Paco Nathan has been building AI since 1983 - before it was cool, before it was profitable, and through every hype winter since.

In this no-BS conversation with Nick Schutt on Robots and Red Tape, Paco explains why this wave is legitimately different (hardware finally caught up), why the AGI/superintelligence talk is marketing fiction backed by trillions, and where the real wins are hiding: anti-money-laundering, fraud detection, and preserving institutional knowledge as veteran workers retire.

A masterclass in spotting hype vs. reality:

Why hardware, software, then process is the real AI hierarchy

The dirty secrets of latency & cost killing most “agentic” demos

How graphs and entity resolution are the hidden backbone of mission-critical AI

Lessons from Spark/Databricks that every GenAI builder needs right now

Why team intelligence, not artificial intelligence, should drive policy

Go deep on Spark-era lessons every GenAI startup is painfully re-learning, why UX is now the biggest bottleneck for adoption, why relationships (in graphs and in orgs) matter more than facts, and why policy makers should regulate “team intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence.”

Books mentioned: “Seeing Like a State” – James C. Scott “A Grammar of Motives” – Kenneth Burke “Open Society and Its Enemies” – Karl Popper “Human Scale” trilogy – Kirkpatrick Sale

Full episode on Robots and Red Tape, also on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else. | Host: Nick Schutt Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one! @RobotsandRedTapeAI

Why Gartner and MIT say 75–95% of AI projects fail to show real value?

Because the data house has no foundation.

In this episode of Robots and Red Tape, Nick Schutt sits down with Gurpinder Dhillon, Head of Data & AI Ecosystem at Senzing, PhD in data quality impact, and author of the new book “Think Data, Act AI, " to go deep on critical world of data infrastructure. Nick and Gurpinder break down: The real difference between data infrastructure, architecture, and ecosystem The 4 non-negotiable pillars every org needs (quality, integration, governance, context) How entity resolution prevents million-dollar marketing disasters and fraud

Why “garbage in, garbage out” has become “garbage in, garbage multiplied” with GenAI The red tape Gurpinder would cut tomorrow to finally let teams innovate If you’re tired of AI hype and want the plumbing that actually makes it work, this episode is for you.

🔗 Grab Gurpinder’s book “Think Data, Act AI, The New Playbook for Business Leaders”: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Data-Act-AI-Playbook/dp/B0F59VDVFF

Full episode on Robots and Red Tape | Host: Nick Schutt

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one! @RobotsandRedTapeAI

Can the grid power AI's future?

Join host Nick Schutt on Robots and Red Tape as he chats with Harry Munroe, IBM quantum ambassador and energy expert. Harry explains the U.S.'s three fragmented grids, real-time supply-demand balancing, and massive data center demands (up to terawatt-hours yearly). Discover quantum's role in batteries/solar and grid modernization challenges. A must-listen for tech and energy pros!

*Three U.S. grids: West, East, Texas (ERCOT)

*Real-time electron matching;

*60Hz stability Data centers = small city power (100MW+)

*Quantum for materials, optimization

Can AI revolutionize legal tech?

Join host Nick Schutt on Robots and Red Tape as he chats with Josh Wood, former Director of Litigation Support at DOJ. Josh shares his 30-year journey prosecuting massive cases like BP Oil Spill and Deepwater Horizon. Discover AI's role in managing terabytes of data and future innovations.

A must-listen for legal pros and tech enthusiasts!

*Massive case logistics: BP Oil Spill (10M docs),

*Katrina claims Tech evolution: From TAR (Technology Assisted Review) to generative AI challenges

*Bottlenecks: Processing, chain of custody, metadata

*Future: One attorney per case with LLMs

🎙️ Subscribe for more AI insights: @RobotsandRedTapeAI

Does AI distort or reveal the truth? 🎙️

On Robots and Red Tape, host Nick Schutt dives into this question with Dr. Annie Green, knowledge management pioneer and author. Annie unpacks why robust data management is key to trustworthy AI, tackling issues like misinformation and flawed governance. She highlights the value of human expertise and champions AI as a tool to augment, not replace, us. Essential for tech enthusiasts and truth-seekers!

📚 📖 Diary of HI & AI: The Nexus of Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence, by Dr. Annie Green can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1968006141/ref=sr_1_1

🤖 Subscribe to Robots and Red Tape for cutting-edge tech insights: @RobotsandRedTapeAI

#AI #DataGovernance #TechPodcast #RobotsAndRedTape

AI is transforming our world, but is its infrastructure secure?

In this Robots and Red Tape episode, host Nick Schutt sits down with Matt Wesmiller, a counterintelligence veteran, to explore the unseen risks in critical infrastructure security. Matt reveals the complexity of supply chains, from adversary-controlled rare earth minerals to data poisoning threats in AI models.

“The human is always the weakest link,” he warns, citing insider threats like Robert Hanssen.

From intellectual property theft to fragile water systems, Matt emphasizes proactive counterintelligence to protect national security. Essential listening for those invested in AI’s risks and rewards. Tune in to uncover strategies to safeguard our tech-driven future.

Subscribe for more tech-driven insights: / @RobotsandRedTapeAI

How should parents navigate the AI era? In this Robots and Red Tape episode, host Nick Schutt joins Dr. Lauren Westerberg, a developmental psychologist, and Josh Thiel, a tech innovator and former Special Ops commander, to explore raising AI-savvy kids.

They discuss balancing AI tools with foundational skills like critical thinking: “Teach kids to question, not just accept AI answers,” Lauren urges.

From introducing STEM in preschool for long-term academic success to combating misinformation through source evaluation, they share strategies to foster curiosity and resilience.

They also tackles equitable tech access, advocating for universal device and internet availability to prepare kids for a tech-driven workforce. Perfect for parents and educators shaping the next generation.

Can AI transform education? 🎓

In this Robots and Red Tape episode, host Nick Schutt sits down with Page Durham, a 23-year music teacher turned instructional designer, to explore AI’s game-changing role in classrooms.

From launching her AI-focused business inspired by tools like ChatGPT to rethinking standardized testing’s failures, Page shares how AI personalizes learning (think baseball-themed math!) and boosts critical thinking. Learn why banning AI is like banning calculators and how teachers can use it to save time and engage students.

A must-listen for educators, parents, and tech fans!

In this episode of Robots and Red Tape, host Nick Schutt interviews Anoop Mehendale, an entrepreneur and AI innovator with extensive experience in healthcare and data analytics, to explore AI’s transformative potential in revolutionizing healthcare through unified medical records and data-driven solutions.

Anoop shares his journey from building an R&D center for Daimler Chrysler in India to launching an AI-driven healthcare startup that went IPO in 2022. He discusses how AI can address healthcare’s data fragmentation, streamline administrative inefficiencies, and enhance patient care, drawing from his work at Highmark, Optum, and Aetna. Reflecting on the White House’s CMS-led initiative for unified medical records, Anoop notes, “With AI, you can do a lot more with a massive dataset” (53:24), emphasizing its potential to boost research and personalize medicine while addressing challenges like standardization and privacy concerns.

He delves into the need for industry-specific AI benchmarks and a convenor role for CMS to align data standards, advocating for AI as a collaborative tool that complements human oversight. Tune in for insights on how AI can reshape healthcare, from improving patient outcomes to advancing public health research.

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In this episode of Robots and Red Tape, host Nick Schutt interviews Derry Goberdhansingh, a versatile technologist and entrepreneur with a diverse background spanning AI, blockchain, hardware development, and data analytics, to explore how a broad skillset fuels innovation in AI and beyond. Derry shares his journey from pulling cables and managing logistics to building IoT-enabled cameras for drones and helicopters, fixing a global bug in Samsung phones, and pioneering blockchain analytics before it became mainstream. He discusses how his “desire to learn” drives him to master new fields, from AI 11 years ago to electromagnetic spectrum applications for satellite technology. Derry emphasizes the power of a generalist’s perspective, recounting how his knowledge of physical sciences transformed a complex AI data analysis project, achieving 99% model accuracy in days instead of months by reframing the problem space. The conversation dives into the balance between specialization and generalization in AI development, with Derry advocating for a holistic approach to problem-solving: “You can be very right and extremely wrong at the same time”. He highlights the importance of understanding interconnected systems, anticipating unintended consequences, and fostering human-centric AI solutions that respect the workforce. From quantum computing’s potential to the societal impacts of automation, Derry offers insights on preparing for technological shifts while ensuring opportunities for reskilling. Tune in for a dynamic discussion on how diverse knowledge drives AI innovation and the human challenges of technological change. Subscribe for more insights on AI: https://www.youtube.com/@RobotsandRedTapeAI