Unscripted

What does the future of work actually look like when AI agents become our everyday teammates?

In this episode of Unscripted, recorded live at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, we sit down with Matthew Duncan, who leads The Future of Work initiative at Microsoft. Matthew breaks down the groundbreaking concept of the "Frontier Firm," why we need to throw out the traditional industrial-era organizational chart in favor of a fluid "Work Chart," and how companies are already giving AI agents their own employee IDs.

We also dive deep into Microsoft's famous Work Trend Index, how to conquer "digital debt" and employee burnout, and why the next generation is learning AI as early as elementary school. Plus, we tackle the ultimate, high-stakes question: Is it pronounced "GIF" or "JIF"?

Whether you’re a business leader trying to navigate the AI revolution or just curious about how your job will change in the next few years, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you don't want to miss!

🔔 Subscribe to Unscripted for more raw, honest conversations with industry innovators!

Episode Highlights:

• The "Work Chart" Shift: Organizations must design teams around outcomes and skills rather than rigid, siloed roles.

• The Hollywood Model: The future of projects involves assembling specialized human and agentic talents for a single "blockbuster" goal, then dissolving and reforming for the next project.

• Agent Onboarding: AI agents are no longer just software; they are fast becoming official "employees" with unique tracking IDs, measured alongside human output on corporate P&Ls.

Featured Guests: 

• Matthew Loys Duncan- https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewloysduncan/

The Unscripted Podcast is available on the following platforms:

YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedYT

Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedSPOT

Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedAPPL

Episode Time Stamps:

00:00 - Welcome to Unscripted Live at SXSW!

01:00 - What does Matthew Duncan do at Microsoft?

02:00 - Defining the "Frontier Firm" & "Intelligence on Demand"

03:00 - Org Chart vs. Work Chart: Why traditional structures are turning upside down

05:00 - The "Hollywood Model" of modern team building

06:40 - Will there be an agentic marketplace for skills?

07:45 - How AI-native startups are completely rewriting business operations

10:00 - Real-world AI use cases: How Logitech uses Logi Brand, Logi Voice, and Copilot

11:45 - Using AI as a critical teammate (not just a search engine)

13:30 - What is "Digital Debt" and how do we solve employee burnout?

14:40 - Why a major New York bank is giving AI agents unique employee IDs

16:00 - Overcoming change aversion: Shifting the corporate mindset

17:20 - AI in education: Teaching prompting to 5th graders

19:00 - Can AI uplift global humanity? (The ultimate optimist's view)

20:00 - Responsible AI, data governance, and cybersecurity guardrails

21:30 - Behind the scenes of Microsoft’s research partnership with Harvard Business School

22:15 - Capturing "tacit knowledge" and passing 30 years of experience to AI agents

23:15 - The origin story of Microsoft's Work Trend Index (WTF)

25:30 - How Microsoft uses telemetry, LinkedIn data, and synthetic data to predict work trends

27:30 - The accelerating pace of academic research in the AI era

28:30 - The hardest question of the day: Is it GIF or JIF?

29:40 - Outro & where to find Matthew's upcoming keynote sessions

Step inside today’s classroom on this episode of Unscripted! Adam Hyman joins us on this episode and dives into the latest ways K-12 education is being transformed through technology, media arts, and hands-on learning. Learn how modern tools empower students to become creators, thinkers, and leaders—both in school and beyond.

Episode Highlights:

• Creative use of coding, animation, and digital art in K-12 learning

• Exploring safe platforms and NYC’s AI pilot for enhanced student experiences

• Student podcasts, script editing, and digital storytelling in action

• Leveraging Canva and Adobe Express for innovative classroom projects

• Connecting real-world media skills with career readiness

• Fostering social-emotional growth and peer mentorship

• Expanding edtech training for teachers, parents, and communities

Featured Guests: 

Adam Hyman- https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhyman20/

Adam also hosts the Classroom Dynamics podcast which is empowering educators and parents across the globe.https://lnkd.in/eE9qT-jW

Unscripted Podcast:

YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedYT

Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedSPOT

Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/unscriptedAPPL

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Melinda, Head of VR at New Mexico State University, as she reveals how her institution is revolutionizing higher education through immersive technology. From middle school teacher to VR pioneer, Melinda shares the incredible journey of scaling from a single use case to over 400 VR headsets across 22 courses.

In this episode, you'll discover:

🎓 The Digital Twin Campus - How NMSU created an immersive virtual campus tour using just iPhone photos, allowing prospective students worldwide to explore dorm rooms, walk the iconic horseshoe loop, and experience campus life before ever setting foot on grounds

🔍 Criminal Justice Innovation - The surprising story of how crime scene training became NMSU's first VR application, giving online students the same hands-on experience as their on-campus peers

💼 Soft Skills in VR - How student-athletes practice ESPN interviews, students rehearse job interviews, and learners develop crucial professional skills in safe, repeatable virtual environments

🖊️ MX Ink Pen Pilot Program - Exclusive insights into NMSU's research with Logitech's MX Ink, including surprising findings about non-traditional students and the natural feel of drawing in virtual space

📦 Managing 400 Headsets - The logistics behind shipping, tracking, cleaning, and recycling hundreds of VR devices each semester—with only 4 devices lost in 4 years!

🔮 The Future of Wearables & VR - Melinda's perspective on how VR headsets and smart glasses will coexist, complement each other, and address privacy concerns in our increasingly digital world

Perfect for: Educators exploring immersive learning, corporate training professionals, VR enthusiasts, university administrators, and anyone curious about the practical applications of extended reality in education.

Key Takeaway: Start small, find your advocates, embrace the growing pains, and build strong partnerships. Technology isn't perfect from day one—but with the right people and willingness to experiment, you can scale from 25 headsets to 400+ and transform how students learn.

📍 Recorded live at SXSW in Austin, Texas

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Melinda at NMSU

00:40 From Teacher to VR Lead

01:25 Digital Twin Campus Origins

02:37 Building the Twin with Photos

03:43 Why VR for Prospective Students

04:22 Criminal Justice First Use Case

04:53 Soft Skills and Interview Training

06:07 Scaling and Shipping 400 Headsets

06:53 Fleet Management and Returns

09:03 MX Ink Pen Pilot and Badges

11:25 VR and Wearables Future at SXSW

13:28 Privacy Concerns with Smart Glasses

15:28 How to Start and Get Buy In

18:22 Wrap Up and SXSW Reflections

Featured Guests: 

• Melina Cuilty - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-cuilty-111844228/

The Unscripted Podcast is available on the following platforms:

YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hCJLH8asrZ61UZAhphI_6ZdU_6iFGVE&si=YvhkBCN5chRpJKqI

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/21yaQBzNg9c0O2ApZyInQH?si=4a6b2075de8045ac

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unscripted/id1765971579

Welcome to Season 3! Join Nathan Coutinho at SXSW in Austin for an exclusive roundtable discussion with industry leaders Chris Neto (Midwich), Tim Albright (AVNation), and analyst Craig Durr (The Collab Collective) as they unpack the biggest trends shaping the AV landscape in 2026.🎯 Key Takeaways: • ISE's evolution as a global launch platform with record attendance and vendor participation • The shift to software-first AV solutions and cloud-based management systems • Emergence of "operational AI" for backend monitoring and troubleshooting • Challenges with fragmented management platforms across vendors • Rising demand for aesthetic design and broadcast-quality collaboration spaces🔮 What's Next: Our panel looks ahead to InfoComm, discussing anticipated hands-on demos of ISE launches, new product announcements, and continuous software evolution. They also address industry headwinds including budget constraints, supply chain challenges, memory shortages, tariff impacts, and major enterprise refresh cycles.Whether you're an AV professional, technology decision-maker, or industry enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into where collaboration technology is headed and what to watch for in the months ahead.Featured Guests: • Chris Neto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherneto/• Tim Albright - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdalbright/• Craig Durr - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdurr/The Unscripted Podcast is available on the following platforms:YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hCJLH8asrZ61UZAhphI_6ZdU_6iFGVE&si=YvhkBCN5chRpJKqISpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/21yaQBzNg9c0O2ApZyInQH?si=4a6b2075de8045acApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unscripted/id1765971579

🎙️ Unscripted Season Two, Episode 30 - Adam BraunAdam Braun, CEO and Co-Founder of Clarasight joins me to talk about his role in leading Impactful Change:Highlights:▪️Founding Pencils of Promise: Building 600+ schools!▪️Innovation in emissions management with Clarasight▪️Inspiring leadership and the power of storytelling▪️Transformative personal and professional growthWatch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/4uqJs8IHZmMAdam is a philanthropist and the author of the New York Times Bestselling book - The Promise of a Pencil - https://a.co/d/3uIn89jClarasight - https://www.clarasight.com/🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQLogitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hub#Storytelling #Innovation

🎙️ Unscripted Season Two, Episode 29 - Lisa RothsteinLisa Rothstein joins me on the next 🎙️Unscripted episode. Lisa, a New Yorker Magazine cartoonist, uses visual storytelling to simplify complex ideas. Some highlights from this episode:- We discussed her knack for turning simple shapes like circles into storytelling tools- Why more people are using visual storytelling in meetings & presentations- Previewed our new video series "Shape your Story" which launches soon🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQStay tuned for insights on whiteboarding and visual thinking!Logitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hubhashtag#Storytelling hashtag#Innovation hashtag#VisualThinking

"The Evolution of AV Design"Dean Heckler, President of Heckler Design joins us on unscripted to unpack how they got started, and how they are rethinking design, functionality and accessibility, when building solutions for video conferencing and beyond.Conversation Highlights:▪️Heckler Design Origins▪️Expanding Horizons - From Hardware to Video Solutions▪️Prioritizing Accessibility - ADA Compliance in Design▪️Tool-less Design - Heckler Mobile FleetWatch the Full Episode - https://youtu.be/q5mEyI_fTSg🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQLogitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hub #hecklerdesign #design #ADACompliance #VideoConferencing

🎙️Unscripted S2E27 - Ragnar Heil

Ragnar Heil, Microsoft Business Development Manager from HanseVision, joins me on unscripted, to talk about the world of Governance. Conversation Highlights:▪️Microsoft MVP insights and the power of community▪️Diverse customer stories on modern workplaces▪️Governance evolution in a cloud-driven era▪️Harnessing AI responsibly for business growth▪️The impact of Copilot on daily habits🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQLogitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hub #hansevision #transformation #governance #VideoConferencing

Thomas LaMantia, Principal Enterprise Architect from Discount Tire, joins me on unscripted, to chat about the world of enterprise security. Conversation Highlights:- Emphasizes the shift in security focus towards protecting critical data first, driven by the evolving threat landscape with AI, bots, and data classification.- Highlights how consumer tech, like gaming innovations and Microsoft IP telephony, influences business security, along with Logitech's use of AI for responsible detection without collecting personal data.- Discusses balancing AI advancements with privacy, addressing challenges of remote workforce security, and forecasting AI's future in responsible and secure innovation.Watch the Full Episode - https://youtu.be/t_n6_pn3zDs🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQLogitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hub #discounttire #transformation #security #VideoConferencing

Craig Durr, Chief Analyst Extraordinaire from The Collab Collective, joins me on unscripted, to talk about all the hot topics in the collaboration world.Watch the Full Episode - https://youtu.be/GKINXoM5Qaw🎙️unscripted is available on:Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gw2zfqwfSpotify Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gvYV6a6UYouTube - https://lnkd.in/ga32zrUQLogitech for Business Logitech for Business Partner Hub The Collab Collective #transformation #zoom #contentcreation #VideoConferencing #microsoft Google Microsoft Zoom Tee Gallagher Omar Deacon Natalia Herrera Azabache Kaitlyn Mode Melanie He Giancarlo Gambino Megan Lindell