Tom lights up a Nicaraguan cigar in the courtyard at the Crawford In-Town Ranch and breaks down the most talked-about technology of our time in plain English — no computer science degree required.

In this episode: – What AI actually is: data processing, learning, prediction (simpler than you think) – Data centers: why one side of the aisle suddenly can't stand them, and what Tom thinks is really behind it – "Don't let the chickens run the hen house": Tom's case for independent AI oversight that isn't Republican, Democrat, or Big Tech – Autonomous cars, AI drive-thrus, and the "nobody wants to work" tirade – Why Tom says the AI race matters as much as the Industrial Revolution did

Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome from the courtyard (and the fake chickens) 1:36 – Why today's topic is "AI in your pie" 2:17 – What AI actually is: the 3 basic parts 4:24 – So what's the big deal? Chickens and hen houses 6:54 – Data centers and the campaign against them 8:34 – Cigar break 9:19 – The internal combustion engine, and why we can't slow down now 10:16 – AI, jobs, and skilled labor 11:58 – Autonomous cars: friend or foe? 13:34 – Elections, algorithms, and the SAVE America Act 16:02 – What's coming next on Stix & Stuff

Opinions in this episode are Tom's alone and do not reflect the views of any sponsor.

Take care of yourself, enjoy life, and do something special for somebody this week.

Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, Georgia Real Talk. Rural Life. Common Sense. Sponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com