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AI Automation Alchemist

AI Automation Alchemist

Written by: Rey Ortega
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About this listen

Practical AI for small business entrepreneurs! AI shouldn’t be overwhelming or overhyped. AI Automation Alchemist breaks the noise into actionable playbooks for small business owners and scrappy founders. We cover the headlines that matter, de-risk adoption (security, compliance, costs), and walk through real workflows for leads, service, and back-office. Informational, honest, and inspiring, so you can do less manual work and drive more growth.

2025 Rey Ortega
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How to Get Better ChatGPT Results with Context, Strategy, and Smart Prompting Without Guessing
    Feb 16 2026

    In this episode, I show how I actually use ChatGPT to run my business: settings, models, custom GPTs, and Projects.


    Then we do a live demo: I ask ChatGPT to write the prompt, and we generate an ad image from 2 photos.

    ChatGPT updates constantly. New models, new features, new hype cycles.

    But the real advantage isn’t the latest update — it’s how you use the tool.

    In this episode, I walk you through my real ChatGPT workflow:

    • Free vs Plus plan (and why I use Plus)
    • The settings that matter (personalization + memory)
    • Model selection (thinking vs instant)
    • Uploading files/images for better context
    • Custom GPTs (shareable) vs Projects (internal)
    • How I build a business GPT (Customer Avatar Finder)
    • My favorite trick: ask ChatGPT to write the prompt
    • Live demo: combine two photos into a photorealistic ad image

    Sponsored by:

    • Grata Software — custom AI + automation for small businesses
    • Digital Strike — DIY training for AI + automation

    Comment what you want me to show next:
    Lead gen, sales follow-up, customer avatars, offers, or automations.

    00:00 We’re finally using tools (ChatGPT)
    01:10 AI hype cycles & why strategy matters
    04:37 ChatGPT plans: Free vs Plus
    06:58 Personalization settings
    09:27 Why I keep Memory OFF
    11:47 Data controls + privacy reality
    14:11 Protecting data (local models)
    15:00 Models: thinking vs instant + training dates
    16:33 RAG explained in plain English
    18:56 Files, context windows, and uploads
    21:13 Agent mode warning
    23:35 Sidebar: chats, images, apps, codex
    25:51 Custom GPTs vs Projects
    30:25 Why ChatGPT changed business research forever
    32:42 Building a Custom GPT (Avatar Finder)
    35:06 Knowledge base “secret sauce”
    37:29 Projects example (travel budget)
    39:53 Ask AI to write the prompt (pro move)
    44:25 Live image generation results
    46:44 CTA + next episode

    #ChatGPT #AI #Automation #SmallBusiness #Marketing

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    48 mins
  • Bonus Episode: How Large Language Models Actually Work (A Simple Story)
    Feb 9 2026

    Most people don’t understand how AI actually works — and that’s okay.


    In this episode, I explain Large Language Models using a simple story anyone can understand.

    Neural networks, transformers, hallucinations, and RAG are usually explained with math, code, and diagrams that look like spider webs.

    So I did something different.

    In this bonus episode of the AI Automation Alchemist podcast, I use a simple story — a flat tire and a cocktail party — to explain:

    • How Large Language Models actually work
    • What input layers and hidden nodes really do
    • Why AI hallucinates
    • How transformers keep context intact
    • How Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) injects facts
    • Why AI feels intelligent without “thinking”

    No code. No math. No hype.

    If you’ve ever nodded along pretending to understand neural networks — this episode is for you.

    Sponsored by:

    • Grata Software — custom AI & automation
    • Digital Strike Hub — learn AI the right way

    #ChatGPT #LLM #ArtificialIntelligence #AIExplained #Automation

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    23 mins
  • The Tech Behind AI Chat Tools (LLMs)
    Feb 4 2026

    ChatGPT isn’t thinking — it’s calculating probabilities.
    In this episode, I explain how Large Language Models actually work, in plain English.

    Most people use ChatGPT daily without understanding what it’s actually doing.

    In this episode of the AI Automation Alchemist podcast, I break down:

    • What Large Language Models (LLMs) are
    • How neural networks work (simplified)
    • What transformers actually do
    • Why context matters more than prompts
    • Why AI feels intelligent without “thinking”

    This is not hype, not marketing, and not theory — it’s a practical explanation for business owners and builders who want to use AI correctly.

    00:00 What this episode covers
    00:45 Why I used Notebook LM
    02:10 What a Large Language Model is
    03:15 Neural networks (simplified)
    04:40 Hidden nodes & parallel processing
    06:00 Transformers & context
    07:40 Why words mean different things
    09:00 Why AI feels intelligent
    10:15 The simplified explanation epiphany

    Resources & Links:

    • Notebook LM
    • Grata Software
    • Digital Strike

    Connect with Rey Ortega:

    • LinkedIn
    • X/Twitter

    #ChatGPT #LLM #ArtificialIntelligence #AIExplained #Automation

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    12 mins
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