Beside Ourselves

How AI Is rewriting Search and SEO, ft Aris Vrakas from Rankbee

Giles and Theo sit down with Aris Vrakas, CEO of Rankbee, to unpack how AI has quietly rewritten the rules of search, why your SEO strategy may be leaving you invisible to an entirely new kind of buyer, and what you can realistically do about it right now. Whether you're a marketer, a business owner, or just someone wondering why your web traffic feels a bit off lately, this one will make you look at your homepage very differently. Questions or comments? Please use the comments or email podcast@besidepartners.com.

Which AI tools do we use every day?

Giles and Theo stop talking about AI in theory and get specific: which models they actually use, which ones they've quietly abandoned, and the apps that have genuinely earned a place in their daily workflows. Plus, why Giles still starts every piece of writing with a fountain pen and paper — and why that's not as eccentric as it sounds. Honest, practical, and a little opinionated — as it should be. Please email us your questions or feedback at podcast@besidepartners.com.

How do we turn down the heat on AI conversation?

In recent weeks, we've seen a surge in anxiety surrounding AI, from explosive software vulnerabilities to public backlash against tech leaders. Can we shift the narrative? Instead of rushing headfirst into adoption, we need to slow down and engage in more meaningful conversations. It's time to address concerns, clarify misconceptions, and promote responsible deployment. Please email us your questions or feedback at podcast@besidepartners.com.

What do we want from AI? Unpacking Anthropic's survey.

In this episode, we break down Anthropic’s survey of 81,000 users to explore global attitudes on AI: our hopes, fears and assessment of where things stand. While a third of the workforce sees massive productivity gains, 20% feel the tech falls short, highlighting a critical need for better user education and intuitive implementation. By comparing global attitudes, we discuss how to build a workplace culture that treats AI as a powerful cognitive augment rather than a mental crutch. Read the survey here: https://www.anthropic.com/features/81k-interviews Please email us your questions or feedback at podcast@besidepartners.com.

Build or Buy? Picking the right strategy for AI adoption.

In this episode, Giles and Theo dive into the shifting landscape of business AI. Moving past the "pilot phase," they discuss why large enterprises and SMEs alike are finding off-the-shelf AI solutions too generic. The conversation explores the trade-offs between bespoke development and platform-based tools, the rise of "vibe coding," and how SMEs can leverage their agility to outmanoeuvre "super-tanker" enterprises. The article that inspired today's topic: https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/insights/insights-blog/bridge-to-ai-value-will-be-built-not-bought Please email us your questions or feedback at podcast@besidepartners.com.