#90 - The AI Engineer Playbook: Lessons for the Next Generation of Builders | Thomas Bustos
Behind every breakthrough is a builder with a playbook - one that’s forged through trial, mentorship, and iteration.In this episode, Thomas Bustos dissects the AI Engineer Playbook, a systems-level look at how great builders think, learn, and execute.He unpacks how to design your own playbook, why copying others will never scale, and how the future belongs to engineers who combine speed, control, and empathy for users.You’ll walk away challenged to rethink your process, reconnect with your community, and commit to growth that’s as intentional as it is technical.Listen to this solo deep dive into what it truly takes to create, learn, and lead as an AI engineer.Top Insights:Understand the value of solving problems and time saved.Minimize human involvement in engineering processes.Focus on user experience to solve the right problems.Building is a long-term game requiring curiosity and iteration.Define your unique playbook based on personal interests.Speed and control are essential in engineering excellence.Engage with communities and share your work publicly.Mentorship is crucial for growth and direction.Iterate on your goals weekly for continuous improvement.Be curious and explore new tools and technologies.Connect with Thomas BustosThomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/ Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/ Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAPHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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#89 - From 10 to 150 Engineers: Adam Haney's Playbook for Building in the AI Era
The path from zero to one is an equation that involves technology, psychology, and culture. Adam Haney of Infinity Constellation breaks down how modern teams can achieve product-market fit while preserving a human-centric mindset. The discussion examines the convergence of AI tools, leadership communication, and strategic hiring, offering a lens into how effective collaboration fuels innovation. It’s a grounded conversation on what tech leadership looks like in 2025 and beyond.Top Insights:Technology must harmonize with human-centric services.The zero to one phase is crucial for startups.AI tools are changing the landscape of product development.Unified vision enhances team velocity and effectiveness.Building relationships between tech and operations is vital.Iterative frameworks help in strategic planning.Experience teaches the importance of adaptability in leadership. The best AI services businesses need to be tightly coupled with operations.Hands-on experience in engineering fosters a well-rounded skill set.AI services are becoming viable for hyperscale companies.Understanding customer needs is essential for service success.Intuition and data should reinforce each other in decision-making.Surrounding yourself with ambitious people raises your own standards.Connect with Adam HaneyAdam Haney on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjhaney/ Infinity Constellation - https://www.infinityconstellation.com/ Open Story Podcast - https://openstorypodcast.com/ Connect with Thomas BustosThomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/ Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/ Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAPHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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#88 - Snipd and the Future of Podcasting: AI Meets Audio Content | Kevin Smith
Everyone says podcasting is already saturated, but Kevin Smith would disagree. While most platforms focus on distribution, he’s betting on AI as the core experience. As co-founder of Snipd, Kevin argues that the future of podcasting isn’t about more shows, but about smarter listening: capturing key ideas, surfacing highlights, and creating shareable knowledge from endless hours of audio. In this conversation, Thomas Bustos pushes on the big questions: is AI enhancing the podcast experience, or is it reshaping it entirely? What happens when AI curates your takeaways better than you can? For anyone who thinks AI is just a background tool, this episode is a wake-up call. The podcast player itself is becoming intelligent.Top Insights:Decide what to focus on and forget everything else.Podcasts are the largest knowledge library in the world.You have to be relentlessly resourceful as a founder.Talk to people to understand their problems before building.Give it to five people, and you'll see the problems immediately.Snipd is a fully fledged podcast player with unique features.Put small building blocks on top of each other for success.The world needs more entrepreneurial energy and spirit.AI is changing how we interact with audio content.Exclusive Listener Offer!One month free premium access on Snipd - https://link.snipd.com/Cx7S/thomas Connect with Kevin SmithKevin Smith on LinkedIn - https://ch.linkedin.com/in/kevin-smith-673714b4 Snipd - https://www.snipd.com/ Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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#87 - Why AI Engineers Must Think Like Problem-Solvers | Alessandro Romano
The conversation around AI engineering is shifting, and Alessandro Romano is at the center of it.In this episode of Let’s Talk AI, we explore why the future of AI is no longer just about tools. It’s now about people who can think critically, solve problems, and apply frameworks with purpose.Alessandro breaks down the evolution of roles in data science, the rise of hands-on workshops for real-world learning, and the practical use of frameworks like Crew AI and LangGraph.He also explains why observability isn’t a buzzword but a necessity for responsible AI development.If you’ve ever wondered how AI engineers can deliver business value without drowning in hype, this episode offers a grounded, professional perspective.Top Insights:A professional perspective in data science requires domain specificity.Experiences at conferences can lead to valuable networking opportunities.The role of a data scientist is evolving and often overlaps with AI engineering.AI engineering is about building solutions, not just maintaining infrastructure.Workshops can be effective for hands-on learning and engagement.Choosing the right framework depends on the specific problem being solved.Observability is crucial for understanding AI systems' decision-making processes.Problem-solving should be prioritized over tool selection in AI development.Experimentation with tools is essential for effective AI engineering.A strong foundation in software engineering enhances problem-solving capabilities.Connect with Alessandro RomanoAlessandro Romano’s Website - https://www.aromano.dev/Connect with Thomas BustosThomas Bustos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbustos/ Let’s Talk AI - https://thomasbustos.substack.com/ Let’s Talk AI on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lets-talk-ai Let’s Talk AI on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6mVjFvdEkZDCTXpIuuSLAPHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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#86 - Neural Maze: Guiding the Next Wave of AI Engineers | Miguel Otero Pedrido
The world of AI engineering is exploding. Every week, there’s a new framework, a new tool, a new breakthrough. For beginners and even mid-career engineers, it can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start?In this episode of Let’s Talk AI, Miguel explains why hands-on learning beats passive theory, why systems thinking is the real skill every AI engineer needs, and why observability—understanding what’s happening inside your models and systems—is non-negotiable if you want to build responsibly.For anyone looking to break into AI engineering, this episode offers a roadmap: stop chasing every trend, start focusing on systems, and above all…Build, learn, and grow.Top Insights:Neural Maze aims to help aspiring engineers navigate the overwhelming AI landscape.Building AI systems requires thinking in terms of systems, not just code.Observability is crucial for deploying AI systems in production.Learning by building projects is the most effective way to gain skills.Filo Agents project connects philosophy with gaming, showcasing innovative applications of AI.The value of code has shifted; engineers must adapt to new technologies.Miguel encourages staying out of the hype and focusing on building meaningful projects.He plans to expand Neural Maze into a community for self-contained courses.Connect with Miguel Otero PedridoMiguel Otero Pedirdo on LinkedInMiguel Otero Pedrido on SubstackMiguel Otero Pedrido on Medium.com Miguel Otero Pedrido on GitHubMiguel Otero Pedrido on XThe Neural Maze on SubstackThe Neural Maze on YouTubeConnect with Thomas BustosThomas Bustos on LinkedInLet’s Talk AILet’s Talk AI on YouTubeLet’s Talk AI on SpotifyHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Let’s Talk AI is the podcast that makes you dive deeper into Artificial Intelligence. We talk with experts about topics, challenges, technologies related to AI with no fear to get into technical details. The goal is to learn from guests that are passionate about AI shares about real world cases, to take your business, career and projects to the next level!
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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