Air Street Capital’s Nathan Benaich just dropped the 2025 State of AI Report — a 313-page tour de force on where artificial intelligence is today and where it’s headed next. In this episode, Dave “CAC” Kellogg and Ray “Growth” Rike break down the highlights, surprises, and bold predictions shaping the future of AI, software, and the global economy.They explore:Why this report is becoming the “Mary Meeker Internet Report” of the AI eraKey insights across research breakthroughs, model performance, geopolitics, enterprise adoption, and market maturityThe Top 10 Predictions that could define the next 12 months — from AI agents running $5B in ad spend to the first UN emergency debate on AI securityPredictions discussed include:Retailers generating 5%+ of online sales via agentic checkoutOpen-sourcing frontier models to win government favorAI-driven scientific discoveries completed end-to-end by autonomous agentsDeepfake or agent-led cyberattacks prompting NATO-level actionA real-time generative video game dominating Twitch“AI neutrality” emerging as a new foreign policy doctrineAI-produced films earning major audience praise (and backlash)A Chinese lab surpassing U.S. AI leadershipDatacenter NIMBYism shaping local electionsAnd even AI entering U.S. presidential politics through executive orders and court battlesIf you work in B2B software, this episode is your roadmap to how AI is transforming not just technology — but business models, economics, and the balance of global power.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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AI Agents Winning Hearts and Wallets, A New Report from G2
AI Agents (also known as Agentic AI) are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about ways for enterprises to operationalize generative AI. G2 recently released a new research report — “A Leap of Trust: AI Agents Are Winning Hearts and Wallets” — highlighting where adoption is happening and why.In this episode, Dave “CAC” Kellogg and Ray “Growth” Rike break down the report’s findings and what they mean for business leaders evaluating AI strategies today, including:How efficiency and effectiveness gains translate into real business outcomesThe connection between Parkinson’s Law and AI Agent scalingWhich industries are leading AI Agent adoptionThe top use cases emerging across the enterpriseWhy Time to Value may be faster than expectedContainment Rate — the new metric that mattersAnd whether AI Agents accelerate a return to IT-centric projectsIf you're evaluating how to bring Generative AI into your organization — including whether to deploy packaged AI applications or pursue an agentic approach — this conversation is full of practical insights and thought-provoking perspectives you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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What is ROI and Why Does it Matter in AI Software Investments?
The buzz about ROI from AI software investments is palpable, so Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike take on the topic of measuring Return on Investment on AI software investments. During today's episode, Dave and Ray discuss the details on measuring ROI including:Defining Return on InvestmentSoft vs Hard BenefitsProductivity - the primary benefit of AI investments todayBuy versus Build & Run - an old problem is new againROI models need to go beyond payback periodLook back reviews - the value vs the realityReturn on Investment (ROI) is not a new term - but one that is coming back into favor thanks to AI. If you are considering making or continuing an investment in AI software and project for your organization - this episode has something of value for you!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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9-9-6: What is Means and Why Everyone is Talking About It
9-9-6. A term to describe the work culture of working 9AM - 9PM six days a week. This term is most often associated with those founders, companies, and their employees that work in generational software opportunities - such as we see right now with AI Software.Dave and Ray discuss 9-9-6 from multiple angles in today's episode including:What 9-9-6 isWhere did it originateWhy is it trendingThe importance of Winning in the early stage of a new software eraGeoffrey Moore's segmentation of new enterprise software markets (Gorillas, Chimps and Monkeys)Historic examples of those companies that became category leaderWhy the grind is not the point - Winning isWhy the choice of entering a 9-9-6 environment makes choosing the company even more importantIf you are currently in an early-stage AI-Native software company or considering making the move - this episode is a must listen!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Forward-Deployed Engineer
The Forward-Deployed Engineer (FDE) represents a fundamental reimagining of the technical role in high-stakes enterprise environments. At its core, an FDE is a software engineer embedded directly with customers to solve their most complex—and often ambiguous—problems.Palantir is widely credited as the originator and early adopter of the FDE model, initially referring to these engineers as “Deltas.” In this episode, Dave “CAC” Kellogg and Ray “Growth” Rike explore multiple dimensions of the Forward-Deployed Engineer role, including:The origin of the FDEHow the military influenced the termWhether the FDE belongs in a technology-enabled services company or a software companyHow an FDE differs from a traditional technical services consultantWhere FDE expenses should be allocated—COGS vs. OPEXHow those allocation decisions impact key metricsThe hiring trends shaping the future of the FDEIf you’re building an AI-native application or an agentic AI company with outcome-based pricing, this episode is packed with insights and ideas on why a Forward-Deployed Engineer could be your next—and most important—hire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Metrics Brothers (formerly SaaS Talk with the Metrics Brothers) is hosted by Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike. The Metrics Brothers provides unique insights, strategies, tactics and the metrics that are relevant to Native-AI and B2B software and SaaS companies.Each 20-minute episode will cover a topic critical to leading a B2B software company, and chalked full of practical advice that can be introduced and applied in most Native-AI, Agentic AI and B2B software and SaaS companies.
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