Mastering AI Trends and Opportunities

Ryan Haylett

Alright, so let’s kick things off by breaking down what we mean when we say "artificial intelligence" or AI. Basically, AI refers to systems or machines that mimic human intelligence, right? We're talking about tasks like decision-making, learning, and problem-solving. Now, AI falls into two big categories: narrow AI, which is sometimes called weak AI, and then there’s strong AI.

Dave Rowley

Okay, so narrow AI is kinda like what we have today—specific tools built to do one job and do it well, yeah?

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. A good example is IBM’s Deep Blue, the chess-playing computer that beat Garry Kasparov way back when. That’s narrow AI in action—focused, doesn’t multitask, but it’s brilliant at its specific task. Then we’ve got things like ChatGPT, which excels in natural language processing. It’s narrow AI, but it kinda feels broader because it can handle so many topics.

Dave Rowley

Yeah, but strong AI, or general AI—now that's the wild sci-fi stuff, right? Like sentient robots in movies, thinking and reasoning like humans. But, despite what some folks might believe, we’re nowhere near that.

Ryan Haylett

Right, still purely theoretical for now. What’s fascinating, though, is how AI works today. It merges human-like intelligence, massive datasets, and computer science to solve problems. A lot of it’s about recognizing patterns and making predictions. And we can also classify AI based on how it functions.

Dave Rowley

Oh, like Reactive Machines and Limited Memory?

Ryan Haylett

Exactly! Reactive Machines, like IBM’s Deep Blue, are pretty straightforward—they can analyze and respond in the moment but don’t store data or learn from it. Limited Memory is much more advanced. Think of Tesla’s autonomous systems—they’re constantly gathering data from the environment and then using that info to make better decisions down the road.

Dave Rowley

And that’s where the real progress is right now. Limited Memory AI is letting us do things that used to seem impossible. Like self-driving cars—that still blows my mind. But AI is doing so much more than just helping cars drive themselves.

Ryan Haylett

Totally. Take healthcare, for instance. AI is transforming imaging diagnostics. Doctors can use AI to analyze X-rays or MRIs, spotting things they might’ve missed. Better patient outcomes, faster decisions—it’s amazing. And then there’s business automation. Companies are optimizing workflows, understanding customer behavior better, and improving engagement like never before.

Dave Rowley

Okay, but let’s not forget the downsides. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Didn’t United Healthcare catch heat for using AI to deny claims that shouldn’t have been denied?

Ryan Haylett

Yes, their AI was denying claims with a 90% error rate, but one has to wonder if this was intentional as the company knew about it, and continued to use the model.

Dave Rowley

Anything for the dollar, huh?

Ryan Haylett

Anything and everything, including your CEO getting draxed.

Dave Rowley

Stuff like that shows where AI can go wrong if misused or poorly implemented. It’s definitely not without risks.

Ryan Haylett

Absolutely. Now, circling back to the positives, let’s talk about how it’s changing what we do at Modularity. We’ve developed Modularity Maker, an AI-powered website builder, and it’s a game-changer.

Dave Rowley

You can create a fully-functional website in what—five minutes?

Ryan Haylett

Five minutes! All you need is a business description, a few photos—either your own or from our stock library—a layout, and boom, you’re online. No coding, no hassle. It’s AI making the web accessible to anyone.

Dave Rowley

And that’s the point, right? AI is the future. It’s already here, and it’s not going anywhere. We’ve gotta adapt, because it’s adapt or…well, you know. AI’s role is only going to grow.

Ryan Haylett

We’ve covered a lot about what AI is and how it’s reshaping industries. So now, let’s shift gears and talk about the practical side—how can someone actually get started with using AI? It’s not as intimidating as it might seem, right?

Dave Rowley

Totally. There are some super approachable tools out there that anyone—like literally anyone—can dive into. I’m talking about stuff like ChatGPT. It’s user-friendly, no tech background needed, just type your question or task, and it gets to work.

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. ChatGPT’s been a game-changer, but it’s just the start. If you need some concept art for your next project, check out Leonardo—it’s fantastic for generating images based on descriptions. And then there are tools like Perplexity, which basically acts like an AI-enhanced search engine. I use this one daily, and has almost replaced Google search for me. Think ChatGPT, but it cites its sources.

Dave Rowley

Ooh, that sounds great for research. But wait—let’s not forget Claude. Anthropic, the developers promise a more ethical AI model, that sounds much more natural than other models. Its advanced data analysis and task automation abilities are amazing. Oh, and Deep Seek! This one has the added benefit of offering an open source version that you can host yourself.

Ryan Haylett

Right, another we've been using is Opus Clip, which can take your YouTube videos and turn them into bite-sized, shareable clips. We've been using it to take this podcast and cut it into YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

Dave Rowley

Yeah, and all these tools can really streamline your day-to-day tasks. ChatGPT is not just about answering questions—it can draft emails, write reports, even help plan your weekly schedule. Once you've become a power user give other models a shot to see what works best for you.

Ryan Haylett

Now, if someone wants to go deeper into AI, the first step is building some foundational knowledge. Basics like math—calculus, linear algebra, maybe a pinch of probability—are helpful. They underpin machine learning and data analysis.

Dave Rowley

And Python. Oh man, if you’re new to coding, Python is where it’s at. Super beginner-friendly and it’s kinda the universal language of AI right now.

Ryan Haylett

Right. And once you’ve got the basics, you can experiment with machine learning concepts. Learning how algorithms work—things like supervised learning, unsupervised learning—that’s key. And understanding data analysis is crucial since so much of AI revolves around spotting patterns in data.

Dave Rowley

That’s when it gets exciting, though. Like, you start seeing how you can use AI for predictive analytics—think business decisions, customer trend forecasting, even something as niche as inventory planning. It’s wild what some basic knowledge opens up.

Ryan Haylett

And there’s a ton of resources out there to help people get started. For example, the course “AI for Everyone” by DeepLearning.AI is a great introduction. Super accessible and not too technical. For hands-on practice, premium tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch are widely recommended, but even free libraries like NumPy are fantastic for experimentation.

Dave Rowley

Yeah, exactly. For freebie hunters, Python has this insane ecosystem of tools. So, grab something like Jupyter Notebooks—it makes running little experiments a breeze. Get in there and tinker—it’s the best way to build confidence.

Ryan Haylett

And that brings us to another must-know skill: prompt engineering.

Ryan Haylett

Whether you’re using ChatGPT or an image generator like Leonardo, crafting the right prompts is critical. It’s all about specificity—be clear, give detailed instructions, and you’ll get better results.

Dave Rowley

Precisely. Like, don’t just type “make a logo” and expect magic. Instead, say something like, “Design a minimalist logo with blue and white tones for a tech startup.” The more input, the better the output.

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. And with a bit of practice, you’d be surprised how creative you can get with prompts. Honestly, starting with these tools and approaches—it’s the easiest way to ease into AI without feeling overwhelmed.

Dave Rowley

Yeah, and before you know it, you’ll be using AI for everything—from brainstorming ideas to automating those grind-y little tasks.

Ryan Haylett

Alright, so we’ve talked about how easy it is to dive into AI and all the cool things it can do. But today, let’s get real—we’re exploring the good, the bad, and let’s be honest—the downright weird sides of AI. Let’s start with the good stuff since, let’s face it, AI is already kind of everywhere, right?

Dave Rowley

Yeah, like—it’s in our pockets, our smart homes, even in our email inboxes. My email practically breathes AI with all those smart filters. And don’t forget, apps like Spotify? AI’s what makes it nail your ‘Discover Weekly.’

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. It’s getting so embedded in daily life that we sometimes don’t even notice it. And it’s making everything faster, smarter, more…tailored? Like, take manufacturing. Optimizing production lines and predicting maintenance needs using AI—it's making production processes more streamlined and a lot more cost-effective.

Dave Rowley

Oh, totally. Or think of self-driving cars. They’re not just cool—they’re analyzing road conditions, other cars, even pedestrian behavior, all at once. It’s bananas. Safe, efficient—okay, maybe not perfect yet, though.

Ryan Haylett

Yeah, we’ll get into imperfections in a sec. But first, let’s talk productivity. Businesses are harnessing AI to automate boring, time-sucking tasks. Payroll, customer inquiries, data management—all streamlined so humans can focus on strategic stuff.

Dave Rowley

Or creative stuff! Like Modularity Maker, our AI web builder. That’s AI spinning up websites in, what, under five minutes? And anyone can use it. That wasn’t even a thing five years ago, let alone user-friendly.

Ryan Haylett

Right, it democratizes access to complex tech. Now, flip side—AI’s not all sunshine and instant websites. What about the biases? I mean, machines only know what they’re taught. Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.

Dave Rowley

Yeah, and you see that bias creeping into decisions like loan approvals or job screenings. That freaks me out. Then there’s the privacy issue. Like, how much info are these systems collecting on us without us even realizing?

Ryan Haylett

AI is out here training on everything it can scrape off the internet, and artists are getting the short end of the stick. It’s like, your work is just taken, without credit or consent, and suddenly an AI is spitting out pieces in your style.

Dave Rowley

These AI models—like DALL·E or MidJourney—are trained on massive datasets that include copyrighted artwork. And the kicker? Most of those artists never agreed to it. Their work was just scraped from the internet and fed into these systems to teach them how to create. It’s like it said, "Thanks for your years of hard work, but we’ll take it from here."

Ryan Haylett

And the worst part is, these models don’t even acknowledge the artists they learned from. No credit, no royalties—nothing. It’s like their entire creative voice is being co-opted by a machine that doesn’t even have a concept of originality.

Dave Rowley

And let’s not forget the ethical implications here. AI might not store exact copies of images, but it generates works that are heavily influenced by those original pieces. It’s not inspiration—it’s replication at scale. And when you see AI-generated art being sold commercially, it’s hard not to feel like artists are being completely cut out of the equation.

Ryan Haylett

And beyond theft we can see AI already getting away with murder. We can't overlook accountability. When United Healthcare faced those AI-related claim denials, it was basically the system deciding who lives and dies. When AI messes up, where does the buck stop?

Dave Rowley

Right? And let’s not forget job loss concerns. Like, okay, automation and AI make workflows efficient, but what happens to the people those jobs used to support?

Ryan Haylett

Honestly, I can see us getting to a point where all low skill labor jobs are replaced with automated kiosks and AI chatbots. Business only exists to drive profit, and removing labor costs from the equation does just that. I am already seeing this across a wide spectrum of industries.

Dave Rowley

Good point. But ironically, AI is also creating jobs. Data scientists, AI engineers—it’s a growing field. Projected to grow by twenty-three percent in the next decade. So, yeah, there’re challenges, but also…opportunities.

Ryan Haylett

New doors open as old ones close. It’s a double-edged sword, for sure. Still, AI’s not slowing down, and neither should we.

Dave Rowley

So the question becomes, how do we adapt, right?

Ryan Haylett

Exactly, as we were saying, AI’s impact on the job market isn’t just about automation replacing roles—it’s driving the creation of entirely new fields. Roles like data scientists and AI engineers? They’re projected to grow by twenty-three percent in the next decade. Let’s explore what that means.

Dave Rowley

Twenty-three percent? That’s huge. And those jobs—they’re not just high demand, they come with sweet paychecks. Gotta say, it’s an exciting time to be in tech.

Ryan Haylett

Absolutely. AI engineers, for example, have median salaries that hover around a hundred and thirty-six thousand USD a year. But it’s not just about tech—AI's influence goes way beyond our traditional definitions of jobs. Take retail, for instance.

Dave Rowley

Oh, personalization central. Retailers are crushing it with hyper-personalized shopping experiences, right? Like they know what you want before you even think to buy it. Kinda creepy but totally genius.

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. And then there’s logistics—think UPS. They’re using AI-powered systems to plan delivery routes. It’s saving them millions in fuel costs and, at the same time, making deliveries faster for everyone. Efficiency that benefits both sides.

Dave Rowley

Exactly. AI is opening doors across industries. From logistics to healthcare to what we do here at Modularity, it’s letting us work smarter, not harder.

Ryan Haylett

For sure. The learning curve can feel steep, but once you embrace what AI brings to the table, the potential’s pretty endless. Honestly, it’s hard not to imagine where it’ll take us in the next decade.

Dave Rowley

Speaking of limitless potential, the way AI is reshaping industries feels like just the tip of the iceberg.

Ryan Haylett

Imagine what’s next—not just these streamlined operations and tailored experiences, but entirely new ways of thinking about work and innovation.

Dave Rowley

Everything from IBM’s Deep Blue days to modern tools like Modularity Maker. AI is paving a new path for the future.

Ryan Haylett

Exactly. AI is exciting, it’s innovative, but it’s not without its challenges—whether it’s biases, privacy concerns, or even accountability when things go wrong.

Dave Rowley

Right! But it’s helping people get smarter and people more productive. AI's like your ultimate sidekick, if you use it thoughtfully, of course.

Ryan Haylett

And that’s what this episode was all about—understanding how to harness AI to work smarter, think bigger, and maybe make life just a little easier. If you’re ready to put some of this into action, head over to Modularity Maker dot com. It’s the perfect first step to getting your website online fast without blowing your budget.

Dave Rowley

If you've been putting off a website for your business because of the costs, or you thought your nephew knew how to do it, now is your time to shine. You can build a simple website to get you started.

Dave Rowley

Your website all on your own. Head on over to Modularity Maker dot com.

Ryan Haylett

And if you need to expand in the future, we are there for you as your business grows. Alright, until next time, stay curious, stay creative, and we’ll catch you in the next episode.