The AI Corner

35 weeks pregnant and still asking questions about AI 🤯. Erin’s curiosity hasn’t slowed down: every chat turns into questions about prompts, tools, or how AI is reshaping the way we work. That curiosity is what sparked the idea of AI On The Couch, where Erin asks questions and Mike does his best to break it all down in plain, practical ways. In this first episode they're tackling ChatGPT’s Ag...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest Nadia Ellis, a former tourism marketing leader turned AI consultant, as they explore how AI agents, curiosity, and human-centred design can transform Kiwi businesses. From a personal health pivot into the AI space to building her consultancy “Curiosity”, Nadia shares how she helps leaders adopt AI in practical, joyful, and sustainable ways. Discover why starting smal...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest Karrina Mountfort, founder of the AI Assembly and CTO at Web‑based AI, as she shares her journey from building enterprise systems to pioneering community‑focused AI in New Zealand. Discover why she reframes AI adoption as education and ethical licensing, and why real human connection matters just as much as the tech. In this episode we discuss: 00:00 – Intro & gu...

Join host Mike Bayly as he chats with Heath Waugh, founder of Matter Studio, New Zealand’s first AI-powered product photography studio. With two decades of experience in commercial photography, Heath is blending traditional studio craft with generative AI to create faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective brand imagery. Discover how hybrid workflows are transforming product shoots, from furn...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest Stephen Morison, Gen AI leader at Fonterra, to explore how he’s embedding AI into the workflows of 22,000 employees - from farms to the boardroom. With deep expertise in enterprise tech and change management, Stephen shares how Microsoft Copilot and custom bots are transforming operations at scale. Discover why AI adoption is “99 % change management,” how home experi...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest David Dempsey, associate professor at the University of Canterbury, as they explore how AI is being integrated into engineering education in New Zealand, and why it matters for tomorrow’s professionals. Discover how AI agents and sandbox environments are empowering students to red‑flag mistakes, rethink assessments, and build critical thinking. David shares tips on a...

Discover how Incredible co-CEO Matt Browning turns no-code platforms and AI agents into customised software that frees Kiwi and global SMBs from admin drudgery. Fresh off winning the 2024 Rotorua Tech & Innovation Award, he joins host Mike Bayly to unpack the real-world potential of automation. Gain tangible insights into rapid Glide app building, the “light-bulb” moment when AI plugs into exi...

Join host Mike Bayly as we welcome back John-Daniel Trask, CEO of Raygun and AutoHive, to break down the launch of AutoHive - a New Zealand AI Agent platform for building and collaborating with AI agents across business workflows. From team-wide adoption to platform differentiation, JD shares what sets AutoHive apart and why it's designed for everyone, not just developers. Discover how AutoHiv...

Join host Mike Bayly in conversation with Susana Tomaz, a molecular biologist turned AI educator driving one of New Zealand’s most forward-thinking school strategies at Westlake Girls. As an international AI education fellow, Susana shares why AI literacy is essential for every student and what it takes to lead bold change before the system catches up. Discover how to build AI capability across te...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest JD (John-Daniel Trask), CEO of Raygun and AutoHive, for a sweeping chat on New Zealand’s AI future. From 1990s Clippy to 2024’s AI agents, JD shares how his nerdy obsession evolved into a mission: scale AI delegation across NZ businesses and close the nation’s productivity gap. Discover how Raygun’s “AI Week” helped pivot the business, and why small teams with smart...

Join host Mike Bayly as he speaks with Dr. Karaitiana Taiuru, a leading Māori technology ethicist, about the intersection of AI, culture, and indigenous rights. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Taiuru shares his journey into AI and his mission to ensure Māori leadership in the digital realm. Discover the challenges of algorithmic bias, the importance of Māori data sovereignty, and the potenti...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest Matt Ensor to discuss how Matt helping New Zealand lead in practical AI adoption—from building the country’s first indigenous conversational AI (Frankly AI) to training teams with agents that automate real business workflows. We dive into AI’s role in civic engagement, Māori data sovereignty, and why “No Voice Left Behind” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a mission. Matt bre...

Join host Mike Bayly and guest Joe Sutheran as they explore how a performance marketing analyst upskilled in AI to safeguard his career. Hear Joe’s step‑by‑step journey: from mastering system instructions and temperature settings to building multi‑agent document‑generation workflows. Joe talks to strategies for human‑centric automation that any business can adopt. In this episode we discuss: 00:00...

Join episode one of The AI Corner as Salesforce pioneer‑turned‑AI-consultant Dan Fowlie reveals how GPT‑4 ignited his leap into hands‑on AI, why build costs are plummeting, and how Kiwis can seize the opportunity. Discover practical workflows (cross‑model code review, Replit prototypes), candid views on NZ’s lagging adoption, and everyday hacks—from tyre shopping to kid‑friendly colouring sheets—t...