In this episode of Funded Futures, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Tod Pedler, Founder and CEO of New Dialogue — a revolutionary AI company delivering private, open-source GPT technology for enterprises.

Todd unpacks what it means to build an “open-source private GPT” and why data sovereignty and security should be at the heart of every company’s AI strategy. From healthcare to financial services, New Dialogue is helping regulated industries harness the power of AI without sacrificing privacy or compliance.

Emily and Todd discuss:

• 🔒 Why most businesses should not feed sensitive data into public AI models like ChatGPT

• 🌏 How New Dialogue’s “air-gapped” infrastructure keeps information safe and sovereign

• 💡 How one pilot helped a company uncover $20 million in lost opportunities

• 🤖 The rise of AI agents and what’s coming next in 2026

• 🧠 Why the future of work isn’t about replacing people, but freeing them from “busy work”

• 🎨 The growing value of human-created content in a world of generative AI

• 💬 The importance of ethics, transparency and provenance in AI-generated information

With wit and insight, Todd explains how New Dialogue bridges innovation with accountability showing how businesses can adopt AI safely, intelligently and with confidence.

This is episode was filmed at Hub Australia, providing vibrant business communities, networking events and opportunities to collaborate.