Generative AI is moving fast, but most organizations aren’t. Tim Creasey and Paul Gonzalez have spent their careers studying why. As leaders at Prosci, they’ve worked with thousands of teams navigating complex change, and in this episode they share what their research says about the human side of transformation.

They discuss why traditional tactics like comms and training break down in the face of rapid AI adoption, and how successful organizations create the conditions for people to actually change. From hands-on leadership and peer-driven learning to the power of experimentation and the ADKAR model, this conversation is packed with practical tools and hard-earned insights.

Tim and Paul also explore how AI is reshaping organizational structures, what “exposure hours” reveal about executive readiness, and why culture beats mandates every time. Whether you’re leading change or stuck inside it, this episode offers a grounded look at what actually works when everything is in motion.

Key takeaways:

• Bold vision is not enough - it also needs to be balanced
  The most effective AI leaders communicate both where the organization is going and what teams are doing right now to get there. Prosci’s research shows that near-term clarity matters just as much as long-term ambition.
• Leaders need to use the tools themselves
  Tim and Paul introduce the idea of “exposure hours” as a leading indicator of readiness. The more time executives spend actively experimenting with AI, the better positioned they are to lead transformation.
• Experimentation requires structure and safety
  Organizations can’t just tell people to try new things. They need to carve out time, reduce the stakes, and make experimentation a shared and visible part of how work gets done.
• Real change still happens one person at a time
  Despite all the new tech, the fundamentals haven’t changed. Individuals need awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement to adopt new behaviors. Prosci’s ADKAR model remains essential for making change stick.

LinkedIn: Prosci: LinkedIn
Website: Prosci | The Global Leader in Change Management Solutions

00:00 Introduction to Change Management and AI Adoption
00:25 Meet the Experts: Tim Creasey and Paul Gonzalez
01:51 The Challenges of Change Management
04:07 Generative AI Transformation: Unique Challenges
07:44 Key Ingredients for Successful AI Adoption
15:18 Building a Culture of Experimentation
20:43 The Role of Leadership in AI Transformation
25:54 Future Organizational Designs with AI
27:02 Disruptive Organizational Changes
28:00 Examples of Innovative Enterprises
28:15 Military Analogies in Business
29:30 Challenges in Organizational Change
30:36 Timeless Principles of Change Management
31:36 The Role of Leadership in Change
33:13 ADKAR Model for Change
35:51 Addressing Resistance to Change
40:05 Effective Communication Strategies
47:48 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How Science Suggests You Change Your Organization - with Prosci’s Tim Creasey and Paul Gonzalez |

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

Applied Intuition builds the kind of AI you don’t see, but can’t live without. Co-founders Qasar Younis and Peter Ludwig share how their $15 billion company powers vehicle intelligence across cars, trucks, tanks, mining equipment, and defense systems operating in some of the most demanding conditions on earth.

They explain why combining AI with safety-critical systems raises the stakes, how a single mistake can destroy an entire company, and why so many autonomy startups ended up in the “graveyard.” The conversation explores the slow, methodical path to real autonomy, the hidden complexity of machines that run nonstop, and why consumer AI metaphors break down once software meets the physical world.

Qasar and Peter also reflect on how Applied uses AI internally, how their principle of “radical pragmatism” keeps innovation grounded, and what it takes to move fast without breaking things when lives and livelihoods are on the line. From six-figure labor shortages in remote mines to the future of defense and logistics, this episode reveals how AI is quietly transforming the physical world — one carefully coded system at a time.

Key Takeaways:

• Safety changes everything about AI
  When AI moves from the screen to the real world, the rules change. Qasar and Peter explain why building for trucks, tanks, and jets demands a different kind of discipline — one where precision and safety replace speed and iteration.
• The graveyard of autonomy is real
  There’s a long list of companies that underestimated what it takes to build safe, reliable autonomy. Applied Intuition’s founders share what went wrong — and why moving slower has been their biggest advantage.
• Radical pragmatism is the hidden differentiator
  Inside Applied Intuition, “radical pragmatism” isn’t a slogan — it’s a practice. Qasar and Peter describe how it guides product decisions, culture, and leadership, helping them innovate in places where failure isn’t an option.
• The next frontier of AI is off the screen
  From mines to military systems, the future of AI won’t be chatbots — it will be machines that think, move, and decide in the physical world. Jeremy and Henrik reflect on how that shift raises the bar for builders, leaders, and the technology itself.

Applied Intuition: http://applied.co/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/Applied
X: https://x.com/Applied

00:00 Intro: Safety Critical Systems
00:33 Meet the Founders of Applied Intuition
01:09 Understanding Applied Intuition's Unique Approach
03:02 The Human-Machine Teaming Concept
07:26 Challenges in Autonomous Driving
16:39 AI in Industrial Applications
28:27 Future of Fighter Jets and AI
29:50 AI in Applied: Coding Tools and Beyond
33:16 Radical Pragmatism and AI Integration
36:03 Challenges of AI Adoption in Large Organizations
39:56 Human and Technical Challenges in AI
42:02 Innovation and Organizational Structure
48:38 Reflections on AI and Future Prospects

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of You Can’t Vibe Code a 100-Ton Truck: Inside Applied Intuition’s Approach to Safety-Critical AI

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

As Head of IBM Consulting, Mohamad Ali led one of the most ambitious enterprise AI transformations to date. By making IBM its own “Client Zero,” his team tested every AI solution internally before bringing it to market. The effort began with massive hackathons involving 150,000 employees, turning curiosity into capability and belief at scale. 

Mohamad shares how leadership alignment, process redesign, and broad employee engagement drove $3.5 billion in cost savings and renewed growth. Jeremy and Henrik reflect on why IBM’s model may signal the next evolution of consulting — where organizations act as their own laboratories for change

Key Takeaways:

• Start with Yourself: “Client Zero” Works
  IBM transformed internally before advising clients, using its own systems as a testing ground. This allowed the team to validate AI tools, workflows, and cultural shifts in real conditions, creating credibility and clarity before going to market.
• Transformation Needs More Than Tech
  Success came from a mix of technical leadership, process redesign, and cultural momentum. AI wasn’t just layered on; it was embedded into workflows, backed by leadership buy-in, and powered by 150,000 employees who participated in company-wide hackathons.
• Digital Labor Is Reshaping Business Models
  IBM automated most transactional HR tasks with AI tools like AskHR, driving a 40% reduction in HR operating costs — a look at how hybrid human–AI teams transform services.
  Measure and Share the Impact
  Transformation became real when IBM tied outcomes to business metrics. By reporting $3.5 billion dollars in savings and tracking results with the CFO, IBM showed how to make AI adoption tangible, accountable, and visible to both employees and investors.

LinkedIn: Mohamad Ali - IBM | LinkedIn
IBM: IBM

00:00 Intro: HR Automation
00:41 Introduction of Mohamed Ali and IBM's Transformation
01:14 IBM's Enterprise Transformation
01:41 The Role of AI in IBM's Success
03:25 Rejoining IBM: A Strategic Decision
04:33 Key Components of AI Implementation
07:21 Employee Engagement and Hackathons
08:59 Technical Leadership and AI
10:37 Global Tax Optimization with AI
11:17 Scaling AI Solutions for Clients
22:00 Monetizing Digital Labor
26:50 Digital Labor and Procurement Projects
27:29 Unbundling and Economic Implications
28:44 Technological Shifts and Market Expansion
30:04 AI-Powered Business Transformations
32:22 Case Study: L'Oreal's AI Integration
39:13 HR Automation and Cost Reduction
42:09 Creative Innovations in AI Applications
43:59 Advice for Leaders on AI Integration
45:43 Final thoughts

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How IBM Used AI to Cut 40% of HR Operating Costs and Reinvest in the Company |

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

Martin Reeves has spent decades advising CEOs on how to think about strategy. As head of BCG’s Henderson Institute, he has built a career challenging leaders to balance efficiency with imagination and to prepare for the next disruptive shift.

In this conversation, Martin tells Henrik and Jeremy why AI alone will not give companies an edge and might even strip them of advantage. He unpacks the “two jobs of business”: playing the current game better than anyone else while simultaneously asking what the next game will be. He argues that AI only sharpens this paradox, forcing leaders to think faster, experiment more, and draw on human imagination in new ways.

The discussion covers the risks of over-optimization, the future of consulting, and the paradoxes of AI adoption. Along the way, Reeves explains how AI can accelerate exploration, why framing the right questions is the strategist’s most important job, and why times of disruption are when number twos become number ones or disappear altogether.

Key Takeaways: 

• Strategy is the double game
  Long-term success means playing today’s game efficiently while also inventing tomorrow’s. Henrik and Jeremy stress how rare it is for leaders to do both, yet this is exactly what AI demands.
• AI efficiency without imagination is a trap
  Adopting the same tools as competitors drives efficiency but commoditizes advantage. The hosts underline that imagination and unique use are what create real differentiation.
• The strategist’s edge is asking the right question
  Martin highlights that strategy starts with framing the real question. Henrik and Jeremy note that questioning and cognitive diversity are crucial in the AI era.
• Disruption reshuffles winners and losers
  Times of change are when number twos become number ones and leaders disappear. The wrap-up emphasizes the urgency of experimenting and adapting now.
• Human imagination stays essential
  AI can accelerate exploration, but creativity, ethics, and originality remain uniquely human — and decisive for future leadership.

LinkedIn: Martin Reeves | LinkedIn
BCG Henderson Institute: Home - BCG Henderson Institute
Martins books: The Imagination Machine // Like: The Button That Changed the World

00:00 Intro: Two Jobs in Strategy, Today’s Game and Tomorrow’s Game
01:33 Martin Reeves and the Henderson Institute
04:02 Defining Strategy in the AI Era
05:12 AI and Human Imagination
09:20 Efficiency vs. Competitive Advantage
13:18 Organizational Design for the Future
23:09 The Paradox of Imagination in Business
33:02 Harnessing Serendipity for Innovation
35:18 Devil’s Advocacy and Meeting Optimization
36:51 Where AI Helps and Hurts Organizations
38:16 The Limits of AI Training Data
42:56 How Martin Uses AI Day to Day
47:09 What’s the Next Game for Consulting
53:15 Final Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How Do You Strategize in the AI Era? – with Martin Reeves, Head of BCG’s Think Tank

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

Adam Brotman and Andy Sack sit down with Henrik and Jeremy to unpack their book AI First and the framework they have developed for leaders. They argue that AI is not just another technology wave but a leadership reset that demands new playbooks, new structures and new ways of thinking.

They explain why AI should be seen as an augmentation of human intelligence, an “Ironman suit” for leaders, and how mindset, experimentation and governance are essential to adoption. The conversation also explores organizational redesign, the role of executives in fostering AI literacy and the urgency of adapting quickly as the technology advances.

This episode offers a practical and forward-looking discussion on how leaders can integrate AI across their organizations, build cultures of experimentation and future-proof their businesses in a rapidly changing landscape.

Key Takeaways: 

• AI is a leadership reset, not just a technology shift.
  Adam and Andy argue that AI demands a new playbook for leaders. It is not simply another tool, like mobile or digital before it, but a force that changes how companies are structured, how decisions are made, and how leaders must think about competition.
• AI should be treated as a co-intelligence tool — an “Ironman suit” for leaders.
  Instead of replacing humans, AI augments their capabilities. Leaders who embrace AI can make smarter, faster decisions and guide their organizations more effectively. The metaphor of the Ironman suit captures this idea of augmentation rather than substitution.
• Culture and experimentation matter more than the tools.
  Mindset, governance, and a willingness to experiment are the foundations of becoming AI-first. Adam and Andy stress that companies need structures like AI councils, experimentation frameworks, and a culture that celebrates rapid prototyping in order to integrate AI across the organization.
• The urgency is real: companies that delay will fall behind.
  Jeremy and Henrik underline this in their closing reflections — businesses cannot treat AI as optional or wait for perfect clarity. The pace of change is accelerating, and organizations that don’t engage now risk losing ground permanently, while those that act can reinvent themselves and secure long-term advantage.

Forum3: Digital Strategy for the AI Era | Forum3
AI First book: AI First Book | Forum3
Andy LinkedIn: Andy Sack | LinkedIn
Adam LinkedIn: Adam Brotman | LinkedIn

00:00 Intro: The Urgency of AI
00:19 Meet the Authors & The Premise of AI First
03:43 Defining an AI-Forward Leader
05:02 Adoption, Resistance & the AI Wake-Up Call
08:01 Why Mindset Matters More Than Tools
09:39 Experimentation, Governance & AI Culture
14:09 Re-architecting Organizations for AI
28:42 Balancing Innovation and Safety
35:45 The Evolution of AI Safety
37:46 Open Source vs. Closed Source Debate
40:07 AI’s Role in Organizational Agility
41:32 Human Augmentation & Co-Intelligence
42:34 The Future of AI and Autonomous Agents
46:14 Prototyping, Vibe Coding & Rapid Innovation
54:02 The Future of Organizational Design & Final Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of The AI Playbook Every Leader Needs: A Chat With Adam Brotman & Andy Sack

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

In a shift from the usual format, Henrik Werdelin steps into the guest seat—alongside Nicholas Thorne—for a live conversation with Jeremy Utley about their new book Me, My Customer, and AI. They explore what it takes for entrepreneurs to compete in the age of AI — from redefining resourcefulness to thinking like founders, even inside a job.

The discussion dives into the book’s central frameworks, including the Five Ps (powers, passions, possessions, positions, and potentials) and the “it sucks that…” approach to identifying real problems worth solving. Along the way, they reflect on how AI is changing the leap from idea to execution, why more people may need to think entrepreneurially, and the shift from operating to orchestrating.

They also share lessons from the writing process itself—how they tried to use AI, where it fell short, and why Me, My Customer, and AI ends when it does.

This episode isn’t just about launching a book. It’s about rediscovering agency, and the questions we all need to ask when starting something new.

Key Takeaways: 

• This isn’t a book about AI—it’s a book about you.
  Henrik and Nicholas share how the real questions emerging from AI are deeply human ones. The book focuses first on self-understanding, then on the customer, with AI as the third piece—not the center.
• The Five Ps framework helps you figure out what to build—and why.
  Powers, passions, possessions, positions, and potentials offer a structured way to explore personal founder-market fit. It’s a tool for generating ideas, but also for stress-testing them.
• Real problems often hide in plain sight—it just sucks that no one’s solved them.
  Using the phrase “it sucks that…” makes it easier to spot problems worth solving. It’s simple, emotional, and sharp enough to cut through vague ideas and find what really matters to people.
• Entrepreneurial thinking isn’t just for founders anymore.
  In a world shaped by AI agents and fluid roles, more people will need to act like entrepreneurs—taking initiative, connecting dots, and orchestrating rather than operating.

Book site: Me, My Customer and AI - The New Rules of Entrepreneurship
Buy the book: Amazon.com: Me, My Customer, and AI: The New Rules of Entrepreneurship
Audos: Audos
Audos Instagram: Direct • Instagram 
Nicholas LinkedIn: Nicholas Thorne | LinkedIn

00:00 Intro: The Human Questions Behind AI
00:37 Personal Reflections on AI
01:26 The Book’s Unique Perspective
02:55 AI and Human Resourcefulness
05:46 Entrepreneurship in the AI Era
13:05 The Five Ps Framework
23:53 Identifying Real Problems
25:39 Why Identifying and Reframing Problems Matters
26:27 The Concept of “It Sucks That”
27:23 Historical Context and Practical Applications
28:22 The Role of Language in Problem-Solving
29:43 AI’s Influence on Writing and Creativity
31:47 Challenges and Limitations of AI in Writing
35:38 The Future of AI in Creative Processes
43:30 Entrepreneurial Skills for the Modern Era
48:26 Audience Interaction and Final Thoughts

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How Entrepreneurs Can Compete in the Age of AI: Henrik Werdelin & Nicholas Thorne on Their New Book Me, My Customer and AI

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

Wade Foster, co-founder and CEO of Zapier, joins Henrik and Jeremy to talk about how AI is changing the company from the inside out. He shares the moment Zapier declared a “code red” on AI and the steps they took to turn urgency into action — encouraging more experiments, removing tolerance for inaction, and celebrating wins along the way.

Wade discusses his own AI use cases, the importance of internal examples in driving adoption, and why duplication of efforts can speed up learning. He reflects on the leadership challenge of guiding a 14-year-old company through cultural transformation, balancing productivity gains with employee well-being, and preparing for a future where AI agents work with each other.

This episode offers a clear, practical look at what it takes to embed AI into an established organization, and keep it moving forward.

Key Takeaways:

• A “code red” can be a catalyst for real change.
  When Zapier declared a company-wide “code red” on AI, it wasn’t just a signal. It pushed people to experiment more, act faster, and rethink established ways of working.
• Culture is harder to change than technology.
  The real challenge wasn’t getting the tools in place, it was getting people to use them. Zapier’s approach focused on rewarding curiosity, sharing internal examples, and removing tolerance for inaction.
• Duplication can drive innovation.
  Instead of centralizing all AI projects, Zapier encouraged parallel efforts. When multiple teams tackled similar problems, they often uncovered different and better solutions more quickly.
• Leadership in the AI era is about speed and sustainability.
  Henrik and Jeremy highlight how Wade’s approach blends urgency with care for the people doing the work. Productivity gains matter, but so does avoiding burnout and making AI adoption last.

Zapier: Zapier: Automate AI Workflows, Agents, and Apps
LinkedIn: Wade Foster | LinkedIn

00:00 Setting Company Culture: Rewards and Tolerances
00:43 The Rise of AI at Zapier
02:19 Wade's Social Media Presence
05:06 Challenges in AI Adoption
07:32 Personal Use of AI: Health Tracking
10:21 Business Applications of AI
13:34 Automating Repetitive Tasks
20:35 Voice of Customer Program
24:26 Customer Brief Generator
33:27 Code Red: Embracing AI
35:32 Subtle Encouragement and the Impact of GPT-4
36:38 Code Red: A Turning Point
36:51 Embracing AI: From Fear to Familiarity
38:13 The Journey to AI Adoption
39:11 Challenges in Organizational Change
40:41 Managing Resistance and Encouraging Experimentation
43:55 Building a Remote Culture with AI
46:29 The Future of Work and AI
48:33 Agent-to-Agent Communication
51:32 The Importance of Duplication in Innovation
56:43 Final Thoughts

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Inside Zapier’s Code Red: How CEO Wade Foster Hit Pause to Reinvent for AI

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

In this episode, Evan Ratliff, journalist and creator of the podcast Shell Game, shares the wild and personal story behind his experiment in AI voice cloning. What began as curiosity turned into a six-month dive into building an AI version of himself—one that could answer phone calls, conduct interviews, and even fool friends and family. From scamming the scammers to testing AI therapy, Evan walks us through what it’s like to put a synthetic version of yourself into the world and watch how people respond.

The conversation explores the uneasy collision of identity, automation, and ethics. Evan talks about the emotional reactions people had when they realized they weren’t actually talking to him, the disturbing effectiveness of AI in fraud, and the strange intimacy of hearing your own voice say things you didn’t write. He also reflects on what it means to resist optimization—not because tech can’t help, but because some parts of life aren’t meant to be outsourced.

This episode is a human story wrapped inside a technological one—about trust, loneliness, and how we navigate a world where even our voices aren’t entirely our own.

Key takeaways: 

• AI voice agents challenge more than trust—they challenge identity.
  Evan’s experiment revealed just how disorienting it is when people hear your voice and think it’s you—only to realize it’s not. The emotional impact was real: friends felt tricked, disconnected, and in some cases, deeply lonely.
• Scammers are already using AI—and they’re getting better at it.
  Far from being hypothetical, AI-powered scams are already widespread and industrialized. Voice cloning isn’t just a curiosity—it’s a weapon, and we’re all potential targets. A family safe word might be your best defense.
• Not everything should be optimized—and maybe that’s the point.
  Evan pushes back on the idea that life should be frictionless. In the pursuit of efficiency, we risk removing the small, inconvenient interactions that actually make life meaningful—like small talk, shared confusion, and human error.
• This moment feels like early social media—and we should be paying attention.
  Henrik and Jeremy reflect on the eerie parallels between today’s AI boom and the rise of the social web. Back then, few anticipated the long-term impact on mental health and connection. With AI, we may be walking into similar territory—unless we ask harder questions now.

LinkedIn: Evan Ratliff | LinkedIn
Website: Evan Ratliff – Journalist
Shell Game Podcast: Shell Game | Evan Ratliff
NY Times article referred to: Nytimes/ThisMachine-madeWorldConquersOneMoreRebel

00:00 Intro: Thoughts on AI Deception
00:40 Meet Evan Ratliff: Technology, Crime, and Identity
01:13 The Shell Game Podcast: Exploring AI Voice Cloning
03:50 Challenges and Improvements in AI Voice Technology
04:57 Inspiration Behind the Voice Cloning Experiment
11:05 Practical Applications and Ethical Considerations
17:31 AI in Scamming: Risks and Realities
25:04 Protecting Yourself from AI Scams
27:49 Reflecting on Technological Change and Human Adaptation
29:59 The Reluctance to Embrace New Technology
30:36 The Dangers of Social Media
31:59 AI in Therapy and Personal Experiences
33:39 Creating an AI Agent of Yourself
38:09 The Challenges of Small Talk with AI
38:55 Personal Tech Stack and AI Usage
42:59 Balancing Efficiency and Meaningfulness
45:32 The Future of AI and Human Interaction
52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Can AI Replace Me? Evan Ratliff on Letting an AI Clone Live His Life

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

In this episode, Jeff Benjamin, Global CCO of Tombras, shares how AI helps him get unstuck, build confidence, and push bold ideas forward—even when self-doubt creeps in. From romcom scripts to Arby’s pitches, he shows how AI acts as a sparring partner: sharpening thinking, stress-testing ideas, and keeping momentum alive.

We get into what separates distinct from generic, why affirmation can be a trap, and how the urge to share is still at the heart of creativity. If you're chasing big ideas—or just trying to beat the blank page—this one hits home.

Key Takeaways:

• Affirmation builds momentum—but can also blind you — One of AI’s biggest features is how confidently it backs you up. That “glazing” energy feels great—but if you don’t challenge it, you risk falling in love with something average. Confidence needs a counterbalance: taste.
• The best prompt is a person—not a question — Jeff gets better output by asking AI to role-play voices he respects—like Don Draper or a cold war-era Olympic judge. The magic isn’t in better instructions. It’s in asking from a more interesting perspective.
• Your idea is ready when it bubbles over — Jeff doesn’t go to his team with half-baked concepts. He waits until the idea is bubbling—when he can’t not share it. That moment is emotional, not procedural. AI helps him reach it faster—but the instinct to share is still deeply human.
• Big ideas have width—AI helps him see the shape — For Jeff, a great idea isn’t a line—it’s a landscape. If it’s a real “big idea,” it spawns more ideas: social angles, activations, scripts. AI helps him test whether a concept has legs—or if it’s just a clever line with no room to run.

Jeff's LinkedIn: Jeff Benjamin | LinkedIn
Tombras: Tombras | Full-Service Independent Advertising Agency

00:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt in Business
00:37 Meet Jeff Benjamin: Creative Leader at Tombras
00:56 The Role of AI in Creative Processes
02:24 Using AI as a Sparring Partner
04:34 Practical Examples of AI in Action
09:31 The Impact of AI on Team Dynamics
11:37 Balancing AI and Human Creativity
14:13 The Future of AI in Creative Industries
21:06 Exploring Human Skills for AI Mastery
22:09 The Art of Asking Better Questions
22:40 AI as a Creative Partner
24:41 The Excitement of Sharing Ideas
30:09 Generational Differences in AI Interaction
32:35 The Risk of AI Dehumanization
38:19 Concluding Thoughts

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How the Chief Creative Officer of an Award-Winning Ad Agency Prompts the Perfect Pitch

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen. 

In this episode, Joshua To, VP of Product Design at Meta, shares how AI is reshaping how—and where—we interact with technology. He walks us through Meta’s evolving approach to AR and wearables, why notifications are still the killer use case, and how AI is becoming the “brain behind empathy.”

We dig into what it means to build interfaces that understand you, why audio might be the future’s most underrated platform, and how designing for emotion changes everything—from form factor to function. Joshua also reflects on his path from launching a clothing brand to leading design at Google and Meta, and what those worlds taught him about craft, context, and human-centered systems.

This one’s for anyone designing AI into the real world—where every interface choice carries weight, and intelligence starts with listening.

Key takeaways: 

• Empathy Is the Real Intelligence — Joshua flips the definition of smart tech. It’s not just about outputs—it’s about understanding you. Context, tone, emotion—that’s what great AI will sense and respond to.
• Design for the Moment, Not the Feed — AR’s killer use case isn’t games—it’s restraint. Joshua shares why the best AI product might just be the one that knows not to ping you. Context-aware computing is the real unlock.
• Audio Is the Interface to Watch — Forget screens. The most powerful interface might be your ears. From wearables to ambient signals, Joshua explains why audio design is the next big frontier for human-centered AI.
• AR Isn’t a Feature—It’s a System of Consideration — Joshua reframes augmented reality as quiet, ambient infrastructure. The real power of AR isn’t spectacle—it’s subtlety. It helps you move through the world with less friction, not more.

LinkedIn: Joshua To | LinkedIn
Website: Home - Joshua To
Meta: Meta Careers

00:00 Intro: Fixing Notifications With AI
00:54 Meet Josh: VP of Product Design at Meta
02:06 From Hoodies to Hardware: Josh's Journey
03:53 The Google Experience: From Ads to Product Management
10:37 The Evolution of Google Glass and AR
19:12 The Role of AI in Josh's Career
22:25 Designing the Future: AR, VR, and Attention Management
32:49 Contextually Aware Suggestions
33:38 Leveraging Generative AI in Design
34:52 AI's Role in Concept Art and Storyboarding
41:24 AI Tools and Model Capabilities
45:54 The Future of AI and Wearables
51:58 Reflections and Takeaways

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Chief of Staff for the Masses: How Meta’s Joshua To Designs Wearables with AI

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.