How to Get Started with AI in Your Business (Practical Tips & Real Technologies) - Part 1
Matt Kirchner, Host of The TechEd Podcast
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What does it really take to get started with artificial intelligence in a small or mid-sized company right here in the U.S.?
We're breaking it down in this two-part series.
In part 1, Matt Kirchner shares lessons from his recent trip overseas and what he learned visiting 26 advanced tech companies in six days. From open-source innovation and mandatory AI education to the work ethic driving global competition, Matt explains why the time to act on AI is now, and how American business leaders can take practical steps to stay ahead.
He connects global insights to the realities of U.S. manufacturing and education, explores what it means to see before others see in the age of AI, and outlines the first practical technologies every organization should understand, from AI agents and MCP servers to embedded smart technology and digital twins.
Listen to learn:
- What China’s open-source approach to AI is teaching the world about speed and innovation
- Why small and mid-sized U.S. businesses can’t afford to wait on AI adoption
- The two traits every leader needs to thrive in the AI era and how to apply them today
- How manufacturers are already using AI for predictive maintenance, analytics, and smart equipment
- The real-world technologies, like MCP servers, AI agents, and digital twins, that can start transforming your operations now
Including...the first 5 technologies from A Manufacturer’s Guide To AI Tech.
3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:
1. Rural America is the new frontier for advanced manufacturing. McKinsey’s analysis found that 63 % of $1 trillion in announced U.S. manufacturing investments are being built within 15 miles of rural communities. Pinder explains that these projects will define America’s manufacturing future and bring high-quality jobs to places that have long been left behind.
2. The skills gap solution isn’t either-or...students need basic academic and technical skills. McKinsey’s research shows that foundational reading and math scores are eroding across the U.S., especially in rural communities, even as demand grows for advanced manufacturing talent. Duwain and Matt agree that employers shouldn’t accept this trade-off. Students must graduate ready to read, calculate, and communicate and understand robotics, PLCs, and other manufacturing tech, which requires schools and employers to work together on both fronts.
3. Using existing successful models (not always reinventing the wheel) will help rural K-12 accelerate and scale career-connected learning. Nearly 8 in 10 rural students want apprenticeships and hands-on learning, yet only 3 in 10 can access them, a gap that represents a massive opportunity. Evidence-based models like youth apprenticeships, dual-enrollment, and early-college high schools already exist. If districts embrace these, plus partner with employers and workforce associations, they can create career-connected learning more quickly.
Resources in this Episode:
Other podcast episodes referenced:
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