1. SUMMARY

In Episode 34, Jeremy and Jim tackle the growing disconnect between AI hype and business reality. As Wall Street frets over the failure rate of enterprise AI investments (95% yield no ROI!), small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are finding more grounded success. The duo unpacks a wave of Gen Z career shifts as young adults abandon white-collar dreams in favor of six-figure trade jobs like plumbing and HVAC. What emerges is a powerful message: while big corporations flounder with bloated AI budgets, small businesses and individuals who act thoughtfully and strategically are poised to win. There's risk, yes—but the opportunity to thrive has never been greater.

2. THE AI JOKE

Why did nobody believe the dad when he said he saw Medusa at the supermarket?
Because it sounded like just another myth-stake.

3. TAKEAWAYS

95% of enterprise AI projects are reportedly delivering zero ROI.

Small businesses that implement AI thoughtfully are still seeing strong returns.

Wall Street's fear of an "AI bubble" is based largely on large-scale failures, not SMB outcomes.

Big businesses often throw money at AI without clear goals—leading to waste.

Gen Z is pivoting hard toward the trades, chasing job security and high early income.

Trade careers now offer paid training, less debt, and tangible job security.

Blue-collar roles may be safer for now, but eventual automation risk still exists.

SMBs should consider creating apprenticeship pipelines to attract new talent.

4. RESOURCES AND TOOLS

Wall Street Fear: Most AI Investments Yield Zero Return – The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/20/ai-report-triggering-panic-and-fear-on-wall-street/

Generative AI Projects Are Flunking – Futurism
https://futurism.com/ai-agents-failing-companies

Young Adults Abandon White-Collar Jobs for Skilled Trades – SFGATE
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/young-adults-changing-career-paths-ai-20824566.php

5. CHAPTERS
00:00 - Opening Joke: Medusa Myth-stake
00:25 - Wall Street's AI ROI Panic
01:30 - Why Enterprise AI Fails
02:15 - The SMB Advantage with AI
03:10 - MIT Study and the GenAI Divide
04:00 - Aircraft Carriers vs. Speedboats Analogy
06:00 - The "AI Bubble" and Overspending
06:36 - Feature Topic: Gen Z Abandons White-Collar Jobs
07:51 - The San Francisco Perspective and Its Limits
08:30 - Trade Careers as the New Safe Haven
10:00 - The Ripple Effect Across the U.S.
11:08 - A Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
12:05 - Gen Z: The Influencer + Builder Generation
13:00 - Creating Talent Pipelines for Trade-Driven SMBs
14:00 - Final Thoughts: Seize the Moment

6. KEYWORDS
AI investments, ROI, small business strategy, generative AI, Wall Street panic, AI bubble, trade careers, Gen Z, vocational training, apprenticeships, skilled trades, SMB hiring, blue-collar tech, enterprise failure, AI hype, HVAC jobs, plumbing, job automation, MIT GenAI Divide, career pivots