How to Get Started with AI in Your Business (Practical Tips & Real Technologies)

Matt Kirchner, Host of The TechEd Podcast

Part 1

Part 2

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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.?

In this two-part series, Matt Kirchner breaks down a practical, actionable framework for implementing AI in your business.

Drawing from his experience visiting 26 advanced-technology companies across China, Matt reveals how the pace of innovation, open-source collaboration, and workforce education abroad are reshaping the global landscape. He connects those insights to the realities of U.S. manufacturing and outlines 12 core technologies every leader needs to understand to start using AI effectively today.

From AI agents and digital twins to smart robots and next-gen materials, this series moves beyond theory to show exactly how organizations can begin applying AI for real results.

Listen to learn:

  • Why AI adoption has become a global race and what U.S. companies can learn from China’s open-source approach
  • The traits great leaders share in the AI era, and what it means to “see before others see”
  • How small and mid-sized businesses can start implementing AI without massive upfront investment
  • The 12 practical technologies from A Manufacturer’s Guide to AI Tech—including AI agents, MCP servers, digital twins, vector databases, GPTs, intelligent data prediction, autonomous mobile robots, drones, industrial robotics, metrology, and smart materials
  • How these technologies are transforming operations, decision-making, and the future of the workforce

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