Context engineering is more than just the latest AI buzzword—it’s shaping up to be the future of how we build truly intelligent systems. In this episode of In The Loop, I explore the shift from prompt engineering to context engineering, why this evolution matters, and how it impacts the effectiveness of AI agents. If you’ve ever wondered why some AI tools feel magical while others fall flat, context engineering holds the answer.

I unpack what "context" actually means in the world of AI—from prompts and system instructions to long-term memory and external data. You’ll hear how building multi-agent systems without proper context coordination often fails, and why simpler, sequenced workflows are currently more effective. Whether you’re building AI products or simply using tools like ChatGPT, this episode will change how you think about how they work.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(01:00) - What is context engineering—and how is it different from prompt engineering?

(09:20) - What role are orchestration and multi-agent systems help maintain context and improve p

(16:05) - The impact of context engineering: personalization, privacy, and better UX

(16:00) - Closing thoughts: what this means for the future of AI

🔗 Links & Resources:

📖 Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

🤝 We’re Social

Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast.

Jack Houghton

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/

TikTok - @jackschats

Mindset Ai

Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B

Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI

TikTok - @get.mindset.ai

In this episode of In the Loop, I bring you a very top-of-mind topic: how AI is transforming the job market—but this time, we’ll focus on the jobs AI will create. I unpack a recent New York Times article that outlines 22 new roles AI is expected to create, and contrast it with a powerful historical perspective on the Luddites, offering a surprising lens on the current AI discourse.

This isn't just about technology—it's about people, work, and the way progress reshapes our lives. From fears of job loss to the deeper ethical and societal implications, I explore the big questions: Should we slow down innovation to protect current livelihoods? Or do we owe it to the future to push forward, even if the transition is tough? Whether you're anxious or excited about AI, this episode brings clarity, context, and a little hope.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:50) - Exploring the global tension around AI and economic anxiety.

(04:50) - A little history: Did the Luddites have a point? What they really fought for and what we can learn.

(09:20) - Why today’s comforts are built on past generations’ risks.

(11:15) - AI job displacement vs. AI job creation: 22 new jobs AI will create.

(16:25) - Closing thoughts: Compassion for a successful AI transition.

🔗 Links & Resources

New York Times article: 22 New Jobs AI Could Give You

Episode transcript with more resources on the Mindset AI blog

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

🤝 We’re Social

Stay in the loop—even when you’re not listening to this podcast.

Jack Houghton

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-houghton1/

TikTok - @jackschats

Mindset Ai

Mindset AI website - https://bit.ly/40lJr6B

Newsletter - https://bit.ly/ITLnewsletter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindset-ai/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetMindsetAI

TikTok - @get.mindset.ai

This week, I’m diving into one of the most insightful pieces of research I’ve come across lately—a report by a16z based on interviews with over 100 enterprise CIOs across five industries. If you’re building, selling, or using AI in a big company—or just trying to understand how enterprise AI is evolving—you’ll want to hear what’s really driving AI adoption at scale.

In this episode of In The Loop, I break down three of the most interesting trends from the report that totally shifted how I think about enterprise AI today. From the dramatic shift from “build” to “buy,” to a budget explosion that shows just how serious companies are about integrating AI, to how wrong we all were about model consolidation—this research is packed with mind-blowing insights.

Whether you're a SaaS founder, enterprise tech leader, or AI enthusiast, there's something in here for you.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(01:00) – Why enterprises are ditching "build" for "buy" when it comes to AI solutions

(06:40) – Budget explosion: AI spending grows 75% beyond expectations

(09:55) – Customer-facing AI: the next wave of enterprise adoption

(11:10) – How wrong we were about LLM consolidation—and why multi-model is the future

(16:45) – What this all means for builders: why it’s time to move faster than ever

Links & Resources

🤖 Check out Mindset AI’s customer-facing embed AI agents

📊 a16z How 100 Enterprise CIOs Are Building and Buying Gen AI in 2025

📖 Episode transcript + graphs on the Mindset AI blog

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

In this episode of In The Loop, I unpack what feels like a turning point for Apple—and not in a good way. From a lackluster WWDC 2025 filled with buzzwords instead of breakthroughs, to a baffling research paper, The Illusion Of Thinking, that downplays the entire AI industry, Apple seems more confused than ever about its future.

And then comes the gut punch: Jony Ive, the design visionary behind nearly every iconic Apple product, has joined forces with OpenAI to shape the next era of AI hardware. It’s a move that says more about Apple’s current state than any press release or gimmicky marketing campaign ever could.

I’ll break down the three major signals that Apple may be spiraling.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:50) - Apple WWDC 2025 keynote letdown: Liquid Glass instead of Siri innovation

(02:50) - Reason 1: Siri’s downward spiral and Apple’s decade-long AI fumble

(07:05) - Reason 2: The controversial Apple research paper on AI reasoning (The Illusion of Thinking)

(11:10) - Reason 3: Jony Ive joins OpenAI to design the next generation of AI devices

(13:50) - The big takeaway: Apple’s lost identity and the cost of playing it safe

🔗Links & Resources:

🎧 EP9 - Apple’s AI Crisis Exposed: Is It Having A Nokia Moment?

🍎 Apple’s The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

Mary Meeker is back after six years with a deep dive into AI—and in this episode of In The Loop, I break it down and explain why this technology isn’t just another trend. From lightning-fast adoption to its global reach and disruptive potential, I explore how AI is unfolding in ways no tech ever has before.

But beyond the big headlines, I also dig into the real-world implications. What’s actually working when it comes to AI implementation? Where is the hype overshooting the reality? I share where the real value is being created—and why most of it isn’t happening where you’d expect. If you want a grounded, honest take on the state of AI right now, this one’s for you.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(01:00) - How AI adoption is outpacing every tech wave before it

(08:10) - Global reach and geopolitical power plays: AI leadership as global leverage

(10:50) - The breadth of AI’s disruption—exponential leaps

(12:15) - My honest take on all of this data: Why AI agents are promising in theory but fragile in practice—right now—and what the future holds

Links & Resources

💹 Mary Meeker’s AI Trends Report 2025

📖 Written version with charts here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

Are we witnessing the end of entry-level jobs as we know them? In this episode of In The Loop, I’m tuning in from a shed on the coast of Scotland—yes, seriously—to dig into one of the most urgent and overlooked consequences of AI: its impact on early career opportunities. 

Based on fresh insights from SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025, World Economic Forum, and LinkedIn data, I explore how AI and automation are rapidly dismantling traditional junior roles and what this means for economic mobility, education, and the next generation of talent.

I’ll unpack the widening disconnect between digital labor and human development, the rise of experience paradoxes, and whether employers have a structural responsibility to train and invest in new talent. If you're a graduate, a hiring manager, or simply concerned about the future of work, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:15) - The State of Talent Report 2025: the urgent questions raised by tracking 650 million professionals’ career prospects.

(02:15) - The data: a 50% drop in junior hiring and the “experience paradox”—is AI creating a Lost Generation?

(06:00) - The societal impact: rethinking education in a world with fewer traditional pathways—and the moralities. 

(08:00) - Commercial responsibilities: global apprenticeship models that might offer solutions.

(11:25) - The call to action: Why 2025 might be the inflection point we can’t ignore.

🔗 Links & Resources

📊 SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

In this episode of In the Loop, I dive into the biggest AI reveals from Microsoft’s Build and Google I/O—two landmark conferences that showcased over 150 new AI features in just one week. But this isn't just a recap. I cherry-pick the announcements that I believe signal the future of AI, particularly in how Microsoft and Google are taking radically different routes in shaping our digital world.

From Microsoft’s bold vision of an "open agentic web" to Google’s consumer-driven experiments and AR glasses revival, I break down what these strategies mean for developers, businesses, and everyday users. Whether you're an enterprise builder, a curious consumer, or just someone trying to keep up with the rapid pace of AI innovation—this one’s for you.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:40) — 7 days, 150 AI features, and AI agents mentioned 300 times: an overview of Microsoft Build and Google I/O 2025

(01:23) — Microsoft Build: Open Agentic Web, Model Context Protocol, and layoffs → Enterprise AI strategy

(07:10) — Google I/O: Agent Mode, AI Search & Shopping, wearables → Consumer AI strategy

🎧 Related Episodes

What is Model Context Protocols (MCP)? At 3:55

What is Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A)?

🔗 Links & Resources

Microsoft Build overview

Google I/O 2025 overview

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

By the end of this In The Loop episode, you’ll have a clear breakdown of the five categories of AI features SaaS companies are launching right now—and the frameworks product teams can use to design them. From small, delightful UX enhancements to semi-autonomous AI agents and powerful standalone AI-native platforms, I walk you through how companies like Google, Stripe, Notion, Attio, and Mindset AI are thinking about their AI strategy.

After reading Rich Holmes' fantastic analysis from the Department of Product, which reviewed 25+ major AI feature launches, I was inspired to dig into this topic. I’ve taken that foundation and layered on what I’m seeing firsthand with Mindset AI customers and in the AI products we’re building. 

Whether you're a founder, product manager, or just AI-curious, this episode will give you a practical lens for understanding how the next wave of software is being built.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:40) – Type 1: Embedded UX—invisible, contextual, yet powerful AI features

(07:00) – Type 2: AI Agents that control existing functionality and why they’re a game-changer

(10:40) – Type 3: Domain-specialized workflow agents tailored to Jobs To Be Done (JTBD)

(13:25) – Type 4: Gen Ai-focused features (glance-over)

(14:05) – Type 5: AI-native standalone apps and how they’re redefining entire categories—while disrupting traditional SaaS

Links & Resources:

🔗 Rich Homes, Department of Product: Deep (on Substack)

💌 Interested in our upcoming product launches and the private Beta? Subscribe here to get notified.

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀

This week’s In The Loop dives into the battle for the future of AI computing—and it’s getting fierce. In this episode, I break down three major AI battlegrounds that could reshape how we code, search, shop, and interact online. It’s Google vs. OpenAI vs. Meta in a high-stakes war that’s as much about market dominance as it is about redefining how we use technology every day.

From Google's game-changing Gemini 2.5 launch to Meta’s bold push into consumer AI with their latest app, and OpenAI’s stealthy assault on Google Search, I connect the dots between strategy, product releases, and billion-dollar plays. There’s a lot happening under the surface—and some of these moves could fundamentally shift who owns your digital attention.

⏭️ Episode highlights

(00:35) – Battleground #1: AI coding

(02:20) – Battleground #2: Consumer AI market

(09:30) – Battleground #3: Search & Shopping

🔗 Related Links

EP14 - What's AI ReallyUsed For: The Real State Of AI Adoption In 2025

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends.

In this episode of In The Loop, I unpack the most compelling AI research released so far this year—highlighting how generative AI is being used not just as a productivity booster but as a deeply embedded layer in both personal and professional lives. Drawing on new data from Harvard Business Review and KPMG, I explore what the top 10 use cases in 2025 really say about the direction of society, the workplace, and how business leaders need to respond.

You'll hear my take on the rise of use cases like organizing life, enhanced learning, and even therapy and companionship—and why these shifts reflect a broader redefinition of how we measure value, capability, and contribution. I’ll also dig into the hidden AI behaviors inside companies, including the 57% of employees who still conceal their AI usage from management. This isn’t just about tools—it’s about trust, talent models, and the next evolution of organizational design.

⏭️ Episode Highlights:

(00:40) – The top 10 global use cases for AI in 2025—and what’s been displaced since last year.

(04:05) – AI in our everyday life: The sharp rise in AI for personal support, therapy, and companionship.

(06:30) – Lessons from OpenAI’s recent ChatGPT update, the most sycophantic model out there.

(10:00) – AI at the workplace: How AI is augmenting, not replacing, human-centric roles like coaching, education, and wellness.

(15:00) – A call to action for leaders: build trust, lead from the top, and reshape how your teams work with AI.

🔗 Related Links

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀