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

Wondering what Anthropic and Google's latest AI releases actually mean for your small business? You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Noel break down the major updates from both tech giants, including Anthropic's Opus 4.5 (now 66% cheaper) and Google's Gemini 3 with its improved multimodal capabilities and deeper reasoning.

They reveal why Opus 4.5 excels at agentic tool use for automations, how Gemini 3's integration into Google Docs and Sheets could change your workflow, and how you can try most of these new features completely FREE!

Perfect for service-based business owners, solopreneurs, and small teams ready to move beyond using AI for just content creation and start treating it as a genuine business apprentice.

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

Send us a text

Wondering what it actually costs to implement AI automations in your business? You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Noel break down the transparent truth about AI automation costs, from DIY learning paths to done-for-you consultancy fees, and all the hidden expenses in between.

They reveal the real costs of the DIY route, including time investment for learning platforms like Make.com, mastering prompt engineering for predictable AI outputs, and why checking your current software pricing tiers before starting could save you from costly upgrade surprises. For the done-for-you approach, they explain typical consultancy structures, including upfront implementation fees and ongoing monthly maintenance costs.

Katie and Noel also explore the often-overlooked opportunity costs of not automating, like the business executive who gained competitive advantage by delivering complex quotations in two days instead of two months, winning contracts while competitors were still calculating.

Perfect for business owners evaluating automation investments, consultants pricing their services transparently, and anyone who wants to understand the complete financial picture before diving into AI implementation.

Here are the links to episodes we mentioned.

Apple

Ep19 - Business Tips For Using AI Legally

Ep34 - How to Choose Between Zapier, N8N and Make.com for Your Business

Spotify

Ep19 - Business Tips For Using AI Legally

Ep34 - How to Choose Between Zapier, N8N and Make.com for Your Business

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

Wondering how to get consistent results from ChatGPT without typing the same instructions over and over?

You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Noel break down custom GPTs, what they are, why they matter for business owners, and how you can build your own AI assistant without writing a single line of code.

They reveal how custom GPTs can save you hours every week by eliminating repetitive tasks, why the $20 ChatGPT plan gives you access to build unlimited custom GPTs, and how you can train them on your brand voice, FAQs, or any documents you need. Plus, they share real examples including a Make.com automation assistant that walks you through building scenarios step by step, a brand voice analyser that creates comprehensive voice guides from your content, and an ideal client profiler that digs deep into emotional pain points most people miss.

Perfect for business owners, coaches, consultants, and membership creators ready to scale without adding more hours to their day or team members to their payroll.

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

Wondering why sharing your availability feels like such a drain when it should be simple?

You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Noel tackle one of those simple but overwhelming business tasks: coordinating calendars and sharing availability with clients.

They reveal how to use the iPhone Shortcuts app (already on your phone) to automate calendar sharing in five minutes. No coding, no complex tools, just a step-by-step walkthrough that turns availability sharing into a single tap.

Perfect for beginners to automation, service providers drowning in calendar coordination, and anyone who thought automation was too technical to tackle.

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

Wondering what OpenAI and Anthropic just launched that actually matters for your business?

You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Noel break down two major releases: OpenAI's Atlas browser and Claude's Skills feature. They explore the privacy concerns everyone's talking about, why AI SEO suddenly became critical, and what these tools can actually do for your workflow.

Perfect for business owners navigating new AI tools, teams exploring automation possibilities, and anyone wondering whether these launches are hype or genuinely useful.

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