The Weird Canadian

The AI Steve Jobs Predicted: Why Your Business Needs a Custom AI with JB Herrera

Episode Notes

Is the AI you're using actually built for your business, or is it just a generic encyclopedia? While tools like ChatGPT are powerful, they lack the context, values, and specific knowledge that make your business unique.

In this episode, I talk to JB Herrera, an AI alchemist, small business growth journalist, and former Apple innovator. With over two decades of experience, JB designs bespoke AI systems that empower small companies to scale intelligently, turning their unique human brilliance into a competitive advantage.

We explore the critical differences between using a general LLM and deploying a custom-trained AI that understands your brand's voice and goals. JB shares a powerful success story of replacing a 9-month software build with a working AI prototype in just three days and offers his essential ethical guardrails for any business stepping into the world of AI.

Plus, JB gives us a rare look into his time at Apple, sharing what it was like to work with Steve Jobs and discussing the "Knowledge Navigator"—the AI assistant Jobs envisioned decades before it was possible.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • [00:02:20] The fundamental flaws of running your business on a generic AI like ChatGPT.
  • [00:04:17] How agentic AI workflows can automate complex, multi-step processes.
  • [00:08:13] The "Human Brilliance" hybrid model: Combining your expertise with AI's power.
  • [00:12:37] What it was really like working with Steve Jobs and the AI he predicted.
  • [00:21:27] The non-negotiable ethical guardrails you must establish before using AI.
  • [00:26:11] "Drift for Dummies": Why your AI prompts will stop working over time and how to manage it.

Resources:

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