AI In Action: Exploring Tomorrow's Tech Today

AI data centers are expanding rapidly across America, and many rural communities aren't prepared for what comes next. In the first episode of this special series, we share the story of our own community's successful fiber infrastructure project and explain why those lessons matter as cities begin negotiating with large technology companies. This conversation sets the stage for upcoming epi...

Artificial intelligence doesn't live in the cloud... it lives in real buildings that require land, electricity, water, and infrastructure. This week on AI in Action, Maurie and Jim explore one of the biggest conversations happening behind the scenes in AI... data centers. Who benefits? Who bears the cost? What happens to rural communities when massive AI infrastructure moves in? Is there a bet...

Are we watching history repeat itself? Maurie and Jim explore the recent restrictions placed on advanced AI models and compare them to the famous Crypto Wars of the 1990s. From encryption battles to modern AI export controls, the same questions remain: How much control should governments have over emerging technologies, and what happens when innovation collides with national security?

What happens when AI moves beyond content creation and starts helping people solve real-world problems? In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley discuss how artificial intelligence is helping them restore a 1903 home, redesign workspaces, build personal tools, and learn new skills. They explore the difference between using AI for efficiency and using AI to create new opportunities. The conversation...

AI is changing the way we think about work, education, and the future. In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley discuss AI anxiety, emerging AI technologies, human agency, and why students need more than memorization to succeed in an AI-powered world. From world models and JEPA to project-based learning and critical thinking, this conversation explores how we can prepare learners for a future where...

AI is showing up everywhere… but did anyone actually ask for it? In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley discuss the growing tension around artificial intelligence in education and society. From classrooms and curriculum to screen time, cognitive offloading, and human agency, they explore why AI feels different from every other technology wave before it. This episode focuses less on hype and more...

This week on AI in Action, Maurie and Jim Beasley explore the rise of “AI slop” and why it may be quietly reshaping the internet, especially for children. From fake experts and AI-generated influencers to addictive scrolling content and scam-filled feeds, they discuss how algorithms reward synthetic media designed to capture attention instead of providing value. The conversation also looks at: How...

What happens when AI becomes the most emotionally available thing in someone’s life? This week, Maurie and Jim Beasley take on the complicated world of AI companionship. From AI friends and therapists to robotic pets and emotionally supportive chatbots, artificial intelligence is beginning to fill emotional roles that once belonged only to humans. The conversation explores: AI companions for child...

Phone bans are spreading across schools—but are we fixing the problem or just reacting to it? In this episode, Maurie and Jim break down the real issue behind student distraction: the attention economy. They challenge the idea that phones are the root problem and ask a tougher question— did we create this mess? From classroom realities to parent expectations, they explore what actually works, what...

The career path students have been told to follow for decades is changing — and not everyone is being honest about it. In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley unpack what’s really happening in the job market as AI accelerates long-standing shifts in how work operates. They discuss the disappearance of entry-level jobs, the difference between task-based and judgment-based work, and why both white-c...

Are you using AI… or is AI starting to use you? In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley unpack a conversation that started with one question: “Are you becoming codependent on ChatGPT?” From there, they explore how AI tools are evolving from helpful assistants into deeply personalized systems that are hard to walk away from. They connect the dots between: AI memory and personalization Vendor lock-i...

Most organizations are approaching AI backwards. In this episode of AI in Action , Maurie and Jim break down what schools and businesses are getting wrong when they try to adopt AI—and why so many tools never deliver the value they promise. From unclear problems to feature-driven purchases and flashy demos that don’t hold up in real environments, this conversation focuses on the practical side of...

This episode started with a church visit… and turned into a full debate about AI. Maurie and Jim talk about where AI is already showing up in religious spaces—from AI-generated visuals to the idea of using AI to help prepare sermons. And then they ask the bigger question: Should it? This isn’t a clean answer episode. It’s a real conversation about efficiency, meaning, and whether some parts of bei...

This episode is a little different. Instead of talking about AI in theory, we’re talking about how it’s actually showing up in real life—specifically in healthcare and parenting. Maurie and Jim sit down with their daughter, Raychel, to talk about how she’s been using AI during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and raising a newborn. From uploading bloodwork to asking late-night questions, this is a...

In this episode of AI in Action , Maurie and Jim talk with Chris Strahl , CEO of Knapsack, about how AI is transforming the way companies design and build software products. Chris explains how modern product teams are connecting design tools, code, planning systems, and analytics into a unified AI-assisted workflow. The goal is simple: shorten the path between an idea and a product that actually r...

In this episode of AI in Action , Maurie and Jim Beasley take a step back from the usual AI headlines and ask a surprising question: What is the smartest thing you can do for your child in the age of AI? The answer might not be a new tool, a new device, or even new technology at all. Instead, it may come down to something much more fundamental: learning through struggle. Maurie and Jim explore why...

AI isn’t just about efficiency anymore. In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley break down the difference between Efficiency AI and Opportunity AI , and explain how the rise of agentic AI systems may redefine business, automation, and the web itself. From small-town restaurants to AI wallets and infrastructure layers, this conversation explores what AI 3.0 really looks like—and why the biggest opp...

We just got back from TCEA… and apparently, we brought COVID home with us. But more importantly, we brought back a realization: AI agents are moving faster than most schools are prepared for. In this episode, we unpack what we saw at the conference, the growing misinformation around AI in education, and why IT leaders need to start treating AI like infrastructure — not magic. We talk about: • Why...

Summary In this episode of AI in Action, hosts Maurie and Jim Beasley get into the intersection of artificial intelligence and the current state of grocery prices. They explore how AI can facilitate in-depth research into complex topics such as food inflation, regulatory impacts, and the dynamics of the food supply chain. Through engaging discussions, they highlight the importance of education in...

Summary In this episode of AI in Action, hosts Maurie and Jim Beasley welcome JJ Parma from Zero Eyes, a company focused on AI-driven weapon detection technology. JJ shares his journey from a Navy SEAL to his current role, discussing the importance of integrating AI in school safety systems. The conversation delves into the challenges of false positives, the role of human verification in AI detect...

Summary This conversation explores the potential of AI to transform rural healthcare, particularly through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Maurie and Jim discuss the challenges faced by rural healthcare systems, including doctor shortages, cybersecurity threats, and the need for innovative technologies. They emphasize the importance of trust in technology and the workforce's ad...

Summary In this conversation, Maurie and Jim Beasley, along with Tina Austin, explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, focusing on the importance of metacognition, global perspectives on AI, and the need for innovative teaching methods. They discuss the challenges and misunderstandings surrounding AI tool adoption, the need to rethink assessment frameworks, and the potent...

Summary In this episode, Maurie and Jim Beasley reflect on the past year and discuss their predictions for AI in 2025 and 2026. They explore the evolving landscape of AI technology, the challenges in education, the political implications of AI, and potential market corrections. The conversation emphasizes the importance of practical applications and the need for honest discussions about AI's f...

Summary In this episode of AI in Action, hosts Maurie and Jim Beasley engage in an unscripted conversation covering a range of topics, including Maurie's recent book signing, the implications of AI policy and regulation, and the distinction between efficiency AI and opportunity AI. They discuss the importance of education in AI adoption, the perception of AI as a wave rather than a bubble, and...

Summary In this episode of AI in Action, hosts Maurie and Jim Beasley discuss the implications of artificial intelligence in education, particularly focusing on college admissions, the role of nonprofits in AI education, and the shifting perspectives on the value of college in the age of AI. They emphasize the importance of teaching skepticism towards AI, the need for practical applications of AI...