In this episode, Neil and Eric break down the rise of AI hype versus real usage, using Harvey AI, Microsoft Copilot, and ZoomInfo as case studies. They discuss $8B AI valuations, low user adoption, retention challenges, and why paying for AI does not equal value. The conversation covers venture capital incentives, SaaS economics, AI theater, and what actually drives ROI in sales, marketing, and engineering. The key question: are companies buying AI for results or optics, and when will real value show up?

Key Takeaways:

-AI revenue ≠ AI usage

-Valuations are outpacing adoption

-Monthly recurring value matters more than ARR

Chapters:

(00:00) Harvey AI valuation surge

(01:06) AI usage vs paid licenses

(02:20) VC incentives vs PE reality

(04:06) Retention and adoption issues

(06:22) Copilot enterprise usage data

(07:58) AI impact on sales teams

(10:01) ZoomInfo AI ROI breakdown

(16:25) AI SEO vs traditional SEO