Ep. 60: What if AI is too Expensive?

Ep. 60: What if AI is too Expensive?

What happens if AI turns out to be more expensive than we think? For years, large language models (LLMs) have been treated like low-cost cloud services. But what if today's pricing is heavily subsidized? What happens when AI costs rise and organizations are forced to rethink their strategies? In this episode of Talk To Me Petey D, I explore 10 predictions for a future where AI and LLM inference becomes significantly more expensive, including: ✅ Moving from frontier models to lower-cost alternatives ✅ Shifting from RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) to fine-tuned smaller models ✅ Increased use of model routing and intelligent cost controls ✅ A return to traditional software and "good old-fashioned AI" ✅ Better AI harnesses and domain-specific architectures ✅ Edge AI and on-device inference ✅ More human-in-the-loop systems instead of autonomous agents ✅ Greater budget governance and AI spending controls ✅ Increased focus on AI ROI and business outcomes ✅ Re-evaluating automation projects as costs change I also discuss why the economics of AI may be fundamentally different from traditional software and cloud computing, including the concept of rival vs. non-rival goods, and why GPU-intensive AI services may not scale economically in the way many assume. Whether you're a business leader, technologist, policymaker, or AI enthusiast, this episode offers a practical framework for thinking about the future economics of artificial intelligence. Connect With Me 📖 Book: People Management: Ground Up for Aspiring Leaders [https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT] 💼 LinkedIn: Pete Dempsey [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/] 🤖 Course: Partnering with AI Agents for Business Success [https://www.linkedin.com/learning/partnering-with-ai-agents-for-business-success-by-pearson/] 🌐 Website: PeterDempseyWrites.com [https://peterdempseywrites.com/] 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe Here [https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/] 🦋 Bluesky: Follow on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social] 📺 YouTube: Talk To Me Petey D 🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025] 🎧 Spotify: Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0]

Ep. 59 Can AI Solve FOMO?

Knowledge workers—especially people managers—feel constant pressure to stay on top of everything happening across their teams, companies, and industries. AI promises a solution: summarize everything, surface what matters, and eliminate the fear of missing out (FOMO). But does it actually work? In this episode of Talk To Me Petey D, we break down the reality: Why AI can’t solve the “infinite buffer” problem How frictionless tech (like email and AI) actually increases information overload The real limit: human cognitive capacity Where AI does help (better organization, search, and reducing context switching) The hidden risks around privacy, behavior change, and over-recording conversations Most importantly: Why embracing JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out) might be the real productivity strategy for leaders. If you’re a manager, knowledge worker, or anyone trying to keep up in the AI era—this one is for you. 👉 Key Takeaway: AI can help you organize and retrieve information—but it can’t decide what matters. Prioritization is still your job. 📌 Check out more: Book: https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/ Partnering with AI Agents for Business Success: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/partnering-with-ai-agents-for-business-success-by-pearson/ Website: https://peterdempseywrites.com/ Newsletter: https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this resonates.

Ep. 58: Six Principles of Responsible AI

What does “Responsible AI” actually mean—and why does it matter for builders, leaders, and users of AI systems? In Episode 58 of Talk To Me Petey D, we break down the six core principles of Responsible AI and explore how they apply across the full lifecycle of AI systems—from design and development to deployment and ongoing operations. Responsible AI isn’t just theory—it’s an industry best practice and a critical framework for balancing innovation with ethics, risk, and real-world impact. 🔍 In this episode: * What Responsible AI really means (and why definitions vary) * Why AI systems need guardrails—not just rules * The tradeoffs between minimizing harm vs. eliminating it * How Responsible AI functions as both an ethical framework and a business risk strategy * The importance of ongoing monitoring and operational accountability 🧭 The Six Principles of Responsible AI: * Fairness – Defining and measuring equitable outcomes * Reliability & Safety – Ensuring systems perform as expected—even under edge cases * Privacy & Security – Protecting valuable and sensitive data * Inclusiveness – Designing for diverse users and real-world scenarios * Transparency – Understanding how and why decisions are made * Accountability – Humans ultimately own the outcomes Whether you’re building AI systems or just trying to better understand how they shape the world, this episode will give you a clear, practical foundation for thinking about Responsible AI. 🔗 Connect with me: * 📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT [https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT] * 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/] * 🌐 Website: https://peterdempseywrites.com/ [https://peterdempseywrites.com/] * 📰 Newsletter: https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/ [https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/] * 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social] 🎧 Listen to the podcast: * ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD [http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD] * 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025] * 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0] 👍 If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with others interested in AI, leadership, and the future of knowledge work.

Ep. 57: AI Datacenters Explained

AI data centers are at the center of today’s technology boom — but what are they, really?  In this episode of Talk To Me Petey D, I break down the fundamentals of AI data centers in plain language: what they are, how they work, why companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars building them, and what it all means for jobs, the economy, and local communities.  We go beyond the headlines and look at:  The difference between traditional data centers and AI data centers Why GPUs changed everything How cloud economics drive massive infrastructure investment The real-world tradeoffs: energy use, water consumption, and environmental impact Why communities are pushing back on new data center projects  If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually powering AI systems like ChatGPT—or why these facilities are showing up in neighborhoods across the country—this episode gives you the full picture.  This is part of the AI Literacy Series, where I break down the concepts shaping our world in a way that’s practical and accessible. 🔗 Follow & Connect * 📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT * 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/ * 🌐 Website: https://peterdempseywrites.com/ * 📰 Newsletter: https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/ * 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social * ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD * 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025 * 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0

Ep. 56: AI Literacy – Mental Health

Can AI really replace a human therapist? In this episode of Talk To Me Petey D, we continue the AI Literacy series by digging into one of the most sensitive and high‑stakes domains for artificial intelligence: mental health. We look back at ELIZA, the earliest AI “therapist” from the 1960s, and trace how its lessons still apply to modern large language models like ChatGPT. While today’s systems are far more powerful, many of the same human behaviors—and risks—remain. In this episode, we explore: * Why people project understanding onto AI systems * What ELIZA teaches us about human‑AI interaction * The dangers of non‑deterministic, probabilistic responses in mental health contexts * Why many AI mental health tools are labeled “wellness” or “entertainment” apps * Where AI can be helpful (information, routines, planning) * Where AI should not replace human care * Ethical concerns around safety, accountability, and data privacy This episode is about using AI responsibly, especially when human well‑being is on the line. 🎧 Listen, reflect, and build stronger AI literacy—because not everything that’s possible is ethical. 🔗 Links & Resources 📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT [https://www.amazon.com/People-Management-Ground-Up-Aspiring/dp/B0DBGQ57XT] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-dempsey/] 🌐 Website: https://peterdempseywrites.com/ [https://peterdempseywrites.com/] ✉️ Newsletter: https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/ [https://peterdempseywrites.com/newsletter/] 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/petedempsey.bsky.social] ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD [http://www.youtube.com/@TalkToMePeteyD] 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-me-petey-d/id1745885025] 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4NrlsWzansuCfuApMCZzj0]