S04E09 | AI, Business and The Next Industrial Revolution
Episode Title: AI, Business & The Next Industrial Revolution
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Metal Guys Talk Business, Pete and Mike are joined by AI strategist, author and community founder Alan King to discuss one of the biggest technological shifts businesses have faced since the arrival of the internet.
Alan shares his thoughts on:
- What AI actually is
- Why ChatGPT changed everything
- How businesses should be preparing for the future
- Why “doing nothing” could be the biggest risk of all
- The dangers of poor AI governance
- How organisational structures may fundamentally change over the next decade
The conversation explores AI through the lens of the metal, manufacturing and engineering sectors, looking at everything from sales and recruitment to automation, supply chains and decision-making.
About Alan King
Alan King previously worked with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on global strategy initiatives before founding the AI-focused community “AI Your Org” in 2022.
He is also:
- Host of the AI Evolution podcast
- Author of Harnessing the Power of AI in Your Organization
- Preparing to release his next book: Future State: Reimagining Organizational Logic Through the Lens of AI
Key Topics Covered
What Actually Is AI?
Alan breaks down the history of AI in simple terms, tracing the evolution from early neural networks through to modern large language models like ChatGPT.
The discussion covers:
- AlexNet and the breakthrough in image recognition
- Google’s “Attention Is All You Need” paper
- The rise of transformer models
- Why ChatGPT felt like a “10-year leap overnight”
Alan explains how modern AI differs from older systems like Siri and why today’s models can now reason, maintain context and hold meaningful conversations.
Why AI Changes Business Structures
A major part of the episode focuses on what Alan calls “organisational logic” — the idea that AI will fundamentally reshape how businesses operate.
The conversation compares AI to:
- The Industrial Revolution
- The arrival of the internet
- The rise of mobile technology
Alan argues that many businesses are still trying to apply AI to old systems rather than redesigning how they operate from the ground up.
The “Blockbuster” Warning
Throughout the episode, Blockbuster is repeatedly used as an example of what happens when established businesses fail to adapt to technological change.
Key discussion points include:
- Why legacy companies often struggle to change
- The danger of protecting outdated structures
- How AI-native businesses could outperform incumbents
- Why some organisations may become the “Blockbusters of AI”
The discussion also references Nokia, Kodak and traditional banks versus fintech disruptors.
AI in Manufacturing & Engineering
Pete and Mike steer the discussion toward the metal and engineering industries, asking how AI could realistically impact manufacturing businesses.
Alan discusses:
- Supply chain optimisation
- Automated purchasing decisions
- AI-driven ERP systems
- Intelligent inventory management
- Faster operational decision-making
The group also explore whether large steel and manufacturing businesses are protected from disruption due to the massive capital barriers involved in entering those markets.
Human + AI Collaboration
One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is that AI should enhance humans rather than simply replace them.
Alan introduces the concept of:
- Humans
- AI systems
- Data
…working together as a connected triangle.
The discussion covers:
- AI governance
- Staff training
- Responsible implementation
- The importance of clean data
- Where humans still outperform AI systems
AI Agents, Bots & The Future of Sales
The conversation becomes particularly interesting when discussing AI-powered sales and communication tools.
Pete discusses:
- AI sales bots
- Automated cold calling
- Real-time call coaching
- AI analysing buying signals during conversations
Alan explains that while the technology is not fully mature yet, businesses should already be preparing for a future where AI agents become integrated into customer communication and sales workflows.
Why Businesses Need AI Policies
A major warning from Alan centres around businesses banning AI tools entirely.
The discussion explores:
- Employees secretly using AI tools
- GDPR and data security risks
- Intellectual property concerns
- Why banning AI could actually increase business risk
Alan argues that companies should instead create controlled environments and governance frameworks for staff to safely use AI tools.
Jobs, Careers & Reskilling
The episode also addresses one of the biggest concerns around AI: jobs.
Topics include:
- Which roles may be most vulnerable
- Why junior administrative roles could be impacted first
- The rise of AI-assisted working
- Why people should begin learning AI tools now
Alan’s view is that AI will change jobs rather than simply eliminate them — but people who learn to work alongside AI will have a significant advantage.
The Most Exciting AI Tools Right Now
To finish the episode, Alan shares some of the AI tools and developments he finds most exciting.
The discussion includes:
- ChatGPT voice mode
- Grok
- Sora
- Ideogram
- AI-generated music tools like Suno
- AI agents and browser automation
- The future of AI-powered operating systems
The group also discuss how future AI systems may remove friction entirely from tasks like ordering products, booking services or managing workflows.
Key Takeaway
This episode is less about “AI tools” and more about business transformation.
Alan’s core message is clear:
Businesses that ignore AI completely may face the same fate as companies that ignored the internet.
Learn More
SEASON FOUR of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:
SteelBuy, a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.
NERO Pipeline Connections, a trusted UK stockholder of stainless steel valves, fittings, and pipeline products, supporting industries from process to precision.
Comton Group, Recruitment Engineered for Metal and Manufacturing.
The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group.
Contact us via our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business.
Social Media Accounts
LinkedIn:
Michael Bolton - Mike
Peter Comerford - Pete
Comton Group - Comton Group
TikTok:
Mike - @comtonmike
Pete - @comtonpete
Instagram:
Mike - @comtonmike
Pete - @comtonpete
SteelBuy, a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.
NERO Pipeline Connections, a trusted UK stockholder of stainless steel valves, fittings, and pipeline products, supporting industries from process to precision.
Comton Group, Recruitment Engineered for Metal and Manufacturing.
The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group.
Contact us via our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business.
Social Media Accounts
LinkedIn:
Michael Bolton - Mike
Peter Comerford - Pete
Comton Group - Comton Group
TikTok:
Mike - @comtonmike
Pete - @comtonpete
Instagram:
Mike - @comtonmike
Pete - @comtonpete
