In this episode of the AI Transition Podcast, Stephen and Lauren discuss the current state of the AI industry, exploring whether the AI bubble is bursting. They delve into the hype cycle surrounding AI, historical parallels with past tech bubbles, and the implications of inflated valuations. The conversation also touches on the emergence of shadow AI, ethical considerations in AI usage, and the tangible benefits of AI in healthcare. Ultimately, they reflect on the future of AI, emphasizing the need for real-world applications beyond the hype.

Takeaways

• The AI bubble is a topic of debate, with varying opinions on its sustainability.
• Historical parallels can be drawn between the current AI hype and past tech bubbles.
• Valuations in the AI sector have surged, raising concerns about sustainability.
• Shadow AI is becoming prevalent as employees use AI tools independently of corporate policies.
• Ethical considerations around AI usage are significant, with differing opinions on its impact.
• AI is showing promise in healthcare, with real-world applications improving efficiency.
• The conversation around AI is evolving, with a focus on practical solutions rather than hype.
• The future of AI may involve a correction in valuations but continued technological advancement.
• Real-world applications of AI are crucial for its long-term success and acceptance.
• The importance of solving genuine problems with AI technology is emphasized.

Chapters

00:00 The AI Bubble: Is It Bursting?

01:53 The Hype Cycle of AI Investments

04:54 Historical Parallels: Dot-Com and AI

10:01 The Shadow AI Phenomenon

14:57 Ethics and AI: Perspectives on Usage

19:50 AI in Healthcare: Real-World Applications

27:06 Future of AI: Beyond the Hype

In this episode, Stephen and Lauren dive into the rocky rollout of GPT-5 and what it reveals about hype cycles, human attachment to AI, and the future of enterprise adoption.

They unpack:

• The Gartner Hype Cycle and how GPT-5’s launch mirrors classic tech stumbles.

• Why so many users felt they had “lost a friend” when the tone shifted.

• The tension between AI as a companion vs. productivity tool.

• The enterprise play: reliability, integration, and Microsoft’s big bet.

• What this moment means for the long-term trajectory of AI adoption.

From conspiracy theories about models that “don’t want to die,” to the very human grief of losing an AI relationship, this episode explores the intersection of technology, emotion, and business reality.

Whether you’re fascinated by AI hype, worried about human connection, or leading change in your organisation, this conversation will help you make sense of one of the biggest shifts in tech so far.

Two Aussie giants. Two very different AI plays.

In this episode, Stephen and Lauren break down how CBA cut frontline jobs with AI while Optus chose to supercharge staff with it — and why the outcomes couldn’t be more different. From union backlash to Google Cloud partnerships, Klarna’s spectacular AI misfire to GitHub Copilot’s quiet revolution, we unpack the real-world stakes of “augment or replace.”

It’s a lively mix of corporate case studies, human stories, and a few unexpected detours (yes, even taxes) — all pointing to the question every business now faces: Will AI work with us, or instead of us?

https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/australian-lender-cba-cut-45-jobs-ai-shift-draws-union-backlash-2025-07-29/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/optus-brings-genai-into-frontline-ops-619141

In this episode, Stephen and Lauren explore the evolving relationship between AI and music. From the emotional power of live gigs to the soulless smoothness of algorithmic beats, they ask: where does the human touch still matter? They discuss how AI is reshaping music creation, the copyright conundrums it creates, and what happens when making a living as a musician feels more like a tech startup than an art form. Amid all the noise, they find hope in the resilience of artists and the irreplaceable magic of human performance.

Takeaways 

• AI is reshaping the music industry and how we create music.
• Copyright laws have evolved but still struggle to keep up with technology.
• The emotional connection in live music is irreplaceable.
• Musicians face challenges in earning a living due tostreaming services.
• The balance between technology and human creativity is crucial.
• DIY musicians advocate for their rights in the age of AI.
• Live performances offer a unique experience that technology cannot replicate.
• The future of recorded music may become homogenized without human input.
• Supporting local musicians is essential for a vibrant music scene.
• The struggle of creating music is part of the artisticjourney.

In this episode of The AI Transition, I explore the weird, wild world of AI-generated music — not by making it, but by diving into the Trending tab on Suno. I picked 13 tracks at random and hit record.

Some of them surprised me. Some confused me. A few… actually moved me.

🎶 So here’s the question:
Is this the end of music as we know it, the start of something new, or a messy blend of both?

🎧 Listen in — then let me know:
Which tracks did you like? What did they make you feel?
And if you want to try it yourself, I’ve dropped a link in the show notes.

👂 Subscribe, follow, and remember: you still matter (for now!)

Link to Youtube Video Version : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj8N-J8gyWo

Songs on Suno

• Trending https://suno.com/trending

• Neon Halo https://suno.com/s/Srb4XDkr8TMUgfan
• Cold and Coming Down https://suno.com/s/ip7Ewk0s4OddbkNN
• Shadow Games https://suno.com/s/4XnCW1CuR7IAkm0g
• Never Got Older https://suno.com/s/2EzKLxmFyPe0pMQt
• Focus https://suno.com/s/wy49F4uocwkgRGEi
• Fleishkathedrale https://suno.com/s/B3IUQ4b4ffvKVUGh
• 3.1 https://suno.com/s/u7uYJl6C4cQae97J
• Live and Let Die https://suno.com/s/pyzaZt1Zwn2RD1Y5
• Cat https://suno.com/s/gEUC9iurq4p4Gfut
• Deep Night https://suno.com/s/Ymr1jxq0XUngIN6d
• Egyptian Dance Party https://suno.com/s/bBalUn6P8XTv2Z6z
• I Love My Small Little Cat https://suno.com/s/5ZgiaY6ZJuvy2ZkB

What happens when you bolt cutting-edge AI onto creaky old systems? Chaos, mostly.
In this episode, Stephen is joined by transformation expert Lauren to explore the real roadblocks to AI adoption inside large organisations. Spoiler: it's not the tech — it’s the traffic.

They dig into:

• Why AI feels like a Ferrari... stuck in Bangalore gridlock

• The myths that middle management tells itself

• How crises (not strategy) usually drive real change

• What Work Quakes and Life Quakes really shake up — your identity

• What it takes to ride the messy middle without losing your mind

This one’s equal parts therapy session and strategy call — for anyone trying to lead (or survive) in an organisation that’s “doing AI.”

The AI jobs debate is spiralling — are we heading for mass unemployment or a boom in new roles? In this episode of The AI Transition, Stephen is joined by strategist and engineer Nate Jones to flip the script. Drawing on the logic of Pascal’s Wager, they ask: what’s the smartest bet you can make right now — no matter what the future holds?

Together, they unpack:

• Why believing either doomsday or utopia misses the point

• The rise of “meta skills” and the power of high-agency problem solving

• How resumes became useless — and what actually signals value now

• The risk of doing nothing (and how to find momentum in uncertainty)

Whether you're optimistic or bracing for disruption, this episode gives you a grounded, practical lens to navigate what’s next. Because when the future is foggy, the best move is forward.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and start your own agency audit.

Eight years after warning us about social media, Tristan Harris is back at TED — and what he says about AI is… well, insane. But beneath the alarm bells is something even more personal: a challenge to how we live, work, and find meaning in an AI-dominated world.

In this bonus episode, Stephen reflects on Tristan’s 2025 TED Talk through the lens of transition — exploring what happens when your identity, your value, and your work are quietly shaken by the pace of technological change.

📌 Topics include:

• Why skipping the ending phase leads to disaster

• “Workquakes” and what it means when AI outworks you

• The myth of inevitability — and how we reclaim agency

If you’re feeling disoriented in the face of AI — this one’s for you.

🎧 Full TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kPHnl-RsVI&t=1s🌐 Subscribe for more: aitransition.show

We wrap up the Meaning Audit with three powerful prompts:

• Where do you thrive?
• Why do you work?
• How do you move forward?

From AI sycophancy to drug approvals, we unpack the risks of over-personalised machines—and what happens when your digital assistant flatters you instead of challenges you. In the workplace, we explore how AI is not just shifting how we work, but who we are.

💥 AI News Flash:

• GPT-4o update made ChatGPT overly agreeable—raising serious concerns for mental health, medicine, and trust.

• OpenAI and the FDA collaborate on cderGPT: AI may soon play a core role in drug approvals.

  
  

💡 Key Insights:

• Place matters: From remote work preferences to your digital environment (Teams vs. Slack), your "where" shapes your energy.

• Purpose isn’t fluff: Revisiting childhood dreams, life values, and identity can anchor you during transition.

• AI as your coach? Beware the chatbot that never disagrees—real growth comes from challenge, not cheerleading.

• Write your story: Transition is not about control, it’s about becoming. The future is co-authored, not forecasted.

  
  

🛠️ Tools & Tips:

• Use voice journaling with ChatGPT to reflect on change.

• Try the Meaning Audit to align your next move with your values.

• Remember: “The path lights up as you walk it.”

  
  

🎯 Final Thought:In an AI-shaped world, we don’t need more productivity hacks—we need more inner clarity. Don’t wait for the quake to hit. Start shaping your next chapter now.

In this episode of The AI Transition, Christiane and Stephen explore what happens when your career – and your identity – hit a workquake.

They kick off with two striking AI stories:
🐬 Dolphin Talk on Android – Google and Georgia Tech unveil a real-time AI system enabling interspecies communication. Is your cat about to unionise?
🧠 IQ 136 AI Models – OpenAI and Google launch their most powerful systems yet. But while the headlines are quiet, the implications for jobs, identity, and worth are massive.

Then it’s time to go deep. Drawing from Bruce Feiler’s The Search, they unpack the first three questions of a Meaning Audit:

• Who is your Who?

• What is your What?

• When is your When?

With personal stories, laugh-out-loud moments, and practical coaching insights, this episode invites you to reflect on your work identity, your role models, and your readiness for change.

💡 Whether you're feeling stuck, inspired, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you navigate your own transition with more clarity and courage.