Call Summary: The Applied AI Guy is Born

Overview

A pivotal conversation where Gary discovered and claimed his identity as "The Applied AI Guy" after securing the AppliedAIGuy.com domain, with Alex immediately recognizing this as Gary's perfect niche. The discussion revealed Gary's comprehensive vision for an Applied AI consultancy, youth education program, and content empire, while Alex shared updates on his business reaching critical inflection points and personal life developments. Both men recognized they're building parallel businesses focused on creating scalable networks of service providers.

Key Topics Discussed

The Applied AI Revelation

Gary's Domain Acquisition and Vision:

• Secured AppliedAIGuy.com domain
• Alex's Immediate Recognition: "That is your niche 100%... when you own a space and you're one of the first ones there, people recognize you as that person"
• Johns Hopkins recently released Applied AI certificate, validating the terminology
• Gary: "The meme matters. That's what matters."

Multiple Revenue Streams Strategy:

• Applied AI consultancy for businesses
• Newsletter as "The Applied AI Guy"
• Youth education program (Civics Unplugged 2.0)
• Developer relations and influencer opportunities
• Events agency for tech and faith-based events
• Gary: "I'm gonna create a new newsletter called the Applied AI Guy. And just start building, boom."

The Real Estate Analogy:

• Gary: "It's like real estate play. It's like I'm buying real estate in Austin, Texas in 1980s. That's how I feel right now."
• Recognition of being early to a massive opportunity
• Building territory before market saturation

Civics Unplugged 2.0: Applied AI for Youth

Educational Vision:

• Teaching Applied AI to 7th and 8th graders
• Gary: "Training young people in applied AI as early as seventh and eighth grade"
• Shift from consumer to creator mindset
• Alex: "Rich people want their kids learning how to use AI as early as they can learn how to use a computer"

Market Opportunity:

• Alex: "That is a never ending market with increasing demand... There's always parents willing to pay for their child's education. There's no limit."
• First time Gary associates revenue with civic education mission
• Evolution from pure philanthropy to sustainable business model

Business Model Clarity

The Producer Concept:

• Focus on businesses needing efficiency and profitability improvements
• Bridge between technical capability and business requirements
• Gary: "We're gonna use the latest technology to make your business more efficient and more profitable. That's my selling point for the rest of my life, bro."

Content Strategy:

• Build authority through demonstrating results
• Alex: "Look how we took AI and applied it to our business and look how it delivered results... when people ask 'can I do that?' now you're in a good place"
• DIY content that leads to consulting opportunities
• Alex: "Eventually they're gonna get so involved in your content. They're gonna be like, all right, can we just pay you to do it?"

Parallel Business Models

The Clone Army Concept:

• Gary: "We're in the same fucking business... building an army of clones that we can make money from their work"
• Both building networks of service providers
• Focus on systematization and personal branding
• Alex on Scalability: "Selling other people's time is infinitely scalable... that's what Uber is doing"

Personal Branding Recognition:

• Alex: "That is like the door that I haven't looked behind that I need to look behind... that's just going to be the ultimate lever"
• Both reaching inflection points requiring brand building
• Recognition that personal brand eliminates need for traditional marketing

Mark's Exit and Vatican Connection

Seven-Figure Success Story:

• Mark (Gary's contact from previous year) sold company to Cisco
• Seven-figure exit for Mark personally
• Now wants to advise Pope as chief AI guy for church
• Gary: "In business, you don't get upset, you get even"
• Alex: "Maybe they slight you today, but tomorrow they're going to need your help"

Alex's Business Update

Project Completion:

• Major project technically finished, pending compliance and training
• Alex: "The heavy lifting, I would say is done"
• Planning case study documentation with AI focus
• Feeling pressure but recognizing opportunity

The Poker Table Metaphor:

• Alex: "I feel like I have a seat at the table. Now I have to actually play the game... I'm sitting at the table with one chip"
• Recognition of high stakes but necessary risk
• Transition from preparation to execution phase

Personal Life Updates

Alex's Dating Life:

• Started seeing 28-year-old Brazilian woman
• Works part-time as executive assistant, needs financial support
• Alex: "There's something kind of endearing about a woman who needs your help"
• Preference for vulnerability over career-driven "girlbosses"
• Alex: "I appreciate that more than a girl who's like, I'm self made... I don't need you. It's a turnoff"

Gary's Spiritual Ministry:

• Brought family to Liberty, Texas church
• Son delivered from demons and intrusive voices
• Father healed from 30-year-old back injury
• Mother felt lighter from lifted burden
• Gary on Identity: "Do you understand how odd of a character I'm becoming?... super into supernatural stuff, but also can make money using the latest technology that's mostly built by atheists"

The Unique Gary Brand

High Tech Meets High Spirit:

• Gary: "God wants you to get rich from AI"
• Combining supernatural faith with cutting-edge technology
• Gary: "I literally think that it's the mix of high tech and high spirit that's gonna allow us to flourish most as a society"
• Building multiple revenue streams while maintaining spiritual mission

Character Development:

• Alex: "You're becoming you, you're becoming the unique Gary, that there's one of one"
• Recognition of Gary's unique positioning
• Alex: "These are all the bricks that are building the Gary that will inspire millions"

Strategic Insights

On Timing and Opportunity:

• Comparison to early Ethereum developers who became wealthy
• Gary: "Imagine you're in 2012 or 13, right? Ethereum just launches and you create one of the earliest Ethereum developer meetups... Seven, maybe eight figures if you played it right"

On Fear and Growth:

• Discussion of Gary's parents' fearfulness affecting his energy
• Alex: "The older we get, the more fearful we become... We find all the ways that things are gonna go wrong"
• Gary's need to escape fearful environment to thrive

On Offers and Leverage:

• Perplexity developer relations interview
• Alex: "Even if you don't actually take it, it's good to have that in your pocket. It'll teach you a lot about your market worth"
• Building confidence through options

Key Quotes

On Identity:

• Gary: "Derek Xing, AKA the Crystal Futurist. AKA the Applied AI Guy, all right? AKA the guy that creates the only tech events you wanna go to."

On Mission:

• Gary: "For the first time associated with revenue... Civics Unplugged, pure philanthropy."

On Business Philosophy:

• Gary: "It's like almost boring, right? It's like, yeah, we're gonna use the latest technology to make your business more efficient and more profitable. That's my selling point for the rest of my life."

On Parallel Paths:

• Gary: "We're in the same business, bro. We're in the same fucking business."

On Personal Brand:

• Alex: "I'm starting to realize that that is like the door that I haven't looked behind that I need to look behind."

On Vulnerability in Dating:

• Alex: "There's something kind of endearing or charming about a woman who's like, needs your help."

On Unique Positioning:

• Gary: "Who else is doing that? Not many people... God wants you to get rich from AI. Isn't that a funny thing? Like, who could even tweet that?"

On Evolution:

• Alex: "What's great about your story is that you've gotten involved with so many different things... that complexity around you is what makes you so perfect to be the model."

Action Items / Takeaways

1. Gary's Immediate Actions:

   • Launch Applied AI Guy newsletter
   • Build agency website
   • Continue Perplexity interview process for market validation
   • Create content showing AI application results

2. Business Development:

   • Focus on B2B service businesses initially
   • Build case studies from early clients
   • Develop youth education curriculum
   • Create multiple revenue streams

3. Alex's Commitments:

   • Think of Gary when meeting NYC entrepreneurs
   • Develop AI-focused case studies
   • Continue building personal brand
   • Address the "door I haven't looked behind" of personal branding

4. Mutual Support:

   • Recognition of parallel business models
   • Commitment to cross-referrals
   • Shared content strategy insights
   • Understanding of systematization needs

Strategic Context

The Applied AI Opportunity

Gary's recognition of Applied AI as his niche represents perfect timing. With Johns Hopkins launching certificates and businesses desperately needing practical implementation, he's positioning himself at the intersection of massive demand and limited supply.

Evolution from Philanthropy to Profit

For the first time, Gary is connecting his civic education mission with revenue generation. This shift from pure philanthropy to sustainable business model represents maturation in approach while maintaining mission integrity.

The Personal Brand Imperative

Both men recognize that personal branding is no longer optional but essential for scaling their businesses. Alex's admission that this is "the door I haven't looked behind" shows growing awareness of modern business requirements.

High Tech Meets High Spirit

Gary's unique positioning combining supernatural faith experiences with cutting-edge AI expertise creates an unoccupied market position. His boldness in declaring "God wants you to get rich from AI" demonstrates confidence in this unique brand.

Relationship Dynamics

The conversation revealed deep mutual support and recognition. Alex's immediate validation of Gary's Applied AI niche ("That is your niche 100%") and Gary's recognition of their parallel business models ("We're in the same fucking business") demonstrate the value of their ongoing strategic partnership. Both men serve as mirrors for each other's growth, with Alex providing business validation while Gary offers strategic vision.