In this episode we sit down with Sheamus McGovern, founder of the Open Data Science Conference (ODSC AI), to unpack what AI actually looks like. Sheamus shares what’s really happening behind the scenes of the AI boom and why the biggest shift isn’t job loss, but a complete transformation of skills. From explaining why AI is reshaping—not replacing—jobs, to breaking down the gap between hype and real-world applications, this conversation explores how early algorithmic trading foreshadowed today’s AI revolution, why open-source tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch changed everything, what the “AI Skill Flip” means for your career, and why even data scientists are questioning their future. Along the way, the biggest mistake people make when trying to learn AI, and why the smartest approach isn’t to learn everything—but to start intentionally and build from there.

Timestamps

00:00 – The biggest misconception about AI

02:00 – Algorithmic trading and the origins of AI in finance

05:00 – The birth of ODSC AI and the data science movement

09:30 – Breakthrough moments in AI

16:30 – Democratization of AI and open-source tools

19:00 –The AI Skill Flip

24:00 – The truth about AI replacing jobs

27:00 – Real-world AI success stories

32:30 – How to actually start learning AI today

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