Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg Smith

👉For full Show Notes: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/737

A practical conversation on critical thinking in a noisy news cycle. The hosts unpack bias, truth detection, and source triangulation, then show how to set personal inputs, tune ad preferences, and use AI as a questioning coach. You get simple checks for risk, bias, and truth, plus resources to build daily habits that protect focus and decision quality.

Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz

🎙️ What you’ll learn

• Apply a low, medium, high risk check before trusting information
• Use source triangulation for travel, policy, and high-impact decisions
• Reduce algorithmic pull by auditing and adjusting ad interests
• Spot common biases and set prompts that challenge your view
• Build a daily news routine that filters noise and highlights impact

✅ Highlights

• “It’s really important… identifying and understanding how we measure or apply critical thinking.”
• “Who wants me to believe this? … Why do they want me to believe this?”
• “Control and even limit what you consume.”
• “Decide, is this a low, medium or high risk of me getting this wrong.”
• “We need to develop our truth sense.”
• “Act as my critical thinking coach… challenge my thinking one question at a time.”
• “Go one step further and ask it to explain it.”

🧰 Mentioned

• Nexus (book) https://amzn.to/3Ks2ffq
• Blink (book) https://amzn.to/3VZFr9z
• TED Talks by Hans and Ola Rosling https://youtu.be/Sm5xF-UYgdg?si=CPEOyZ_lzzwJI3dX
• Jacinda Ardern Video https://youtu.be/xJg1McSvgo8?si=8RdIG6g2oxA2rDNk

Connect with the hosts

Mark Smith:
Blog: https://www.nz365guy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy

Meg Smith:
Blog: https://www.megsmith.nz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnz

Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group, and we may feature them in an upcoming episode.

✅ Keywords:
critical thinking, bias, confirmation bias, selective attention, frequency illusion, baader-meinhof, triangulation, truth, amygdala, advertising preferences, perplexity, whatsapp

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/736

Adeline Ee Leow shares her journey from finance to tech, highlighting her deep expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. She discusses the evolution of ERP systems, the strategic role of Business Central in SMBs and large enterprises, and how successful partners leverage innovation and collaboration with Microsoft to win major projects.

🎙️ What you’ll learn

• How to assess ERP fit for SMBs vs enterprise needs
• Why Business Central is ideal for scalable operations
• How to engage Microsoft’s concierge service to win deals
• What successful partners do to stay competitive
• When to use ISV add-ons to extend Business Central

✅ Highlights

• “I had to learn SQL query language to get all the reports you need out of it.”
• “NAV sat really nicely there… a nice ERP that kicked in to a business that's growing.”
• “Microsoft investing so much in this product, and it's evergreen.”
• “We won it from SAP.”
• “Microsoft does have what we call concierge service.”
• “Business Central is based on per country.”
• “You would not want to buy 20 Business Central solutions in different countries.”
• “When you start getting into complex finance, you will need to add on ISVs.”
• “Successful partners invest in people, technology, and innovation.”
• “Creating AI extensions that enhance Business Central.”
• “Putting it on AppSource and marketing it successfully.”
• “It’s about the people, really.”

🧰 Mentioned

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/business-central/
• Microsoft Copilot & AI Agents: https://copilot.microsoft.com
• AppSource for ISV Extensions: https://appsource.microsoft.com

✅ Keywords
business central, dynamics 365, microsoft, erp, navision, sap, oracle, sql, isv, appsource, concierge service, smb

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/735

What if your next teammate wasn’t human—but an AI agent? In this episode, Stephanie Donahue, Modern Workplace Practice Lead at Avanade, unpacks how AI is reshaping the way we work, lead, and innovate. From the rise of digital coworkers to the resistance from IT and legal teams, Stephanie shares hard-won insights from the front lines of Microsoft 365 Copilot rollouts. Whether you're a tech leader or a curious professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about delegation, governance, and the future of your role.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- AI agents are the new coworkers: Learn how agentic AI is transforming roles, workflows, and expectations across organizations.
- Delegation is evolving: Managing AI requires a shift from output-based tasks to outcome-driven thinking—and new skills in digital delegation.
- IT isn’t the enabler—it’s the blocker: Discover why risk, legal, and IT departments are often the biggest hurdles to AI adoption.
- Shadow AI is already happening: Employees are using public AI tools to get work done, even when official tools are blocked.
- Change enablement is non-negotiable: Successful AI rollouts depend on communities, champions, and continuous learning—not just licenses and training.

🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 Microsoft 365 Copilot – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot
👉 Viva Engage – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-viva/engage
👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg Smith

🔴 For full Show Notes: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/734

AI augments, it doesn’t replace. The hosts show how to pair human judgment with practical workflows: Copilot’s Researcher to gather sources, branching chats to explore options, and Markdown for efficient prompting. They debunk “AI makes you dumber” headlines, emphasise critical thinking, and share personal use cases from learning to health. The message is simple: bring your seed idea, use AI to scale it, and validate claims beyond headlines.

Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz

🎙️ What you’ll learn
- Use Copilot Researcher to compile internal and external sources fast
- When to branch a chat to explore alternatives without losing context
- Why Markdown outperforms JSON for most prompting tasks
- How to combine personal data and medical advice more intelligently
- Tactics to spot sensational headlines and verify claims

✅ Highlights
“it’s not about AI replacing us”
“bring the seed of our own human intellect”
“we need to have our bullshit radars on all the time”
“Calling Bullshit. And it’s the art of skepticism in a data-driven world.”

🧰 Mentioned
MIT study “Your Brain on Chat GPT”: https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/your-brain-on-chatgpt/overview/
Microsoft Research Podcast: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/podcast/
Book: “Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World” https://callingbullshit.org/

Connect with the hosts

Mark Smith:
Blog: https://www.nz365guy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy

Meg Smith:
Blog: https://www.megsmith.nz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnz

Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group, and we may feature them in an upcoming episode.

Keywords: ai augmentation, critical thinking, markdown, json, microsoft copilot, researcher, branching chats, mit study, calling bullshit, alphafold, whatsapp, intelligence age

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/733

What does it take to move from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale impact? In this episode, Yina Arenas—VP at Microsoft—shares how Azure AI Foundry is helping developers and organizations build, customize, and deploy intelligent agents at scale. From the power of Microsoft Graph to the rise of agentic architectures, Yina reveals the tools, trends, and transformations shaping the future of AI development. Whether you're a seasoned engineer or a curious innovator, this conversation offers a clear roadmap for building AI that delivers real business value.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Microsoft Graph is the backbone of Copilot’s intelligence, enabling deep integration with organizational data across Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and more.
- Azure AI Foundry empowers developers to build agentic systems, offering tools for model customization, observability, and multi-agent orchestration.
- AI is democratizing development, allowing non-traditional coders to create powerful applications without deep technical expertise.
- Enterprise adoption is shifting from prototypes to production, with organizations like BMW, EY, and Providence deploying AI to automate workflows and enhance human capabilities.
- Curiosity is the most critical skill for the AI era, as understanding and leveraging AI tools becomes essential across all professions.

🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 Azure AI Foundry – Platform for building and scaling AI agents: https://ai.azure.com
👉 Microsoft Graph – Unified data model powering Microsoft 365 experiences: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/overview
👉 Copilot Studio – No-code tool for building custom AI agents: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio
👉 Microsoft Fabric – Unified data platform integrating structured and unstructured data: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/732

What happens when AI meets the classroom, the boardroom, and the whiteboard? In this episode, Joshua Jones—Director of Training at Voltage Learning—shares how he’s helping professionals and educators unlock the full potential of Microsoft Copilot across M365. From overlooked features in Loop and Whiteboard to the evolving power of AI-generated files, Joshua offers a front-row seat to the real-world wins, challenges, and transformations happening at the intersection of tech and learning.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Copilot’s evolution: Early adopters faced limitations, but today’s Copilot delivers more reliable results—especially in Excel and Loop.
- Whiteboard + Copilot = Idea Engine: Learn how Copilot can kickstart planning sessions with sticky-note prompts that spark collaboration.
- Loop’s hidden power: Discover how Copilot in Loop streamlines project setup with smart templates and real-time collaboration.
- Microsoft Graph demystified: Understand how Graph powers Copilot’s data access—securely and contextually.
- Why formatting still frustrates: Hear why PowerPoint’s Copilot lags behind and what that reveals about AI’s current limitations.

🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 Microsoft Loop – Collaborative workspace with Copilot integration: https://loop.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft Whiteboard – Digital whiteboard with Copilot support: https://whiteboard.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft Graph – Data connectivity framework powering Copilot: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/overview
👉 Perchance – AI character generator and storytelling tool: https://perchance.org
👉 Microsoft Designer – AI-powered graphic design tool: https://designer.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7
👉Joshua's Speaking Engagement: https://namctsummit.com/speakers-1
👉Joshua's GitHub: https://github.com/joshjones-jp

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg Smith

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/731

Most people treat AI like a search box, then complain when the answers feel thin. In this episode, Meg and Mark reframe AI as a conversation you practise on purpose. From a “five prompts a day” habit to stronger Custom Instructions, they show how intention, examples, and pushback turn generic outputs into useful work. You’ll also hear a practical te reo Māori learning story, why the word “should” is a red flag in voice interactions, and a calm way to choose tools without FOMO.

Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz

What you’ll learn
- How to build prompting skill through small, daily reps, not one-off hacks.
- How to use conversation structure (goal, audience, examples, iteration) for higher-quality outputs.
- How to set effective Custom Instructions and ask the tool to interview you first.
- How to spot weak guidance in voice mode and push back for evidence.
- How to compare models sensibly and choose depth over distraction.

Highlights
“Five prompts a day is what you should be doing.”
“They don’t come to AI with a ‘let’s have a conversation.’”
“Instead of approaching it like a one-shot conversation or a search, I thought about approaching it as a conversation with a friend.”
“AI is a mirror of who you are.”
“If you’re a lazy prompter, you’ll get lazy answers.”
“Ask me all the questions that you think you need to ask before I’m ready to create that output.”
“The word ‘should’ is what’s important here.”
“It’s very easy to say a tool sucks when you don’t use it.”
“Different tools do different things.”
“It’s still on me to make a decision with the information that I have.”
“I’m going to do one a day.”
“How lucky are we to be able to take that approach?”

Mentioned
ChatGPT Custom Instructions / “Customize GPT”
Microsoft Copilot (Custom Instructions)
Claude (Anthropic)
Gemini (Google; on-device models referenced as “Nano Banana” in the episode)
Grok (xAI)
Toastmasters
ISO standards; ANZ standards (Australia/New Zealand)
“AI: The Mirror and the Tower,” Dr Oliver Hartwich (Aug 2025) https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/ai-the-mirror-and-the-tower/
kahu.code (te reo Māori learning tools) https://chatgpt.com/g/g-wXVoS6B3c-whakawhiti-reo-kahu-code?model=gpt-4o
Show WhatsApp community (listener Q&A) https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz
Video versions available on Spotify and YouTube

Connect with the hosts
Mark Smith:
Blog: https://www.nz365guy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy
Meg Smith:
Blog: https://www.megsmith.nz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnz

Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group.

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/730

What happens when low-code platforms promise speed but deliver complexity? In this episode, Dovydas Grigaitis—a seasoned consultant and self-proclaimed Power Platform skeptic—pulls back the curtain on the hidden costs of low-code development. From technical debt to the blurred lines between developers and consultants, Dovydas shares hard-earned lessons and practical insights that challenge conventional wisdom. If you're building with Power Platform or exploring AI-driven automation, this episode will sharpen your perspective and help you build smarter, more scalable solutions.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Low-code isn’t always low-maintenance: Many canvas apps are built without scalable architecture, leading to costly rebuilds and technical debt.
- The developer-consultant hybrid is rising: In low-code environments, technical professionals must also be customer-facing to deliver real value.
- PCF controls unlock serious potential: From keyboard shortcuts to AI-powered OCR, custom controls can bridge gaps in Power Platform’s native capabilities.
- Model-driven apps as backend-as-a-service: With the right setup, developers can build custom React frontends while leveraging Dataverse for security, logic, and hosting.
- Flutter Flow vs. Power Platform: Dovydas highlights how other platforms better support transitions from low-code to pro-code development.

🧰RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 PCF Gallery – A community-driven library of Power Platform component framework controls - https://pcf.gallery
👉 Flutter Flow – A visual app builder with exportable code for pro-code development
- https://flutterflow.io
👉Dataverse – Microsoft’s scalable data platform for model-driven apps - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/data-platform-intro

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith