This Week from the AI Frontlines
Cutting through the hype with practical insights on AI, enterprise strategy, and career growth.
🦙 Llama 4 is Here: What You Need to Know
Meta dropped the Llama 4 models and they're already available in Snowflake Cortex AI. Here's the scoop:
Scout: 17B params, 16 experts, fits on a single H100, beats Gemma 3 and Mistral 3.1 on benchmarks, and has a 10M context window.
Maverick: Also 17B params but with 128 experts. Outperforms GPT-4o and DeepSeek V3. Think "brainy but efficient."
Both models are distilled from the Llama 4 Behemoth (288B), outperforming Claude 3 Sonnet on STEM tasks.
This matters: Open source keeps pushing forward—and it's not just good for hobbyists. Enterprises need high-performing, flexible options too.
🪤 GenAI May Shine, But ML Still Pays the Bills
I hit pause on GenAI recently to reconnect with ML—and it was refreshing. Here’s why:
GenAI demos well. ML performs consistently.
ML has clear governance, history, and benchmarks.
It may not trend, but it powers real revenue (fraud detection, pricing, churn, recommendations).
Don't forget: LLMs are sexy, but a well-tuned XGBoost model is still what drives millions in enterprise value.
🌐 From Task Assistant to Life Co-Pilot
Harvard Business Review latest report on GenAI use cases shows a shift:
Top 3 use cases for 2025:
Therapy & companionship
Organizing life
Finding purpose
Takeaway? AI is becoming more personal. Less task-focused, more life-integrated.
📈 LLMs Enter the Boardroom
New research with S&P Global reveals a surprising stat: Firms with on-topic execs in earnings calls outperformed peers by 390 bps.
Add proactive communication? That jumps to 506 bps.
We used Snowflake Cortex to analyze 200K earnings calls. Result: AI-driven insights are redefining what good leadership looks like. Not just what you say, but how you say it.
🤖 Agent Inception: A2A x MCP
Google's new Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol pairs beautifully with Model Context Protocol (MCP):
MCP connects agents to data/tools.
A2A connects agents to each other.
Together, they enable robust AI systems that talk, reason, and collaborate. Cool? Yes. Enterprise-ready? Still early.
📅 Shopify CEO Says the quiet part Out Loud: AI is Mandatory
Tobi Lutke's internal memo nails it:
AI is no longer optional.
Learning AI = the new literacy.
Sharing failures is part of the process.
We're all in the "red queen race" now. Adapt fast, or fall behind.
🏫 AI for Education: Ask More, Answer Less
Anthropic released a new Claude mode for education, built on the Socratic method. It doesn’t give answers—it teaches how to think.
This is the direction AI in education should be heading:
✅ Encourage critical thinking
✅ Personalize the learning journey
✅ Promote curiosity over content cramming
🎉 Bonus: TEDx Talk Prep Framework
10 steps to crushing your next big talk (TEDx or not):
Mental Workshopping
Anchor with a Story
Spontaneous Initial Recording
Pause Before Review
Transcribe & Reflect
AI Structure Analysis
Simple Visuals
Refine Delivery
Leave Room for Improvisation
Random Mental Rehearsals
Real magic? Meticulous prep = stress-free performance.
🔗 [Public Speaking Preparation Framework]
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See you next week, Doneyli