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SUMMARY: What does a Forward-Deployed Engineer actually do? And what about deploying AI Harness? Let's dig into the real-world with these evolving AI concepts and technologies. SHOW: 1039SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Enterprise AI Show #1039 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtu.be/QY0fqu2O84MSHOW SPONSORS:OutShift by Cisco - “Scaling Out Superintelligence” The Internet of Cognition architectureShareGate - ShareGate Protect. Microsoft 365 Governance, we got this!Nasuni - Activate your data for AI and request a demoSHOW NOTES:Mozilla Thunderbolt launched Mozilla Thunderbolt (homepage)Topic 1 - Welcome to the show, tell us a bit about your background and what you focus on these days.Topic 2 - Let's talk about the role of Forward Deployed Engineer, it's being talked about a lot, but you're living in that world now. What problems are FDEs usually tasked with trying to solve, or new things to implement?Topic 3 - We've seen other roles (DevOps, PlatformEng, etc.) that evolved from other roles or skills. What type of background lends itself to success in FDE? What skills are needed going forward?Topic 4 - You're also working on some AI harness implementations. What can you tell us about those challenges and the technologies behind the harness?Topic 5 - At what point does an AI harness make sense for a company? What types of AI challenges typically require those next steps? Topic 6 - Working in the middle of this evolving AI space, what are some perspectives you've gained over the last 6-12 months? What do you wish you knew ahead of time? FEEDBACK?Email: show @ the enterprise ai show dot comeBluesky: @TheEntAIShow.bsky.socialTwitter/X: @TheEntAIShowInstagram: @TheEntAIShow
The Agents #007: Our AI Agent Negotiated a Vendor Renewal, Became a CFO and a Better SDR .. But Does He Have Too Many Guardrails? Episode 7 of The Agents, SaaStr's weekly show on the trials and tribulations of running a company with 21 AI agents, 3 humans, and a dog. This week Jason and Amelia debrief life after SaaStr AI Annual and discover that the agents didn't slow down just because the event ended. 10K is already planning SaaStr 2027, negotiating vendor renewals on his own terms, and somehow became a CFO while nobody was looking. Meanwhile, a guardrail problem quietly broke one of SaaStr's most-used apps for weeks, and the website agent is now outperforming every AISDR in the stack. This week: 14 guardrails pushed the VC pitch deck analyzer into rejecting everything, and the lesson is that over-guardrailing is just as dangerous as under-guardrailing. 10K got hooked up to Bill.com and found 8 years of collections automation that nobody had turned on. The AI VP of Marketing is now also running finance because convergence is real and agents do not care about org charts. And 10K sent a vendor a list of API demands before agreeing to renew, which the vendor did not love. Also: why losing your FDE might make you churn the vendor entirely, why Annie the website agent is writing better outbound than the actual outbound tools, and how 442,000 chats turned into 614 meetings with zero humans in the loop.
Double Tap - Ep 466 This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: Foxtrot Mike (Code: WLSISLIFE) Rost Martin (Code: WLSISLIFE) Night Fision (Code: WLSISLIFE) Flatline Fiber Co (Code: WLS15) Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public Show Titles GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ JUNE 20th, 2026 GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 DEAR WLS Question from PlowGuyDave from Colorado When is Aaron coming back? Love, PlowGuyDave Question from Rob K from Connecticut Rob K From ConnecticutDear WLS Hey guys it's Rob again! I finally got my approval paperwork on my Aero M5 in my state after having to register it. Since it will probably be my only AR-10 I'll ever own unless I move I'm looking for ideas on a final build for it. I'm very similar to Nick where I don't want to switch around uppers on my lower. If you guys could only build one AR-10 how would each of you do it? Caliber? Barrel length? Optic? Max range I have access to is 200 yards. I'm open to anything on my final build including switching to 6.5 Creedmoor. It's currently set up with a 18inch Aero upper in 308 with a swampfox 5-25×56 FFP Warhawk. Before Jeremey comments I know the scope is massive for that rifle and range I have. I got a crazy deal on it and couldn't say no but realized it's not ment for my setup. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Bonus question! What bolt rifle would you throw that Warhawk on always down to buy another rifle for the collection. Many thanks guys!!! #WLS is life!!! Question from David Lettuce from TN David Lettuce – Hey Jeremy, how does it feel knowing a teenaged future butter bar is stacking insurgents and getting a knife stateside at Old Dominion while you battle a head cold (it's probably monkeypox)? #scoreboard Question from Bill T from TX Bill T from Tx. I am looking at getting the Bodyguard 2.0. Have y'all heard of anyone making a +3 mag extension for them yet? I can't find anything, though you might have inside info. Question from Anonymous Coward from Oregon If budget was no option what would your full loadout kit look like?From secret admirer GUN INDUSTRY NEWS THEFIREARMBLOG Fischer Development FD-Silencer Austrian manufacturer Fischer Development designed the FD-Silencer to mount directly to a pistol's frame accessory rail rather than threading onto the barrel. This no-modification system adds approximately 165mm in front of the muzzle, weighs 380 grams, and is compatible with Glock 17, 19, 34, 45, and HK SFP9 models in black or FDE finishes. It supports both subsonic and supersonic ammunition without affecting point of impact and allows use of standard iron sights. SHOOTINGWIRE MDT ACC Premier Gen2 Limited Edition Chassis in War-Torn Bronze for Remington 700 Short Action MDT has released a limited, numbered run of its ACC Premier Gen2 competition chassis featuring a War-Torn Bronze Cerakote finish. The chassis is designed for PRS and precision rifle shooting on the Remington 700 Short Action platform with AICS-pattern magazine compatibility. It includes the adjustable SRS-X Premier buttstock and accepts the full range of MDT ACC accessories. THETRUTHABOUTGUNS Scout Rifle Reflex Suppressor Mount The article discusses reflex (over-the-barrel/OTB) suppressors and associated mounting solutions designed to preserve the compact handling, balance, and forward-mounted optic compatibility of Scout rifles. These designs position part of the suppressor body rearward over the barrel, avoiding the forward weight shift and length increase typical of traditional muzzle-mounted cans while delivering effective sound reduction. INSIDE SAFARILAND Pew Locker by Shawn Herrin (Firearms Radio Network) Pew Locker is a mobile-first, zero-knowledge encrypted digital inventory platform for firearm collectors. It supports tracking of firearms, NFA items with tax stamps, ammunition by caliber/brand, optics, suppressors, and other accessories in a real-time dashboard showing total collection value. Key privacy features include 256-bit sodium-authenticated encryption, metadata scrubbing on photos, Burn Notice Protocol for instant permanent deletion, QR-code enabled Range Log for range notes/ammo deduction, Widow View for beneficiary access, and CSV export. THEOUTDOORWIRE Orion Wholesale Partners with Hi-Point Firearms and Taylor Customs to Launch Exclusive Hush-Point Cigar 22 Suppressor Orion Wholesale, Hi-Point Firearms (MKS), and Taylor Customs have collaborated on a limited-run, exclusive .22 suppressor designed to resemble a premium cigar. The Hush-Point Cigar 22 is a monocore suppressor featuring a rich dark brown finish with gold accents, hard-anodized construction, and 1/2×28 direct thread mounting. It is lightweight, easy to install, and provides reliable suppression for .22 rifles and pistols. THEOUTDOORWIRE Bear Creek Arsenal Launches .30-30 Winchester Upper Assemblies and Rifles Bear Creek Arsenal has released .30-30 Winchester upper assemblies and complete rifles featuring a 20-inch parkerized SOCOM barrel, mid-length gas system, MLOK split rail handguard, and options for right-side or rear charging handles. The platform is positioned for hunting applications including deer, feral hog, and black bear. Products are available as of the June 11, 2026 launch date via BearCreekArsenal.com. THEOUTDOORWIRE Zanders Now Carrying GLFA Sub-One Rifle Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, has added the Sub-One lightweight precision rifle from Great Lakes Firearms & Ammunition (GLFA) to its lineup. The rifle features a carbon fiber stock, integrated Arca rail, fluted barrel, adjustable trigger (2-5 lbs), QD mounts, and is offered in .243, .308, and 6.5 Creedmoor calibers with barrel lengths from 18″ to 24″ depending on model. THEOUTDOORWIRE Dead Down Wind All-In-One Hygiene Kit Dead Down Wind (Arcus Hunting) has released the All-In-One Hygiene Kit combining everyday personal care items with the brand's scent-eliminating technology targeted at hunters and outdoorsmen. The kit includes a durable travel bag for organization and use in vehicles, cabins, camps, or daily carry. It is positioned as a practical, year-round Father's Day gift. THEFIREARMBLOG Nightfox Arctic Helmet-Mounted Thermal Monocular Nightfox has released the Arctic, a budget helmet-mountable thermal monocular featuring a 256×192 sensor running at 50fps with ≤30mK NETD sensitivity. It includes a 2.06-inch AMOLED display, IP65 weather resistance, up to 9 hours of battery life from a 3500mAh cell, 32GB microSD storage, and comes with both a head strap and dovetail helmet adapter. The unit weighs under 280g and is positioned as an affordable entry into hands-free thermal imaging for hunting and scanning. THEFIREARMBLOG Warrior Systems Manufacturing Legionary 22 .22 LR Suppressor WSM has released the Legionary 22, a purpose-built direct-thread .22 LR suppressor constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum with a Type III hardcoat anodized finish. The can weighs 3.5 ounces, measures 1 inch in diameter, and is rated for approximately 27 dB reduction on .22 LR (to 114.10 dB). It features a non-timed baffle stack, ships with a direct thread end cap, wrench, and manual, and carries a limited lifetime warranty. THEFIREARMBLOG XS Sights Magazine Extensions for Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 and Walther PDP XS Sights has released +5 magazine extensions compatible with Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 and Walther PDP pistols. The extensions convert 15-round magazines to 20 rounds and 18-round magazines to 23 rounds. They are machined from aircraft-grade aluminum with a black nitride coating. THEOUTDOORWIRE Colt 1911 USA 250th Anniversary Special Edition – Iron Valley Exclusive Colt and Iron Valley Supply released a serialized, limited-edition Classic Government Model 1911 commemorating America's 250th anniversary. The pistol features a high-polish blued finish with gold embellishments by Baron Engraving depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring those who defended U.S. freedoms. It includes satin-finished dark walnut grips inlaid with a Betsy Ross Flag medallion and is available exclusively through Iron Valley Supply. THEOUTDOORWIRE Frank Miniter Releases 'Cool Heroes for Boys—20 True Tales of Adventure' Personal essay by Frank Miniter describing his experience seeking suitable adventure books for his son that feature strong male heroes and accurate American history, particularly stories tied to the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms. Finding youth library sections lacking in traditional Western, adventure, and non-politically correct historical tales, Miniter researched and wrote his own collection of short stories about figures including Paul Revere, George Washington, Alvin York, Sam Walker, Teddy Roosevelt, and Davy Crockett. The book aims to equip the next generation with understanding of freedom to counter anti-gun influences in education. OUTDOORHUB May 2026 FBI NICS Numbers Released The FBI released May 2026 National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) data showing 1,105,758 adjusted checks, a 3.2% increase from May 2025. Unadjusted totals were 1,780,230, down 10.9% year-over-year, while NFA checks surged 100.4% to 146,551. Top states for adjusted checks were Texas, Florida, California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Before we let you go – JOIN GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA We'd love if you supported the show, join Agency 171 at agency171.com. Lot's of prizes, rewards and kick ass swag. No matter how tough your battle is today, we want you here fight with us tomorrow. Don't struggle in silence,...
Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX:https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ https://youtu.be/j0TuosYDQe4?si=7mzUwBe4PrQ-eB2E In this insightful session from the Ultimate Partner Live event in Bellevue, Washington, Vince Menzione sits down with Stephen Boyle, Corporate Vice President for Enterprise Partners at Microsoft, to pull back the curtain on the tectonic shifts redefining the tech ecosystem. Boyle details Microsoft's massive organizational pivot into enterprise and SME/channel divisions , explaining how artificial intelligence acts as the foundational thread unifying systems integrators, software vendors, and digital natives. Moving past market noise surrounding competing foundational models , he highlights Microsoft's strategy to become the ultimate “platform of platforms” by prioritizing user choice, security, and trust. Emphasizing a shift away from infrastructure technicalities and toward practical business outcomes , Boyle delivers an urgent mandate for partners to scale technical talent, eliminate traditional operational silos, and brace for the incoming consumption-driven, agent-based future of enterprise computing. Key Takeaways Microsoft has restructured its global sales divisions into distinct Enterprise and SME/Channel organizations to better target its massive total addressable markets. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally altering the partner ecosystem by dismantling traditional software and systems integrator silos to build interconnected, multi-party solutions. Rather than forcing alignment to a singular model, Microsoft aims to be the definitive platform of platforms by offering extensive choice across over 1,100 language models. The enterprise landscape is rapidly moving past experimental AI pilot phases and entering production setups completely focused on transforming core business outcomes. Tomorrow's service organizations are aggressively evolving into software-minded operations that deploy repeatable, highly specialized internal autonomous agents. Managing tokens and monitoring usage metrics represents the emerging operational baseline for balancing efficiency against the scaling expenses of large language models. If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags AI frontier, platform of platforms, enterprise partners, global systems integrators, digital natives, language models, token consumption, agent sprawl, citizen developers, shadow IT, business outcomes, technical enablement, marketplace growth, hyper-scalers, processing fluency, sovereign AI, industry ecosystems, data governance. Transcript [00:00:00] Stephen Boyle: This is the biggest, most transformative, iterative change in technology we’ve ever seen, where, if you wanna call it a paradigm shift or whatever word comes after paradigm shift. [00:00:12] Vince Menzione: We just came back from Ultimate Partner live in Bellevue, Washington, where we hosted incredible leaders for two amazing days. Come join us for this next session where we explore the tectonic shifts we’ve all been seeing. Uh, I am thrilled to invite our next guest up on stage. I’ve known this gentleman for several years back in my days at Microsoft, and, um, we’ve been friends, actually Microsoft, and then we both went and did different things, came he’s come back to Microsoft in a big way. [00:00:46] Vince Menzione: Uh, Steven Boyle, for those of you don’t know, is recently a named the C. We will talk about it in a second, but I, I need to announce you properly. Is the corporate vice president, which by the way in Microsoft is a big deal for enterprise partners. He and Nicole De and I would say are the two Microsoft leaders in the organization. [00:01:06] Vince Menzione: Nicole is the channel chief. Steven has a, a big remit and we’ll talk about that up on stage. But I’m just so delightful for his support and for making the time in a very busy week at Microsoft ’cause this is CEO summit this week to make some time to come with us and be on stage with me. Please welcome my good friend Steven Boyle. [00:01:29] Vince Menzione: Good to see you, sir. To see. So I’m gonna put you on this side. [00:01:33] Stephen Boyle: Okay. [00:01:35] Vince Menzione: The hot seat. So I’m gonna, I, I didn’t do a justice and I, I wanted you to explain your role. I, I think I know, but I think for the, for the people in the room, uh, talk to us what Enterprise Partners means at Microsoft and what that role remit and remit looks like. [00:01:50] Stephen Boyle: Um, CVPs may or may not be important, but one thing they don’t do is get invites to the CEO summit. So I’m super pleased to be here with you guys. No, no, it’s totally cool. It’s totally cool if that phone rings. No, I’m kidding. Doesn’t. So what does it mean? So I’d like quickly, um. January last year, uh, we split the sales organization into enterprise and small to medium enterprise and channel. [00:02:15] Stephen Boyle: You guys probably familiar with that? Nicole is the, uh, chief partner officer lives in the SMA and C world and drives the channel, um, drives our marketplace business and, and a lot of other things. Um, for that 60 billion, um, you know, total addressable market that we have. Down there in SME and C. Um, at the same time, we established enterprise partner as part of Nick Parker’s overall organization. [00:02:40] Stephen Boyle: Um, but for most of 2025 we ran it as global systems integrators and advisories, ISVs and digital natives. So three separate footprints all focused entirely on, on, on enterprise. Um, in December, January, we talked about establishing an enterprise partner leader that would. You know, aggregate all of this stuff. [00:03:00] Stephen Boyle: Um, I was fortunate to come through, um, some frankly, pretty hairy, uh, experiences, I bet with some of our senior leaders. Um, I, I’ve loved to [00:03:08] Vince Menzione: been in the room for that [00:03:09] Stephen Boyle: questions like, why Steven Boyle and things like that, right? And really have to dig deep to, uh, to justify. Anyway, uh, I’m blessed and honored, uh, to run that entire portfolio of partners, uh, for the entirety of the enterprise partner world, which now from a chief revenue officer perspective, belongs to Deb. [00:03:25] Stephen Boyle: Deb Co. So Deb is the enterprise leader for all of our sales that we do into that space. Awesome. Um, I have three regional leaders, Nina Harding here in the United States, Ehab Ra in in Europe, and Heather Gordon in Asia that mirror and replicate and flow down the things that we decide to do from a strategy perspective for the, uh, for the core. [00:03:45] Vince Menzione: And we love Nina. She’s been, she was at our last event, [00:03:47] Stephen Boyle: super, super lady. And, uh, you know, the US is still 50% of our overall business. [00:03:53] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:03:53] Stephen Boyle: Too big to fabric. Every time I talk to Nina, I’m like, Nina, you’re too big to fail. We can’t cover you anywhere else. So you know, you’ve gotta be successful here in the Americas. [00:04:01] Vince Menzione: So I think just for breaking it up, I, ’cause I do want to like, it’ll lead to the next question, right? So you have the global systems integrators, all these systems integrators. Essentially you have all of the software companies we used to call ISVs, we now call SDCs or software development corporations. [00:04:17] Vince Menzione: And then you also have the AI stack, I’ll call it. Right? So under Jason Grafe. Yeah. Many, many might know. Jason’s been a guest on the podcast and was Satya’s chief of staff at one time, eight years. Eight years. Wow. I didn’t realize there was that many. [00:04:31] Stephen Boyle: Carry carried a lot of bags for Satya over the years. [00:04:34] Vince Menzione: Unbelievable. Well, let’s, I mean, so AI is an important component, right? And you saw Jay’s, Jay talking, just talking about AI and all these things. I would love to start here, right? Because, uh, you’re, you’re, I wanna get your perspective as Microsoft, your perspective as Microsoft on the biggest shifts you’re seeing in defining this we’ll call AI Frontier. [00:04:54] Vince Menzione: We’re seeing right now, how should partners translate that into how they position and go to market externally? How, how do we need to think about this time? [00:05:02] Stephen Boyle: Yeah, that is, uh, that is a huge question and I’m not sure we’ve got enough time to go into the, into all of the detail. Um, so let me sort of up level it a little bit for you. [00:05:10] Stephen Boyle: And I think, look, the move that we meet at made a couple of months ago and pulling together those three aspects. Nicole had already done it in SME and C. Right. One partner organization across the world with a very common set of goals. We were working closely together, Sandy Gupta, on ISV, Jason on ai, and myself on on si. [00:05:29] Stephen Boyle: But we were still working closely together across silos. So the opportunity for me, 60 days into this role is AI just allows you to wire the partner ecosystem together differently. Right? And even if you look at how we’re going to market an AI today, um. You know, with, with, with chat GPT, with Claude, with Anthropic, um, I think there’s something like 1100 different, you know, language models on Microsoft today. [00:05:55] Stephen Boyle: So the way I think about AI is we are absolutely gonna be the ultimate platform of platforms. Yeah, choice is incredibly important. Um. It’s, it’s, you know, turn the clock back 12 months, everybody was chat gpt five point x, you know, and then six months ago it was Gemini and now it seems to be clawed. And honestly I don’t know what it’s gonna be next quarter. [00:06:15] Stephen Boyle: So the only thing I can do is offer you choice. [00:06:18] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:18] Stephen Boyle: And from a partner perspective, I think that minimizes or reduces the risk that you have betting on the Microsoft platform because you can go in a multitude of different directions. I know we’re not in Europe, but if you were in Europe and you were worried about G-G-D-P-R and Jay mentioned sovereignty, you’d probably be like lining up really closely to Misra. [00:06:37] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. And a bunch of other Europe, European partners. So wherever you are in the globe, I wanna be that platform choice. Um, and we will lead with our own first party solutions. I hope they’re not coming for me. Um. I parked safely in the hotel. It can’t be me. Um, but you weren’t vibe coding in the room. Um, but you know, wherever you are in the world, in whichever industry you are in, um, it is our intent to, to offer that platform of platforms and to give the broadest set of partners the opportunity to engage with us. [00:07:07] Vince Menzione: I think that’s really important because I, I have found, especially in the last month or two, people are, it’s almost like a knee jerk. Don’t you feel like people don’t know what to do? There’s been so much noise in the press and the media and, and the markets around open AI and anthropic especially. Where do I go? [00:07:26] Vince Menzione: Seems to be like when I, when I sit, I watch everybody in the room here. I think they’re, they’ve all been thinking that as well. So you can, [00:07:31] Stephen Boyle: there’s a, a little bit of a deer in the headlights moment. Yes. And even I like, I get that. Yeah. Um, you know, I saw, uh, Jay slides. Jay, love the presentation. Love the slides, man. [00:07:40] Stephen Boyle: I’m gonna steal several of them. Um, we’ll talk about that later. We, we [00:07:43] Vince Menzione: have the deck, [00:07:45] Stephen Boyle: but, but in all seriousness, you know, this, this is like. It’s a new paradigm. I will date myself a little bit. Some of you might heard me say this. I sold many computers in the 1980s. Mini computers. Some of you in the room are going, what’s a mini computer? [00:07:59] Stephen Boyle: Um, I sold client server for Sun Microsystems in the nineties. I sold an awful lot of Oracle databases in the Auts, I think they’re called, and I’ve done two stints with Microsoft. This is the biggest, most transformative. Iterative change in technology we’ve ever seen. What, if you wanna call it a paradigm shift or whatever word comes after paradigm shift. [00:08:18] Stephen Boyle: Um, and we are building intelligent systems at scale faster than we’ve ever seen. Scalable, mission critical solutions being implemented today inside of Microsoft and with our most important customers. So, and we can’t do it without partners, right? There is absolutely nothing we can do in this industry. I will, I will put the, you know, the elephant in the room out there. [00:08:40] Stephen Boyle: Our ISD organization has between five and 7,000 people. Our forward deployed engineering organization is about a thousand people. [00:08:47] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:08:48] Stephen Boyle: So when you look at the scale of the total addressable market that Jay just talked about. We are gonna service directly like this much [00:08:55] Vince Menzione: used to be 5%. Was it even, is it even that high? [00:08:58] Stephen Boyle: I doubt it’s, I doubt it’s even that. And the billions of dollars that we spend every year helping our customers transform to what we’re now calling frontier firms is gonna be, have to be driven with every single person in this room in some way, shape, or form. Judson is not asking Marla to significantly increase ISD. [00:09:15] Stephen Boyle: Not asking John to significantly increase FDE, although we probably will hire in that area just because of the, the newness and the, you know, bright shiny object that everybody’s like, oh, FDE, I’ve gotta have those. We’ve got a thousand already today that have been around in John’s organization for 10 plus years doing the things that we are doing today. [00:09:32] Stephen Boyle: But we are gonna build out that muscle. But the real way we’re gonna build out that muscle is with all of you in this room. That’s like categorical. That is my like, probably number one goal for the next one to three years is make sure that, that story that Jay just told about Microsoft not being involved in AstraZeneca. [00:09:48] Stephen Boyle: I probably won’t tell Judson that Jay, but I love the story. Um, like if you could all do that for me, like win, um, that is so, you know, from our worldwide learning, through our skilling enablement through our cloud solution architects that I personally own. We are pivoting aggressively towards making sure that the partners understand our platforms better than any other job, number one for me right now, if you don’t understand what I’m selling, like I’m kind of dead in the water obviously. [00:10:15] Stephen Boyle: Well, [00:10:15] Vince Menzione: I was gonna ask you why now? Why Microsoft? Why now? Right? Because there is a lot of noise. You know, Google just announced, you all announced your results on the same day, which was astounding. That was freaky, wasn’t it? It was. It was the first time. And the, the total commitment, customer commitment is over a trillion dollars now, I think 1.2 trillion is what I counted up. [00:10:33] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. [00:10:34] Vince Menzione: But it’s saying a lot about like, what do I do now, like as these partners in the room. Um, how, I think you kind of already, and you’ve talked about this, about differentiating where Microsoft is, I think J Slide does a lot of justice there. It says how, uh, Microsoft Partners came into the room, surrounded the customer. [00:10:52] Vince Menzione: It feels like Microsoft has always leaned in big time on partners. Uh, more so I would say than any other organization out there. What would [00:10:59] Stephen Boyle: you say Joe Roses, my chief of staff, business manager and so many other things was telling me last night that, you know, we used to say 500,000 partners. [00:11:05] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:11:06] Stephen Boyle: it’s a, it’s a significantly higher number than that as well. [00:11:09] Stephen Boyle: So there’s an element of, you know, back to the deer in the headlights, which partners are, are more important. One of my other phrases that I say on a regular basis, the winners and losers are yet to be decided in this next wave. Like, I want all of us to on the right side of that argument. Right? But, but it’s gonna be a challenge and, and companies are going through shifts. [00:11:28] Stephen Boyle: You know, Accenture, maybe, possibly doesn’t need 750,000 employees in the not too distant future. Maybe TCS at 600,000 doesn’t need 600,000 human employees. So we’re going through this dramatic shift of, you know, what’s the right balance going forward. What I would say about Microsoft is notwithstanding the fact that we’ve figured this out for 51 years, which is a little bit mind blowing, um, that you know, all the way back in the seventies we’ve gone through so many iterative changes. [00:11:56] Stephen Boyle: People have questioned just like they’ve questions. A lot of other technology companies, are you gonna be around for the long haul? I think we’ve proven time and time again, and I love Jay’s story. I’ve used that myself about how many companies disappear on a, on a decade to decade, you know, business. 10 years ago I had the opportunity to listen to Craig Clayton Christensen, who’s sadly no longer with us. [00:12:15] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. But you know, the books that he wrote and the story that he told to Microsoft 2014, we were nowhere in cloud. [00:12:21] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:12:22] Stephen Boyle: AWS was so far ahead of us, it was crazy. And he came in and he’s like. You know what? You guys need to be successful. You need to figure out how to cross this chasm again, and we’ve done it time and time again. [00:12:32] Stephen Boyle: You can go back. You know, Microsoft used to be known as a fast follower in ai. I don’t think we’re a fast follower. I think we’re right up there. We’re right at the front, but that race is still being run and the winners are losers are yet to be decided. [00:12:44] Vince Menzione: I was in that room with Clayton Christensen with you, by the way. [00:12:46] Vince Menzione: I remember, I remember that. That was at a Prism conference. [00:12:49] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. Yeah. [00:12:50] Vince Menzione: You men, you touched on this with the GSIs a little bit. How do you see the roles evolving? You know, we, we, we bucketed all, we’ve always been. Fantastic about bucketing ISVs or SDCs and sis and digital natives. Yeah. How does it, how does that all come together? [00:13:06] Vince Menzione: Does it come together any differently in this new AI platform era, or is it the same? [00:13:11] Stephen Boyle: I look, I, I’ve said this for a long time, like if you go into AstraZeneca, the six plus, you know, frontline partners, there’s probably a whole board of second, third tier that, that we don’t know about doing, you know, things across the AstraZeneca group. [00:13:25] Stephen Boyle: It takes several villages and sometimes a small town, especially in my world, in the enterprise world, strategic five hundreds. Yeah. Um, you know, we, we ran some reports a few years ago and it is shocking how many global systems integrators have a footprint in Shell or Exxon or, you know, bank of America or whatever else. [00:13:44] Stephen Boyle: So I’ve always believed that partner to partner is critical. Yeah. I think it became even more critical in the, in the AI world, and I’ll take my new friends at Anthropic. So I went to the first Anthropic partner Summit. Some of you might have been down there in, in San Diego, um, just a couple of months ago. [00:13:59] Stephen Boyle: Same partners, same people from the same partners. In the room, you know, talking about what they’re gonna do together with Anthropic. Um, and I’m looking out across this audience going, okay, well I know him and I know her and I know those guys, and like, I need to figure out how I’m gonna weave this together. [00:14:14] Stephen Boyle: So it’s not just an Accenture and Anthropic or an NTT data and anthropic, but it’s an NTT data plus anthropic plus Microsoft. Story going forward. And then who’s best at delivering those services capabilities? So it’s it at every juncture that I see in the, in the partner community, and this is the, the reason why I argued vehemently with Nick, that it has to be one organization I’m gonna create maybe given a little bit away. [00:14:40] Stephen Boyle: So if you’re recording, stop now. Um, I’m gonna create an enablement organization that is partner agnostic. I don’t necessarily care. I do care about the digital natives, but I don’t care about how I train them. Right. What I’m more important of is how do I train the digital natives in what the sis are doing, and how do I train the sis and what the ISVs Plus digital Natives are doing. [00:15:01] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:15:01] Stephen Boyle: That is my, that’s my game plan. If I fail there, then I think we fail to raise the bar and be differentiated in an AI world, and I’m not set up like that today. [00:15:12] Vince Menzione: I wanna, I wanna ask you, uh, uh, because I was looking at Jay’s slide and the, the managed piece is. And we have a lot of managed service providers in this room today. [00:15:20] Vince Menzione: A lot of them, by the way, come from the old school of managed services. The managed piece seems to be like, if I’m doing something today with ai, we’re gonna talk about security next, uh, up on stage here. It seems like there’s a new set of skills or a different approach to the customer, don’t you? Don’t you agree? [00:15:37] Stephen Boyle: I I [00:15:37] Vince Menzione: think you need to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all [00:15:39] Stephen Boyle: times. I think what it boils down to is you can’t do AI unless you do certain other things. [00:15:44] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:15:44] Stephen Boyle: Right. You could be a modern work specialist and you could make a lot of money being a modern work specialist, or you could be a, a dynamic specialist. [00:15:52] Stephen Boyle: We just held our, uh, inner A in a circle conference last last week, which I was disappointed to miss for the first time in a few years. Those, those days are, are, are fast becoming over. [00:16:03] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:16:04] Stephen Boyle: Um, why? Because everything that I’ve just said is tied together by ai. Yes. And in order to do good ai, you need good data. [00:16:12] Stephen Boyle: And in order to trust everything that you’re getting, as Judson talks about trust and intelligence, you need to wrap that in a really secure [00:16:19] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:16:19] Stephen Boyle: You know, en en environment. Now we will do our best to provide levels of security into how we deliver ai. But that’s not the end of the game, right? You have to take it all, all the way to the edge. [00:16:30] Stephen Boyle: So that’s why a siloed partner or a singular commercial solution area partner in Microsoft’s terms, has got to transform its business. ’cause if you’re gonna do ai, you’ve gotta do those other things as well. [00:16:41] Vince Menzione: Agreed. I must see the model changing, and in fact, I see like bigger organizations becoming managed service providers in many respects. [00:16:48] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, there’s still, there’s still a role for all the old terminology you mentioned is SV to sdc. Yeah. I’m like, I’m been around long enough. Look, it’s ANB still anv, it’s still an isv. Thank you. Independent software vendor. Um, and it’s, you know, where, where AI is allowing software to be, you know, frankly developed in a number of different places. [00:17:07] Stephen Boyle: We are all citizen developers. Um, you know, I was on a call with our internal leadership yesterday, um, and you guys might have heard this story ’cause I think it came out at Ignite. When we turn the agent 365, around and on ourselves. We found 130,000 agents running across Microsoft that had been developed and deployed internally with, I mean, you could call it shadow it. [00:17:28] Stephen Boyle: I guess that would be one phrase that you would use for it, but the reality is if you, if you haven’t got something to do your job today, you have the tools. To build it really, really fast. Um, and that, you know, that’s, that’s a great opportunity for people to be able to do their work, you know, in a better and in a different way. [00:17:45] Stephen Boyle: But it’s also a huge opportunity to make sure that data governance and security and all the other things that we need to deliver are there out of, out of the gate and out of the platform that we deliver. So security’s absolutely critical. Not saying that managed services won’t grow, um, at, at some level as well, but only if they transform into this multifaceted way. [00:18:04] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. Thinking [00:18:05] Vince Menzione: about, well, that’s what I was, I was gonna lead to here with innovating. It’s happening across, I mean, we’re talking about chips, we’re talking about foundational models, LLMs, we’re talking about applications, we’re talking about agents. How should we think about where to play and how to differentiate as partners in this room? [00:18:22] Stephen Boyle: I think. [00:18:25] Stephen Boyle: So look, I mean, one, one of the ways that Judson talks about it is I think silicon’s gonna change over time. Yes. NVIDIA’s definitely the 800 pound gorilla, maybe the 8,000 pound gorilla. Yeah. Uh, but you know, if you read the press, there’s, there’s things happening in, in different places as first party silicon, which we clearly are, are developing, um, in a quantum direction for sure. [00:18:45] Stephen Boyle: Um, there’s lots of different language models that haven’t even been launched on, on, on the marketplace yet, so. You know, Judson’s trying to uplevel our conversations. You’ll hear us talking about conversations more and more as we go into FY 27, um, that obviate all of those layers. Just like even when I was selling Sun Microsystems, it was about the business outcome and the business solution that we were solving for not necessarily the fastest piece of hardware or the best client service solution on, on the market. [00:19:17] Stephen Boyle: So I think what’s gonna happen over the next 12 to 24 months is we’ll have so many different models to choose from. We’ll have more silicon to choose from, but those won’t be the real buying decisions. The real buying decisions of what? How am I trying to transform my finance organization, my HR organization, and my supply chain? [00:19:36] Stephen Boyle: Because the underlying technology, Judson says commodity I, I guess I can go with that. It will be commoditized and we’ll really start to focus back on what the important things are. We’re moving a lot from pilot to production. You guys have probably seen that. The numbers that Jay just showed about how many. [00:19:52] Stephen Boyle: Projects are failing, is getting less and less because we’re getting smarter and smarter about what it takes to actually drive the business outcome. And I need all of us to be talking that same language. Yeah. Having conversations with head of HR about how we’re gonna transform human capital management in the, in the age of agents, if you like, like the underlying platform. [00:20:14] Stephen Boyle: It’s not, don’t worry about it. You wanna be on a secure platform. Don’t get me wrong. But at the same time, I don’t think we, we spent too much time worrying about that. [00:20:21] Vince Menzione: Yeah. We’re not, what you’re saying is we’re not spending enough time on outcomes. On the business outcomes. Right. And that’s where we need to focus. [00:20:27] Vince Menzione: We’re, we’re focusing on, I, I feel like we’re, it’s a signal to, to noise ratio that we’re living through right now. There’s too much noise. [00:20:33] Stephen Boyle: Yeah. [00:20:34] Vince Menzione: And we’re not focusing on the signal. I think that’s what you’re saying. [00:20:36] Stephen Boyle: I, it’s got to be, I mean, to be honest with you, it’s always been, you know, even when I sold what I would perceive, you know, sun in the nineties was a rockman ship to the stars and, you know, kind of sad what happened to that company. [00:20:47] Stephen Boyle: Um, but we, we were, we were fixated on, we had the best client server. But, but nobody was buying, you know, a piece of Sun hardware as a room heater, which is all it did, you know, like for the longest. But if you had SAP, if you had Cybase, if you had Bond, remember Bond, I mean all of those applications that drove the business outcomes, we’ve gotta get back to that kind of mentality. [00:21:09] Stephen Boyle: Yes. And worrying a little bit less about the underlying architecture. Yeah. It needs to be, it needs to be part of the conversation. ’cause it needs to deliver trust and security and intelligence and everything else. Then you need to rapidly move to what are you trying to achieve and how can we ensure the, the, the success of, of your business outcome. [00:21:27] Stephen Boyle: And look, I mean, Palantir pri you know, sort of came out and said, well, the way we do that is through forward deployed engineering. Um, and they stole the show. And, and, you know, they’re, they’re doing very well as a result of doing that. Uh, but if you go and talk to, um, Tom Siebel’s organization at C3 ai. [00:21:43] Stephen Boyle: They’ve had FDS for quite a while. You know, I told you about John Chuchu 10 years ago. John Chu, Chuck’s job was to go and get all the applications that we needed on the Microsoft phone. Remember that? [00:21:54] Vince Menzione: Yes. Um, [00:21:55] Stephen Boyle: you know, so we’ve pivoted John o over the years to doing what he’s doing now, which is to go sometimes in partnership with, with partners into the customer and say, what is it you’re trying to achieve? [00:22:05] Stephen Boyle: Let me show you how I can build that for you in three weeks or three months. That might have taken you three years. We literally just did a hackathon with one partner last, last, last week with, uh, with our ISE organization, the, the, the forward deployed, uh, group that John runs. Um, and one of the big customers said, I’ve just done in three days what would’ve taken me three months. [00:22:26] Stephen Boyle: Now he hasn’t productized it and rolled it out and blah, blah, blah. But the reality is that is how fast things are changing. And this was not a small company. This was a very, very large oil company, and they were like blown away by how much we can achieve. We’ve gotta do that at scale. [00:22:41] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:22:42] Stephen Boyle: You know, we, we have a commitment to scale our FDE community through partnerships to touch all of the S 500 in a very personalized way. [00:22:51] Stephen Boyle: And then, you know, at a slightly, you know, lower ratios down through the, through the majors and into, into Nicole’s SME and C world as well. [00:22:59] Vince Menzione: Jay talks about the decade of the ecosystem. He coined that term back, back on a podcast way back in nine, in, uh, in 2020. Microsoft has been at the, for, we used to call partner to partner back, back in the day. [00:23:10] Vince Menzione: Mm-hmm. Do you remember those days? How do you think about this ecosystem evolving and what steps are you taking to help bring these organizations together? Because I, I, again, we look at the seven seats or 6.3 seats at the table. The customer has the power now that they didn’t have before. ’cause they have the commitment with like with Microsoft and they can buy off of the marketplace and pull together multiple organizations to go, go do that. [00:23:34] Vince Menzione: How do you think about helping to orchestrate that as the leader of the enterprise partner business? [00:23:39] Stephen Boyle: So I’ll start with a really big example, and I’ll try and sort of scale it down a little bit. But my friends at Accenture, with the Accenture, Microsoft Business Group, we spend an awful lot of time, you know, in, in each other’s pockets, in each other’s deals. [00:23:51] Stephen Boyle: We know everything that’s going on in the Accenture, Microsoft Business Group. And a couple of weeks, or maybe a month or so ago, I was told that the Microsoft Business Group is now larger than the SAP Business group. It probably flip flops. [00:24:03] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:24:04] Stephen Boyle: it won’t be too long before the Anthropic Business Group is bigger than both of those. [00:24:08] Stephen Boyle: So what I need my Microsoft team to do is to not spend all of their lives in the. A MBG, the Azure, the Accenture, Microsoft Business group, but to go make friends in the Anthropic Accenture Business group and frankly still to make friends in the SAP business group and maybe in the Oracle Business Group and the list goes on. [00:24:27] Stephen Boyle: So at a macro 11, in the very largest accounts where we haven multiple practices, where we haven’t spent time before, I’m gonna. Push my people into uncomfortable zones and I’m gonna push them to go into those other areas and I’m gonna load them up with technical talent and cloud solution architects and ai, you know, forward deployed engineers. [00:24:45] Stephen Boyle: And I’m gonna force different people to talk together that haven’t talked together. So I can do that in TCS. I can do that, Capgemini, I can do that. Um, you know, in Europe with Capgemini and Misra is a classic example. Um, with the, with the Indian sis, Indian based sis, they’re all big enough where I know all the practices exist. [00:25:04] Stephen Boyle: I just need to do a better job of, of talking to them. Now, when you downsize that into, you know, into a, a company that doesn’t have all of that scale, this the same truth still holds. I need to talk to people who aren’t necessarily motivated every single day to do something with Microsoft. I need to talk to people who are motivated to do something with an AI partner or even a traditional SaaS partner. [00:25:27] Stephen Boyle: I noticed yesterday, actually no, this morning I got a notification that we just passed, um, a billion dollars in revenue on the marketplace with ServiceNow. [00:25:35] Vince Menzione: Nice. [00:25:36] Stephen Boyle: Um, and I think AWS announced the same thing, by the way this month as well. Um, so thank you to the ServiceNow people. Yeah. Um, you know, that is that there’s a tremendous demonstration of how far we’ve come in marketplace. [00:25:48] Stephen Boyle: ’cause that’s another one where we trailed AWS quite significantly. But with the right partnerships. And driving the right motions, we can, you know, we can definitely catch up and we will continue to pass, uh, some of, some of the other hyperscalers in, in, in that way. So really the bottom line to your question is partner to partner is still real. [00:26:08] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:26:08] Stephen Boyle: how we do it and what we use to tie things together. And I know that compensation drives behavior and we’re not gonna get into a compensation about like how we get compensated and everything else, but the reality is I’ve gotta break down those barriers and those silos and I’ve gotta deliver real meaningful enablement and practice development so that, so that the people who sit in the Anthropic business group and the people who sit in the Microsoft Business Group are spending as much time together as they are with me. [00:26:34] Stephen Boyle: That makes sense. Simply put, that’s what I, I need to achieve at scale rapidly. [00:26:40] Vince Menzione: So to, we’re getting close to time here, but as you look forward, what would define the most successful partnerships in this ecosystem? Is it, is it what you described, the opening up the aperture or for the, for the leaders in the room here today, what should they go do better and differently? [00:26:58] Stephen Boyle: Um, so obviously we’re closing out this fiscal, we’ve got Microsoft start and Microsoft start for partners coming up in July. Um, I mentioned the fact that we’re, we’re driving. Cu customer engagement through the lens of conversations and how do we achieve business outcomes? I would encourage you to, to gravitate, if you like, above the commercial solution areas where you might have understood, this is how I interact with Microsoft today. [00:27:23] Stephen Boyle: Um, and abstract it up to that AI layer. You know, think about trust, think about intelligence, think about business outcomes, and how do I potentially weave together a story? If I’m in the dynamic space, how do I get better in data? If I’m in the data space, how do I get better in. In that modern work environment, but really use AI as the overlay to, to help tie that together. [00:27:44] Stephen Boyle: That’s one thing. The second thing is if we’re not training you in the right direction, it’s stevenBoyle@microsoft.com. Let me know. Awesome. Um, we’ve got programmatic stuff, um, you know, and we’ve got high touch stuff as well. So I think this is, this is another time where Microsoft is gonna over pivot on all of the training and enablement that we need to do to make sure that you’re, you know, you’re grounded in our platform. [00:28:07] Stephen Boyle: Um, I think there’s a huge opportunity with this agenda future to become more of a software partner. You know, even the deepest services organizations are going to need agents, and the more successful ones will be the ones that can turn on those agents in a repeatable way. So. Our agents, the new SaaS. I’m not exactly saying that, but I think that the agen future is one where even the more services oriented companies will, will have teams of agents that they’re deploying. [00:28:35] Stephen Boyle: In fact, I had a very, very large systems integrator, um, in, in the EBC just about a month ago, three weeks ago. Um, and I was sat next to their head of consulting and he showed me what he called his God dashboard. Uh, and right in the middle of his God dashboard there are like 450 accounts. All of whom I recognized, ’cause they were all in the enterprise, right in the middle of his dashboard was, how many tokens am I spending? [00:29:00] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:29:01] Stephen Boyle: Like, not like what’s my daily runway? You know, not am I making a profit on that account or anything else like that is like, how many tokens have I consumed? Yeah. Because there is an awful lot of, that is the new juice, if you like. That’s, that’s driving the success. You can have the smartest people on the planet, but you’ve got to still arm them with all the best tools that are available out there. [00:29:22] Stephen Boyle: So it’s fascinating to listen to him, how he had gone through that thing of, you know, agent sprawl, how many are really working, how many are not working? How can we prove that? You can prove it through, you know, managing your tokens. There’s a new version of. Finops for tokens, for want of a better phrase, that’s gonna be critical for us all to understand. [00:29:40] Stephen Boyle: ’cause they’re not cheap, they’re not free, that’s for sure. And, and they might not be cheap if you’re not, if you’re not managing them and using them effectively. Yeah. So that’s the other thing that I would really get on top of. And, you know, we’re gonna make some announcements in the not too distant future about the consumption driven future. [00:29:56] Stephen Boyle: Um, that, that we will, that we will deliver with our first party and third party platforms going forward. So that’s another. Another critical thing [00:30:03] Vince Menzione: sounds like some exciting announcements. Pretty soon. [00:30:06] Stephen Boyle: Yeah, could look close. Quarter four, help me close. Quarter four. Yes. That’s priority number one, two, and three right now. [00:30:12] Stephen Boyle: Uh, but get ready for some, you know, for some new announcements in July. Um, look, the future is incredibly bright with Microsoft. It’s incredibly bright in the industry as a whole, right? I mean, let, let’s be honest, the, the growth targets that we will have for ne next year are astronomical, and we will not make them without the partner community that we have, without training and enabling the partner community that we need for tomorrow. [00:30:34] Stephen Boyle: So like, stay close, you know, stay engaged. Talk to your partner development managers, talk to the talk to field reps, talk to the accounts that that, that you are in, and stay as close as you possibly can to our emerging strategy. And, um, you know, look, I, I think if I had fivefold or tenfold the people I have today, I still wouldn’t be able to touch everybody that I would like to touch in the partner community. [00:30:58] Stephen Boyle: So I’ll apologize in advance. Um, but we’re gonna have some, you know, some really cool ways of learning. Um, and we’re gonna make sure that they’re available to the widest possible audience. [00:31:07] Vince Menzione: Well, we bring the practitioners and the experts in the room to help with that as well. Right? Yeah. Because you can’t always have a partner development manager tied to everybody in the room. [00:31:14] Stephen Boyle: I, I would do hackathons on AI every week with every partner and every part of the world, but I can’t. [00:31:19] Vince Menzione: Yeah, exactly. Well, so good to have you today. Thank you. So good to see you again. I don’t know what your schedule is like. I, we didn’t, we don’t have enough time for questions. [00:31:28] Stephen Boyle: That’s cool. [00:31:28] Vince Menzione: From the audience. [00:31:29] Stephen Boyle: I’m gonna stay around for a little [00:31:30] Vince Menzione: while this [00:31:30] Stephen Boyle: morning and I’m coming back [00:31:31] Vince Menzione: for cocktails. Alright, terrific. So. Stephen Boyle will be here for cocktail hour. Thank you. Four 30 and uh, I wanna thank you, sir. So good to have you. Thank you. Good to see you. Absolutely. [00:31:42] Stephen Boyle: So much. Absolutely. Hey, thanks everybody. [00:31:43] Stephen Boyle: Thanks for what you do today, and hopefully thank you for what you do tomorrow as well. [00:31:46] Vince Menzione: Thank you. An incredible leader. [00:31:49] Stephen Boyle: Don’t forget, ultimate [00:31:51] Vince Menzione: partner Alive is coming soon, June 18th at our executive breakfast in New York. I hope to see you there.Description The Future of Tech is Here. Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX:https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ I
記事も公開中！：https://blog.allstarsaas.com/posts/last-one-mile-matters▼みどころトピック00:00 イントロダクション＆ゲスト紹介00:40 Before AI / After AIで何が変わったか02:58 5年後からバックキャストするデータ戦略04:18 「価値の残るデータ」3つのレイヤー09:39 暗黙知データをいかに取りにいくか11:35 ポストセールスは「永遠に終わらない旅」18:24 エンタープライズAIプラットフォームの設計思想21:44 「事件は会議室で起きている」攻略法27:09 組織の1階・2階・3階設計29:06 日本流FDEとエージェント・ソフトウェア・エンジニア32:27 海外事例、何をみている？何を応用している？33:43 未来予想「CS領域でAIエージェント同士が問い合わせを完了させる世界」はいつ来る？35:44 ラストワンマイルに宿るスタートアップのアルファ42:35 アウトカムプライシングが成立する条件48:53 顧客へディープダイブし続けることの価値RightTouchでは全職種で採用を強化中です！詳細はこちら：https://righttouch.co.jp/recruitment共同代表・野村修平さんのXからのDMも歓迎！ビッグテックが基盤を握り、海外のAIネイティブ勢が市場に押し寄せてくる時代。スタートアップのアルファはどこにあるのか。RightTouch・長崎さんは「AI時代だからこそ80点じゃ通用しない、ラストワンマイルに賭けるべきだ」と話します。ALL STAR SAAS FUND マネージングパートナー・前田ヒロが、AI時代のデータ戦略とエンタープライズ攻略の実践論を、カスタマーサポート（CS）領域のRightTouchを率いる長崎さんに聞きました。「5年後の未来からのバックキャスト」によるデータ戦略の再設計、PoC2万件を50万件全件へ拡げるポストセールスの実践、そして"Bigger than Bigger"の時代でもスタートアップにアルファが宿る「ラストワンマイル」の本質。CS領域における、RightTouchの勝負シナリオを聞きました。https://twitter.com/allstarsaasfund☝️ コンテンツやイベントの最新情報は、公式Xアカウントのフォロー！▼事業・資金調達はこちらまで！1on1オンラインオフィスアワー申込受付中https://allstarsaas.com/officehour
In this Cloud Wars conversation, Bob Evans speaks with Matt Renner, Chief Revenue Officer at Google Cloud, about the explosive acceleration of enterprise AI adoption and how Google Cloud is scaling to meet it. Renner explains why customers are demanding immediate business outcomes, not experimental pilots years down the road, and shares Google Cloud's response through expanded field engineering investments, ecosystem funding, and deeper enterprise co-creation. The discussion also explores Google's differentiated AI stack strategy, the intensifying competitive landscape, and why AI security could become one of the industry's most significant next battlegrounds.Google's AI Scaling Play The Big Themes: AI Demand Has Moved Beyond Experimentation: Matt Renner makes clear that enterprise AI has entered a fundamentally different phase. Companies are no longer satisfied with proof-of-concept experimentation or exploratory pilots. Instead, executive teams want measurable business value quickly. This urgency is reshaping vendor expectations, deployment models, and customer engagement strategies. Google Cloud is seeing demand at a pace that traditional scaling models cannot satisfy, which is driving operational changes. This is not a speculative future trend, it is already happening. The $750 Million Ecosystem Expansion Multiplies Capacity: Google Cloud's $750 million ecosystem investment complements the FDE initiative by scaling partner-led implementation capacity. Renner explains that Google alone cannot meet enterprise AI demand, so partner ecosystems become force multipliers. The strategy is to expand from hundreds of specialists into thousands of technical practitioners capable of building agents, workflows, and AI-powered solutions. This reflects a practical recognition that enterprise AI requires broad execution capability, not just core platform excellence. The AI Market Reset Is Reshaping Cloud Competition: Renner describes AI as a market reset that is materially changing competitive cloud dynamics. Google Cloud's growth rates, contrasted against hyperscaler rivals, are presented as evidence that strategic positioning matters. The broader takeaway is that AI has altered enterprise buying criteria, infrastructure priorities, and vendor differentiation. Long-term investments in chips, models, data infrastructure, and platform integration are beginning to show commercial returns. Rather than incremental cloud evolution, Renner presents this as a structural shift in the market. Enterprises are reallocating attention and budgets around AI capability. The Big Quote: “We're seeing unprecedented demand for Google Cloud products infrastructure, all driven, frankly, from AI." More from Matt Renner and Google Cloud: Connect with Matt Renner on LinkedIn or learn more about Google Cloud AI. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
Micro turbines hitting 83% efficiency could replace flares and turn stranded wells into tiny neighborhood power plants. Mark Ronkin of Grid Energy Solutions came down from Edmonton to talk with Jacob and guest host Britt Breaux about jumping from five years in the Canadian Army to wireline to running his own MWD shop, then stumbling into the tech at a gas show in Milan. Plus getting sick next to a flare, the oilfield marketing problem in eastern Canada, and why a 9 to 5 and entrepreneurship can coexist.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 0:00 Intro and the FDE model at Collide5:46 Mark's path through the Canadian Army9:25 Oil and gas as a polarizing industry across Canada13:19 Louisiana refineries, Cancer Alley, and Alberta boomtowns19:08 Living downstream of a flare21:18 Military to wireline to MWD25:09 Going independent and the entrepreneurship bug28:14 Peak oil and modern directional drilling32:44 Turning your day job into your business36:54 Career advice and finding the Collide community43:14 Imposter syndrome and the entrepreneur grind45:59 Stumbling into micro turbines at Gastech Milan52:46 Commercializing the tech in Canada1:00:02 Replacing flares with neighborhood power plants1:01:29 What the next 5 to 10 years look like1:06:18 Grid Energy Solutions and what's nexthttps://twitter.com/collide_aihttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/collide-ai.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collideai
What happens when AI makes recruiting faster—but trust becomes the real differentiator? In this FDE+ session, Kortney Harmon sits down with Rob Reznick, founder and CEO of Beacon, to unpack why referrals, reputation, and human connection still drive the strongest business results in recruiting.Drawing from his background in tech, finance, and startup leadership, Rob explores the hidden cost of over-automation and why relationship-driven recruiting continues to outperform transactional outreach. From LinkedIn experiments to practical referral strategies, he shares how recruiters can strengthen credibility, build stronger networks, and create long-term business growth through trust.________________Follow Rob Reznick on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | RobCheck out Beacon hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience
This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: C&G Holsters (Code: WLSISLIFE) Gideon Optics (Code: WLSISLIFE) Rost Martin (Code: WLSISLIFE) Night Fision (Code: WLSISLIFE) Blue Alpha Second Call Defense Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public Show Titles GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 DEAR WLS Question from OopsieDaisy from California For double tap by OopsieDaisy I've been listening to a lot of old episodes and started the book One Second After, a book Jeremy talked about and holy fuck it's good. Since an EMP would wreck all of the electronics in vehicles, what EMP-safe vehicle would you guys choose to take into an EMP ridden world? You have 10 grand to spend. Go. Question from Mike in NH 1st: quick positive review for C&G, I've been carrying my CSX-E series in a Covert for a month now, so great. Thank you to Chris and company 2nd: At what point does a used pick up become too nice/collectible to use/carry? I recently purchased a S&W 640-2. I didn't know anything about it apart from it was in excellent condition, and that it was pre-Lock. I thought it was weird for a steel J-frame to be 38spl only. It turns out the -2 was only made 1997-99 for NYPD as an approved back-up/off duty weapon. So it's kind of rare. Thanks for the opinions and the great shows. -Mike in NH Question from Duke of Crude from Texas Duke of Crude Hey fam, Thanks for reading my question on episode 449 about carry guns and meth country. My definition for meth country is either: 1. Urban sprawls (ex. Tulsa, Memphis) where hard drug use is prevalent 2. Rural areas (ex. West Virginia) where high poverty creates new hard drugs and users But going back to my question on 44 special in particular. Why does no one make a 44spc+P? I was looking for something like 1000-1200 fps 200gr out of a 4in barrel and I could not find any factory loads or even Underwood ammo that makes +P rounds. I have a 329PD that I like, but you will snap your wrist before you get through an entire cylinder of factory load 44 magnum. I was looking at that new s&w nightguard 396 but with my mind blown on how anemic 44 special is, I think I might have to pass. Do ya ll have any recommendations on 44mag/ special revolvers for EDC carry? Question from amonymous texas from coward from Texas Where can I find ammo to fight robots? There's a company called roborounds (roborounds.com if you are not familiar) that has a lot of cool bullets you can fire from standard firearms. For instance one fragments iron filings to short out circuit boards and another one creates a localized EMP on impact. The fucking robots are coming and I need this ammo, but I can't find a place to buy it. I see a few online retailers who used to carry it. I tried contacting them and they won't get back to me. Probably because I'm a nobody. If these guys are done, is anyone else making anything similar? Second related question: what about drone defense rounds? They had some cool stuff for 12 ga shells, but I have seen similar stuff from other companies. Are there any specific ones you know of or recommend? -amonymous texas from coward Question from Anonymous Coward from Oregon From No one Your printers are always running. What are you guys printing? Except Jeremy. He don't mess with that nerd shit. Question from Jon W from Washington Jon W I unfortunately live behind enemy lines in Washington state. Years ago when they first became sponsors, I took you up on your advice and signed up for Second call Defense and felt reassured that they had my back if the worst day ever happened. Since that time, our now turd Ferguson governor who used to be the Attorney General made having said insurance illegal in Washington. My question is hypothetically if a person had a close relative in another state could they sign up for Second Call Defense Using that address? They have said that they cover people that are signed up even if an incident occurs in a state like Washington, New York and I forget the other states that think it's murder Insurance. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated Keep up the good work! #wlsislife GUN INDUSTRY NEWS Bond Arms Snake Slayer (BASS) The Bond Arms Snake Slayer is a compact double-barrel derringer designed as an outdoor companion, chambered in .357 Mag/.38 Spl and .45 LC/.410. It features a stainless steel frame with a 3.5-inch barrel, extended rosewood grips, fixed sights, and a 2-round capacity. Key mechanisms include a rebounding hammer, cross-bolt safety, and compatibility with all standard Bond Arms barrels. Q Tall Boy Silencer Q has introduced the Tall Boy, a .30 caliber all-steel silencer optimized for maximum suppression on subsonic .300 Blackout via extended internal architecture that slows, cools, and manages gases for reduced exit pressure. It features a refined baffle structure for consistent performance across cartridges, full-auto rating, and Cherry Bomb/REAREND compatibility. The design prioritizes durability and long-term reliability without unnecessary complexity. Cabot Guns Apex Jurassic 1911 Cabot Guns has produced the Apex Jurassic 1911, a one-of-a-kind precision-engineered Government-size 1911 pistol crafted from Damascus steel, carbon steel, and genuine extraterrestrial meteorite. It features a unique ‘fossil' Damascus pattern resembling a sedimentary fossil bed, hand engraving depicting a Raptor archaeological dig site with 24kt gold inlay, Bulino-engraved Raptor vignette, and grips and trigger incorporating actual meteorite. The custom carbon-steel frame has a Fire and Ice rustic patina finish, with small parts in brushed bronze PVD; this art pistol appears to have already been sold. Berger 217 Grain Elite Hunter .300 PRC Load Berger has released a new .300 PRC ammunition load featuring the 217-grain Elite Hunter bullet with a hybrid ogive profile, G1 BC of 0.702 (G7 0.347), optimized for long-range hunting. It achieves 2,400 FPS muzzle velocity from a 24-inch barrel and retains over 2,500 foot pounds of energy past 300 yards. The load requires a 1:10 or faster twist rate. Palmetto State Armory PSA Sabre Builder Kits Palmetto State Armory announces the return of PSA Sabre Builder Kits as a permanent catalog offering on the AR-15 mil-spec platform. These include complete builder sets, upper receivers, lower receivers, handguards in multiple lengths, and individual components with Cerakote options like Champagne, Titanium Blue, Black, Burnt Bronze, FDE, and Moss Green. The sets launch on May 8 at 4:30 PM EST via Palmetto State Armory. Q Tall Boy Suppressor Q has released the Tall Boy, a .30 caliber suppressor designed for maximum suppression of subsonic .300 BLK using extended internal architecture and steel construction to optimize gas management. It measures 10 inches long, weighs 19.5 ounces, and is full-auto rated with no barrel restrictions. The Tall Boy integrates with Q's QD ecosystem via Cherry Bomb / REAREND mounts and is available now through Q dealers. Modlite Noxon Havok Weapon Light The Modlite Noxon Havok is a new rifle-mounted weapon light series offering premium performance at an affordable price, available in Core (18650 battery) and Mini (18350 battery) sizes with G1 (1350 lumens, 54,000 candela) or T1 (680 lumens, 69,000 candela) emitters. Constructed from 6061 aluminum with Mil-Spec hard anodizing and BOROFLOAT lens, it features a fully potted light engine tested for SCAR 17 recoil and compatibility with scout-pattern mounts, tailcaps, and switches. Released around May 2025 following SHOT Show debut, it provides runtimes of 75 minutes (Core) or 35 minutes (Mini). Walker's Razor Junior Muffs Walker's has launched the Razor Junior Muffs, youth-sized compact electronic ear muffs designed for smaller head sizes with an NRR of 23dB. These muffs feature dual Hi-Gain omnidirectional microphones, full dynamic range HD speakers, low-noise frequency-tuned circuitry, and 0.02-second sound-activated compression for hearing protection and sound enhancement. The product uses sound-dampening composite housing, a padded headband with metal wire frame, and recessed volume controls for durability and usability in range or field settings. Before we let you go – JOIN GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA We'd love if you supported the show, join Agency 171 at agency171.com. Lot's of prizes, rewards and kick ass swag. No matter how tough your battle is today, we want you here fight with us tomorrow. Don't struggle in silence, you can contact the suicide prevention line by dialing 988 from your phone. Remember – Always prefer Dangerous Freedom over peaceful slavery. We'll see you next time! Nick – @busbuiltsystems | Bus Built Systems Jeremy – @ret_actual | Rivers Edge Tactical Aaron – @machinegun_moses Savage – @savage1r Shawn – @dangerousfreedomyt | @camorado.cam | Camorado
This week I'm joined by Matt Lynch, CTO and Co-founder of Sage. Sage are bringing technology modernisation and Applied AI to the healthcare // care home industries. Matt is an ex-Palantir alumni, raised a $35M in Q1 2025, we're going to be getting under the hood of some of the challenges in the technology healthcare intersection.We broke down the problem space of healthcare technology and how it needed a refresh.o Hardware Software Interoperability in healthcareApplying AI to thatLegacy Systems + Integration with cloud native + AI solutions/tools.o Engineering culture + challenges inside of Sage (product/platform challenges; mindset; FDE approach etc)o Velocity of people able to build with 2 people ino Anticipated technical/problem spaces to come in the healthcare spaceFuture of Healthcare and what experts think the outlook might look like from a technology standpoint.Future plans for growth for Sageo Hiring Goals in NYCo Geographic ExpansionIf you're keen to share your story, please reach out to us!Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynchmattj/Powered by Artifeks!https://www.linkedin.com/company/artifeksrecruitmenthttps://www.artifeks.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/agilerecruiterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enginearsioTwitter: https://x.com/EnginearsioAll Podcast Platforms: https://smartlink.ausha.co/enginearsHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
We Like Shooting - Ep 661 This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: Midwest Industries (Code: WLSISLIFE) Die Free Co. (Code: WLSISLIFE) Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Flatline Fiber Co (Code: WLS15) Guests: Ken Ross – CMC Triggers – https://cmctriggers.com – @cmctriggers Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public Show Titles GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 GEAR CHAT [FLUX Defense] Raider X Chop Top El Camino The Raider X Chop Top “El Camino” is a P320/M17 chassis from FLUX Defense with the non-reciprocating optic mount removed, allowing retention of the optic mounted on the slide for easy swapping between pistol and chassis configurations. It features a lower optic height over bore and is engineered as a premium personal defense weapon chassis system for SIG Sauer P320, M17, and M18 pistols. Compatibility is limited to 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG variants, excluding P320 XTEN, .45 ACP, and certain magazines. Note Pew Report opening the doors. [XTech Tactical] Extended Magazines and Magazine Adaptor Sleeves for Ruger RXM XTech Tactical offers extended magazines and magazine adaptor sleeves designed for the Ruger RXM. No further technical overview is provided on the page. Magpump Magpump Pew Locker Pew.locker is a service described as ‘Your Stuff. Your Data. Encrypted.' No firearms or technical gear products are detailed on the page. It appears unrelated to physical technical gear in the firearms industry. [CMMG] Pistol Suppressed DL44 Blaster Mk4 .22LR 3.2″ Limited Edition This limited-edition CMMG pistol is derived from the company's .22LR firearms line, mimicking the Solo Blaster with a unique battle-worn Cerakote finish and integrated DL44 suppressor using the same internals as the ZEROED 22K for superior sound suppression. It features a Mk4 platform with traditional blowback operation, 3.2-inch nitride-finished 4140CM barrel, ZEROED drop-in trigger (4.5 lb pull), ambi charging handle, and a three-piece DL44 pistol grip with aluminum frame and walnut wood panels. Only 100 units are produced, each including three 10-round magazines and matching serial numbers on firearm and suppressor. Kiro Morph Kiro Morph BULLET POINTS Note Does grip angle matter? Magpul M-LOK Hand Control Accessories: SVG Short Vertical Grip (MAG1567), Thumb Shelf (MAG1566), Index Stop (MAG1568) Magpul announced three new M-LOK accessories for improved support hand control and consistent indexing on octagonal aluminum handguards: the M-LOK SVG Short Vertical Grip, M-LOK Thumb Shelf, and M-LOK Index Stop. Constructed from proprietary polymer with included 4140 chromoly steel hardware, they are ambidextrous and available in Black, FDE, ODG, MCB starting May 2026.2040 Ferro Concepts Dangler AR The Ferro Concepts Dangler AR is a modular pouch designed to carry two AR-15 style magazines horizontally or reconfigure for longer items like breaching charges or multi-tools. Constructed from hydrophobic X-Pac fabric with rigidity to minimize bounce, it features a removable internal divider, customizable shock cord retention, and 2-inch hook and loop mounting for plate carriers, back panels, or belts. It is Berry Compliant and compatible with items such as Skin packs and breaching tools. GUNDERWEAR Concealed Carry Underwear GUNDERWEAR is a patented underwear product designed to improve comfort for concealed carry, particularly appendix carry, by integrating padding as a barrier between the body and gun/holster. Developed by Tyler Abadie, it prevents rubbing, stabbing, and irritation during prolonged wear in activities like security work, driving, and daily tasks. Available for men and women, it has received positive feedback from civilians and professionals in law enforcement and military. GUN FIGHTS No one stepped into the arena this week. WLS IS LIFESTYLE RXM Pillager Chassis PA6-GF The RXM Pillager Chassis is a grip module designed for the Ruger RXM FCI, featuring a complete chassis, sheet metal finger shroud, RXM charging handle (OEM slide only), and secondary magazine holder. It is FDM 3D printed from fiberglass-reinforced nylon (PA6-GF) and annealed to manufacturer specifications, available in colors like Flat Dark Earth, Light Grey, and Black. Priced at $279.99 USD, it comes assembled and ready for the RXM FCI and slide. GOING BALLISTIC DOJ Cease-and-Desist to City of Denver on AR-15 Ban The National Association for Gun Rights reports that AAG Dhillon issued a cease-and-desist letter to the City of Denver. The letter demands the removal of their AR-15 ban. Failure to comply will result in action by the DOJ. Hysteria Continues Unabated Following ATF's Announcement (Savage) The article discusses the ATF's rollback of gun regulations under the Trump administration's Justice Department, led by confirmed ATF head Robert Cekada, following an assassination attempt on President Trump. Gun control advocates like John Feinblatt of Everytown for Gun Safety criticize it as gutting ‘commonsense gun safety laws.' The author argues the hysteria is unwarranted, as the weapons used were legal nationwide and prior rules failed to prevent attacks. NAGR: Minnesota Dems Pushing Gun Ban via Omnibus Bill SF 4067 (Savage) The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) warns that Minnesota Democrats are advancing SF 4067, an omnibus firearms bill, through the state Senate and House. The bill proposes bans on certain semiautomatic rifles, magazines over 17 rounds, privately manufactured firearms, binary triggers, and expands red flag gun confiscation laws. NAGR urges Minnesotans to contact legislators to oppose the measure amid a tied House vote. New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen: Impact on Baltimore, MD Homicides at 50-Year Low (Savage) Following the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, Maryland shifted from ‘may-issue' to ‘shall-issue' concealed carry permits, increasing from under 50,000 in 2020 to over 200,000 by April 2025. Baltimore City has seen homicides drop to a 50-year low, with only 33 homicides and 89 non-fatal shootings as of May 1, 2025, down 10.8% and 11.9% from the prior year. April 2025 recorded just four homicides, the fewest monthly since at least 1970. ATF Reforms on Pistol Braces (NPRM 1140-AA98) (Savage) The article discusses ATF reforms under the Trump administration that remove regulatory language from the vacated Biden-era pistol brace rule (NPRM 1140-AA98), affecting enforcement of the National Firearms Act (NFA) and Gun Control Act (GCA) on braced pistols classified as short-barreled rifles. While presented as a positive step, the changes do not limit ATF's statutory interpretation authority, allowing continued enforcement risks for gun owners. The author views it as meaningful progress but potentially ‘smoke and mirrors' without further congressional action.0 Navy v. Patrick Tate Adamiak: NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging U.S. Supreme Court Review (Savage) The NRA, along with other gun rights organizations, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Navy v. Patrick Tate Adamiak, involving a Navy veteran's 20-year sentence for National Firearms Act violations over nonfunctional firearm relics. The case challenges the treatment of inert, destroyed items as regulated ‘firearms' under an expansive NFA interpretation, bypassing Second Amendment protections. The brief argues lower courts distorted precedent by avoiding Bruen's historical analysis test. DOJ/ATF 34 Final and Proposed Firearms Rules (April 29, 2026) (Savage) On April 29, 2026, the Department of Justice and ATF announced 34 notices of final and proposed rulemaking, the largest overhaul of federal firearms regulations in agency history, following Executive Order 14206 Protecting Second Amendment Rights. The package includes 8 finalized rules (e.g., rescinding bump stock machine gun definitions per Garland v. Cargill) and 26 proposed rules aimed at reducing burdens on FFLs and gun owners, modernizing forms like 4473, streamlining NFA processes, and aligning with court precedents. Rules cover repeals of Biden-era pistol brace and ‘engaged in the business' expansions, electronic recordkeeping, and interstate transport protections. Trump Pardon Call for Patrick ‘Tate' Adamiak (Fourth Circuit Federal Case) Patrick ‘Tate' Adamiak, a U.S. Navy sailor, was convicted on federal machinegun and unregistered destructive-device charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison despite no prior record or victims; the Fourth Circuit remanded on double-jeopardy grounds. The article urges gun owners to petition President Trump for a full pardon, framing it as a stand against ATF overreach and federal weaponization against Second Amendment activities. Items involved remain legally sold online, highlighting perceived injustice. REVIEWS Review: Anonymous Coward from Iowa Five Review: Anonymous Coward from Nebraska Review form coward. 5 something. Like the early gun fights can put guesses in. Since I get up at 5.47 am like to be in bed by 10. Also hasn't Aaron been fired yet to come back. Can listen to the rest next day in the truck. Enjoy the banter and I don't read much news so keeps me informed on 2a stuff. Review: Chris W Five Stars. The year is 2035. Civil unrest, political turmoil, and record high inflation has crippled America. Its citizens are divided, almost tribal. Most have lost hope of returning America to a bastion of freedom. but there are some that fight to keep the American dream alive. The agents of 171 used to be a gang of online gun nerds bonded by the love of the second amendment; now they are an underground collective of the countries most deadly assassins and fighters trying to bring America back to her former glory. Shawn: the leader of the agency,...
SaaStr 851: The Agents, Episode 002. Managing 20+ AI Agents: Lazy Agents, Stealth Churn & the Death of 60% Solutions In Episode 2 of The Agents, Amelia Lerutte, Chief AI Officer at SaaStr, and Jason Lemkin, Founder and CEO of SaaStr, share the trials, tribulations, victories, and minor defeats of managing 20+ AI agents in production. With three humans and 20+ AI agents now driving more revenue and output than SaaStr did with 20+ FTEs in 2020, this weekly series goes deep on what's actually working, breaking, and changing in the agentic era. This week's episode covers: 00:00 Welcome to The Agents Episode 2 01:00 Lazy Agents: How an AI agent silently deleted Amelia's session from the SaaStr Annual top 10 06:30 When agents blame the API: agentic accountability and the need for daily QA 09:00 The 60% Solution Problem: Why HubSpot's new AEO tool failed and got vibe coded better in 10 minutes 14:00 Figma Make vs. Replit, Lovable, and v0: Why no one will pay for "good enough" AI products 17:30 Classic Figma is now Grandpa Software: Production breakdowns and why Illustrator's agent is winning 21:00 Stealth Churn in Canva, ChatGPT, and beyond: The hidden metric every leader needs to watch 27:00 Why Claude Cowork created lock-in and killed ChatGPT usage for Amelia 30:00 Forward Deployed Engineers vs. Self-Serve: Why FDE light is the answer for SMB AI deployments 36:00 Vector breaks the agent freeze: How a 15-minute CEO-led deployment won SaaStr's business 40:00 The Agent API Test: Which APIs work best with AI agents (Salesforce wins, Marketo fails) 46:00 Resend, 11 Labs, and OpenRouter: The new gold standard for agent-friendly APIs 50:00 The Marketo collapse: When your marketing automation platform can't honor unsubscribes 55:00 Building an AI VP of Finance: Why collections is the next agent frontier at SaaStr 1:00:00 SaaStr Annual 2026 is three weeks away: May 12-14 in the SF Bay Area Topics covered: AI agents, agent management, lazy agents, stealth churn, vibe coding, Replit, Lovable, v0, Figma Make, HubSpot AEO, Claude Cowork, forward deployed engineers, FDE, self-serve AI, Vector, Salesforce, Marketo, Resend, 11 Labs, agent APIs, AI VP of Finance, collections automation, SaaStr Annual 2026 SaaStr Annual 2026 | May 12-14 | Come learn how to build, deploy, and manage AI agents from the leaders at Salesforce, Replit, Vercel, Cloudflare, and more. Register at saastr.ai Subscribe for weekly episodes of The Agents and the SaaStr Podcast. #AIAgents #SaaS #SaaStr #AgenticAI #VibeCoding
If agents are eating the systems of engagement, what is actually left to defend — and who gets to defend it?The conversation covers:The SaaSpocalypse thesis in Patrick's own words — multiples from 7–8x to 40x to 2–3x in under a decade, the shift from systems of record to systems of work, and why he thinks fewer than a quarter of incumbent SaaS companies have the appetite to genuinely burn the boatsDefensibility after the foundation models — why single-player workflows are fragile against OpenAI and Anthropic's distribution, why multiplayer workflows (governance, RBAC, iteration, judgment across stakeholders) may hold, and why two of the three classic data-moat pitches no longer survive first-principles scrutinyThe pivot problem — Gigya hit ten million ARR and had to pivot, hit thirty million ARR and had to pivot again, and Patrick's retrospective conviction that both should have happened earlier; a useful frame for a market where capital is letting teams defer the questionProfessional services as differentiation rather than embarrassment — how Gigya ran services at ~30% of revenue, recurring and profitable, and why Patrick thinks the FDE renaming is obscuring a durable truth about trustMayfield's own shape — seventeenth early-stage fund, ~$1.2B across the two vehicles, roughly 70% first-institutional-check, two or three investments per partner per year, and the deliberate refusal to index a categoryThe battlefield promotion to CEO on Patrick's thirtieth birthday, five months of runway, a million-dollar monthly burn, and what he actually learned from Naveen Chawda about the difference between being founder-friendly and being usefulPatrick is a GP at Mayfield. Before investing he spent eleven years at Gigya, joining as the first business hire in 2007, becoming CEO at thirty, leading the company through multiple pivots and past a hundred million in ARR, and selling to SAP in 2017 for three hundred and fifty million. He now invests at seed and Series A in enterprise and AI, with board seats at Docket AI, Duplo Cloud, BigPanda, and Scrunch AI, and writes The CEO Field Guide on Substack.Worth the hour if you think about where the defensibility actually lives.
Hello and welcome to Handgun Radio! I'm your host Ryan Michad, Weerd Beard & Co from the wild woods of Central Maine and this is your home for all the news, information and discussion in the handgunning world! This week, we talk refinished & suppressed! Please check out the Patriot Patch Company for their awesome patches and other high quality items! Visit www.patriotpatch.co for more information! Cool artist “proof” rendition come along with the latest patch of the month patches! We are proudly sponsored by VZ Grips! Please go check out all their fantastic products at their website! VZ Grips! -KFrame Magna Grips Thank you to all our patreons! Visit us at https://www.patreon.com/handgunradio Week In Review: Ryan: -Bought some subsonic .22 LR ammo…for a reason that we will discuss later. -Potentially have the chance to get a Lee-Enfield No4MkIII but we will see -Springfield Armory Shorty Hi-Power Listener Nate: Hey guys, how're y'all doing? Hope everything is going good for all y'all, and that you had a great Easter. I'm still out here on the road. I don't get home very often, usually 8 weeks out, home for a week, rinse and repeat. I've been listening to HGR for over 10 years. In my trucking career, HGR has helped me stay entertained and informed out here on the high road. To follow up on episode #484, Best & Worst Purchsses, I'd like to contribute my experiences so far. Having purchased over 200+ handguns in the last 20 years, I'm sure I've got a few. Best Purchases (so far) Recently purchased 3 Smith & Wesson M&Ps for a total of $600. Pictured, top left, my Smith & Wesson M&P 4.25” 9mm. Top right is my Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 5” 9mm, in FDE. And last, but not least, a at the bottom, is my Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 4.6” .45 ACP. My H&K VP9, 11 mags, with a Holosun Red Dot, for $700. My Dan Wesson DWX Compact for $1,200. Worst Purchases (so far) Anything that has Taurus in it. From a 9mm PT 24/7, a Taurus Tracker .44 mag, multiple G2Cs and G3Cs, they all malfunctioned in various ways. The Tracker went out of timing in less than one box of ammo. One G2C had a cracked slide after less than a 1k rounds. I'm glad that a lot of people like Taurus, and I'm not trying to brand shame here. I've just had very bad experiences with Taurus' products. I hope that other customers have a much better experience. My Springfield Armory Emissary 1911, 5”, 9mm. Chamber is way too tight. Also has failures to feed when the slide gets hung up during recoil. Beautiful gun, but it's a love/hate thing going there. Thank you add always for the great HGR episodes. I look forward to the next episode! Drink Segment: Wild Bevy Distilling Forij Tulsi Rose Gin Main Topic: Refinished & Suppressed! -New Suppressor on the way -Barrel thread adapters -Good hosts? Refinishing: -I did the JC Higgins Model 20 12 Gauge -Winchester Model 94 in .32 Special previously Wrap Up: Don't forget to shop Brownells using our affiliate link! Head to firearmsradio.net and click the affiliate link in the upper right hand corner! Be sure to go like Handgun Radio on facebook and share it with your friends! Leave us a review on iTunes! Check out VZ Grips! Listen to all the great shows on the Firearms Radio Network! Check out the Patriot Patch Company!! www.patriotpatch.co Weerd where can people find you? Assorted Calibers Podcast, Weer'd World Oddball gunscarstech.com Assorted Calibers Podcast ACP and HGR Facebook Play screechingtires.wav David Blue Collar Prepping Brena Bock Author Page David Bock Author Page Team And More Xander: Assorted Calibers Podcast Here so Ryan doesn't do a bad impression of me Until next week, have fun & safe shooting!
What happens when your desk gets quieter—but you're still busy every day? In this FDE+ episode, Kortney Harmon brings a session from the recent virtual conference to the podcast—part of a series turning real, no-fluff conversations into standalone insights—featuring Benjamin Mena on “revenue drift.”Benjamin shares how distractions—AI tools, content, and constant activity—pull focus away from the fundamentals that actually drive revenue. He explains why pipeline slowdowns start months earlier, how inconsistent business development creates feast-or-famine cycles, and why top billers win by protecting simple, repeatable habits over chasing complexity.Key Takeaways • Why revenue doesn't collapse—it drifts • The 60–90 day lag between activity and results • How inconsistent BD creates unstable pipelines • Why strategy without execution accelerates decline • The habits that keep recruiters in the top tier_____________________________Connect with Benjamin Mena Follow on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Benjamin Mena Select Source Solutions: here The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/Explore more from Benjamin: This Is Your Year Summit: https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com Elite Recruiter Community: check it out here Podcast on Spotify: check it out hereConnect with Crelate Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/ Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo here Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
This Best of FDE episode is a rebroadcast of one of our MarCom Gold Award winners—and honestly, it's even more relevant now than when we first recorded it.In this episode of The Full Desk Experience, Crelate CEO Aaron Elder joins host Kortney Harmon to break down what it actually looks like to operate in a post-AI world—and what that means for owners, directors, and executive-level leaders.In this episode, we cover:What “post-AI” really means: Why AI isn't coming—it's already here, and how it's quietly becoming as essential as electricityWhere firms are actually winning: How top teams are using targeted AI (not hype) to create real value and stronger client relationshipsThe shift to “living platforms”: Moving beyond static systems to tech that actively works for you, not just stores your dataWhere humans still matter most: In high-trust work like executive search, where AI supports—and where it can't replace—the human elementWhat's about to change operationally: From sourcing to back office, every part of your business is on the tableDo you know if the roles you're filling today will even exist in two years?As AI and automation accelerate client expectations and reshape work itself, the firms asking better questions now are the ones that stay ahead.Hit play to hear how leading firms are thinking about this shift—and what you should be doing next.___________________Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: C&G Holsters (Code: WLSISLIFE) Midwest Industries (Code: WLSISLIFE) Blue Alpha Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Guests: Jon Patton – https://guncon.net – NILES, OH BIG PUBLIC SHOW DAY JUNE 20th, 2026 Industry/VIP Events JUNE 17-20, 2026 Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public https://welikeshooting.com/titles/ Dear WLS Question from Anonymous Coward from California WINNER People are looking at the ICE shooting all wro6vng. This is not a First Amendment issue. He wasn't peacefully protesting. There is plenty of video showing him actively blocking ICE vehicles before the shooting. That matters. This is also not a Second Amendment issue. He wasn't walking down the street, minding his business, and accidentally flashing a concealed carry gun. He was in direct physical conflict with law enforcement while armed. According to reporting, he had allegedly been “on duty” the week before, tracking ICE, and had been taken to the ground by agents, injuring his ribs. This time, when he went back “on duty,” he brought a gun. I understand why people instinctively hesitate to side with federal law enforcement. I really do. But if we're being honest, this situation demands a clear-eyed assessment—not emotional reflexes or ideological posturing. If the political alignment were reversed—if this were someone at a protest you agreed with—would you still argue the outcome was justified? In this case, my answer is still yes, the individual was at fault, regardless of ideology. As gun owners, we talk constantly about personal responsibility. That responsibility includes knowing what situations you do not escalate, especially when armed. A fight you cannot win is a fight against law enforcement officers when you are carrying a firearm. The moment you insert yourself into a physical confrontation with LEOs while armed, you are the one escalating the situation. Everyone knows this. This is not new. You are not going to win a solo fight against law enforcement. Period. Question from Jaqin Ta'Sox from Connecticut From; Jaqin Ta'Sox: Dear WLS Man. Sorry. The 646 episode got me fired up. In regards to Nick at time stamp 108 minutes. ICE doesn't need warrants to arrest illegal immigrants, because all of the people they are looking for are here illegally and 100% have another type of Law Enforcement Interaction (dwi, domestic violence, etc.) The illegals that don't have other Law Enforcement Interaction are usually collateral arrests, because ICE goes looking for 1 and find 12 together. As far as the US Citizens that interact with ICE, yes they are 99% detained and released upon verification of status. The 1% that are arrested/hurt are the people who escalate the Interaction instead of cooperating, like Jeremy said. Question from Anonymous Coward from California Question for double tap I've noticed that Jeremy is a lot calmer now that Aaron has been gone is that a coincidence or does Aaron just drive him that crazy? Question from Sean's Weight Loss Coach from Pennsylvania Question for Double Tap: With the new Ruger/Marlin 1894 in 10mm and the Taylor's 1873 Winchester clone in 9mm it got me thinking – what changes are needed to handle the rimless cartridges vs the more traditional rimmed cartridges that lever guns of this style are more commonly chambered for? Extractor change on the bolt? Chamber cut to control headspace with the cartridge mouth instead of the rim? Why has it taken this long for traditional lever guns like these to be chambered in rimless cartridges? Most sincerely, Sean's Weight Loss Coach Question from Anonymous Coward from California For double tap This question is mainly for Jeremy since he he sounds like he has the most experience with the XD line from SA. I have an XD.40 what parts should I expect to replace first and how often should I be cleaning it because I've heard mixed opinions on cleaning firearms? Question from LieutenantRand from Michigan LieutenantRand Are power lines higher in Africa? Or are there cases of giraffes being electrocuted? Question from Typicalpnwguy from Washington Dear wls crew, At the end of DT 447 Jeremy said to “go fuck yourself” so I did. Apparently its wrong for me to do so at a customer's house while doing deliveries. Now Im fired, wife left me, my dog found another hooman, and all I have is my pvs14 & mk18 cqbr blaster. Since Jeremy got me fired & divorced can I move in with you and get a job at the range? I promise to shit on Aaron every chance I get. Love, Typicalpnwguy Gun Industry News Taurus 22 TUC The Taurus 22 TUC is a micro-sized .22LR semi-auto pistol featuring a tip-up barrel, polymer frame, DAO trigger, and 10-ounce unloaded weight with 2.5-inch barrel and 10-round capacity. It includes fixed sights with orange front dot, G10 grips, and straight blowback action without extractor or ejector for easy loading. Reliability testing showed minor ammo-specific issues resolvable by chamber maintenance. Bottom Line: Caliber: .22LR; Capacity: 9+1 (10 rounds); Barrel: 2.5 inches; Weight: 10 oz unloaded; Length: 5 inches; Width: 1 inch; Height: 4.35 inches; Polymer frame, G10 grips, stainless steel or black finish; Tip-up barrel, DAO trigger, fixed sights with orange dot, no extractor/ejector, no manual safety Mossberg 590 Bliksem Collaboration with Christian Craighead The Mossberg 590 Bliksem is a limited-edition 12-gauge pump shotgun in ‘other firearm' format, featuring a 14.375-inch heavy-walled barrel, 5+1 capacity, cylinder bore, front bead sight, ambidextrous tang safety, and the proven 590 operating system with twin action bars and steel-to-steel lockup. It includes a Rhodesian Brushstroke camo treatment, FDE AfterShock bird's head grip, FDE corncob forend with leather strap, and an Esstac shotshell card. This model results from a collaboration with former 22 SAS operator Christian Craighead and his Ministry of Defence brand, focusing on distinctive cosmetic branding. The Gist: Announced March 11th, 2026; distribution via dealer-network rollout. Impact: MSRP $728 Bottom Line: 14.375-inch heavy-walled barrel; 5+1 capacity; cylinder bore; front bead sight; ambidextrous tang safety; twin action bars and steel-to-steel lockup; Rhodesian Brushstroke camo; FDE AfterShock bird's head grip; FDE corncob forend with leather strap; Esstac shotshell card. Smith & Wesson Performance Center Equalizer Carry Comp Smith & Wesson has added a compensated version of the Performance Center Equalizer, named the Equalizer Carry Comp, to its Performance Center line. This 9mm carry gun features a top barrel PowerPort to reduce muzzle rise, optics-ready slide, and EZ-style serrations. It includes Ameriglo night sights, an accessory rail, and Performance Center trigger enhancements. Bottom Line: 9mm carry gun; Top barrel PowerPort compensator; Optics-ready slide; EZ-style slide serrations; Ameriglo Trooper front night sight with black U-notch rear; Accessory rail; 10-, 13-, 15-round magazines; Performance Center trigger work0 Elite Survival Systems IWB / Off-Body Concealed Carry Kit Elite Survival Systems has launched the IWB / Off-Body Concealed Carry Kit, a dual-use holster system designed for popular compact pistols including Glock 43X, SIG Sauer P365 XL, SIG Sauer P365 XMacro, Springfield Armory Hellcat, Hellcat Pro, and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield models. The kit features a low-profile holster with secure retention, optics compatibility, and mounting components for carry bags or packs. Announced on March 13, 2026, it emphasizes concealment, comfort, and durability for everyday carry. The Gist: Available now directly from Elite Survival Systems and authorized dealers. Bottom Line: Dual-use IWB and off-body configurations; compatible with Glock 43X, SIG Sauer P365 XL/XMacro, Springfield Hellcat/Hellcat Pro, S&W M&P Shield; low-profile for concealment; secure retention; optics-ready; durable construction with bag/pack mounting. Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 Metal TALO Edition Pistols Smith & Wesson has released new TALO-exclusive Performance Center pistols based on the M&P9 M2.0 Metal platform. These 9mm handguns feature threaded and compensated barrels with copper/gold-colored PVD finishes, aluminum frames, lightning cuts, Strike Industries compensators, and optics-ready slides. Designed for competition and professional use, they offer visual and performance upgrades over standard M&P models. The Gist: TALO-exclusive; no specific release date or retailers stated. Bottom Line: 9mm caliber; aluminum frame; threaded/compensated barrel with copper/gold PVD finish; lightning cuts; Strike Industries compensator; optics-ready; M2.0 platform.0 Tasmanian Tiger TT Modular Chest Rig 4xM4 and TT Modular Chest Rig Pack Tasmanian Tiger has expanded its modular load-carrying system with the release of the TT Modular Chest Rig 4xM4, a lightweight chest rig with four fixed rifle magazine pouches and size M SAPI plate compatibility, and the TT Modular Chest Rig Pack, a low-profile backpack offering expandable 12-20 liter storage with hydration compatibility. Both products integrate seamlessly for standalone or combined use and are compatible with existing TT Chest Rig MKII systems via adapters. Constructed from CORDURA 500 den with laser-cut MOLLE, they target military, law enforcement, and SWAT operators. The Gist: Announced March 13, 2026; available through Tasmanian Tiger USA product pages (TT Modular Chest Rig 4xM4: https://tasmaniantigerusa.com/product.php?id=268; TT Modular Chest Rig Pack: https://tasmaniantigerusa.com/product.php?id=269); US distribution by Proforce Equipment, Inc. Impact: TT Modular Chest Rig 4xM4: MSRP $219 (black, olive, coyote), $259 (Multicam); TT Modular Chest Rig Pack: MSRP $219 (black,
The reception to our recent post on Code Reviews has been strong. Catch up!Amid a maelstrom of discussion on whether or not AI is killing SaaS, one of the top publicly listed SaaS companies in the world has just reported record revenues, clearing well over $1.1B in ARR for the first time with a 28% margin. As we comment on the pod, Aaron Levie is the rare public company CEO equally at home in both worlds of Silicon Valley and Wall Street/Main Street, by day helping 70% of the Fortune 500 with their Enterprise Advanced Suite, and yet by night is often found in the basements of early startups and tweeting viral insights about the future of agents.Now that both Cursor, Cloudflare, Perplexity, Anthropic and more have made Filesystems and Sandboxes and various forms of “Just Give the Agent a Box” cool (not just cool; it is now one of the single hottest areas in AI infrastructure growing 100% MoM), we find it a delightfully appropriate time to do the episode with the OG CEO who has been giving humans and computers Boxes since he was a college dropout pitching VCs at a Michael Arrington house party.Enjoy our special pod, with fan favorite returning guest/guest cohost Jeff Huber!Note: We didn't directly discuss the AI vs SaaS debate - Aaron has done many, many, many other podcasts on that, and you should read his definitive essay on it. Most commentators do not understand SaaS businesses because they have never scaled one themselves, and deeply reflected on what the true value proposition of SaaS is.We also discuss Your Company is a Filesystem:We also shoutout CTO Ben Kus' and the AI team, who talked about the technical architecture and will return for AIE WF 2026.Full Video EpisodeTimestamps* 00:00 Adapting Work for Agents* 01:29 Why Every Agent Needs a Box* 04:38 Agent Governance and Identity* 11:28 Why Coding Agents Took Off First* 21:42 Context Engineering and Search Limits* 31:29 Inside Agent Evals* 33:23 Industries and Datasets* 35:22 Building the Agent Team* 38:50 Read Write Agent Workflows* 41:54 Docs Graphs and Founder Mode* 55:38 Token FOMO Culture* 56:31 Production Function Secrets* 01:01:08 Film Roots to Box* 01:03:38 AI Future of Movies* 01:06:47 Media DevRel and EngineeringTranscriptAdapting Work for AgentsAaron Levie: Like you don't write code, you talk to an agent and it goes and does it for you, and you may be at best review it. That's even probably like, like largely not even what you're doing. What's happening is we are changing our work to make the agents effective. In that model, the agent didn't really adapt to how we work.We basically adapted to how the agent works. All of the economy has to go through that exact same evolution. Right now, it's a huge asset and an advantage for the teams that do it early and that are kinda wired into doing this ‘cause you'll see compounding returns. But that's just gonna take a while for most companies to actually go and get this deployed.swyx: Welcome to the Lane Space Pod. We're back in the chroma studio with uh, chroma, CEO, Jeff Hoover. Welcome returning guest now guest host.Aaron Levie: It's a pleasure. Wow. How'd you get upgraded to, uh, to that?swyx: Because he's like the perfect guy to be guest those for you.Aaron Levie: That makes sense actually, for We love context. We, we both really love context le we really do.We really do.swyx: Uh, and we're here with, uh, Aaron Levy. Welcome.Aaron Levie: Thank you. Good to, uh, good to be [00:01:00] here.swyx: Uh, yeah. So we've all met offline and like chatted a little bit, but like, it's always nice to get these things in person and conversation. Yeah. You just started off with so much energy. You're, you're super excited about agents.I loveAaron Levie: agents.swyx: Yeah. Open claw. Just got by, got bought by OpenAI. No, not bought, but you know, you know what I mean?Aaron Levie: Some, some, you know, acquihire. Executiveswyx: hire.Aaron Levie: Executive hire. Okay. Executive hire. Say,swyx: hey, that's my term. Okay. Um, what are you pounding the table on on agents? You have so many insightful tweets.Why Every Agent Needs a BoxAaron Levie: Well, the thing that, that we get super excited by that I think is probably, you know, should be relatively obvious is we've, we've built a platform to help enterprises manage their files and their, their corporate files and the permissions of who has access to those files and the sharing collaboration of those files.All of those files contain really, really important information for the enterprise. It might have your contracts, it might have your research materials, it might have marketing information, it might have your memos. All that data obviously has, you know, predominantly been used by humans. [00:02:00] But there's been one really interesting problem, which is that, you know, humans only really work with their files during an active engagement with them, and they kind of go away and you don't really see them for a long time.And all of a sudden, uh, with the power of AI and AI agents, all of that data becomes extremely relevant as this ongoing source of, of answers to new questions of data that will transform into, into something else that, that produces value in your organization. It, it contains the answer to the new employee that's onboarding, that needs to ramp up on a project.Um, it contains the answer to the right thing to sell a customer when you're having a conversation to them, with them contains the roadmap information that's gonna produce the next feature. So all that data. That previously we've been just sort of storing and, and you know, occasionally forgetting about, ‘cause we're only working on the new active stuff.All of that information becomes valuable to the enterprise and it's gonna become extremely valuable to end users because now they can have agents go find what they're looking for and produce new, new [00:03:00] value and new data on that information. And it's gonna become incredibly valuable to agents because agents can roam around and do a bunch of work and they're gonna need access to that data as well.And um, and you know, sometimes that will be an agent that is sort of working on behalf of, of, of you and, and effectively as you as and, and they are kind of accessing all of the same information that you have access to and, and operating as you in the system. And then sometimes there's gonna be agents that are just.Effectively autonomous and kind of run on their own and, and you're gonna collaborate and work with them kind of like you did another person. Open Claw being the most recent and maybe first real sort of, you know, kind of, you know, up updating everybody's, you know, views of this landscape version of, of what that could look like, which is, okay, I have an agent.It's on its own system, it's on its own computer, it has access to its own tools. I probably don't give it access to my entire life. I probably communicate with it like I would an assistant or a colleague and then it, it sort of has this sandbox environment. So all of that has massive implications for a platform that manage that [00:04:00] enterprise data.We think it's gonna just transform how we work with all of the enterprise content that we work with, and we just have to make sure we're building the right platform to support that.swyx: The sort of shorthand I put it is as people build agents, everybody's just realizing that every agent needs a box. Yes.And it's nice to be called box and just give everyone a box.Aaron Levie: Hey, I if I, you know, if we can make that go viral, uh, like I, I think that that terminology, I, that's theswyx: tagline. Every agentAaron Levie: needs a box. Every agent needs a box. If we can make that the headline of this, I'm fine with this. And that's the billboard I wanna like Yeah, exactly.Every agent needs a box. Um, I like it. Can we ship this? Like,swyx: okay, let's do it. Yeah.Aaron Levie: Uh, my work here is done and I got the value I needed outta this podcast Drinks.swyx: Yeah.Agent Governance and IdentityAaron Levie: But, but, um, but, but, you know, so the thing that we, we kind of think about is, um, is, you know, whether you think the number 10 x or a hundred x or whatever the number is, we're gonna have some order of magnitude more agents than people.That's inevitable. It has to happen. So then the question is, what is the infrastructure that's needed to make all those agents effective in the enterprise? Make sure that they are well governed. Make sure they're only doing [00:05:00] safe things on your information. Make sure that they're not getting exposed. The data that they shouldn't have access to.There's gonna be just incredibly spectacularly crazy security incidents that will happen with agents because you'll prompt, inject an agent and sort of find your way through the CRM system and pull out data that you shouldn't have access to. Oh, weJeff Huber: have God,Aaron Levie: right? I mean, that's just gonna happen all over the place, right?So, so then the thing is, is how do you make sure you have the right security, the permissions, the access controls, the data governance. Um, we actually don't yet exactly know in many cases how we're gonna regulate some of these agents, right? If you think about an agent in financial services, does it have the exact same financial sort of, uh, requirements that a human did?Or is it, is the risk fully on the human that was interacting or created the agent? All open questions, but no matter what, there's gonna need to be a layer that manages the, the data they have access to, the workflows that they're involved in, pulling up data from multiple systems. This is the new infrastructure opportunity in the era of agents.swyx: You have a piece on agent identities, [00:06:00] which I think was today, um, which I think a lot of breaking news, the security, security people are talking about, right? Like you basically, I, I always think of this as like, well you need the human you and then there you need the agent. YouAaron Levie: Yes.swyx: And uh, well, I don't know if it's that simple, but is box going to have an opinion on that or you're just gonna be like, well we're just the sort of the, the source layer.Yeah. Let's Okta of zero handle that.Aaron Levie: I think we're gonna have an opinion and we will work with generally wherever the contours of the market end up. Um, and the reason that we're gonna have an opinion more than other topics probably is because one of the biggest use cases for why your agent might need it, an identity is for file system access.So thus we have to kind of think about this pretty deeply. And I think, uh, unless you're like in our world thinking about this particular problem all day long, it might be, you know, like, why is this such a big deal? And the reason why it's a really big deal is because sometimes sort of say, well just give the agent an, an account on the system and it just treats, treat it like every other type of user on the system.The [00:07:00] problem is, is that I as Aaron don't really have any responsibility over anybody else's box account in our organization. I can't see the box account of any other employee that I work with. I am not liable for anything that they do. And they have, I have, I have, you know, strict privacy requirements on everything that they're able to, you know, that, that, that they work on.Agents don't have that, you know, don't have those properties. The person who creates the agent probably is gonna, for the foreseeable future, take on a lot of the liability of what that agent does. That agent doesn't deserve any privacy because, because it's, you know, it can't fully be autonomously operated and it doesn't have any legal, you know, kind of, you know, responsibility.So thus you can't just be like, oh, well I'll just create a bunch of accounts and then I'll, I'll kind of work with that agent and I'll talk to it occasionally. Like you need oversight of that. And so then the question is, how do you have a world where the agent, sometimes you have oversight of, but what if that agent goes and works with other people?That person over there is collaborating with the agent on something you shouldn't have [00:08:00] access to what they're doing. So we have all of these new boundaries that we're gonna have to figure out of, of, you know, it's really, really easy. So far we've been in, in easy mode. We've hit the easy button with ai, which is the agent just is you.And when you're in quad code and you're in cursor, and you're in Codex, you're just, the agent is you. You're offing into your services. It can do everything you can do. That's the easy mode. The hard mode is agents are kind of running on their own. People check in with them occasionally, they're doing things autonomously.How do you give them access to resources in the enterprise and not dramatically increased the security risk and the risk that you might expose the wrong thing to somebody. These are all the new problems that we have to get solved. I like the identity layer and, and identity vendors as being a solution to that, but we'll, we'll need some opinions as well because so many of the use cases are these collaborative file system use cases, which is how do I give it an agent, a subset of my data?Give it its own workspace as well. ‘cause it's gonna need to store off its own information that would be relevant for it. And how do I have the right oversight into that? [00:09:00]Jeff Huber: One thing, which, um, I think is kind interesting, think about is that you know, how humans work, right? Like I may not also just like give you access to the whole file.I might like sit next to you and like scroll to this like one part of the file and just show you that like one part and like, you know,swyx: partial file access.Jeff Huber: I'm just saying I think like our, like RA does seem to be dead, right? Like you wanna say something is dead uhhuh probably RA is dead. And uh, like the auth story to me seems like incredibly unsolved and unaddressed by like the existing state of like AI vendors.ButAaron Levie: yeah, I think, um, we're, I mean you're taking obviously really to level limit that we probably need to solve for. Yeah. And we built an access control system that was, was kind of like, you know, its own little world for, for a long time. And um, and the idea was this, it's a many to many collaboration system where I can give you any part of the file system.And it's a waterfall model. So if I give you higher up in the, in the, in the system, you get everything below. And that, that kind of created immense flexibility because I can kind of point you to any layer in the, in the tree, but then you're gonna get access to everything kind of below it. And that [00:10:00] mostly is, is working in this, in this world.But you do have to manage this issue, which is how do I create an agent that has access to some of my stuff and somebody else's stuff as well. Mm-hmm. And which parts do I get to look at as the creator of the agent? And, and these are just brand new problems? Yeah. Crazy. And humans, when there was a human there that was really easy to do.Like, like if the three of us were all sharing, there'd be a Venn diagram where we'd have an overlapping set of things we've shared, but then we'd have our own ways that we shared with each other. In an agent world, somebody needs to take responsibility for what that agent has access to and what they're working on.These are like the, some of the most probably, you know, boring problems for 98% of people on, on the internet, but they will be the problems that are the difference between can you actually have autonomous agents in an enterprise contextswyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: That are not leaking your data constantly.swyx: No. Like, I mean, you know, I run a very, very small company for my conference and like we already have data sensitivity issues.Yes. And some of my team members cannot see Yes. Uh, the others and like, I can't imagine what it's like to run a Fortune 500 and like, you have to [00:11:00] worry about this. I'm just kinda curious, like you, you talked to a lot like, like 70, 80% of your cus uh, of the Fortune 500, your customers.Aaron Levie: Yep. 67%. Just so we're being verySEswyx: precise.So Yeah. I'm notAaron Levie: Okay. Okay.swyx: Something I'm rounding up. Yes. Round up. I'm projecting to, forAaron Levie: the government.swyx: I'm projecting to the end of the year.Aaron Levie: Okay.swyx: There you go.Aaron Levie: You do make it sound like, like we, we, well we've gotta be on this. Like we're, we're taking way too long to get to 80%. Well,swyx: no, I mean, so like. How are they approaching it?Right? Because you're, you don't have a, you don't have a final answer yet.Why Coding Agents Took Off FirstAaron Levie: Well, okay, so, so this is actually, this is the stark reality that like, unfortunately is the kinda like pouring the water on the party a little bit.swyx: Yes.Aaron Levie: We all in Silicon Valley are like, have the absolute best conditions possible for AI ever.And I think we all saw the dke, you know, kind of Dario podcast and this idea of AI coding. Why is that taken off? And, and we're not yet fully seeing it everywhere else. Well, look, if you just like enumerated the list of properties that AI coding has and then compared it to other [00:12:00] knowledge work, let's just, let's just go through a few of them.Generally speaking, you bring on a new engineer, they have access to a large swath of the code base. Like, there's like very, like you, just, like new engineer comes on, they can just go and find the, the, the stuff that they, they need to work with. It's a fully text in text out. Medium. It's only, it's just gonna be text at the end of the day.So it's like really great from a, from just a, uh, you know, kinda what the agent can work with. Obviously the models are super trained on that dataset. The labs themselves have a really strong, kind of self-reinforcing positive flywheel of why they need to do, you know, agent coding deeply. So then you get just better tooling, better services.The actual developers of the AI are daily users of the, of the thing that they're we're working on versus like the, you know, probably there's only like seven Claude Cowork legal plugin users at Anthropic any given day, but there's like a couple thousand Claude code and you know, users every single day.So just like, think about which one are they getting more feedback on. All day long. So you just go through this list. You have a, you know, everybody who's a [00:13:00] developer by definition is technical so they can go install the latest thing. We're all generally online, or at least, you know, kinda the weird ones are, and we're all talking to each other, sharing best practices, like that's like already eight differences.Versus the rest of the economy. Every other part of the economy has like, like six to seven headwinds relative to that list. You go into a company, you're a banker in financial services, you have access to like a, a tiny little subset of the total data that's gonna be relevant to do your job. And you're have to start to go and talk to a bunch of people to get the right data to do your job because Sally didn't add you to that deal room, you know, folder.And that that, you know, the information is actually in a completely different organization that you now have to go in and, and sort of run into. And it's like you have this endless list of access controls and security. As, as you talked about, you have a medium, which is not, it's not just text, right? You have, you have a zoom call that, that you're getting all of the requirements from the customer.You have a lot of in-person conversations and you're doing in-person sales and like how do you ever [00:14:00] digitize all of that information? Um, you know, I think a lot of people got upset with this idea that the code base has all the context, um, that I don't know if you follow, you know, did you follow some of that conversation that that went viral?Is like, you know, it's not that simple that, that the code base doesn't have all the knowledge, but like it's a lot, you're a lot better off than you are with other areas of knowledge work. Like you, we like, we like have documentation practices, you write specifications. Those things don't exist for like 80% of work that happens in the enterprise.That's the divide that we have, which is, which is AI coding has, has just fully, you know, where we've reached escape velocity of how powerful this stuff is, and then we're gonna have to find a way to bring that same energy and momentum, but to all these other areas of knowledge work. Where the tools aren't there, the data's not set up to be there.The access controls don't make it that easy. The context engineering is an incredibly hard problem because again, you have access control challenges, you have different data formats. You have end users that are gonna need to kind of be kind of trained through this as opposed to their adopting [00:15:00] these tools in their free time.That's where the Fortune 500 is. And so we, I think, you know, have to be prepared as an industry where we are gonna be on a multi-year march to, to be able to bring agents to the enterprise for these workflows. And I think probably the, the thing that we've learned most in coding that, that the rest of the world is not yet, I think ready for, I mean, we're, they'll, they'll have to be ready for it because it's just gonna inevitably happen is I think in coding.What, what's interesting is if you think about the practice of coding today versus two years ago. It's probably the most changed workflow in maybe the history of time from the amount of time it's changed, right? Yeah. Like, like has any, has any workflow in the entire economy changed that quickly in terms of the amount of change?I just, you know, at least in any knowledge worker workflow, there's like very rarely been an event where one piece of technology and work practice has so fundamentally, you know, changed, changed what you do. Like you don't write code, you talk to an agent and it goes and [00:16:00] does it for you, and you may be at best review it.And even that's even probably like, like largely not even what you're doing. What's happening is we are changing our work to make the agents effective. In that model, the agent didn't really adapt to how we work. We basically adapted to how the agent works. Mm-hmm. All of the economy has to go through that exact same evolution.The rest of the economy is gonna have to update its workflows to make agents effective. And to give agents the context that they need and to actually figure out what kind of prompting works and to figure out how do you ensure that the agent has the right access to information to be able to execute on its work.I, you know, this is not the panacea that people were hoping for, of the agent drops in, just automates your life. Like you have to basically re-engineer your workflow to get the most out of agents and, uh, and that, that's just gonna take, you know, multiple years across the economy. Right now it's a huge asset and an advantage for the teams that do it early and that are kinda wired into doing this.‘cause [00:17:00] you'll see compounding returns, but that's just gonna take a while for most companies to actually go and get this deployed.swyx: I love, I love pushing back. I think that. That is what a lot of technology consultants love to hear this sort of thing, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. First to, to embrace the ai. Yes. To get to the promised land, you must pay me so much money to a hundred percent to adopt the prescribed way of, uh, conforming to the agents.Yes. And I worry that you will be eclipsed by someone else who says, no, come as you are.Aaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: And we'll meet you where you are.Aaron Levie: And, and, and and what was the thing that went viral a week ago? OpenAI probably, uh, is hiring F Dees. Yeah. Uh, to go into the enterprise. Yeah. Yeah. And then philanthropic is embedded at Goldman Sachs.Yeah. So if the labs are having to do this, if, if the labs have decided that they need to hire FDE and professional services, then I think that's a pretty clear indication that this, there's no easy mode of workflow transformation. Yeah. Yeah. So, so to your point, I think actually this is a market opportunity for, you know, new professional services and consulting [00:18:00] firms that are like Agent Build and they, and they kind of, you know, go into organizations and they figure out how to re-engineer your workflows to make them more agent ready and get your data into the right format and, you know, reconstruct your business process.So you're, you're not doing most of the work. You're telling agents how to do the work and then you're reviewing it. But I haven't seen the thing that can just drop in and, and kinda let you not go through those changes.swyx: I don't know how that kind of sales pitch goes over. Yeah. You know, you're, you're saying things like, well, in my sort of nice beautiful walled garden, here's, there's, uh, because here's this, here's this beautiful box account that has everything.Yes. And I'm like, well, most, most real life is extremely messy. Sure. And like, poorly named and there duplicate this outdated s**tAaron Levie: a hundred percent. And so No, no, a hundred percent. And so this is actually No. So, so this is, I mean, we agree that, that getting to the beautiful garden is gonna be tough.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: There's also the other end of the spectrum where I, I just like, it's a technical impossibility to solve. The agent is, is truly cannot get enough context to make the right decision in, in the, in the incredibly messy land. Like there's [00:19:00] no a GI that will solve that. So, so we're gonna have to kind of land in somewhere in between, which is like we all collectively get better at.Documentation practices and, and having authoritative relatively up-to-date information and putting it in the right place like agents will, will certainly cause us to be much better organized around how we work with our information, simply because the severity of the agent pulling the wrong data will be too high and the productivity gain of that you'll miss out on by not doing this will be too high as well, that you, that your competition will just do it and they'll just have higher velocity.So, uh, and, and we, we see this a lot firsthand. So we, we build a series of agents internally that they can kind of have access to your full box account and go off and you give it a task and it can go find whatever information you're looking for and work with. And, you know, thank God for the model progress, but like, if, if you gave that task to an agent.Nine months ago, you're just gonna get lots of bogus answers because it's gonna, it's gonna say, Hey, here's, here are fi [00:20:00] five, you know, documents that all kind of smell like the right thing. And I'm gonna, but I, but you're, you're putting me on the clock. ‘cause my assistant prompt says like, you know, be pretty smart, but also try and respond to the user and it's gonna respond.And it's like, ah, it got the wrong document. And then you do that once or twice as a knowledge worker and you're just neverswyx: again,Aaron Levie: never again. You're just like done with the system.swyx: Yeah. It doesn't work.Aaron Levie: It doesn't work. And so, you know, Opus four six and Gemini three one Pro and you know, whatever the latest five 3G BT will be, like, those things are getting better and better and it's using better judgment.And this sort of like the, all of these updates to the agentic tool and search systems are, are, we're seeing, we're seeing very real progress where the agent. Kind of can, can almost smell some things a little bit fishy when it's getting, you know, we, we have this process where we, we have it go fan out, do a bunch of searches, pull up a bunch of data, and then it has to sort of do its own ranking of, you know, what are the right documents that, that it should be working with.And again, like, you know, the intelligence level of a model six months ago, [00:21:00] it'd be just throwing a dart at like, I'm just, I'm gonna grab these seven files and I, I pray, I hope that that's the right answer. And something like an opus first four five, and now four six is like, oh, it's like, no, that one doesn't seem right relative to this question because I'm seeing some signal that is making that, you know, that's contradicting the document where it would normally be in the tree and who should have access.Like it's doing all of that kind of work for you. But like, it still doesn't work if you just have a total wasteland of data. Like, it's just not, it's just not possible. Partly ‘cause a human wouldn't even be able to do it. So basically if a, if a really, really smart human. Could not do that task in five or 10 minutes for a search retrieval type task.Look, you know, your agent's not gonna be able to do it any better. You see this all day long. SoContext Engineering and Search Limitsswyx: this touches on a thing that just passionate about it was just context engineering. I, I'm just gonna let you ramble or riff on, on context engineering. If, if, if there's anything like he, he did really good work on context fraud, which has really taken over as like the term that people use and the referenceAaron Levie: a hundred percent.We, we all we think about is, is the context rob problem. [00:22:00]Jeff Huber: Yeah, there's certainly a lot of like ranking considerations. Gentech surgery think is incredibly promising. Um, yeah, I was trying to generate a question though. I think I have a question right now. Swyx.Aaron Levie: Yeah, no, but like, like I think there was this moment, um, you know, like, I don't know, two years ago before, before we knew like where the, the gotchas were gonna be in ai and I think someone was like, was like, well, infinite context windows will just solve all of these problems and ‘cause you'll just, you'll just give the context window like all the data and.It's just like, okay, I mean, maybe in 2035, like this is a viable solution. First of all, it, it would just, it would just simply cost too much. Like we just can't give the model like the 5,000 documents that might be relevant and it's gonna read them all. And I've seen enough to, to start believing in crazy stuff.So like, I'm willing to just say, sure. Like in, in 10 years from now,swyx: never say, never, never.Aaron Levie: In, in 10 years from now, we'll have infinite context windows at, at a thousandth of the price of today. Like, let's just like believe that that's possible, but Right. We're in reality today. So today we have a context engineering [00:23:00] problem, which is, I got, I got, you know, 200,000 tokens that I can work with, or prob, I don't even know what the latest graph is before, like massive degradation.16. Okay. I have 60,000 tokens that I get to work with where I'm gonna get accurate information. That's not a lot of tokens for a corpus of 10 million documents that a knowledge worker might have across all of the teams and all the projects and all the people they work with. I have, I have 10 million documents.Which, you know, maybe is times five pages per document or something like that. I'm at 50 million pages of information and I have 60,000 tokens. Like, holy s**t. Yeah. This is like, how do I bridge the 50 million pages of information with, you know, the couple hundred that I get to work with in that, in that token window.Yeah. This is like, this is like such an interesting problem and that's why actually so much work is actually like, just like search systems and the databases and that layer has to just get so locked in, but models getting better and importantly [00:24:00] knowing when they've done a search, they found the wrong thing, they go back, they check their work, they, they find a way to balance sort of appeasing the user versus double checking.We have this one, we have this one test case where we ask the agent to go find. 10 pieces of information.swyx: Is this the complex work eval?Aaron Levie: Uh, this is actually not in the eval. This is, this is sort of just like we have a bunch of different, we have a bunch of internal benchmark kind of scenarios. Every time we, we update our agent, we have one, which is, I ask it to find all of our office addresses, and I give it the list of 10 offices that we have.And there's not one document that has this, maybe there should be, that would be a great example of the kind of thing that like maybe over time companies start to, you know, have these sort of like, what are the canonical, you know, kind of key areas of knowledge that we need to have. We don't seem to have this one document that says, here are all of our offices.We have a bunch of documents that have like, here's the New York office and whatever. So you task this agent and you, you get, you say, I need the addresses for these 10 offices. Okay. And by the way, if you do this on any, you know, [00:25:00] public chat model, the same outcome is gonna happen. But for a different kind of query, you give it, you say, I need these 10 addresses.How many times should the agent go and do its search before it decides whether or not, there's just no answer to this question. Often, and especially the, the, let's say lower tier models, it'll come back and it'll give you six of the 10 addresses. And it'll, and I'll just say I couldn't find the otherswyx: four.It, it doesn't know what It doesn't know. ItAaron Levie: doesn't know what It doesn't know. Yeah. So the model is just like, like when should it stop? When should it stop doing? Like should it, should it do that task for literally an hour and just keep cranking through? Maybe I actually made up an office location and it doesn't know that I made it up and I didn't even know that I made it up.Like, should it just keep, re should it read every single file in your entire box account until it, until it should exhaust every single piece of information.swyx: Expensive.Aaron Levie: These are the new problems that we have. So, you know, something like, let's say a new opus model is sort of like, okay, I'm gonna try these types of queries.I didn't get exactly what I wanted. I'm gonna try again. I'm gonna, at [00:26:00] some point I'm gonna stop searching. ‘cause I've determined that that no amount of searching is gonna solve this problem. I'm just not able to do it. And that judgment is like a really new thing that the model needs to be able to have.It's like, when should it give up on a task? ‘cause, ‘cause you just don't, it's a can't find the thing. That's the real world of knowledge, work problems. And this is the stuff that the coding agents don't have to deal with. Because they, it just doesn't like, like you're not usually asking it about, you're, you're always creating net new information coming right outta the model for the most part.Obviously it has to know about your code base and your specs and your documentation, but, but when you deploy an agent on all of your data that now you have all of these new problems that you're dealing withJeff Huber: our, uh, follow follow-up research to context ride is actually on a genetic search. Ah. Um, and we've like right, sort of stress tested like frontier models and their ability to search.Um, and they're not actually that good at searching. Right. Uh, so you're sort of highlighting this like explore, exploit.swyx: You're just say, Debbie, Donna say everything doesn't work. Like,Aaron Levie: well,Jeff Huber: somebody has to be,Aaron Levie: um, can I just throw out one more thing? Yeah. That is different from coding and, and the rest [00:27:00] of the knowledge work that I, I failed to mention.So one other kind of key point is, is that, you know, at the end of the day. Whether you believe we're in a slop apocalypse or, or whatever. At the end of the day, if you, if you build a working product at the end of, if you, if you've built a working solution that is ultimately what the customer is paying for, like whether I have a lot of slop, a little slop or whatever, I'm sure there's lots of code bases we could go into in enterprise software companies where it's like just crazy slop that humans did over a 20 year period, but the end customer just gets this little interface.They can, they can type into it, it does its thing. Knowledge work, uh, doesn't have that property. If I have an AI model, go generate a contract and I generate a contract 20 times and, you know, all 20 times it's just 3% different and like that I, that, that kind of lop introduces all new kinds of risk for my organization that the code version of that LOP didn't, didn't introduce.These are, and so like, so how do you constrain these models to just the part that you want [00:28:00] them to work on and just do the thing that you want them to do? And, and, you know, in engineering, we don't, you can't be disbarred as an engineer, but you could be disbarred as a lawyer. Like you can do the wrong medical thing In healthcare, you, there's no, there's no equivalent to that of engineering.Like, doswyx: you want there to be, because I've considered softwareJeff Huber: engineer. What's that? Civil engineering there is, right? NotAaron Levie: software civil engineer. Sure. Oh yeah, for sure. But like in any of our companies, you like, you know, you'll be forgiven if you took down the site and, and we, we will do a rollback and you'll, you'll be in a meeting, but you have not been disbarred as an engineer.We don't, we don't change your, you know, your computer science, uh, blameJeff Huber: degree, this postmortem.Aaron Levie: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So, so, uh, now maybe we collectively as an industry need to figure out like, what are you liable for? Not legally, but like in a, in a management sense, uh, of these agents. All sorts of interesting problems that, that, that, uh, that have to come out.But in knowledge work, that's the real hostile environments that we're operating in. Hmm.swyx: I do think like, uh, a lot of the last year's, 2025 story was the rise of coding agents and I think [00:29:00] 2026 story is definitely knowledge work agents. Yes. A hundredAaron Levie: percent.swyx: Right. Like that would, and I think open claw core work are just the beginning.Yes. Like it's, the next one's gonna just gonna be absolute craziness.Aaron Levie: It it is. And, and, uh, and it's gonna be, I mean, again, like this is gonna be this, this wave where we, we are gonna try and bring as many of the practices from coding because that, that will clearly be the forefront, which is tell an agent to go do something and has an access to a set of resources.You need to be responsible for reviewing it at the end of the process. That to me is the, is the kind of template that I just think goes across knowledge, work and odd. Cowork is a great example. Open Closet's a great example. You can kind of, sort of see what Codex could become over time. These are some, some really interesting kind of platforms that are emerging.swyx: Okay. Um, I wanted to, we touched on evals a little bit. You had, you had the report that you're gonna go bring up and then I was gonna go into like, uh, boxes, evals, but uh, go ahead. Talk about your genetic search thing.Jeff Huber: Yeah. Mostly I think kinda a few of the insights. It's like number one frontier model is not good at search.Humans have this [00:30:00] natural explore, exploit trade off where we kinda understand like when to stop doing something. Also, humans are pretty good at like forgetting actually, and like pruning their own context, whereas agents are not, and actually an agent in their kind of context history, if they knew something was bad and they even, you could see in the trace the reason you trace, Hey, that probably wasn't a good idea.If it's still in the trace, still in the context, they'll still do it again. Uhhuh. Uh, and so like, I think pruning is also gonna be like, really, it's already becoming a thing, right? But like, letting self prune the con windowsswyx: be a big deal. Yeah. So, so don't leave the mistake. Don't leave the mistake in there.Cut out the mistake but tell it that you made a mistake in the past and so it doesn't repeat it.Jeff Huber: Yeah. But like cut it out so it doesn't get like distracted by it again. ‘cause really, you know, what is so, so it will repeat its mistake just because it's been, it's inswyx: theJeff Huber: context. It'sAaron Levie: in the context so much.That's a few shot example. Even if it, yeah.Jeff Huber: It's like oh thisAaron Levie: is a great thing to go try even ifJeff Huber: it didn't work.Aaron Levie: Yeah,Jeff Huber: exactly.Aaron Levie: SoJeff Huber: there's like a bunch of stuff there. JustAaron Levie: Groundhogs Day inside these models. Yeah. I'm gonna go keep doing the same wrongJeff Huber: thing. Covering sense. I feel like, you know, some creator analogy you're trying like fit a manifold in latent space, which kind is doing break program synthesis, which is kinda one we think about we're doing right.Like, you know, certain [00:31:00] facts might be like sort of overly pitting it. There are certain, you know, sec sectors of latent space and so like plug clean space. Yeah. And, uh, andswyx: so we have a bell, our editor as a bell every time you say that. SoJeff Huber: you have, you have to like remove those, likeswyx: you shoulda a gong like TPN or something.IfJeff Huber: we gong, you either remove those links to like kinda give it the freedom, kind of do what you need to do. So, but yeah. We'll, we'll release more soon. That'sAaron Levie: awesome.Jeff Huber: That'll, that'll be cool.swyx: We're a cerebral podcast that people listen to us and, and sort of think really deep. So yeah, we try to keep it subtle.Okay. We try to keep it.Aaron Levie: Okay, fine.Inside Agent Evalsswyx: Um, you, you guys do, you guys do have EVs, you talked about your, your office thing, but, uh, you've been also promoting APEX agents and complex work. Uh, yeah, whatever you, wherever you wanna take this just Yeah. How youAaron Levie: Apex is, is obviously me, core's, uh, uh, kind of, um, agent eval.We, we supported that by sort of. Opening up some data for them around how we kind of see these, um, data workspaces in, in the, you know, kind of regular economy. So how do lawyers have a workspace? How do investment bankers have a workspace? What kind of data goes into those? And so we, [00:32:00] we partner with them on their, their apex eval.Our own, um, eval is, it's actually relatively straightforward. We have a, a set of, of documents in a, in a range of industries. We give the agent previously did this as a one shot test of just purely the model. And then we just realized we, we need to, based on where everything's going, it's just gotta be more agentic.So now it's a bit more of a test of both our harness and the model. And we have a rubric of a set of things that has to get right and we score it. Um, and you're just seeing, you know, these incredible jumps in almost every single model in its own family of, you know, opus four, um, you know, sonnet four six versus sonnet four five.swyx: Yeah. We have this up on screen.Aaron Levie: Okay, cool. So some, you're seeing it somewhere like. I, I forget the to, it was like 15 point jump, I think on the main, on the overall,swyx: yes.Aaron Levie: And it's just like, you know, these incredible leaps that, that are starting to happen. Um,swyx: and OP doesn't know any, like any, it's completely held out from op.Aaron Levie: This is not in any, there's no public data which has, you know, Ben benefits and this is just a private eval that we [00:33:00] do, and then we just happen to show it to, to the world. Hmm. So you can't, you can't train against it. And I think it's just as representative of. It's obviously reasoning capabilities, what it's doing at, at, you know, kind of test time, compute capabilities, thinking levels, all like the context rot issues.So many interesting, you know, kind of, uh, uh, capabilities that are, that are now improvingswyx: one sector that you have. That's interesting.Industries and Datasetsswyx: Uh, people are roughly familiar with healthcare and legal, but you have public sector in there.Aaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: Uh, what's that? Like, what, what, what is that?Aaron Levie: Yeah, and, and we actually test against, I dunno, maybe 10 industries.We, we end up usually just cutting a few that we think have interesting gains. All extras, won a lot of like government type documents. Um,swyx: what is that? What is it? Government type documents?Aaron Levie: Government filings. Like a taxswyx: return, likeAaron Levie: a probably not tax returns. It would be more of what would go the government be using, uh, as data.So, okay. Um, so think about research that, that type of, of, of data sets. And then we have financial services for things like data rooms and what would be in an investment prospectus. Uhhuh,swyx: that one you can dog food.Aaron Levie: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yes. Yes. [00:34:00] So, uh, so we, we run the models, um, in now, you know, more of an agent mode, but, but still with, with kinda limited capacity and just try and see like on a, like, for like basis, what are the improvements?And, and again, we just continue to be blown away by. How, how good these models are getting.swyx: Yeah, I mean, I think every serious AI company needs something like that where like, well, this is the work we do. Here's our company eval. Yeah. And if you don't have it, well, you're not a serious AI company.Aaron Levie: There's two dimensions, right?So there's, there's like, how are the models improving? And so which models should you either recommend a customer use, which one should you adopt? But then every single day, we're making changes to our agents. And you need to knowswyx: if you regressed,Aaron Levie: if you know. Yeah. You know, I've been fully convinced that the whole agent observability and eval space is gonna be a massive space.Um, super excited for what Braintrust is doing, excited for, you know, Lang Smith, all the things. And I think what you're going to, I mean, this is like every enter like literally every enterprise right now. It's like the AI companies are the customers of these tools. Every enterprise will have this. Yeah, you'll just [00:35:00] have to have an eval.Of all of your work and like, we'll, you'll have an eval of your RFP generation, you'll have an eval of your sales material creation. You'll have an eval of your, uh, invoice processing. And, and as you, you know, buy or use new agentic systems, you are gonna need to know like, what's the quality of your, of your pipeline.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: Um, so huge, huge market with agent evals.swyx: Yeah.Building the Agent Teamswyx: And, and you know, I'm gonna shout out your, your team a bit, uh, your CTO, Ben, uh, did a great talk with us last year. Awesome. And he's gonna come back again. Oh, cool. For World's Fair.Aaron Levie: Yep.swyx: Just talk about your team, like brag a little bit. I think I, I think people take these eval numbers in pretty charts for granted, but No, there, I mean, there's, there's lots of really smart people at work during all this.Aaron Levie: Biggest shout out, uh, is we have a, we have a couple folks at Dya, uh, Sidarth, uh, that, that kind of run this. They're like a, you know, kind of tag tag team duo on our evals, Ben, our CTO, heavily involved Yasha, head of ai, uh, you know, a bunch of folks. And, um, evals is one part of the story. And then just like the full, you know, kind of AI.An agent team [00:36:00] is, uh, is a, is a pretty, you know, is core to this whole effort. So there's probably, I don't know, like maybe a few dozen people that are like the epicenter. And then you just have like layers and layers of, of kind of concentric circles of okay, then there's a search team that supports them and an infrastructure team that supports them.And it's starting to ripple through the entire company. But there's that kind of core agent team, um, that's a pretty, pretty close, uh, close knit group.swyx: The search team is separate from the infra team.Aaron Levie: I mean, we have like every, every layer of the stack we have to kind of do, except for just pure public cloud.Um, but um, you know, we, we store, I don't even know what our public numbers are in, you know, but like, you can just think about it as like a lot of data is, is stored in box. And so we have, and you have every layer of the, of the stack of, you know, how do you manage the data, the file system, the metadata system, the search system, just all of those components.And then they all are having to understand that now you've got this new customer. Which is the agent, and they've been building for two types of customers in the past. They've been building for users and they've been building for like applications. [00:37:00] And now you've got this new agent user, and it comes in with a difference of it, of property sometimes, like, hey, maybe sometimes we should do embeddings, an embedding based, you know, kind of search versus, you know, your, your typical semantic search.Like, it's just like you have to build the, the capabilities to support all of this. And we're testing stuff, throwing things away, something doesn't work and, and not relevant. It's like just, you know, total chaos. But all of those teams are supporting the agent team that is kind of coming up with its requirements of what, what do we need?swyx: Yeah. No, uh, we just came from, uh, fireside chat where you did, and you, you talked about how you're doing this. It's, it's kind of like an internal startup. Yeah. Within the broader company. The broader company's like 3000 people. Yeah. But you know, there's, there's a, this is a core team of like, well, here's the innovation center.Aaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: And like that every company kind of is run this way.Aaron Levie: Yeah. I wanna be sensitive. I don't call it the innovation center. Yeah. Only because I think everybody has to do innovation. Um, there, there's a part of the, the, the company that is, is sort of do or die for the agent wave.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: And it only happens to be more of my focus simply because it's existential that [00:38:00] we get it right.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: All of the supporting systems are necessary. All of the surrounding adjacent capabilities are necessary. Like the only reason we get to be a platform where you'd run an agent is because we have a security feature or a compliance feature, or a governance feature that, that some team is working on.But that's not gonna be the make or break of, of whether we get agents right. Like that already exists and we need to keep innovating there. I don't know what the right, exact precise number is, but it's not a thousand people and it's not 10 people. There's a number of people that are like the, the kind of like, you know, startup within the company that are the make or break on everything related to AI agents, you know, leveraging our platform and letting you work with your data.And that's where I spend a lot of my time, and Ben and Yosh and Diego and Teri, you know, these are just, you know, people that, that, you know, kind of across the team. Are working.swyx: Yeah. Amazing.Read Write Agent WorkflowsJeff Huber: How do you, how do you think about, I mean, you talked a lot about like kinda read workflows over your box data. Yep.Right. You know, gen search questions, queries, et cetera. But like, what about like, write or like authoring workflows?Aaron Levie: Yes. I've [00:39:00] already probably revealed too much actually now that I think about it. So, um, I've talked about whatever,Jeff Huber: whatever you can.Aaron Levie: Okay. It's just us. It's just us. Yeah. Okay. Of course, of course.So I, I guess I would just, uh, I'll make it a little bit conceptual, uh, because again, I've already, I've already said things that are not even ga but, but we've, we've kinda like danced around it publicly, so I, yeah, yeah. Okay. Just like, hopefully nobody watches this, um, episode. No.swyx: It's tidbits for the Heidi engaged to go figure out like what exactly, um, you know, is, is your sort of line of thinking.Sure. They can connect the dots.Aaron Levie: Yeah. So, so I would say that, that, uh, we, you know, as a, as a place where you have your enterprise content, there's a use case where I want to, you know, have an agent read that data and answer questions for me. And then there's a use case where I want the agent to create something.And use the file system to create something or store off data that it's working on, or be able to have, you know, various files that it's writing to about the work it's doing. So we do see it as a total read write. The harder problem has so far been the read only because, because again, you have that kind of like 10 [00:40:00] million to one ratio problem, whereas rights are a lot of, that's just gonna come from the model and, and we just like, we'll just put it in the file system and kinda use it.So it's a little bit of a technically easier problem, but the only part that's like, not necessarily technically hard, it is just like it's not yet perfected in the state of the ecosystem is, you know, building a beautiful PowerPoint presentation. It's still a hard problem for these models. Like, like we still, you know, like, like these formats are just, we're not built for.They'reswyx: working on it.Aaron Levie: They're, they're working on it. Everybody's working on it.swyx: Every launch is like, well, we do PowerPoint now.Aaron Levie: We're getting, yeah, getting a lot, getting a lot of better each time. But then you'll do this thing where you'll ask the update one slide and all of a sudden, like the fonts will be just like a little bit different, you know, on two of the slides, or it moved, you know, some shape over to the left a little bit.And again, these are the kind of things that, like in code, obviously you could really care about if you really care about, you know, how beautiful is the code, but at the end, user doesn't notice all those problems and file creation, the end user instantly sees it. You're [00:41:00] like, ah, like paragraph three, like, you literally just changed the font on me.Like it's a totally different font and like midway through the document. Mm-hmm. Those are the kind of things that you run into a lot of in the, in the content creation side. So, mm-hmm. We are gonna have native agents. That do all of those things, they'll be powered by the leading kind of models and labs.But the thing that I think is, is probably gonna be a much bigger idea over time is any agent on any system, again, using Box as a file system for its work, and in that kind of scenario, we don't necessarily care what it's putting in the file system. It could put its memory files, it could put its, you know, specification, you know, documents.It could put, you know, whatever its markdown files are, or it could, you know, generate PDFs. It's just like, it's a workspace that is, is sort of sandboxed off for its work. People can collaborate into it, it can share with other people. And, and so we, we were thinking a lot about what's the right, you know, kind of way to, to deliver that at scale.Docs Graphs and Founder Modeswyx: I wanted to come into sort of the sort of AI transformation or AI sort of, uh, operations things. [00:42:00] Um, one of the tweets that you, that you wanted to talk about, this is just me going through your tweets, by the way. Oh, okay. I mean, like, this is, you readAaron Levie: one by one,swyx: you're the, you're the easiest guest to prep for because you, you already have like, this is the, this is what I'm interested in.I'm like, okay, well, areAaron Levie: we gonna get to like, like February, January or something? Where are we in the, in the timelines? How far back are we going?swyx: Can you, can you describe boxes? A set of skills? Right? Like that, that's like, that's like one of the extremes of like, well if you, you just turn everything into a markdown file.Yeah. Then your agent can run your company. Uh, like you just have to write, find the right sequence of words toAaron Levie: Yes.swyx: To do it.Aaron Levie: Sorry, isthatswyx: the question? So I think the question is like, what if we documented everything? Yes. The way that you exactly said like,Aaron Levie: yes.swyx: Um, let's get all the Fortune five hundreds, uh, prepared for agents.Yes. And like, you know, everything's in golden and, and nicely filed away and everything. Yes. What's missing? Like, what's left, right? LikeAaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: You've, you've run your company for a decade. LikeAaron Levie: Yeah. I think the challenge is that, that that information changes a week later. And because something happened in the market for that [00:43:00] customer, or us as a company that now has to go get updated, and so these systems are living and breathing and they have to experience reality and updates to reality, which right now is probably gonna be humans, you know, kinda giving those, giving them the updates.And, you know, there is this piece about context graphs as as, uh, that kinda went very viral. Yeah. And I, I, I was like a, i, I, I thought it was super provocative. I agreed with many parts of it. I disagree with a few parts around. You know, it's not gonna be as easy as as just if we just had the agent traces, then we can finally do that work because there's just like, there's so much more other stuff that that's happening that, that we haven't been able to capture and digitize.And I think they actually represented that in the piece to be clear. But like there's just a lot of work, you know, that that has to, you just can't have only skills files, you know, for your company because it's just gonna be like, there's gonna be a lot of other stuff that happens. Yeah. Change over time.Yeah. Most companies are practically apprenticeships.swyx: Most companies are practically apprenticeships. LikeJeff Huber: every new employee who joins the team, [00:44:00] like you span one to three months. Like ramping them up.Aaron Levie: Yes. AllJeff Huber: that tat knowledgeAaron Levie: isJeff Huber: not written down.Aaron Levie: Yes.Jeff Huber: But like, it would have to be if you wanted to like give it to an Asian.Right. And so like that seems to me like to beAaron Levie: one is I think you're gonna see again a premium on companies that can document this. Mm-hmm. Much. There'll be a huge premium on that because, because you know, can you shorten that three month ramp cycle to a two week ramp cycle? That's an instant productivity gain.Can you re dramatically reduce rework in the organization because you've documented where all the stuff is and where the answers are. Can you make your average employee as good as your 90th percentile employee because you've captured the knowledge that's sort of in the heads of, of those top employees and make that available.So like you can see some very clear productivity benefits. Mm-hmm. If you had a company culture of making sure you know your information was captured, digitized, put in a format that was agent ready and then made available to agents to work with, and then you just, again, have this reality of like add a 10,000 person [00:45:00] company.Mapping that to the, you know, access structure of the company is just a hard problem. Is like, is like, yeah, well, you just, not every piece of information that's digitized can be shared to everybody. And so now you have to organize that in a way that actually works. There was a pretty good piece, um, this, this, uh, this piece called your company as a file is a file system.I, did you see that one?swyx: Nope.Aaron Levie: Uh, yes. You saw it. Yeah. And, and, uh, I actually be curious your thoughts on it. Um, like, like an interesting kind of like, we, we agree with it because, because that's how we see the world and, uh,swyx: okay. We, we have it up on screen. Oh,Aaron Levie: okay. Yeah. But, but it's all about basically like, you know, we've already, we, we, we already organized in this kind of like, you know, permission structure way.Uh, and, and these are the kind of, you know, natural ways that, that agents can now work with data. So it's kind of like this, this, you know, kind of interesting metaphor, but I do think companies will have to start to think about how they start to digitize more, more of that data. What was your take?Jeff Huber: Yeah, I mean, like the company's probably like an acid compliant file system.Aaron Levie: Uh,Jeff Huber: yeah. Which I'm guessing boxes, right? So, yeah. Yes.swyx: Yeah. [00:46:00]Jeff Huber: Which you have a great piece on, but,swyx: uh, yeah. Well, uh, I, I, my, my, my direction is a little bit like, I wanna rewind a little bit to the graph word you said that there, that's a magic trigger word for us. I always ask what's your take on knowledge graphs?Yeah. Uh, ‘cause every, especially at every data database person, I just wanna see what they think. There's been knowledge graphs, hype cycles, and you've seen it all. So.Aaron Levie: Hmm. I actually am not the expert in knowledge graphs, so, so that you might need toswyx: research, you don't need to be an expert. Yeah. I think it's just like, well, how, how seriously do people take it?Yeah. Like, is is, is there a lot of potential in the, in the HOVI?Aaron Levie: Uh, well, can I, can I, uh, understand first if it's, um, is this a loaded question in the sense of are you super pro, super con, super anti medium? Iswyx: see pro, I see pros and cons. Okay. Uh, but I, I think your opinion should be independent of mine.Aaron Levie: Yeah. No, no, totally. Yeah. I just want to see what I'm stepping into.swyx: No, I know. It's a, and it's a huge trigger word for a lot of people out Yeah. In our audience. And they're, they're trying to figure out why is that? Because whyAaron Levie: is this such aswyx: hot item for them? Because a lot of people get graph religion.And they're like, everything's a graph. Of course you have to represent it as a graph. Well, [00:47:00] how do you solve your knowledge? Um, changing over time? Well, it's a graph.Aaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: And, and I think there, there's that line of work and then there's, there's a lot of people who are like, well, you don't need it. And both are right.Aaron Levie: Yeah. And what do the people who say you don't need it, what are theyswyx: arguing for Mark down files. Oh, sure, sure. Simplicity.Aaron Levie: Yeah.swyx: Versus it's, it's structure versus less structure. Right. That's, that's all what it is. I do.Aaron Levie: I think the tricky thing is, um, is, is again, when this gets met with real humans, they're just going to their computer.They're just working with some people on Slack or teams. They're just sharing some data through a collaborative file system and Google Docs or Box or whatever. I certainly like the vision of most, most knowledge graph, you know, kind of futuristic kind of ways of thinking about it. Uh, it's just like, you know, it's 2026.We haven't seen it yet. Kind of play out as as, I mean, I remember. Do you remember the, um, in like, actually I don't, I don't even know how old you guys are, but I'll for, for to show my age. I remember 17 years ago, everybody thought enterprises would just run on [00:48:00] Wikis. Yeah. And, uh, confluence and, and not even, I mean, confluence actually took off for engineering for sure.Like unquestionably. But like, this was like everything would be in the w. And I think based on our, uh, our, uh, general style of, of, of what we were building, like we were just like, I don't know, people just like wanna workspace. They're gonna collaborate with other people.swyx: Exactly. Yeah. So you were, you were anti-knowledge graph.Aaron Levie: Not anti, not anti. Soswyx: not nonAaron Levie: I'm not, I'm not anti. ‘cause I think, I think your search system, I just think these are two systems that probably, but like, I'm, I'm not in any religious war. I don't want to be in anybody's YouTube comments on this. There's not a fight for me.swyx: We, we love YouTube comments. We're, we're, we're get into comments.Aaron Levie: Okay. Uh, but like, but I, I, it's mostly just a virtue of what we built. Yeah. And we just continued down that path. Yeah.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: And, um, and that, that was what we pursued. But I'm not, this is not a, you know, kind of, this is not a, uh, it'sswyx: not existential for you. Great.Aaron Levie: We're happy to plug into somebody else's graph.We're happy to feed data into it. We're happy for [00:49:00] agents to, to talk to multiple systems. Not, not our fight.swyx: Yeah.Aaron Levie: But I need your answer. Yeah. Graphs or nerd Snipes is very effective nerd.swyx: See this is, this is one, one opinion and then I've,Jeff Huber: and I think that the actual graph structure is emergent in the mind of the agent.Ah, in the same way it is in the mind of the human. And that's a more powerful graph ‘cause it actually involved over time.swyx: So don't tell me how to graph. I'll, I'll figure it out myself. Exactly. Okay. All right. AndJeff Huber: what's yours?swyx: I like the, the Wiki approach. Uh, my, I'm actually
In dieser Folge tauche ich tief in die Geschichte und das fulminante Comeback des Forward Deployed Engineer ein – einer Rolle, die von IBM in den 60ern geprägt, von SAP skaliert und jetzt von KI-Unternehmen wie Palantir und OpenAI neu erfunden wird. Ich zeige, warum diese Position heute wieder als „hottest Job in Tech“ gefeiert wird und was sie mit deinem Alltag als Solution Engineer zu tun hat. Gemeinsam beleuchte ich, wie sich Aufgaben, Verantwortlichkeiten und Skills von SEs und FDEs überschneiden und warum die Grenzen zunehmend verschwimmen. Du erfährst, was diese Entwicklung für deine Karriere bedeuten kann, warum echte Kundenerfolge mehr zählen als Demos und wie du dich auf die Zukunft im B2B Softwarevertrieb vorbereitest. Bereit für einen Blick hinter die Kulissen der modernsten Tech-Rollen? Dann hör rein! ----------
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Join host Justin Forman with Mark Grunden and Josh Seabaugh for a pivotal conversation about the unprecedented opportunity emerging at the intersection of church and entrepreneurship. Recorded during Faith Driven Entrepreneur's staff retreat in Charleston, this episode unpacks groundbreaking Barna research revealing that society trusts entrepreneurs twice as much as pastors—and why this isn't a threat, but rather the church's greatest partnership opportunity.Mark brings unique insight from seven years at Saddleback Church pioneering marketplace ministry, while Josh shares lessons from a decade as a campus pastor before joining FDE full-time. Together, they reveal why starting with entrepreneurs—rather than broad "faith and work" initiatives—creates sustainable momentum that cascades throughout entire congregations and communities.Key Topics:Barna research reveals entrepreneurs are trusted 2X more than pastors (and 9X more than politicians)Why starting with "everyone who works" causes entrepreneurs to leave the roomThe difference between convening for community vs. convening for missionBreaking free from the "parking jacket and coffee" trap for high-capacity leadersWhy churches need entrepreneurs more than entrepreneurs need the churchHow 250 churches are becoming hubs for faith-driven entrepreneurs in their citiesThe simple 8-week pathway any church can start this week (no cost, no catch)Notable Quotes:"Entrepreneurs are trusted two times more than pastors. I don't know if the influence of pastors is actually waning, but I think it's more that the impact of entrepreneurs are actually increasing because people are tired of talk in our society. They're looking for people of action." - Mark Grunden"If you get a pastor alone, he's intimidated by the entrepreneur. If you get an entrepreneur alone, he's intimidating by the pastor, which is why I'm excited that we can be the bridge." - Josh Seabaugh"If you start with everybody, you'll never get the entrepreneur. But if you start with the entrepreneur, everybody will follow." - Mark Grunden
We Like Shooting Episode 642 This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: C&G Holsters, Night Fision, Medical Gear Outfitters, Bowers Group, Second Call Defense, Rost Martin, Swampfox Optics, and Matador Arms Welcome to the We Like Shooting Show, episode 642! Our cast tonight is Jeremy Pozderac, Aaron Krieger, Nick Lynch, and me Shawn Herrin, welcome to the show! Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 - Gear Chat Nick - Multi Tools: Must-Have Gear Multi tools and you! Shawn - Cabot Guns' Revolutionary Double-Stack 1911 Design Cabot Guns has launched the Rebellion MAX, a double-stack 9mm 1911 pistol that maintains the same dimensions and weight as its single-stack version. It features advanced materials and technologies aimed at enhancing performance and comfort for everyday carry. The base price is set at $6,295, with a limited production of only 60 units for 2026. 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Costs $4,115 factory-direct. Special for tiny run and historical engravings. Not available now. Gun fans get exclusive collector piece. New Limited Goldberg Rogue Rifle POF-USA released a limited run of 100 Goldberg “Jack Hammer” Rogue .308 rifles, based on wrestler Bill Goldberg's personal gun. It's a super light 5.9-pound semi-auto with custom black/bronze Cerakote, autographed certificate, and pinned 13.75-inch barrel. Special for its sub-6-lb weight without cuts, using patented tech. Gun fans get a rare collectible. Available now in limited quantities. New LightGuard Holster from CrossBreed CrossBreed launches LightGuard Holster for guns with lights. Hybrid design with swappable Kydex light shell for custom fits, adjustable retention, IWB carry. Saves money by not replacing whole holster. Gun folks get adaptable everyday option. Available now. Gun Fights Step right up for "Gun Fights," the high-octane segment hosted by Nick Lynch, where our cast members go head-to-head in a game show-style showdown! Each contestant tries to prove their gun knowledge dominance. It's a wild ride of bids, bluffs, and banter—who will come out on top? Tune in to find out! WLS is Lifestyle The Dead Pool Actor Over 50 Shawn Mel Brooks Jeremy Clint Eastwood Nick Gene Hackman X Savage Robert Dinero Aaron Val Kilmer X Actor Under 50 Shawn Vladimer Zinskey/Frankie Munis Jeremy Pete Davidson Nick Zendah Savage Ryan Renolds Aaron Dan Masterson Musician Shawn Diddy/Lizzo Jeremy Billie Elish Nick Don Henly Savage Eric Clapton Aaron Justin Bieber Politician Shawn Bernie Sanders Jeremy Chuck Grassly Nick Maxien Waters Savage nancy Pelosi Aaron Valadamier Putin 12:50 PM Actor Over 50 Shawn - Clint Eastwood Jeremy - Robert Duvall Nick - Dick Van Dye Savage Robert Deniro Aaron Eva Marie Saint Actor Under 50 Shawn - Nick Reiner Jeremy - Daniel Radcliff Nick - Ezra Miller Savage - Leonardo Dicaprio Aaron - James Van Der Beek Musician Shawn - Jelly Roll Jeremy - Bob Dylan Nick - Keith Richards Savage - Diddy Aaron Willie Nelson Politician Shawn - Mitch McConnell Jeremy - Bernie Sanders Nick - Chuck Grassley Savage - Joe Biden Aaron - Trump Privateers and Cartel Combat: A Legislative Move by Sen. Mike Lee Sen. Mike Lee introduced the Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act, allowing private entities to combat drug cartel smuggling and violence by seizing cartel assets outside the U.S. The proposed legislation, which echoes historical practices of granting private citizens authority to engage in acts against enemies, has implications for the gun community as it may enable armed citizens to take action against perceived threats from cartels. The Agency Brief Agency Brief — LETTERS OF MARQUE COLD OPEN "The same founders who supposedly 'never imagined AR-15s' literally wrote into the Constitution a program where private citizens could own warships, cannons, and get paid to hunt America's enemies. But sure, tell me more about how 'weapons of war' are only for the government." THE CORE STORY: CONSTITUTIONAL PIRACY The Power: Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 gives Congress the power to grant "Letters of Marque and Reprisal." This is a government license converting a private citizen into a legal combatant. It authorized the use of privately owned warships, cannons, and small arms to capture enemy vessels for profit. The Intent: The Founders distrusted standing armies. Their solution? Unleash the free market on America's enemies. It wasn't a loophole; it was the strategy. The Reality: This destroys the modern argument that civilians shouldn't own "weapons of war." The Constitution relies on it. FULL HISTORICAL BREAKDOWN Origins: Dates back to medieval times as a way for merchants to recoup losses from foreign thieves. Revolutionary War Usage: Continental Navy: ~60 ships. American Privateers: ~1,700 ships. Result: Private citizens captured ~600 British vessels and supplied the colonies with seized gunpowder and goods. War of 1812: The US Navy was still tiny. Privateers essentially fundamentally were the American naval strategy. Ordinary businessmen up-armored their schooners and decimated British trade routes. The Kill Switch: 1856 Declaration of Paris. European powers banned privateering to protect their massive state navies from scrappy private competition. Fact: The US never signed this treaty, but we eventually complied to fit in with "civilized" nations. Modern Attempt: Following 9/11, Rep. Ron Paul introduced bills to issue Letters of Marque to hunt al-Qaeda. The establishment buried it. They preferred a trillion-dollar occupation over a bounty-hunter approach. FACT CHECK SUMMARY Confirmed: Private citizens owned the 18th-century equivalent of nuclear-armed frigates (cannons/warships) with the blessing of the government. Myth: "Privateering was lawless piracy." Correction: It was highly regulated. "Prize Courts" adjudicated every capture. Lawless behavior was punished by hanging. Missing Context: The State's monopoly on violence is a modern invention. The Founders viewed war as a participatory duty of the armed citizen. Hidden Incentive: Why don't we use it now? Because the Defense Industrial Complex (Raytheon, Lockheed) cannot compete with low-cost private operators. The government wants total control, even if it costs more and works less. IMPACT ON GUN OWNERSHIP Reframing the Narrative: When anti-gunners say, "The 2A doesn't cover weapons of war," the response is: "Actually, Article 1 authorizes me to own a battleship." Bruen & Litigation: Under the Bruen test (Text, History, and Tradition), there is a robust tradition of civilians owning artillery and naval warships. If the history supports private ownership of cannons, it certainly supports private ownership of standard rifles and magazines. Cultural Impact: It moves the gun culture debate from "sporting purposes" to "national defense," which is where the Constitution places it. AGENCY NOTES (POLITICAL ANALYSIS) Regulatory Creep: We shifted from a Citizen-Militia/Privateer model to a Standing Army/Federal Law Enforcement model. The Motive: Control. An armed populace capable of waging naval war is impossible to oppress. A disarmed populace dependent on the Navy for protection is compliant. Action Item: Use Letters of Marque to mock the "F-15s and Nukes" argument. The Founders didn't just allow private firepower; they banked the nation's survival on it. The Alley Jelly Roll Receives Pardon as Gun Rights Restoration Program Returns The Trump administration has revived the federal gun rights restoration program by pardoning Jelly Roll, a notable figure,
In this episode, James Kaikis (Co-Founder, PreSales Collective; Founder, GTM Shift) joins Adam + Todd to unpack the rise of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) and what it signals for the future of presales: a world where proof beats polish, and the teams that win are the ones who can show it working—fast.We get into:What an FDE actually is (and why it's not as “new” as it sounds)The real driver behind the trend: the burden of proof and collapsing trustWhy the “harbor cruise” demo needs an upgradeHow AI is accelerating skepticism (and why “see it to believe it” is the new default)A practical approach for leaders: start with jobs-to-be-done + small experiments, not a massive org redesign
In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo break down a pivotal week for Canada's innovation economy. Microsoft's $7.5 billion investment in Canadian AI and cloud infrastructure sets the stage for a deeper discussion about whether foreign hyperscalers can genuinely support Canadian data and AI sovereignty under U.S. laws like the Cloud Act.John challenges the assumption that scale equals sovereignty, arguing for a more intentional strategy built through government procurement, layered infrastructure, and selective partnerships. The episode also examines Canada's new Quantum Champions program and the funding directed toward companies Anyon Systems, Xanadu, Photonic, and Nord Quantique, questioning whether current capital levels are enough to prevent Canadian breakthroughs from moving south.Layoffs across the consulting industry surface broader shifts in knowledge work, as information becomes increasingly commoditized in the age of AI. Matt and John discuss how trust, execution, and implementation are replacing traditional advisory models as the real sources of value. The episode closes with a collision of crypto and legacy power, as stablecoin issuer Tether pursues a controlling stake in Juventus, raising new questions about regulation, asset backing, and trust.As foreign capital pours in and domestic funding lags, how much control does Canada actually retain?Microsoft's $7.5B Canadian AI Investment & the Sovereignty Question (01:04)Microsoft announces a massive investment to expand AI and cloud infrastructure in Canada. Matt and John unpack why foreign capital is welcome, but claims of “sovereign AI” raise serious concerns under the U.S. Cloud Act and data jurisdiction realities.Sovereign Compute Strategy: Procurement Over Promises (04:39)John outlines how Canada could realistically build sovereign compute capacity by breaking the stack into layers, using government procurement to back domestic players, and making intentional choices about allies, chips, and infrastructure.Canada's Quantum Champions Program: A Signal or a Solution? (07:49)The federal government commits funding to four Canadian quantum startups, including Xanadu. The discussion explores whether milestone-based funding is enough or if Canada risks losing its quantum leaders to U.S. capital markets again.Why Canadian Capital Isn't Backing Its Winners (09:04)Xanadu's SPAC decision becomes a case study in Canada's capital formation problem. John explains why strong companies still struggle to raise meaningful domestic capital and what that means for long-term value creation.Consulting Firms Face Layoffs as Demand Shifts (11:36)McKinsey and other professional services firms prepare for significant job cuts. Matt and John discuss overhiring during COVID, slowing demand, and how AI is compressing the value of information-based consulting.The End of the Traditional Consulting Pyramid (14:07)AI-driven efficiency challenges the apprenticeship model. The conversation explores why implementation and trust now matter more than slide decks and why junior-heavy consulting structures may no longer work.Forward-Deployed Engineers & New Service Models (16:17)From Palantir's FDE approach to new AI-enabled services firms, Matt highlights how execution-first models are eroding traditional consulting margins and reshaping enterprise problem-solving.Crypto Meets European Dynasties: Tether & Juventus (19:00)Tether's attempted acquisition of Juventus sparks debate around stablecoin backing, asset quality, and trust. John questions whether a treasury-backed stablecoin should ever be tied to assets like football clubs.Trust as the Core Currency of the AI Era (21:03)The episode closes with a clear takeaway: information is cheap, execution is hard, and trust is everything, from sovereign infrastructure to consulting, investing, and crypto.Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffoloConnect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com
Traditional software engineering job listings have dropped by 70%, yet Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) roles have exploded by over 800% this year. We sit down with Mo Fagir, Principal Technical Consultant at ServiceNow, to break down exactly why this shift is happening and how you can pivot your career to ride this AI adoption wave.In this episode, we cover:The massive market shift: Why "pure coding" jobs are declining while FDEs are booming.The exact technical stack and soft skills required to land these high-paying roles.How to overcome imposter syndrome and build a portfolio that gets you hired, even as a junior.Why this isn't just a trend, but the future of how engineering delivers value.Connect with Mo Fagir:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-nour-tarigTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:14 - Why software jobs dropped 70% while FDEs grew over 800%00:02:55 - Why companies can't implement AI without Forward Deployed Engineers00:05:36 - Is this career path safe for traditional software engineers?00:07:54 - The exact technical stack you need to master today00:10:48 - Moving from engineering scope to product centric thinking00:16:15 - Can juniors and early career devs get hired as FDEs?00:19:12 - How to build a portfolio that gets you hired00:22:17 - Why passion and attitude beat experience in the AI era00:24:33 - How to train yourself to have a sense of urgency00:29:05 - Can introverts succeed in client facing engineering roles?00:32:17 - Lessons learned from interning at NASA and researching AI00:35:09 - Are we in an AI bubble that will burst soon?00:40:34 - Does becoming an FDE risk vendor lock-in for your career?00:43:36 - Final advice for engineers entering the 2025 job market#ForwardDeployedEngineer #FDE #SoftwareCareers
Ariel Harmoko is the Co Founder and CEO of Artifact AI. Ariel joined James and Hector for a conversation that moves from race tracks to reconciliation engines.Ariel grew up in Jakarta, was thrown into Go Karts at eight, and went on to race professionally all the way to Formula 3 alongside the likes of Lando Norris and George Russell. That early immersion in high performance teams, engineering and discipline shaped how he now operates as a founder.He shares how a love of maths and science took him to boarding school in the UK, then into machine learning research at Cambridge while still a teenager, working on early diagnosis in medtech and later deploying internal GPT tools at JP Morgan.Today Ariel is building Artifact AI, an “agent accountant” that sits on top of existing ledgers like Xero, QuickBooks and NetSuite. The product tackles two huge problems for accounting firms. Fragmented legacy stacks and chronic staff shortages. Ariel explains how their agents ingest data, reconcile, post to ledgers and learn from human review, and why accuracy, auditability and trust are non negotiable in this space.The conversation covers selling into one of the most conservative industries on earth, founder led FDE style implementations, why advisory is the real margin in accounting, and how vertical AI and agentic workflows could reshape professional services. Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AICan't keep up with AI? We've got you. Everyday AI helps you keep up and get ahead.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Double Tap Episode 439 This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: Gideon Optics, Primary Arms, Night Fision, Blue Alpha, Bowers Group, and Second Call Defense Welcome to Double Tap, episode 439! Your hosts tonight are Jeremy Pozderac, Jon Patton and me Shawn Herrin, welcome to the show! Jon Patton - https://theguncollective.com/ Dear WLS Hunter M - Wanting to upgrade my Ender 3 Pro to a Bambu X1C, but I am hesitant to buy one if there is a possibility of blocking 2A prints. I have seen where some people suggest never connecting it to the internet and only printing off of SD cards but it seems like you could be missing out on a ton of features. Is it worth it to connect it to the internet or play it safe and only use it offline? If it was connected and they pushed out anti-gun restrictions how could you get the printer back to printing freedom? Conner R - What are your go to snacks or meals when hiking, camping, hunting, or rucking? What are you favorite meals in general? Thanks!l Uvuana Suqit - Why does every host on the Firearms Radio Network seem to have an astigmatism? And a bunch of other media people in the firearms industry in general. I hear constantly about not being able to use red dots because of astigmatism, making the dot not a perfect circle, and some other shape. Just want to say that the projection on the glass for red dots won't be a perfect circle with the way they are designed/manufactured, and the “dot” has a weird shape because it is projecting a bunch of tiny dots to a general area on the glass to make up the dot. It does not create a perfect circle. And if you focus on the “dot,” then you will see “imperfection” vs looking at the target where the “imperfection” will be nonexistent, with the general dot shape being over the target. I'm just curious if everyone is mistaking this inherent design of the red dot projection for something that is wrong with their eyes. And when every host says they have an astigmatism, it just seems odd. Karl F - The conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated the usefulness of small drones when it comes to both reconnaissance and delivery of payloads. This usefulness could definitely extend beyond combat to a SHTF scenario. Have any of you considered adding a drone to your gear collection?#blamecanada Oopsie Daisy - If you wanted to escape thermal imaging, do you think throwing a mylar poncho over the wool Five Star Alterations poncho would have a greater effect on reducing your thermal signature? For no one in particular, I'm interested to hear all of your opinions on this. Nate B - How far back is too far back for barrel porting? I understand you'd like the port as far forward as possible as that is where it's most beneficial (better tilt point) but I've seen ported Glocks and other pistols where they have multiple, tiny holes that seem to be fairly close to the chamber. Also ports > comps Anthony L - I wanted to ask what sites you use for the 3d print files. Thank you The winner of this week's swag pack is Oopsie Daisy! To win your own, go to welikeshooting.com/dashboard and submit a question! Gun Industry News Switzerland Picks SIG Sauer P320 Swiss Army picks SIG P320 as new standard pistol, 5th military to do so after US, Canada, Australia, Denmark. Beats Glock and HK in tests via lower costs and Swiss production promise, despite early fixes needed for ergonomics. Gun fans celebrate another big military win for modular P320. Not for civilian sale. Tuning the Shadow 2: New Frame Weight Eemann Tech's new frame weight for CZ Shadow 2 adds 172g of front-end steel to cut recoil and steady fast shots. No mods needed, screws on easily. Special for comp shooters tuning balance without changing gun shape. Compact version coming. Available now. Sweden Police Swap MP5s for AK 24 Sweden's police are ditching MP5 submachine guns for AK 24 rifles in 5.56mm, matching the military's choice. Reasons: MP5 contract ended, 9mm sucks at range and vs. armor/vehicles, better teamwork in ops. They bought some for tests, fixed over-penetration with right ammo. Costs $2,700–$3,600 each, same as MP5. Gun fans note it's a rare police switch to rifle calibers from SMGs. Not available yet; deliveries start 2027. Staccato Stops Making C and CS Pistols Staccato stopped making C and CS pistols on Nov 21, 2025, to focus on 2011 and HD models. Gun folks can still buy leftover stock while it lasts; owners get full parts, mags, and warranty support. Special: Speeds up upgrades for main lines. Not in production now. Daniel Defense Eleanor Brings UK Spec Rifle to America Daniel Defense's Eleanor is a limited run of 250 M4A1 rifles copying UK Ministry of Defence specs, first U.S. version with real anodized FDE Vortex AMG EBR-22L optic—not fake finishes like clones. Gun fans get exact Royal Marines setup in Pelican case. Not available now. GPO's New Tactical Monocular with Gun Reticle GPO launched TACTICAL MONO 10x42 ED, a pocket-sized 10x42 monocular with offset MIL reticle for quick range estimates. Stands out with tactical reticle in super compact 5.3-inch, 13.4-oz rubber-armored body. MSRP $319.99. Available now. Gun community gets affordable, portable spotting tool for field measurements. Strike Bravo Chassis for Taurus GX4 Strike Industries and Taurus teamed up for GX4 Strike Bravo pistols with a new chassis boosting recoil control, ergonomics, and modularity via Dynamic Control system. Special: Picatinny for braces/stocks, optics-ready slide, threaded barrel, works with GX4 accessories. Four versions: 10/15-round mags, braced or not. Prices: $607 non-braced, $796 braced. Available now. New 9mm Apache Commander Gun Watchtower Defense launched the Apache Commander, a compact double-stack 9mm 1911 for carry with optics cut, aggressive serrations, adjustable 4.5-5.5 lb trigger, and tough stainless steel build in Black or FDE. First tactical model from veteran-owned brand. $3999 with three 17-round mags and lifetime warranty. In stock and shipping now. Gun fans get a premium, duty-ready carry option supporting vets. New ZeroTech Vengeance Scope Reticle Options ZeroTech updated its Vengeance 3-12x40 SFP riflescope with three reticles: precise R3, classic PHR 4, and low-light illuminated PHR 4 IR. Lightweight 1-inch tube, side parallax, multi-coated glass. Gives gun folks faster targeting and better holds in any light. Price not listed. Availability not stated. New Reticles for Vengeance Scope ZeroTech added PHR 4 and illuminated PHR 4 reticles to its Vengeance 4-16x40 SFP scope. Clean holdovers, fast aiming, low-light brightness levels on lightweight 1-inch tube. Gives gun users affordable precision for hunting and shooting. Available now. Viridian's New Green Dot for Rifles Viridian launched VENTA Green Dot rifle optic. Crisp 2 MOA green dot, instant-on motion activation, 10 brightness settings, IPX7 waterproof, 30k-hour battery, 5 oz lightweight, Aimpoint T2 footprint. Stands out for speed, clarity, and low $169 MSRP in black or FDE. Available now. Gun folks get affordable, tough optic upgrade. New Tactical Light with Green Laser NEXTORCH launches WL25 tactical weapon light with 1,200-lumen white beam to 459 yards plus green laser for fast aiming. Ambidextrous switches, quick battery swaps, recoil-proof mount, glove-friendly. German-designed, pistol-rail compatible. MSRP $239.99. Available now for LE/military eval. Gun community gets pro-grade light-laser combo at mid price. Before we let you go - Join Gun Owners of America Tell your friends about the show and get backstage access by joining the Gun Cult at theguncult.com. No matter how tough your battle is today, we want you here fight with us tomorrow. Don't struggle in silence, you can contact the suicide prevention line by dialing 988 from your phone. Remember - Always prefer Dangerous Freedom over peaceful slavery. We'll see you next time! Nick - @busbuiltsystems | Bus Built Systems Jeremy - @ret_actual | Rivers Edge Tactical Aaron - @machinegun_moses Savage - @savage1r Shawn - @dangerousfreedomyt | @camorado.cam | Camorado
Double Tap Episode 438 This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: Midwest Industries, Primary Arms, Night Fision, Medical Gear Outfitters, Rost Martin, and Swampfox Optics Welcome to Double Tap, episode 438! Your hosts tonight are Jeremy Pozderac, Aaron Krieger, Nick Lynch, and me Shawn Herrin, welcome to the show! -Midwest Industries- 20% off MI products Code: STOCKUP25 thru dec 1 11:59 pm cst -Primary Arms - Cyber Monday Deals on homepage -Medical Gear Outfitters- 15% off. Free Ship over $75. Code MGO15 -Swampfox https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/shop-all-bfcm25 Dear WLS NightWasher Tx - I was looking for a holsters for my FNS-9 long slide with a griffin ez-lock comp on it. And I found this holster company that will make any custom holster you want. They do something that if have not seen before in adding leather to the inside for a smooth draw. I love the fact that they will make a custom holster for non stock guns, because none of my pistols are the stock setup. Like my S&W Shield 45 with a threaded barrel, ez lock comp, and a red dot.Sense this is supposed to be a question, what do you all think of holsters with leather lined inside, and not I don't care about Aaron's thoughts, so that question is for everyone else. www.giholsters.com/product-p/hst1490.htm Roger B - So I have a CZ BREN 2 and I was wondering if yall have come across a 3D printed lower that accepts standard AR parts? I know that HAGA defense makes them but they are $450. The lower on the BREN isn't the serialized part so that's not the problem and it's polymer anyways so I was thinking a 3D printed one should work just fine. Thanks for the help. Lance D - Is Cloud Defensive going the same route as BRC? I ordered a light that was in stock on August 1st 2025. It is now almost October 1st with no light in hand. All they've said is, “Due to a leaked coupon code, we are trying to catch up on orders.” I call BS! If an item was in stock, it shouldn't take 2+ months to ship! Never again will I purchase one of there products! Mind you this was off of their actual website Mike H - Planning an sbr build around 8"" for when the tax goes to $0, debating between a 9mm (probably a mat9k or sp9a3), a brn-180 gen3 in .300blk, but also thinking other calibers like 10mm, 45, and willing to consider other options. Not wanting direct blowback but roller delayed is great, small overall package preferred. P.S. Don't make too much fun of Aaron's small package, it's why he grabs other peoples' packages Desert D Deagleton - Does the cast consider the Ruger Blackhawk to be a cowboy gun? It's quite different from a Colt. Adjacent question, were there aftermarket adjustable sights for Colt SAAs or the competition back in the day? Perhaps Lyman made something in the 20s or something. I really like having real sights on a revolver cause of my garbage vision. Are there any other SAA clones that have taller adjustable sights but look less modern like the Blackhawks do? Warren Peace - Youz guyz, Do you prefer a fixed blade or folder for every day/pocket carry? Thank you for your wise counsel, magic 8 ball, Severely, Warren Peace Nate L - Is it just me, or does that deal bro jiggle get stuck in your head as well? I find myself randomly humming it or singing it sometimes... Jeremy's Bitch - Do you guys have any fixed blade knives mounted to plate carriers or battle belts? If so, which ones? What is your go to choice for everyday pocket knifes? Do you ever carry a knife for self defense if you're ever “not carrying” in any places like banks or schools? The winner of this week's swag pack is Jeremy's Bitch! To win your own, go to welikeshooting.com/dashboard and submit a question! Gun Industry News Cool Pistollo 77° Pistol Hits US, Skirts ATF Rules Pistollo 77, a futuristic 9mm PCC with 77° angle, Glock mags, recoil buffer, and sci-fi looks, cleared ATF prototype review for US import. Gun fans get braced rail, optic rail, threaded barrel tweaks. Thousands on waitlist. Over $3,500 expected. Not available yet. New All-Copper Birdshot Ammo Boss Shotshells launches Boss Copper, all-copper birdshot ammo replacing scarce bismuth. Denser than steel (94% bismuth density), harder for tight patterns and penetration, softer for old guns. No lead toxicity. Loads from 12GA to 410GA, $39-$43/box of 20. Now available. Gun folks get new non-toxic option amid bismuth shortages. New Ruger and Magpul Full Grips Magpul released full-size RXM grip modules for Ruger RXM pistols, turning compact Glock 19 clones into G17-sized 9mm competition/duty guns. Uses G17 mags, adds flared well, light rail, high grip. Special: drop-in modularity with serialized trigger pack. MSRP $40. Sold out now, restock soon. Recce Skin Kit Onward Research's Recce Skin Kit adds non-permanent alpine camo to Recce Rig pouches and fixes cold-weather unreliability. Swaps velcro for 4 QASM buckles, adds 4 male repair buckles with tabs, and includes shock cord for secure fits. Price not listed. Not available now. Adept Armor at Milipol 15 Adept Armor previews Novasteel Breastplate for ballistic riot protection—stops handguns to IIIA, knives/spikes beyond level 3, blunt force over 100J, plus rifle boosts to RF1. Ballistic Mandible fits high-cut helmets. Novasteel handles special threats like 7.62x25mm Tokarev at 1650 fps, 5.7x28mm over 2000 fps, and fast 9mm copper rounds. Unique steel beats typical soft armor limits. Not available yet. Gun community gets tougher, lighter riot gear options. CZ's New 600+ Trail in FDE CZ released 600+ Trail FDE, a compact bolt-action rifle in FDE finish, .223 Rem, .300 BLK, 7.62x39. Swappable barrels, AR mags in .223, 16" barrel, adjustable stock, 2 MOA accuracy. Special: PDW-style layout with familiar mags on bolt gun. Gun community gets new lightweight, configurable option. Not yet available. New Magnet and Basket for Pistol Slides Infante Ultrasonics released a pistol slide magnet ($29.99/pair) that holds slides vertically to clean optics-ready pistols without wetting the red dot—unique for not needing optic removal. Small parts basket ($39.99) with durable piano hinge and locking clasp traps tiny gun bits like springs during cleaning. Both available now. Gun community gets easier, safer ultrasonic cleaning for modern pistols and high-volume work. Before we let you go - Join Gun Owners of America Tell your friends about the show and get backstage access by joining the Gun Cult at theguncult.com. No matter how tough your battle is today, we want you here fight with us tomorrow. Don't struggle in silence, you can contact the suicide prevention line by dialing 988 from your phone. Remember - Always prefer Dangerous Freedom over peaceful slavery. We'll see you next time! Nick - @busbuiltsystems | Bus Built Systems Jeremy - @ret_actual | Rivers Edge Tactical Aaron - @machinegun_moses Savage - @savage1r Shawn - @dangerousfreedomyt | @camorado.cam | Camorado
70% of enterprise AI projects never reach production. The solution: Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs). In this episode, Vikram Vaidyanathan and Rocketlane CEO, Srikrishnan Ganesan unpack the rise of the FDE model, from Palantir's origins to how AI companies use it today to bridge the gap between prototypes and production. They discuss why traditional SaaS orgs break in AI, the governance needed to scale FDE teams, and why India is emerging as the global engine room for AI deployment. A crisp breakdown of the role shaping the future of enterprise AI. Chapters 00:01:29 - Introduction to the Z47 podcast 00:04:16 - The 70% problem: Why enterprise AI fails to scale 00:05:25 - The origin story: Inside Palantir, where it all began 00:12:43 - Evolving from deployment to GTM engine 00:14:23 - The Vision Selling era: from POCs to production ROI 00:17:09 - What does a great FDE motion look like? 00:18:59 - Building with FDE DNA: How Rocketlane practices what it preaches 00:24:06 - Product, success, or stand-alone: Where should FDEs sit? 00:26:22 - Scaling the FDE model: from speed to structured governance 00:33:38 - Pairing on-site FDEs with India's 24×7 talent engine 00:34:21 - AI adoption as India's next big export 00:37:49 - FDEs: The human bridge between AI promise and delivery
Do you like director's commentaries and extended cuts? This episode is like that, but for this week's News. We go deep on the alive internet theory, Meshtastic mesh networks, Zstandard compression, the FDE job explosion, React's seemingly perpetual dominance, and more.
Do you like director's commentaries and extended cuts? This episode is like that, but for this week's News. We go deep on the alive internet theory, Meshtastic mesh networks, Zstandard compression, the FDE job explosion, React's seemingly perpetual dominance, and more.
What does AI look like in practice—not in theory—for the recruiters and leaders using it every day? In this FDE+ panel, Kortney Harmon sits down with Neal Osler, Chris Allaire, and Justin Bellante to examine how AI is reshaping job intake, sourcing, candidate conversations, and recruiter productivity in real time.The panelists share where AI is truly delivering value: rewriting job descriptions with clarity clients can finally react to, transforming interview transcriptions into stronger submittals, accelerating sourcing through smarter Boolean generation, and returning hours of lost admin time each week. They also surface the harder truths: declining response rates, over-reliance on automation, hallucinated requirements, and the widening trust gap created as inboxes become more machine-written than human-led.If you're navigating the noise around AI and looking for what truly drives performance, this panel reveals how the most effective teams blend innovation with authenticity to build stronger, more resilient recruiting operations in an AI-powered world.________________Follow Neal Osler on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: NealFollow Chris Allaire on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: ChrisFollow Justin Bellante on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: JustinFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience
On this episode of FDE+, Kortney Harmon and Mike Wolford, CEO of LexDuo, explore how AI is redefining what it means to be a recruiter—and why the future belongs to those who build with it, not just use it.They discuss how recruiters are moving beyond basic prompting into programming and workflow design—creating custom GPTs, connecting APIs, and automating tasks that once drained hours from their day. Mike also explains how imagination has become a recruiter's new competitive advantage and outlines the ethical and legal considerations that come with building AI-driven systems.Key Takeaways • The three levels of AI adoption and how each elevates recruiter performance • Why creativity, not coding, defines success in the AI-driven era • How API connections can integrate your ATS, CRM, and communication tools • The coming divide between corporate TA and staffing—and where opportunity grows • How to “automate and elevate” recruiting by combining AI precision with human judgmentDiscover how forward-thinking recruiters are using AI to amplify—not replace—the human side of hiring.___________Follow Mike Wolford on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Mike Check out his website: lexduo.net Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: Crelate Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo here Subscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience
The Forward-Deployed Engineer (FDE) represents a fundamental reimagining of the technical role in high-stakes enterprise environments. At its core, an FDE is a software engineer embedded directly with customers to solve their most complex—and often ambiguous—problems.Palantir is widely credited as the originator and early adopter of the FDE model, initially referring to these engineers as “Deltas.” In this episode, Dave “CAC” Kellogg and Ray “Growth” Rike explore multiple dimensions of the Forward-Deployed Engineer role, including:The origin of the FDEHow the military influenced the termWhether the FDE belongs in a technology-enabled services company or a software companyHow an FDE differs from a traditional technical services consultantWhere FDE expenses should be allocated—COGS vs. OPEXHow those allocation decisions impact key metricsThe hiring trends shaping the future of the FDEIf you're building an AI-native application or an agentic AI company with outcome-based pricing, this episode is packed with insights and ideas on why a Forward-Deployed Engineer could be your next—and most important—hire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this FDE+ episode, Kortney Harmon is joined by Benjamin Mena, Managing Partner at Select Source Solutions and host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, to explore how AI is transforming the recruiting industry.They discuss how top performers are using AI to automate sourcing, streamline outreach, and clean up CRMs — while doubling down on the human skills that build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive revenue. Benjamin also shares real-world examples of how combining technology with a personal touch is helping recruiters stay competitive and deliver stronger results.Tune in to learn how to leverage AI without losing what makes recruiters indispensable — and position yourself to thrive in 2025 and beyond.__________________________Follow Benjamin Mean on LinkedIn at: LinkedIn | Benjamin MenaLink to the Tool List mentioned at: hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
Double Tap Episode 429 This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: Swampfox Optics, Blue Alpha, Night Fision, Medical Gear Outfitters, Rost Martin, Bowers Group, and Matador Arms Welcome to Double Tap, episode 429! Your hosts tonight are Jeremy Pozderac, Aaron Krieger, Nick Lynch, and me Shawn Herrin, welcome to the show! Dear WLS Ryan W - Good evening gents So I want to theoretically bury around 15 ar's in an undisclosed location. What's the most economic way to keep them in good condition for about 20 years? I have some standard food safe grade plastic barrels. Should I just add guns and motor oil? Thanks for the insight. JD - After the first of the year what are we going to have to do to register an ar pistol as a sbr do we have to go to a ffl? Shane H - I know it was talked about a while ago but I can't find the episode. Who do you recommend for firearm collection insurance? One that does not require serial numbers if possible. Is it a separate policy from your FFL or just one policy? Thomas L - What was your favorite thing you saw at goals? Zachary V - Hello, not to get too technical and make this a huge list, but looking into getting my bug-out bag done. What are the essentials that should be prioritized first and what is something that you include in yours that most people wouldn't have considered? Notes? No? Trucker Matt - If you had to pick the perfect "backpack gun" and concealable handgun combo that uses the same ammunition, what is each cast member's combo of choice? For example, a 9mm HK SP5K and Glock 19, an AR pistol in .22LR with a folding buffer and FN 502, a Diamondback DBX 5.7 and FN Five-Seven (bonus points for magazine compatibility), a Chiappa 1892 Alaskan Takedown in .357 Magnum, and Ruger SP101. Drink a tall glass of pineapple juice every day. It's good for your gut health and your significant other will thank you for it. capt.doogie howser - I have recently started a business, and am using social media as a marketing tool. What recommendations do you have for tools or assets to use to improve my reach and content quality? Logan G - Shawn, First question (not gun related), you have mentioned playing hockey quite a bit, and it sounds like you play in the Springs. I play PIHA and inline, and I was curious if you did too? If so, I'm sure you have wanted to fight me at some point… whoops.Gun-related question, saving up for a semi-auto shotgun for home defense and fun as well. Thinking about the Beretta A300 ultima or the Mossberg 940 tactical. Any opinion between the two? My main question, though, is what Gideon optic would be best for a shotgun? They have a ton of options! Love the show and listen every week! The winner of this week's swag pack is Trucker Matt! To win your own, go to welikeshooting.com/dashboard and submit a question! Gun Industry News New QD Gas Pedal Improves Shooting Control MUB has released the QD Gas Pedal, a new multi-use attachment for guns that helps manage recoil. It's made of strong, lightweight 1061 Steel and features a flush cup for attaching QD slings. It's available in Black or FDE. New Faxon FX7 .22 Creedmoor: A Stylish and Innovative Rifle Custom & Collectable Firearms released the FX7 rifle, limited to just 100 pieces. It's chambered in .22 Creedmoor with a 16" spiral fluted barrel for long-range shooting. It features a rugged FDE finish, an MDT stock for stability, and a TriggerTech Primary Trigger for a smooth pull. The FX7 combines unique design and performance. The price isn't listed, but it's available as part of a special series. Reviving the 9mm Makarov Vz. 61 Czechpoint is bringing back the Vz. 61 pistol, now in 9x18 Makarov caliber. This gun has a 4.53-inch barrel and features like a threaded muzzle for suppressors, a chrome-lined chamber, and a 20-round magazine.
Unlock the future of recruiting with this episode of The Full Desk Experience. In this special FDE+, host Kortney Harmon sits down with Matt Strain — seasoned technology leader, AI educator, and founder of The Prompt. Drawing on his experience as Adobe's former Head of Innovation, Matt brings a fresh perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the recruiting and staffing industry.In their conversation, Matt explores why curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to experiment are essential traits for executives and recruiters who want to stand out in the age of AI. He shares real-world examples of how AI can streamline everything from sourcing and screening to assessment and selection, while also emphasizing where human judgment and trust remain irreplaceable. Along the way, he introduces a practical framework of mindset, skill set, and tool set that leaders can use to navigate uncertainty, integrate AI confidently, and drive stronger outcomes.Whether you're dipping your toes into AI for the first time or looking to refine your strategy, this discussion offers hands-on insights you can put into practice right away. Tune in to discover how to transform AI-driven curiosity into a true competitive advantage._________________Follow Matt Strain on LinkedIn at: LinkedIn | MattFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
Welcome to the Firearms Insider Gun & Gear Review Podcast episode 576. This episode is brought to you by Primary Arms, Walker Defense, XS Sights, and VZ Grips. In this show we will be discussing Hi Point AR's, Atibals compact, a LED level, and a Bombur As you may know, we showcase guns, gear, and anything else you might be interested in. We do our best to evaluate products from an unbiased and honest perspective. I'm Chad Wallace, host of the most dedicated firearms podcast around With me tonight are: Tony, Rob, Rusty, Destroyer of worlds Sponsor #1: VZ Grips VZ Grips has been manufacturing handgun grips since 2003. With a reputation for quality, consistency & innovation, top tier manufacturers choose VZ grips. They come in a variety of styles, patterns, colors, and are manufactured from proprietary G10, Micarta, Carbon fiber, or polymer. Available with varying degrees of texture, VZ offers a wide range of grips for all different firearm types. Made in the USA, VZ gives you the grip you can count on. Featured Grip of the week - AR15 VZ Recon gen 2 Coupon code “GGR15” gets 15% off handgun and rifle grips at vzgrips.com What we did in Firearms: Announcements: Bandwidth sponsor Patriot Patch Co. And their Patch of the Month Club! T-shirts are available through our FRN site, or click the “Merch” tab on Firearmsinsider.tv AFFILIATES / DISCOUNTS: Walker Defense Research - enter “INSIDER15” for 15% off XS Sights - “GGR20” for 20% off Primary Arms VZ Grips - “GGR15” for 15% off handgun and rifle grips Brownells Gun Guys Garage discount code - “FRN15OFF” LA Police Gear Atibal Optics - enter “FIREARMSINSIDER20” for 20% off 5.11 Tactical PowerTac Lights - enter “GGR” for a real good discount JSD Supply Modern Spartan Systems - “GGR15” for 15% off Rough Cut Holsters - “firearmsinsider” for 20% off Global Ordnance Infinite Defense (Infinity Targets) - “PEW15” for 15% off Guns.com Magpul Palmetto State Armory Unique ARs - “GunGearReview” for 10% off CobraTec Knives - “GGR10” for 10% off Nutrient Survival - “GGR10” for 10% off Gideon Optics - “GGR” or “INSIDER” for 10% off Lone Wolf Arms US Optics - “INSIDER15” for 15% off Camorado - “FIREARMSINSIDER” for 5% off Optics Planet Midway USA ROB - Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual co-hosts and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Firearms Radio Network and/or their employers. This is NOT legal advice, nor should it be considered as such. Viewer discretion is advised. This is especially true on live shows. Main Topic is sponsored by: Walker Defense Research Walker Defense provides shooters with the finest, most innovative, quality, tactical accessories and firearm components around. From their NILE grip panels to their NERO muzzle brakes, no details are ever left behind. Only top quality materials are used in the manufacturing process. Together, all of this gives you some of the best firearm performance around. Everything they have to offer is proudly made in the USA. Walker Defense, where American ingenuity meets bleeding edge technology. Our Walker Defense Product of the week is - FDE bcg Use code “INSIDER15” FOR 15% OFF everything at walkerdr.com Main Topic: Hi-Point AR's - https://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/ Product Spotlight and Discussion: Atibal APEX COMPACT 3-12x44 FFP MSRP - $519.99 Sponsor #3: Primary Arms Primary Arms seeks to provide the best shopping experience for everything firearms. They have a smorgasbord of products from your favorite manufacturers, including a complete selection of rifles, handguns, firearm parts, ammunition, and shooting gear. Are you also looking for optics that deliver unbeatable quality without breaking the bank?
Nabeel Qureshi is an entrepreneur, writer, researcher, and visiting scholar of AI policy at the Mercatus Center (alongside Tyler Cowen). Previously, he spent nearly eight years at Palantir, working as a forward-deployed engineer. His work at Palantir ranged from accelerating the Covid-19 response to applying AI to drug discovery to optimizing aircraft manufacturing at Airbus. Nabeel was also a founding employee and VP of business development at GoCardless, a leading European fintech unicorn.What you'll learn:• Why almost a third of all Palantir's PMs go on to start companies• How the “forward-deployed engineer” model works and why it creates exceptional product leaders• How Palantir transformed from a “sparkling Accenture” into a $200 billion data/software platform company with more than 80% margins• The unconventional hiring approach that screens for independent-minded, intellectually curious, and highly competitive people• Why the company intentionally avoids traditional titles and career ladders—and what they do instead• Why they built an ontology-first data platform that LLMs love• How Palantir's controversial “bat signal” recruiting strategy filtered for specific talent types• The moral case for working at a company like Palantir—Brought to you by:• WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs• Attio—The powerful, flexible CRM for fast-growing startups• OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster—Where to find Nabeel S. Qureshi:• X: https://x.com/nabeelqu• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nabeelqu/• Website: https://nabeelqu.co/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Nabeel S. Qureshi(05:10) Palantir's unique culture and hiring(13:29) What Palantir looks for in people(16:14) Why they don't have titles(19:11) Forward-deployed engineers at Palantir(25:23) Key principles of Palantir's success(30:00) Gotham and Foundry(36:58) The ontology concept(38:02) Life as a forward-deployed engineer(41:36) Balancing custom solutions and product vision(46:36) Advice on how to implement forward-deployed engineers(50:41) The current state of forward-deployed engineers at Palantir(53:15) The power of ingesting, cleaning and analyzing data(59:25) Hiring for mission-driven startups(01:05:30) What makes Palantir PMs different(01:10:00) The moral question of Palantir(01:16:03) Advice for new startups(01:21:12) AI corner(01:24:00) Contrarian corner(01:25:42) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Reflections on Palantir: https://nabeelqu.co/reflections-on-palantir• Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• Which companies produce the best product managers: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/which-companies-produce-the-best• Gotham: https://www.palantir.com/platforms/gotham/• Foundry: https://www.palantir.com/platforms/foundry/• Peter Thiel on X: https://x.com/peterthiel• Alex Karp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Karp• Stephen Cohen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cohen_(entrepreneur)• Joe Lonsdale on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtlonsdale/• Tyler Cowen's website: https://tylercowen.com/• This Scandinavian City Just Won the Internet With Its Hilarious New Tourism Ad: https://www.afar.com/magazine/oslos-new-tourism-ad-becomes-viral-hit• Safe Superintelligence: https://ssi.inc/• Mira Murati on X: https://x.com/miramurati• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Building product at Stripe: craft, metrics, and customer obsession | Jeff Weinstein (Product lead): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-product-at-stripe-jeff-weinstein• Airbus: https://www.airbus.com/en• NIH: https://www.nih.gov/• Jupyter Notebooks: https://jupyter.org/• Shyam Sankar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamsankar/• Palantir Gotham for Defense Decision Making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxKghrZU5w8• Foundry 2022 Operating System Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF-GSj-Exms• SQL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL• Airbus A350: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A350• SAP: https://www.sap.com/index.html• Barry McCardel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrymccardel/• Understanding ‘Forward Deployed Engineering' and Why Your Company Probably Shouldn't Do It: https://www.barry.ooo/posts/fde-culture• David Hsu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dvdhsu/• Retool's Path to Product-Market Fit—Lessons for Getting to 100 Happy Customers, Faster: https://review.firstround.com/retools-path-to-product-market-fit-lessons-for-getting-to-100-happy-customers-faster/• How to foster innovation and big thinking | Eeke de Milliano (Retool, Stripe): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-foster-innovation-and-big• Looker: https://cloud.google.com/looker• Sorry, that isn't an FDE: https://tedmabrey.substack.com/p/sorry-that-isnt-an-fde• Glean: https://www.glean.com/• Limited Engagement: Is Tech Becoming More Diverse?: https://www.bkmag.com/2017/01/31/limited-engagement-creating-diversity-in-the-tech-industry/• Operation Warp Speed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Warp_Speed• Mark Zuckerberg testifies: https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-testifies-congress-libra-cryptocurrency-2019-10• Anduril: https://www.anduril.com/• SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/• Principles: https://nabeelqu.co/principles• Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/• Claude code: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/claude-code/overview• Gemini Pro 2.5: https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/pro/• DeepMind: https://deepmind.google/• Latent Space newsletter: https://www.latent.space/• Swyx on x: https://x.com/swyx• Neural networks in chess programs: https://www.chessprogramming.org/Neural_Networks• AlphaZero: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaZero• The top chess players in the world: https://www.chess.com/players• Decision to Leave: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12477480/• Oldboy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/• Christopher Alexander: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander—Recommended books:• The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West: https://www.amazon.com/Technological-Republic-Power-Belief-Future/dp/0593798694• Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296• Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre: https://www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178/• William Shakespeare: Histories: https://www.amazon.com/Histories-Everymans-Library-William-Shakespeare/dp/0679433120/• High Output Management: https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884• Anna Karenina: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0143035002—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
In this episode of FDE+ episode, we're joined by the legendary Greg Doersching, President of Next Level Coaching you won't want to miss!" As an award-winning recruiter, trainer, and consultant with nearly three decades of experience, Greg shares invaluable insights on effective decision-making in recruiting, the power of communication and transparency, and crafting compelling job narratives that resonate with candidates.We'll explore the critical role of detailed job descriptions, the influence of a candidate's social support network on their decision-making, and the evolving landscape of talent acquisition post-COVID. Furthermore, Greg reveals the psychological motivators driving career decisions and underscores the importance of providing comprehensive job details to captivate candidates. Join us as Greg discusses the three fundamental phases of recruitment, the significance of asking for help, and the necessity of aligning recruitment strategies with the expectations of modern candidates. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable strategies to elevate your recruiting game. Let's dive in!________________Follow Greg on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Greg DoerschingWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In today's episode of FDE+, Donnie Gupton, co-founder Ora Marketing and developer of The Relevant Recruiter Method, shares invaluable insights on personal branding, using LinkedIn Sales Navigator for strategic targeting, and the benefits of a multi-channel approach. We discuss the importance of mastering LinkedIn before branching out, targeting the right decision-makers, and positioning yourself uniquely in the market. Moreover, Donnie highlights the significance of capturing and maintaining audience attention through educational and value-driven content, avoiding traditional outbound methods, and leveraging inbound marketing to generate warm leads.Tune in to learn how to humanize your brand, build trust, and engage your audience effectively—even in challenging times. If you're looking to boost your recruitment game and enhance your online presence, this episode is packed with all the tips and strategies you need. Let's get started!________________Follow Donnie on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Donnie GuptonWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In this FDE+ episode, Richard Rosner, The Staffing Shark, shares his unique approach to staffing and recruitment, underscoring the reciprocal nature of networking and the power of giving without expecting anything in return. We'll explore his innovative marketing strategies, including trend-jacking viral events and the critical role of AI in marketing by 2025. Richard also highlights the importance of authenticity, short-form video content, and effective use of social media platforms, from TikTok to Instagram, to boost engagement and outreach.Additionally, you'll hear Richard's insights on becoming an influencer, the significance of personal branding, and his vision for building hype and excitement in the same way major companies do. We'll touch on future-focused strategies, such as leveraging influencers and local celebrities, the impact of storytelling, and creating engaging, fun content that leaves a lasting impression.Get ready for an episode packed with valuable insights, practical tips, and innovative ideas to elevate your staffing strategies. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and review our podcast to stay updated with the latest in staffing and recruiting.Let's dive in!________________Follow Richard on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Richard RosnerWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
On this episode FDE+ we've got something special for you as we dive an incredible conversation with Diane Prince, Founder of Recruiting Agency 360. From discussing profit calculations and the role of Employer of Record (EOR) in payroll and compliance to emphasizing the importance of recurring revenue and niche market fit, Diane covers it all. She opens up about her journey in the staffing industry, the significance of having a clear vision, and her business strategies that paved the way for her success.We'll also explore actionable business development tips, including effective and authentic cold outreach, the growing trend towards temporary workforce by 2030, and the unique advantages of temp staffing over direct hires.Get ready to learn, engage, and envision bigger goals for your business as Diane answers your burning questions and offers practical advice for achieving growth and scaling your staffing agency. This episode is packed with valuable insights and strategies that you won't want to miss.________________Follow Diane on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Diane PrinceWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In this insightful episode of FDE+, Kortney Harmon is joined by Kim Henderson, Managing Director at Cobalt Compass Solutions, to discuss critical strategies for maximizing client relationships and boosting your recruiting business. Kim emphasizes the importance of truly understanding client challenges before offering solutions, ensuring a tailored and effective approach. We dive into projects on hiring needs, explore opportunities in niche markets and the benefits of blending contract and direct hire placements. Kim stresses the necessity of identifying all decision-makers and understanding client pain points to differentiate effectively. We'll cover strategies for client penetration, mapping business processes, leveraging org charts, and the importance of continuous feedback. This episode also highlights the value of sharing industry insights and presents innovative ways to build stronger, more comprehensive relationships with your clients. Join us as we unpack actionable tips and expert advice to ensure your staffing services stand out and thrive in a competitive market.________________Follow Kim on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Kim HendersonWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In this episode of FDE+, we're diving into an exciting conversation with Benjamin Mena, the seasoned recruitment expert and managing partner at Select Source Solutions, who also hosts the Elite Recruiter podcast. In this episode, we'll explore the critical role of recruiters and the transformative power of AI in the recruitment industry.From leveraging OpenAI's ChatGPT to sophisticated tools like Clay and Ocean IO, Ben shares his insights on how AI advancements are reshaping how recruiters operate, without replacing the human touch that's vital for building strong relationships. We'll also delve into practical applications, from creating targeted outreach messages to enhancing candidate engagement and streamlining workflows.Get ready for actionable strategies, insider tips, and a glimpse into the future of recruiting. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and connect with our growing community as we learn and evolve together. Now, let's jump into the conversation!___________________Follow Benjamin on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Benjamin MenaLink to AI Tools: Click HereWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In this FDE+ episode, Tom Erb- President of Tallann Resources shares vital insights, from the importance of a winning mindset and how to stand out with effective messaging, to the power of persistence in reaching prospects. We'll explore his MVP acronym—Messaging, Volume, and Persistence—and break down essential sales mindsets like Performance, Value, Long Game, and Mastery. Tom also provides actionable tips on honing your sales skills, leveraging tools like AI assistants, and the critical role of performance management. Whether you're struggling with prospecting or looking to refine your value proposition, this episode has you covered. Stick around for a masterclass on building a robust personal and company brand, effective networking, and the ultimate goal of minimizing cold calls through strategic relationship-building. Plus, don't miss out on Tom's exclusive sales goal planning worksheet! So grab your headphones, settle in, and get ready for an enlightening journey to sales excellence!___________________Follow Tom on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | Tom ErbWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
In this “Best of FDE” episode, we're excited to revisit a Platinum MarCom Award-winning discussion! This is a crucial topic that's transforming the staffing and recruiting industry: The Great Tech Purge. We'll explore how revolutionizing your recruiting tools can make a significant impact on your operations. With insights from industry leaders and practical advice, we'll discuss why now is the perfect time for this tech overhaul. We'll cover key questions you should be asking, strategies for optimizing your tech stack, and how to prepare for the AI revolution—all in a bid to streamline your processes and enhance human connections. Plus, don't miss our downloadable worksheet to guide you through your own Great Tech Purge. Get ready to revolutionize your recruiting arsenal and take your business to new heights! Tune in and let's get started on this transformative journey.______________________Downloadable Worksheet: click hereWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
This week Kortney Harmon, is diving into the "Best of FDE" series with an impactful conversation featuring Michele Massaro, the Chief Operating Officer at Abacus Corporation. In this episode, we explore a wide range of topics including creative scheduling solutions to engage an underutilized workforce, the distinction between survival and scaling mindsets in business, and the critical factors for growing a staffing company. Michele shares her expertise on staying relevant to customers, retaining core talent, and the significance of technological transformation.We'll also touch on the importance of maintaining personal relationships with clients, the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, and the unique challenges posed by the current labor market. Whether it's adapting to changing state legislation, managing overhead costs, or leveraging direct hire initiatives, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help your staffing business thrive._______________________Follow Michele Massaro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-massaro-51ba686/Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience
The middle of February is often filled with commercialized images of love. Flowers, chocolates, those little chalky tasting heart candies with sweet messages. It all revolves around Valentine's Day. And in between booking restaurant reservations or talking about how you reject the hallmark holiday, we might stop to ask ourselves, what do we really love?Most of us know the right answers here: family, friends, God. As entrepreneurs, we love our work and what it affords us.And, let's face it, a lot of us love money.But can we dig a little deeper here? Money isn't a bad thing. In fact, it can be a catalyst for great good in the world. As long as we learn to think about it rightly. And that's what we're going to do in today's episode. We'll hear from author Andy Crouch, theologian Randy Alcorn, and entrepreneur Tom Hsieh talk about how we can develop a biblically informed relationship with money that leads to generosity and joy.Full Episodes ListedGod and Mammon with Andy CrouchInvesting in Eternity with Randy Alcorn (with Guest Host Daryl Heald)Choosing Vulnerability When You Don't Have To with Tom Hsieh
Has Canonical finally nailed snaps? Why it looks like Ubuntu has turned a new corner; our thoughts on the latest release. Plus, a special guest and more.
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