The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation with Steve Brown

Today we have a special guest and author on the Code Story podcast, Steve Brown . Steve is a former DeepMind futurist, and recently published a book called The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation . In the book, he provides a step by step framework to guide leaders in identifying use cases for AI, turning it into business value, and obtaining buy in from employees. In our conversation, Steve is going to elaborate on why AI is a teammate (not a threat), the top AI rollout mistakes, leadership and management tactics that need to go, and much more. Questions: What led you to write this book? Ultimately, what were you trying to accomplish? We often hear that AI is coming for our jobs, but you argue it’s actually our newest teammate. Can you elaborate on this more? Let's double back on something you said, around the flavors of agents. What are those 3 different flavors of agents? Over time, leaders can fall into operating out of their experience - IE assumptions about a particular endeavor. With the advent of AI, what assumptions need to be retired, and what needs to replace them? In the same vane as the last question, you mention that old-school management fails in the age of AI. What do you mean by this, why does it fail and what needs to be changed? In the book, you talk about the AI wins you can use today, effectively pointing at immediate impact teams can feel from using AI. Can you talk to 2-3 of the most important ones? Can you explain why reinvention beats reduction? If this is the case, how can leaders and employees move into this way of thinking? Today, people are trying to rollout AI and getting it wrong - from the startup to the enterprise. What are the top AI rollout mistakes for companies to avoid? Sponsors Unblocked TECH Domains Mezmo Braingrid.ai Links The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation Our Sponsors: * Check out Cash App and use my code CASHAPP10 for a great deal: . Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit for full disclosures. * Check out Plaud AI and use my code CODESTORY for a great deal: Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

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The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation with Steve Brown is an episode from Code Story by Noah Labhart - Startup Founder & CTO.

This episode is 26:41 long.

This episode was published on Apr 16, 2026.

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