Global Economic Press

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses a critical issue identified by Kodec AI in the realm of artificial intelligence and business-to-business software sales. The episode highlights Kodec AI's recent study, which reveals the "Rogue Sales Rep" problem in AI search platforms. According to the study, these platforms returned incorrect pricing or feature information in 62% of simulated buyer queries, potentially impacting companies that depend on AI for accurate information delivery. The research involved over 200 query cycles across Series B and higher software as a service companies in the technology and financial services sectors, uncovering that AI platforms often prioritize outdated third-party content over official company sources.
The findings categorize the issue into three primary failure types: Revenue Undercutting, Conflated Data, and Fabricated Features. These errors lead to significant revenue leaks, as AI agents misquote enterprise pricing, causing companies to lose deals. The study emphasizes the need for businesses to develop machine-readable knowledge graphs to serve as authoritative sources for AI systems. As the web becomes more "agentic," with AI tools executing tasks on behalf of users, the importance of verified data grows. To address this, Kodec AI offers Search Infrastructure to help enterprises audit their AI presence and implement governed data structures. For more information, visit Kodec AI's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the shifting dynamics of the hemp industry as Akira Botanicals, a prominent player in farm-direct CBD production, adapts to new federal hemp regulations. The discussion highlights Akira Botanicals' strategic emphasis on maintaining seed-to-bottle control and small-batch extraction to ensure compliance and product quality. The company is focusing on targeted formulations such as Sleep Oil with cannabinol, Energy Oil with tetrahydrocannabivarin, and full-spectrum Relief Salves, which are crafted to meet the evolving regulatory landscape while providing consumers with reliable and transparent products.
Akira Botanicals' commitment to growing all hemp on its North Carolina farm and overseeing the entire production process positions it to navigate the challenges faced by brands reliant on third-party suppliers. The company's farm-owned structure supports consistent product quality and aligns with federal guidelines, catering to the increasing demand for traceable CBD products. As the market adjusts to new regulations, Akira Botanicals continues to prioritize wellness through clarity and consistency, offering formulations that support nighttime rest, daytime clarity, and localized comfort. For more information, visit Akira Botanicals.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in software development and productivity. The discussion centers around two innovative research papers released by Deus Ex Machina Capital, which provide insights into the varying productivity gains experienced by organizations using artificial intelligence. Authored by Francesco Bisardi, these papers highlight the importance of redesigning workflows to fully leverage artificial intelligence capabilities, rather than merely integrating artificial intelligence into existing processes. This episode offers valuable insights for businesses and developers looking to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in their operations.
The first paper, "An Approach to High-Velocity Development through Systematic Context Engineering: A Case Study," presents a framework for rapid artificial intelligence-native software development, emphasizing the need for a context architecture. The second paper, "The Large Language Model Productivity Cliff: Threshold Productivity and Artificial Intelligence-Native Inequality," examines the uneven productivity gains from large language models, stressing the importance of artificial intelligence architectural literacy. These findings underscore the necessity for organizations to re-engineer workflows to achieve significant productivity improvements. For more information, visit Deus Ex Machina Capital's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady highlights the achievements of Attorney Katherine Goliwas from Sebald, Hackwelder & Knox, who has been named to Erie’s prestigious 2025 "40 Under 40" class by Erie Reader. This recognition celebrates emerging leaders in Erie, Pennsylvania, who are making significant contributions to the community. Goliwas was selected from hundreds of nominations, reflecting her professional excellence and deep commitment to service. Her inclusion in this distinguished group underscores her impact in the legal field and her dedication to civic engagement in Erie County.
Attorney Goliwas is a dedicated family law attorney known for her empathetic and professional approach to sensitive domestic relations cases. Beyond her legal practice, she actively participates in community outreach and volunteer efforts, demonstrating her commitment to strengthening support systems for families in Erie. Her recognition by Erie Reader highlights the important role young professionals play in shaping the future of Erie. Sebald, Hackwelder & Knox celebrates Goliwas’ achievements and encourages the community to join in recognizing her contributions. For more information about the firm and Attorney Goliwas, visit Sebald, Hackwelder & Knox's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the dynamic world of e-commerce, spotlighting Crosslist, a leading cross listing application that has recently achieved remarkable milestones. Crosslist has facilitated the creation of over 15 million listings and garnered more than 420 five-star reviews on Trustpilot, solidifying its position as the premier multi-channel cross listing application for online sellers. Since its inception in 2023, Crosslist has been dedicated to simplifying the logistics of listing products across multiple marketplaces. The introduction of new features in 2025, such as artificial intelligence-generated listings, bulk imports, and bulk listing edits, has significantly reduced the time e-commerce sellers spend on the listing process, earning widespread acclaim from its users.
Crosslist's success is underscored by its growing user base, now exceeding 40,000 online sellers who rely on the tool to efficiently manage their product listings across 11 marketplaces simultaneously. The platform's ability to automate the listing process has been praised for cutting down the time required from hours to mere minutes, allowing sellers to focus on expanding their businesses. Founder Gilles Couvreur expressed pride and gratitude for reaching this milestone, emphasizing the company's mission to remove friction from the daily workflow of its users. For more information about Crosslist and its innovative solutions for multi-channel sellers, visit their website at Crosslist.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady explores the challenges companies face when integrating artificial intelligence into customer support operations. As businesses rush to adopt automation, many encounter unexpected setbacks, leading to declines in customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. The episode highlights a new tool from LTVplus, a global customer support outsourcing company, called "The AI Support Readiness Test." This three-minute diagnostic tool helps companies assess their readiness for artificial intelligence integration, aiming to prevent costly mistakes and ensure a smooth transition to automated systems.
LTVplus's Chief Executive Officer, Samir Said, emphasizes the importance of understanding the "3:1 paradox," where automating 30% of tickets does not equate to a 30% reduction in workload. The AI Support Readiness Test evaluates factors such as ticket complexity, customer satisfaction, documentation, system integration, and team structure to provide a comprehensive readiness score. This tool is designed to help companies determine whether they are AI-Ready, Hybrid-Ready, or better suited for a Human-Led Advantage. To learn more and take the AI Support Readiness Test, visit LTVplus's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses a significant achievement in the finance industry, highlighting Trusted Financial Choice's recent accolade. The company has been awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Award 2025 at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia National Excellence Awards. This recognition underscores Trusted Financial Choice's commitment to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and equitable lending environment for Australians from all backgrounds. The award is particularly noteworthy given the competitive nature of the event, with nearly 700 entries submitted, making it one of the most contested cycles in the awards' 21-year history.
Trusted Financial Choice stood out among several major corporate lenders and financial groups, demonstrating leadership in supporting clients from diverse backgrounds and advocating for fairness and representation within the finance sector. The company's Director and Head Broker, Varun Goyal, emphasized their dedication to providing clear, fair, and respectful financial advice to everyone, regardless of their background or financial confidence. This award is a testament to the company's long-standing efforts to improve financial literacy, support under-represented groups, and promote ethical lending practices. For more information about Trusted Financial Choice and their initiatives, visit their website at https://tfchoice.com.au.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady explores a groundbreaking development in the pest control industry with ACES Pest Control's nationwide rollout of Meta Smart Glasses in Auckland, New Zealand. This innovative technology, developed by Meta Platforms Incorporated, enhances pest inspections by providing precise photo and video capture from previously inaccessible areas. The glasses are part of ACES Pest Control's commitment to sustainable, data-driven pest management, supported by a fully electric vehicle fleet. This advancement offers property owners unprecedented visibility into on-site conditions, setting new benchmarks for precision and sustainability in pest control.
ACES Pest Control's use of Meta Smart Glasses provides several key advantages for New Zealand property owners, including greater transparency, improved efficiency, enhanced safety, and verified documentation. The technology allows for high-definition visuals that document infestations and structural vulnerabilities, enabling faster, evidence-based decisions. The hands-free operation ensures technicians can work securely in confined environments, while the electric fleet minimizes emissions and noise. The integration of this technology aligns with ACES Pest Control's evidence-based approach, combining collected data with environmental readings to inform targeted, low-impact treatment protocols. For more information, visit ACES Pest Control's website.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into a major financial development involving BlackBird Financial LP, a hedge fund led by Judah Spinner, which has taken a substantial stake in PayPal Holdings, Incorporated. The discussion centers around the implications of this investment for PayPal, a global payments platform with over 400 million consumer and merchant accounts and an annual payment volume of approximately 1.7 trillion dollars. Judah Spinner emphasizes the disconnect between PayPal's strong market position and its current valuation, highlighting the company's strategic moves under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Chriss. These moves include a focus on disciplined capital allocation, the introduction of a regular dividend, and an enhanced share repurchase program.
Spinner also underscores PayPal's strategic position in the evolving artificial intelligence-driven commerce landscape, with partnerships with technology giants like OpenAI and Google. Despite the emergence of new financial technology names, PayPal remains a trusted brand for merchants and consumers. BlackBird Financial believes that PayPal's refocused management, disciplined capital return policy, and robust global network will benefit shareholders in the long term. BlackBird Financial, based in New Jersey, follows a concentrated, long-term investment philosophy and has consistently outperformed the Standard and Poor's 500. For more information about BlackBird Financial LP, visit their website at BlackBird Financial.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady takes a break from the usual economic discussions to explore the Polar Play Days Winter Celebration at The Tech Interactive in San Jose. This event is a unique blend of science, creativity, and festive fun, offering an inspiring way for visitors to learn and play together throughout the holiday season. Running through January 4, Polar Play Days features a fresh lineup of activities designed to spark curiosity and encourage experimentation, making hands-on science a new holiday tradition in San Jose. Highlights include Winter WonderLabs, where guests can create a snowstorm in a jar and explore simple circuits, and the Merry Makerspace, which transforms into a cheerful holiday workshop with rotating pop-up activities.
Polar Play Days also offers Polar Play Sock Skating, where visitors can slide across the Sock Skating Rink and build ice castles. Admission includes a ticket to one of the many daily IMAX documentaries, such as Antarctica and Arctic: Our Frozen Planet, shown on the immersive 900 square-foot screen at The Tech Interactive's IMAX Dome Theater. Tickets for Polar Play Days and the IMAX Dome Theater are available online and at the door. For more information and to view the daily schedule, visit The Tech Interactive’s website.