI as leverage without outsourcing their thinking.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How AI changes the way humans think and decide
- Why critical thinking is declining—and how to rebuild it
- The leadership responsibility behind AI adoption
- When AI accelerates insight vs. when it creates risk
- How to stay human in an automated world

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to AI Lab Unfiltered
(00:41) Is AI Replacing Critical Thinking?
(03:18) The Danger of Instant Answers
(06:05) What the MIT Study Reveals About AI Use
(08:52) Responsibility vs. Blind Trust in Technology
(11:40) How Leaders Should Model Better Thinking
(14:25) When AI Helps—and When It Hurts
(17:10) Teaching Teams to Think Before Prompting
(19:55) The Human Cost of Over-Automation
(22:30) Final Takeaways for Leaders Using AI

Why do some companies move fast with AI while others stay stuck? In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, hosts Drew Veach and Pete Terryn break down why slow decision-making is becoming one of the biggest risks for modern organizations.

They discuss how AI is shifting expectations for speed, why hesitation kills innovation, and what leaders must do to keep up with rapidly changing technology. If you want to stay competitive—and avoid being outpaced by AI-powered competitors—this episode is a must-watch.

What you’ll learn:
• Why slow decisions are more dangerous than bad decisions
• How AI is changing the speed of business
• What separates adaptive teams from stagnant ones
• The mindset shifts leaders need to stay relevant
• How to evaluate risk when everything is moving faster

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to AI Lab Unfiltered
(00:48) Why Slow Decisions Are Becoming a Liability
(03:15) Business Speed vs. AI Speed
(06:40) The Leaders Who Adapt vs. Those Who Fall Behind
(09:22) Why Perfectionism Is Slowing Companies Down
(12:15) Making Faster, Smarter Decisions with AI
(15:00) Risk, Innovation, and Organizational Velocity
(17:45) The Future of Leadership in an AI-Accelerated World
(20:25) Final Takeaways: Move Faster or Get Left Behind

AI is changing how we think, decide, and lead—but are we actually getting better, or just faster? In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, hosts Drew Veach and Pete Terryn break down how AI is reshaping decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership inside modern organizations.

They explore why some teams thrive with AI while others struggle, the psychology behind relying on instant answers, and the risk of losing critical thinking in an AI-first world.

If you’re a leader, operator, or builder trying to understand how to use AI without losing human judgment, this episode is a must-watch.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to AI Lab Unfiltered
(00:42) How AI Is Changing Everyday Decision-Making
(03:10) Are We Losing Critical Thinking?
(05:55) Instant Answers vs. Understanding
(08:20) How Leaders Should Use AI Responsibly
(11:45) The Risk of Over-Reliance on Automation
(14:26) When AI Speeds You Up—but Makes You Wrong
(17:40) Teaching Teams to Think First, Type Second
(20:18) Building Better Judgment in an AI Era
(23:45) Final Thoughts: AI as a Tool, Not a Brain

AI is changing everything—from how we lead to how we create. In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, hosts Drew Veach and Pete Terryn dive into the real effects of AI on creativity, leadership, and the evolving workplace.

They unpack how leaders can adapt to rapid AI transformation, why creativity still matters more than ever, and what organizations need to do to build teams ready for the next decade of innovation.

In this episode:
• How AI is transforming creative work
• The difference between creative assistance and creative replacement
• Why leadership must evolve alongside automation
• The balance between innovation and human connection
• How to build trust and transparency in an AI-powered workplace

Honest, insightful, and unfiltered—this conversation challenges how we think about technology and humanity.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to AI Lab Unfiltered
(00:50) How AI Is Changing Creative Work
(04:10) Can AI Truly Be Creative?
(07:25) Leaders Adapting to the AI Era
(10:15) Balancing Efficiency and Authenticity
(14:05) The Human Element Behind Innovation
(17:20) Creativity vs. Automation — Finding the Middle Ground
(20:35) The Future of Leadership in an AI World
(23:40) Building Teams for an AI-Driven Future
(27:15) Why Emotional Intelligence Still Wins
(31:00) Final Reflections on AI and Creativity

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, Drew Veach (BizStream) and Pete Tarrin (New Wave) talk with Steven Lopez, Director of Manufacturing Solutions at The Right Place, about what AI really looks like in manufacturing—especially in the front office. They explore how AI can speed up quoting, clean up manual processes, integrate legacy systems, and help manufacturers see where they actually stand competitively. Steven shares how he uses AI to cut research time, run better assessments, and design dynamic tools that give leaders same-day insights—all while tackling fears around change, jobs, and “AI for the sake of AI.” Powered by ThinkTank Thought Leadership.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro: AI in the manufacturer’s front office
(00:38) How ThinkTank Thought Leadership powers this podcast
(01:33) Meet Steven Lopez & The Right Place’s mission
(02:40) Competitiveness, “ugly babies,” and gap analysis
(06:27) Where tech & AI fit in manufacturers’ reality
(08:12) Fixing the front end: quotes, ERP, and AI-enabled speed
(12:11) AI adoption across 13 counties & different types of manufacturers
(17:44) AI as collaborator, org charts, and the future of director roles
(23:28) Blank-check vision: AI-powered assessments that protect communities
(35:32) Dynamic assessments, avatars, and rethinking how we help manufacturers

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, Drew and Pete sit down with Shannon McCormick, Senior Data Scientist at Scandinavian Tobacco Group, to talk about what it really looks like to unleash AI inside your datasets and treat it like a smart coworker instead of a magic black box.

Shannon walks through how she uses transactional and customer data in a B2C environment to drive better decisions across shipping, promotions, and retention—everything from scorecards and customer profiles to advanced predictive models with millions of rows. They dig into the messy realities of the job: why 70% of her time is still spent in SQL, why “garbage in, garbage out” still rules, and why you shouldn’t wait for perfect data before you start experimenting with AI.

They also unpack the difference between LLM-powered analysis and classic machine learning, when a simple logistic regression beats building your own LLM, and how tools like Copilot and ChatGPT can extend (not replace) the skills of data scientists, marketers, and engineers. The conversation closes with a hopeful look at AI as a creator of new jobs, new businesses, and a radically lower barrier to entrepreneurship.

If you’ve ever wondered how to actually use AI with your business data—without getting lost in the hype—this episode is your playbook.

Chapters

• (00:00) Cold Open, Sponsor Shoutout & Episode Setup
• (01:35) What Does a Data Scientist Actually Do?
• (02:56) Inside B2C Data: Transactions, Shipping & Promotions
• (05:54) Predictive Marketing Models & Campaign Targeting
• (08:33) Analytics Beyond Big Tech: Meijer, Cigars & Mid-Sized Teams
• (10:42) Data Quality, Cleaning & “Tending the Data Garden”
• (13:54) Influencing Data Collection & Working with Data Engineering
• (14:58) Synthetic Data, Surveys & Learning from What You Don’t See
• (18:16) Getting Started with Data & AI (Even If You’re Not a Data Scientist)
• (21:25) LLMs vs Classic Machine Learning: Picking the Right Approach
• (25:07) AI as a Smart Coworker: Jobs, Skills & “Vibe Coding”
• (31:25) Everyday AI, Marketing Automation & New Entrepreneurs
• (43:57) Tradeoffs: Learning Deep Skills vs Letting AI Do the Work
• (46:46) Final Takeaways & Where to Find Shannon

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, Drew and Pete tackle one of the most talked-about topics in modern industry: how AI is reshaping manufacturing. From job displacement fears to the rise of “cobots,” they explore how artificial intelligence can enhance—rather than replace—human roles. The hosts share insights on balancing efficiency with humanity, creating a positive workplace culture, and preparing teams for the future of human-AI collaboration.

Chapters
(00:00) Intro and AI in Manufacturing
(01:22) Job Displacement Fears and Workforce Augmentation
(07:54) Pros and Cons of AI Adoption
(14:56) Culture, Leadership, and Employee Engagement
(21:49) The Future of Work and Human-AI Collaboration
(29:43) Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode, Doug Landman from The Right Place and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) joins to discuss how manufacturers can transition from reactive to predictive maintenance—and see immediate savings. Doug explains how even small and mid-sized manufacturers can deploy low-cost sensors, leverage real-time monitoring, and use data to anticipate failures before they happen. The conversation explores practical strategies for reducing downtime, improving efficiency, and empowering teams through upskilling and data-driven decision-making.

Chapters
(00:00) Intro and Series Kickoff
(03:20) Overview of The Right Place and MMTC
(07:10) From Perfection to Progress: Start Small
(14:20) Hands-On Learning and Data Fundamentals
(20:15) Real-Time Monitoring and Predictive Insights
(24:50) Low-Cost Retrofits: Sensors and Smart Maintenance
(30:50) AI Beyond the Production Line
(42:40) How Small Manufacturers Can Start
(50:40) Lessons from Lean and Six Sigma
(54:45) Risks, Funding, and Next Steps
(1:02:10) Closing Thoughts and Resources