AI First with Adam and Andy

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AI strategy from the operator’s seat.

The gist

AI First with Adam and Andy is a brisk business conversation about making artificial intelligence practical inside companies. Adam Brotman, Andy Sack, and guests work through agents, automation, model choices, productivity tradeoffs, and the messy operational questions leaders hit once experiments become real work.

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About AI First with Adam and Andy

AI First with Adam and Andy covers artificial intelligence from the place where enthusiasm turns into operating pressure. It is not a calm tour of technology trends. The show is more interested in what happens when a leader gives an AI system a task, opens access to tools, and then has to manage the outcome. Adam Brotman and Andy Sack often begin by setting the level of the conversation, then drive toward a concrete business scenario. Agents are the central thread in the recent episodes. The hosts return again and again to the difference between asking a model a question and asking a system to do work. That distinction matters. A search task, an inbox task, a hotel booking flow, a writing project, or an enterprise automation chain all raise different questions about trust, oversight, memory, permissions, and value. The show is clearly excited by AI systems that begin to feel like digital coworkers. It also says the uncomfortable part out loud: more powerful tools can make larger mistakes. That tension gives the conversations their usefulness. Episodes on Claude, Cowork, OpenClaw, Copilot, Codex-style agents, and the broader LLM market keep the focus on how companies should experiment without pretending the answer is obvious. The show also talks about strategy beyond labor savings. Productivity is framed as both numerator and denominator: growth, customer experience, innovation, cost, and organizational design all sit on the table. Interviews widen the lens. Wade Foster brings the Zapier view of automation evolving toward agents and agent teams. Other discussions touch consumer behavior, generative engine optimization, shopping through AI, and the point where financial information becomes the next practical hurdle. The tone is conversational and operator-minded. It can be messy in the way live executive conversations are messy, with clarifications, caveats, and sudden reframes. That works in its favor. AI First with Adam and Andy is strongest when it treats AI adoption as a sequence of decisions leaders have to make before the market finishes making them on their behalf.

Made for: Built for executives, founders, operators, and business teams trying to move from AI curiosity to responsible implementation. It fits listeners who want market context, practical examples, and clear strategic tradeoffs without vendor-polished distance.

What sets it apart: The show links big AI platform shifts to hands-on work: agents using tools, companies redesigning workflows, and leaders deciding where productivity should create growth instead of only cuts. Its edge is the mix of urgency, caveats, and real implementation friction.

In their own words

AI First with Adam and Andy: Inspiring Business Leaders to Make AI First Moves is a dynamic podcast focused on the unprecedented potential of AI and how business leaders can harness it to transform their companies. Each episode dives into real-world examples of AI deployments, the "holy shit" moments where AI changes everything, and the steps leaders need to take to stay ahead. It’s bold, actionable, and emphasizes the exponential acceleration of AI, inspiring CEOs to make AI-first moves before they fall behind.

As heard by us

Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026

It makes enterprise AI legible by tracing how leaders change tools, roles, workflows and customer relationships.

AI First with Adam and Andy turns enterprise AI from an abstract technology story into a series of operating decisions. Adam Brotman and Andy Sack alternate between interviews and their own practical exchanges, pressing for definitions and next moves.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Adam and Andy turn enterprise AI upheaval into questions you can actually take to Monday's leadership meeting.

Press play if you want

  • a usable line between chatbot answers, tool-using tasks, and AI that starts feeling like a coworker
  • boardroom arguments for testing multiple models without treating security as decorative paperwork
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
AI agents and tool useenterprise automationClaude and Cowork momentumLLM market strategyAI productivity and cost reductioncustomer experience changesconsumer behavior and AI shoppinggovernance and responsible access

Talks about

Best episodes of AI First with Adam and Andy

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

Agentic Marketing Explained: How AI Agents Will Redefine Teams, Strategy, and Customer ExperienceMay 6, 2026

A clear line between questions and tasks, carried from search and inbox access to memory and scheduling.

The episode draws a clear line between a question and a task, then follows that line through internet search, inbox access, memory, and scheduling.

Owning the Guest Relationship: AI, Loyalty, and the Future of RestaurantsMar 11, 2026

Restaurant loyalty is framed as a way to reduce dependence on third-party marketplaces.

Restaurant marketplaces and loyalty take center stage here, with DoorDash and Uber framed as real pressure points for restaurants and as a reason to own guest relationships more directly.

Choosing the Right AI Tools: A CEO Playbook for Building an AI-First EnterpriseFeb 18, 2026

A practical CEO-level guide to testing AI tools while balancing speed, security, governance, and control.

Choosing AI tools lands here as a practical operating question, not a side debate about software. Adam and Andy frame the AI-first enterprise around deliberate experimentation: a focused team, added licenses, and access to one, two, or three large language models so leaders can…

The CEO’s AI Mandate for 2026: Moving Beyond EfficiencyFeb 4, 2026

A CEO-level AI discussion about growth, staffing, and the human side of change.

AI First with Adam and Andy centers on growth, staffing, and change management without losing sight of the human stakes. Adam Brotman and Andy Sack bring Paul Reutzer into a more public version of a conversation they usually have privately, and his path from founding an agency…

Hiring for the Future: How IgniteTech's CEO Rebuilt His Company with AI DNANov 5, 2025

Ignite Tech becomes a clear example of culture-first AI adoption, with the strongest details in hiring, roles, and usage change.

AI First with Adam and Andy presents Ignite Tech as a culture-first AI reset, and Eric Vaughn is most effective when he speaks plainly about how difficult that shift was.

Podcasts like AI First with Adam and Andy

Episodes

  1. 1

    One Tool or Many: Rethinking Enterprise AI Strategy in the Agent Era

    Sep 30, 2026·21m
  2. 2

    Decoding the AI Slowdown: What It Actually Means for Your Business Strategy

    Sep 23, 2026·19m
  3. 3

    The Deer in the Headlights: What One Executive's AI Blind Spot Reveals About White-Collar Work

    Sep 16, 2026·15m
  4. 4

    Unbundling the Organization: Nirit Cohen on the Future of Work in the Agent Era

    Sep 9, 2026·36m
  5. 5

    Ghost GDP: When AI Grows the Economy Without Growing Jobs

    Sep 2, 2026·10m
  6. 6

    Enhanced, Not Disrupted: The Agentic Case for Restaurant Chains

    Aug 26, 2026·9m
  7. 7

    The End of Software as We Know It: How AI Agents Are Rewriting HR, SaaS, and Organizational Design

    Aug 12, 2026·38m
  8. 8

    The Risk-Reward Calculation: Mapping the Agentic Spectrum for Business Leaders

    Aug 5, 2026·12m
  9. 9

    The 50 Percent Rule: How AI Is Reshaping the Future of Labor

    Jul 29, 2026·12m
  10. 10

    The Book That Never Stops Learning: Inside the AI Agent Behind Agents Inc

    Jul 22, 2026·19m
  11. 11

    Speed, Order, Aim, Unlock: Inside the Launch of Agents Inc.

    Jul 16, 2026·18m
  12. 12

    The Living Book: How Adam Brotman and Andy Sack Co-Authored Agents Inc. with an AI Agent

    Jul 8, 2026·19m
  13. 13

    Stop Measuring Your AI ROI: A Better Framework for the Age of Agents

    Jul 1, 2026·18m
  14. 14

    The Agent Unlock: How a Managed Agent Became a Sales Team's Secret Weapon

    Jun 24, 2026·13m
  15. 15

    The AI-Native Growth Engine: How Clay Created the Go-to-Market Engineer

    Jun 17, 2026·37m
  16. 16

    The AI Hiring Paradox: What Managers Really Want When They Post "AI Skills Required"

    Jun 10, 2026·12m
  17. 17

    AI Scaffolding Before Layoffs: Why Smart Leaders Rebuild Workflows First

    Jun 3, 2026·9m
  18. 18

    The AI Understanding Gap: Why Restaurant Leaders Are Afraid to Start

    May 27, 2026·12m
  19. 19

    AI Leadership in Action: How Red Robin Balances Innovation, Governance, and Real Business Impact

    May 20, 2026·27m
  20. 20

    The Magic and the Mess: What Happens When AI Agents Do Real Work

    May 13, 2026·13m
  21. 21

    Agentic Marketing Explained: How AI Agents Will Redefine Teams, Strategy, and Customer Experience

    Hidden gem

    Agentic AI starts as a spectrum.

    May 6, 2026·45m·4 clips
  22. 22

    The Real Agent Experience: What Working with AI Actually Looks Like

    Apr 29, 2026·13m
  23. 23

    The AI Productivity Trap: Why Cost Cutting Is Only Half the Strategy

    Apr 22, 2026·12m
  24. 24

    The Claude Moment: How Anthropic's Momentum Is Forcing a Strategic Rethink

    This episode discusses the rapid market momentum of Anthropic's Claude AI and how businesses should strategically respond to it, based on client questions about switching from Microsoft or OpenAI.

    Apr 15, 2026·16m
  25. 25

    The New AI Power Map: Why Agent Strategy Matters More Than Model Wars

    This episode discusses recent AI market developments, focusing on Microsoft's integration of Anthropic's Claude co-work into Copilot and analyzing the competitive landscape among major LLM providers.

    Apr 8, 2026·15m
  26. 26

    From Workflows to Agent Teams: Wade Foster on How AI Reshapes Enterprise Automation

    This episode features Wade Foster from Zapier discussing how AI is reshaping enterprise automation, the evolution from workflows to agents, and strategies for businesses to leverage AI opportunities.

    Apr 1, 2026·34m
  27. 27

    Agents Are the New Interface: Why 2026 Marks a Structural Shift in Consumer Behavior

    This episode explores how AI agents are fundamentally changing consumer behavior and shopping patterns by 2026, with examples like automated hotel booking and the transition from traditional SEO to agent-driven interfaces.

    Mar 25, 2026·14m
  28. 28

    AI Agents Are Here: From Experiment to Executive Advantage

    This episode explores the practical implications of AI agents like open-claw as digital coworkers, sharing real experiences and insights for business transformation.

    Mar 18, 2026·20m
  29. 29

    Owning the Guest Relationship: AI, Loyalty, and the Future of Restaurants

    Hidden gem

    Restaurants still have to deal with third party marketplaces.

    Mar 11, 2026·36m·3 clips
  30. 30

    Managing AI Agents: Why 2026 Changes Executive Workflows

    Feb 25, 2026·13m
  31. 31

    Choosing the Right AI Tools: A CEO Playbook for Building an AI-First Enterprise

    Hidden gem

    Andy Sack and Adam Brotman present a CEO playbook for Microsoft shops deciding how to become AI-first while managing security, governance, and tool choice.

    Feb 18, 2026·18m·1 clip
  32. 32

    Software Isn’t Dead: AI Agents, SaaS Panic, and the Interface Shift

    Feb 11, 2026·12m
  33. 33

    The CEO’s AI Mandate for 2026: Moving Beyond Efficiency

    Hidden gem

    The conversation opens with a growth question.

    Feb 4, 2026·43m·2 clips
  34. 34

    Agentic Workflows for Executives: What Leaders Can Do Before True Agents Arrive

    Jan 28, 2026·14m
  35. 35

    From Bootcamps to Shoppable Styling: How Cabi Built an AI First Culture and Shipped Real Tools Fast

    Jan 21, 2026·42m
  36. 36

    Building Is Easy Now: Why Distribution Is the Real AI Startup Bottleneck

    Jan 14, 2026·31m
  37. 37

    AI Bubble, Boom, or...Both? Adam and Andy Explain

    Jan 7, 2026·13m
  38. 38

    AI in 2026: The Predictions That Will Reshape Business, Talent & Tech

    Dec 17, 2025·36m
  39. 39

    Sam Altman Hits “Code Red”: What OpenAI vs. Gemini Really Means for Business

    Dec 12, 2025·10m
  40. 40

    2025 in AI and Business: Adam and Andy's Take on What Actually Happened and What Executives Must Do Next

    Dec 10, 2025·27m
  41. 41

    Seasoning and Reasoning: How Galley Solutions is Cooking with AI & Rewriting the Rules of Food Operations

    Dec 3, 2025·38m
  42. 42

    Gemini 3 Just Dropped: Here’s What Executives Should Actually Do Next.

    Nov 25, 2025·8m
  43. 43

    Algocracy: Will AI Fix Democracy or Replace It?

    Nov 19, 2025·13m
  44. 44

    AI First Explained: How Leaders Should Think About the Future of Work

    Nov 12, 2025·8m
  45. 45

    Hiring for the Future: How IgniteTech's CEO Rebuilt His Company with AI DNA

    Hidden gem

    Adam Brotman and Andy Sack say the CEO has to carry AI change because the real work is culture change, not tech change.

    Nov 5, 2025·38m·2 clips
  46. 46

    Progress Over Perfection: How Great Leaders Start Before They’re Ready

    Oct 29, 2025·13m
  47. 47

    The Hidden Challenge of Going AI First: What Most Companies Miss

    Oct 22, 2025·13m
  48. 48

    The Industrial Revolution of Knowledge Work: How $100B is Fueling AI’s Rise

    Oct 15, 2025·9m
  49. 49

    From Zero to AI-First: How Forum3 Guided Influence Mobile’s 90-Day Transformation

    This episode features Dan Todd from Influence Mobile discussing how his company is implementing an AI-first strategy with Forum3 to transform their business, focusing on their Rewarded Play app that offers real-world rewards for gaming.

    Oct 8, 2025·1h 22m
  50. 50

    Transforming Pet Care: Jennifer Strickland's AI-Driven Leadership

    Sep 24, 2025·33m
  51. 51

    The Truth Behind Corporate AI Project Failures: Understanding the MIT Study and ChatGPT-5 Release

    Sep 3, 2025·13m
  52. 52

    AI-Era Entrepreneurship: Fast Launches, Lasting Moats, and Customer-First Growth

    Aug 20, 2025·38m
  53. 53

    Learning AI Together: Inside Cabiʼs Transformation with CIO Keith Fairclough

    This episode features an interview with CIO Keith Fairclough discussing how he implemented AI bootcamps at Cabi to educate executives and control company information while driving business transformation.

    Aug 6, 2025·36m
  54. 54

    BBQ Meets AI: How Shawn Walchef Turned a Restaurant into a Tech-Driven Media Empire

    Jul 23, 2025·31m
  55. 55

    AI Notebooks, Second Brains & The Future of Knowledge Work

    Jul 9, 2025·45m
  56. 56

    AI First Digital Epilogue: Living in the AGI Zone

    Jun 25, 2025·17m
  57. 57

    What Restaurant Leaders Can Do to Unlock Growth Again: Recapping Food on Demand Conference 2025

    Jun 11, 2025·7m
  58. 58

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: CIO Leena Punjabi’s Journey to Making F&G Life AI First

    May 28, 2025·33m
  59. 59

    AI in Commercial Real Estate: A $100B Opportunity with Locate.ai

    This episode features an interview with Joe Lee, founder and CEO of Locate AI, discussing the company's transition to an AI-native, agentic commercial real estate business and offering advice for CEOs on AI transformation.

    May 14, 2025·28m
  60. 60

    Speed, Data, and AI: How Matt Britton Future-Proofed Suzy

    Apr 30, 2025·37m
  61. 61

    The Iron Man Suit for Startups: How AI Drives Efficiency at Decent

    Apr 16, 2025·56m
  62. 62

    AI in CPG: Athletic Brewing’s Marketing Playbook with Andrew Katz

    Apr 2, 2025·51m
  63. 63

    Leadership in the Age of AI: Fred Crosetto on Transforming Traditional Industries

    Mar 19, 2025·1h 9m
  64. 64

    Redefining Entrepreneurship with AI: VC Jeff Bussgang on AI, Startups, and the Future

    Mar 5, 2025·1h 3m
  65. 65

    Game-Changing AI: Inside the Seattle Sounders’ Strategic Shift

    Feb 19, 2025·1h 2m
  66. 66

    Inside the Neil Patel Interview: AI, SEO, and Consumer Shifts

    Feb 13, 2025·27m
  67. 67

    Beyond SEO: Neil Patel on Generative Search, AI-Powered Brand Strategy, and Future-Proofing Digital Presence

    Feb 5, 2025·43m
  68. 68

    AI-Driven Productivity at Moderna: A Conversation with Brice Challamel

    This episode features a conversation with Brice Challamel about Moderna's AI-driven productivity transformation and how AI superpowers can be applied in business.

    Jan 22, 2025·1h 13m
  69. 69

    The Future of AI in 2025: Business Trends You Can’t Ignore

    Jan 7, 2025·28m