Beyond the Hype: A Business Leader’s Guide to AI with Justin Massa
If you are a business leader trying to get past AI chatter and buzzwords, this episode will help you cut through the noise. 
Chuck Templeton sits down with longtime friend and generative AI strategist 
Justin Massa for one of our most actionable conversations to date.
Whether you’re trying to figure out what AI means for your business or frustrated by AI tools that don’t deliver, Justin offers clarifying frameworks, real-world case studies, and an accessible perspective on how business leaders can integrate generative AI to drive real, tangible value. In this episode, Chuck and Justin cover a wide range of topics from how to think about “the jagged frontier” of AI capabilities, when to use a frontier model versus AI products, how the technology will shape companies and industries, when AI agents might come into play, and how to transform your AI strategy from ad hoc experimentation to holistic transformation. This episode is packed with insights for anyone trying to navigate the tension between risk, opportunity, and speed in an increasingly AI-driven world.
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Key Takeaways
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Justin introduces the concept of the jagged frontier, where AI outperforms in some tasks but fails in others, and its capabilities are continuously in flux. The key is to keep testing the edge of that frontier to understand how it’s changing.
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According to Justin, CEOs must be direct users of AI tools. Think of learning AI like learning to ride a bike: no amount of theory substitutes for falling, getting back up, and finally figuring it out.
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Justin outlines three paths to integrating AI: as a technique (low lift), a jig (a custom-built tool for a specific job), or a tool (enterprise software, larger investment). Each has a different speed, cost, and return profile.
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Justin says there are three layers of ethics and governance when it comes to AI: creation, operation, and application. The application level in particular demands an ethics and governance policy that is constantly evolving, which means the legal team should be closely involved in how AI is implemented in your organization.
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Justin shares that companies like Red Antler are already seeing employees “buy back” large percentages of their time using generative AI, and reinvesting it into creative, strategic work. By paying close attention to how your employees are implementing AI at a task level, you can abstract it up to a systems and process level across the business.