In this episode of Talking to AI, host Paul welcomes his friend Dave for a deep dive into company efficiency and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in business. The discussion focuses on 'revenue per employee' as a key metric for benchmarking company success, especially in tech industries. Dave and Paul explore real-world examples, comparing giants like Apple, Valve, Nvidia, HP, and IBM, and uncover the stark variations in revenue and efficiency between established firms and lean digital platforms.

The conversation goes beyond the numbers, examining how profitability per employee changes as companies grow, face competition, or restructure to stay agile. Dave shares insights from building in the Atlassian and Monday.com ecosystems, highlighting the importance of context when evaluating metrics and illuminating the operational challenges of legacy companies adapting to an AI-driven future. The duo also tackles the topic of technological adoption—questioning whether corporate claims about AI investment reflect real transformation or just clever PR.

By considering debt, future growth, IT infrastructure, and cultural readiness for technical change, Paul and Dave offer listeners practical frameworks for spotting genuinely efficient companies in an era where AI is touted as the solution to productivity woes. Whether you’re benchmarking your own business or assessing market prospects, this candid discussion provides real-world perspective on what separates sustainable innovation from the hype.

🎙️ Hosted by Paul at Talking to AI — where real people, real problems, and real conversations meet artificial intelligence.