Impact of AI:Explored

Welcome to the Impact of AI: Explored podcast. In this episode 
James and Gerjon sit down with Dave Brear, Citrix Account Technology Strategist (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davebrear/) to unpack the idea of an “AI second brain” and why chain of cognition matters in a world of instant AI-generated content. 
They talk about “AI slop” and what separates truly valuable, story-driven content from meaning-shaped noise, even when AI is involved. Dave shares his origin story with note-taking, Zettelkasten, and Obsidian, and how he accidentally built the perfect foundation for an AI-augmented thinking system. We then explore how he connects this personal knowledge vault to AI as a thinking partner, the implications for EUC and enterprise user profiles, and the risks around ownership, shadow AI, and companies potentially “bottling” employees’ cognition. Finally, Dave gives practical advice for knowledge workers who want to start their own second brain from a blank slate, and why reading How to Take Smart Notes might change how you think forever.
Interesting links:
The book Dave refers to: https://www.soenkeahrens.de/en/takesmartnotes
more information: https://davebrear.ai
Support the show

In this episode we’re at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium at Hello AI Summit 2026 and James has a chat with Dan Boyles - Global AI stratigist and Founder at Hello AI (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhelloai/), 11 months after he turned a rough idea into an AI summit. We dig into why most AI projects stall, how bad data and “glorified Google search” use cases kill ROI, and why fixing your data foundation (think Azure SQL + Fabric) unlocks real business outcomes in operations and customer experience. Dan also explains why AI agents are “really clever interns” on their way to becoming operational teammates, and why you still need proper governance, backups and a clear “why” before you unleash them on your business.
Support the show

What happens when you put a CTO from professional football in a room and ask them to be honest about AI?
Joe Darkins, CTO of Burnley Football Club, joins the show for a grounded, no-hype conversation about what it actually takes to deploy AI responsibly inside an organisation.
We cover a lot of ground. Joe breaks down why aligning AI to real business problems matters more than chasing the latest capability, how the CISO role is evolving as AI adoption accelerates, and what agentic AI looks like in a football club context. It's more complex than you might think.
We also get into the harder questions. Who is accountable when AI gets it wrong? How do you build sandboxed environments that prevent misuse? And why are local models becoming a serious conversation for organisations that care about data privacy and environmental impact?
If you're navigating AI adoption inside your organisation, this one is worth your time.
Topics covered:
Aligning AI initiatives to actual business problems
The CISO's expanding role in AI governance
Agentic AI in sport and what it signals for other sectors
AI accountability and risk management
Local models, data privacy, and sustainability

Support the show

This episode with Phil Hobden Head of Customer Advocacy at Sage explores the realistic applications and limitations of AI in business, emphasizing the importance of good data, human oversight, and strategic integration. Phil shares insights on AI's role as a co-pilot, the necessity of foundational data, and the future of AI-driven efficiency.
AI as a tool not a cure-all
Importance of good data and governance
AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement
Challenges of siloed AI systems
Human oversight and strategic use of AI

Support the show

Anxious about AI change? In this episode, Stephen Gresty - Coaching & Training Consultant MSc (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengrestyroiltd/) joins James live from the Hello AI Collective Summit to explore how leaders can bring people with them instead of leaving them behind. We dig into why purpose matters more than tools, how to keep work meaningful when “AI is coming for my job” is on everyone’s mind, and why AI should amplify humans rather than replace them. Stephen shares his MORSE philosophy from applied positive psychology (mindset, optimism, resilience, strengths, empathy), talks psychological safety, and warns about the real risk of “dumbing down” if we outsource our thinking to machines.
Support the show