Up, Up, Down: The Impact of AI on Business and What to Do About It

Do you run a business? Are you wondering if all this AI stuff actually matters to you? Are you trying to figure out "the business model of AI"?

This purpose of this talk is to cut through the prevailing hype and BS to show you what the opportunity is with AI. I'll share experience of recent work with Stakwork (a US based business process outsourcing company - that pivoted heavily to AI 2 years ago), and explain the business model being pursued alongside the serious impacts coming on various service and information based businesses.

What we'll cover:

What AI actually is (not the sci-fi version) and what's changed in the last couple years and a simple model to think about this.
What are the modes of operation to use AI (Bionic Human, Human at the Edge) and how do they work.
The business model of AI.
What is the investment case and why will big money accelerate this transition
How this affects your business in practical terms
Simple ways to position your company for these changes

This talk is specifically for business owners and founders with companies up to 100 employees, especially those with teams doing repetitive information processing tasks.

Forewarned is forearmed. This isn't about making wild predictions—it's about sharing what we've actually seen being developed and giving you a clear picture of where the disruption is focused. You'll walk away knowing which parts of your business might be affected first and how to prepare.

Time: 1 hour with Q&A and networking / group discussions following

What you'll take away: A no-nonsense framework for evaluating whether AI makes sense for your specific business operations, and a roadmap for implementation if it does.

Bonus: Ticket prices are to make sure people commit and show up for numbers :) Beyond room costs anything else will be donated to Foodbank WA.

This is the first in a series of talks, with follow-up podcasts and workshops available for those who want to dig deeper.