In this episode, Katie and Noel kick off 2026 with a look back at the whirlwind that was AI in 2025. From DeepSeek sparking the reasoning model race to ChatGPT images breaking the internet with Ghibli trends, it's hard to believe how much has changed in just 12 months.

They reflect on the rise of AI agents, how platforms like Make.com and N8N scrambled to keep up, and the game-changing arrival of MCP (Model Context Protocol). Plus, they discuss how AI-generated images have become so realistic that stock photo sites are now selling them.

Most importantly, they share their bold 2026 predictions, including why Google might overtake OpenAI, what Johnny Ive's mystery hardware product could be, whether AGI is actually coming this year, and how AI could start impacting the job market.

if you build AI agents in Make and/or n8n and need an easy way to chat with them on go from your iPhone, then check out Noel's new app AgentChat on the iOS app store.

Download AgentChat

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

New for 2026, you can also find us on Substack, click here to subscribe and get all the latest news and updates from us.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Send us a text

In this episode, Noel and Katie dive into a shocking statistic from Harvard Business Review: only 6% of organisations fully trust AI agents. Despite an expected 86% increase in investment over the next two years, the trust simply isn't there.

They explore what AI agents actually are, why businesses are hesitant to adopt them, and the key concerns holding companies back from cybersecurity and data quality to unclear processes and lack of skills.

Most importantly, they share practical advice on how to build trust in AI agents, common reasons why agent projects fail, and when you should use a traditional automation instead of an agent.

If you would like to check out Episode 14 for more information on AI agents vs automations, you can listen now via the links below.

Apple podcasts

Spotify Podcasts

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Send us a text

Think creating a custom app for your business requires a six-figure budget and a team of developers? Think again. In this episode, Katie and Noel break down how AI has transformed app development from a years-long, expensive process into something you can build in hours or weeks with tools like Google AI Studio (completely free) and Claude.

They reveal why small businesses are ditching expensive SaaS subscriptions to build their own apps, how to use Make.com webhooks to connect everything without coding APIs, and the realistic costs (spoiler: around £50/month max for hosting, often less). Plus, Noel shares his process for building apps in just 1-2 hours a day while AI does the heavy lifting.

Perfect for service-based business owners, solopreneurs, and small teams who want to consolidate their tech stack, integrate disconnected systems like CRMs and client portals, and finally build exactly what they need—not what a SaaS package forces them to pay for.

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Send us a text