The Next Wave - AI and The Future of Technology

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Episode 93: Are humanoid robots, AI glasses, or autonomous vehicles the real future of AI—and which new tech should you actually care about? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) and Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9) break down the biggest surprises and trends from CES 2026.

In this episode, Matt returns from CES with fresh insight into the top three AI-powered trends dominating the event floor: humanoid robots, AR/AI-enabled glasses, and autonomous vehicles—including some wild new updates on flying cars and health-focused wearables. Maria pushes past the hype, challenging which tech is actually solving real problems. Together, they critique the usefulness of current AI gadgets, discuss the state of robots (do we really want a flipping robot, or just a butler?), debate wearable tech style, and preview major updates from OpenAI, Google, and Claude. Whether you’re all-in on futuristic tech or just want your laundry folded, this episode separates the game-changers from the gimmicks.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

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Show Notes:


(00:00) CES: Innovation Plateau Observed


(05:30) Robots: Impressive Mechanics, Lagging Software


(09:35) AI-Powered Augmented Reality Glasses


(10:10) Xreal Glasses: 2D to 3D


(13:48) Self-Driving Rideshare and Robo-Taxis


(18:31) Expensive eVTOL Temptation


(22:04) ChatGPT Health: A New Tool


(25:48) Decoding Blood Work with AI


(29:17) Google Gemini Powers Personal AI


(31:12) Personal Intelligence and Multiple Accounts


(34:17) Misconceptions About AI Subcategories


(36:56) Stay Updated on AI

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Mentions:


CES 2026: https://www.ces.tech/


XREAL AR Glasses: https://us.shop.xreal.com/collections/ar-glasses


Ray Ban Meta Glasses: https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses


Waymo: https://waymo.com/


Zoox: https://zoox.com/


Tesla Robotaxi: https://www.tesla.com/robotaxi


OpenAI ChatGPT Health: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

—

Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

—

Check Out Nathan's Stuff:


Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/


Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Get our guide to go from Idea to First Sale in 30 days with AI tools: https://clickhubspot.com/obg

Episode 92: What’s the quickest way to launch your product and get your first customer using only AI? Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9) sits down with marketing expert Ariel Gonzalez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-the-magical-marketer/).

In this episode, Ariel Gonzalez breaks down a simple, actionable workflow to create and launch a full business using just four AI tools—with proof that you can go from idea to first customer in 30 days. Joined by Maria Gharib , they walk through brainstorming a product, building a business plan, creating a landing page, and generating a pitch deck—showing how tools like Claude, Notion AI, Lovable, and Gamma can turn your brainstorm into a living business in just minutes.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

—

Show Notes:


(00:00) Building Your Idea Foundation


(05:16) Business Plan with Notion AI


(07:51) Building Landing Pages with Lovable


(11:31) Start Creating: Build Something Now

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Mentions:


Claude: https://claude.ai/


Notion AI: https://www.notion.com/product/ai


Gamma: https://gamma.app/


Lovable: https://lovable.dev/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

—

Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

—

Check Out Nathan's Stuff:


Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/


Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Get our AI Video Guide: https://clickhubspot.com/rhj

Episode 91: How far has AI video really come—and what happens when your digital self can work, teach, or sell for you? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) and Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9) sit down with Victor Riparbelli (https://x.com/vriparbelli), CEO and co-founder of Synthesia, the company leading the charge in AI-generated avatars that can communicate in over 140 languages.

Victor’s background includes pioneering research in AI video, growing Synthesia since 2017 to become an industry leader in lifelike, customizable avatars used for everything from business training to personalized marketing at scale.

This episode dives deep into what the rise of AI video agents means for the business world, what it takes to create realistic digital avatars (hint: it’s all about the body language), and how lowering the cost and complexity of video creation is changing internal communication and customer engagement. Plus, hear Synthesia’s ethical approach to deepfakes, licensing data, and critical business use cases that work right now (and not just as novelty). If you've ever wondered how close we are to having your AI twin closing deals or teaching your kids, this is the one to check out.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

—

Show Notes:


(00:00) AI Avatar and Future Video


(03:54) AI-Driven Interactive Video Evolution


(07:45) Corporate Shift to Video Communication


(11:42) AI Improving Digital Human Realism


(13:12) Accent Preservation in Voice Technology


(16:41) Video to Replace PowerPoints


(20:11) Balancing Content Moderation Challenges


(22:50) Regulating AI Outputs, Not Inputs


(26:36) Conversational Learning Revolution


(29:56) Future of AI-Powered Video Creation

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Mentions:


Victor Riparbelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorriparbelli/


Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/


Victor’s Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCml0g2mRE


Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/


Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/


Runway ML: https://runwayml.com/


Kling: https://openart.ai/video/i2v/kling2.1


Veo: https://v03ai.com/home


Sora: https://www.sora-2.studio/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

—

Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

—

Check Out Nathan's Stuff:


Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/


Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Get the free ChatGPT bundle: https://clickhubspot.com/rdc

Episode 90: Are you really getting the most out of ChatGPT—or are you only scratching the surface? Nathan Lands (https://x.com/NathanLands) hosts this hands-on episode, showing exactly how he uses ChatGPT like the top 1% of business owners to supercharge his productivity and decision-making.

This solo episode takes you inside Nathan’s’ AI-powered workflow for building his latest company, Lore. Nathan walks through his unique approach to ChatGPT Projects, demonstrating how to set them up, how to add meaningful context with files, meeting notes, images, diagrams, financial models, and more. Discover insider techniques that allow AI to act as a true business advisor, drawing connections and surfacing opportunities you might otherwise miss. Whether for business or personal projects, Nathan’s step-by-step guide will help you unlock better, more strategic results from ChatGPT—often leaving others shocked at what’s possible.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

—

Show Notes:


(00:00) Using ChatGPT: A to Z


(05:10) AI Limitations in Financial Modeling


(06:25) Streamlining Contacts with AI


(12:36) Using ChatGPT for Projects


(13:28) Shared Project History Concerns

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Mentions:


ChatGPT Projects: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-projects-in-chatgpt


Lore: https://lore.com/


Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/


Claude: https://claude.ai/


Nano Banana Pro: https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

—

Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

—

Check Out Nathan's Stuff:


Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/


Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Get our AI Video Guide with 5+ prompts and real results: https://clickhubspot.com/rhk

Episode 89: How big of a leap is the latest generation of AI video models—and do they really live up to the hype? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) and Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9), an AI writer and newsletter creator, dive into hands-on testing and candid discussion about the brand-new Runway 4.5, Kling AI, and more.

In this episode, Matt and Maria put early-access Runway 4.5 through its paces, experiment with quirky video prompts, and compare outputs from the top AI video tools including Kling's latest models. Is Runway 4.5 a massive leap forward, or just playing catchup with VEo and Sora? What kinds of content can creative teams actually produce with these new generative video AIs? Plus, Matt and Maria get real about the mixed reactions to AI-driven brand ads—like the recent McDonald’s spot—and discuss where this fast-evolving field is headed.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

—

Show Notes:


(00:00) AI Video Innovations Podcast


(03:53) Monkey on Roller Skates


(07:22) AI Prompt Success Evolution


(12:00) Nano Banana: Still Superior


(13:56) Incremental Update, Limited Impact


(17:32) AI Video & Image Editing


(20:27) Lip Sync Test Analysis


(25:50) Domino Effect Gone Awry


(27:29) Kling's Dragon Feels Cinematic


(31:21) Image-Based Video Generation Preference


(34:02) Drone Flight Through Watch


(37:38) Why Can't Video Models Work?


(39:20) Rubber Hose Tap Dance Fail


(44:30 AI as Assistive, Not Primary


(46:03)  Podcast Feedback Wanted

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Mentions:


Nano Banana Pro: https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/


Sora: https://openai.com/sora/


Runway 4.5: https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gen-4.5


Kling: https://klingai.com/global/


Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/home


Veo: https://gemini.google/overview/video-generation/


ModelScope: https://www.modelscope.ai/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

—

Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

—

Check Out Nathan's Stuff:


Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/


Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano