Call Summary: Gary's Applied AI Calling and Chris's Vatican Tech Vision

Overview

An extensive conversation at an Austin coffee shop where Gary shared his newfound clarity about becoming an "applied AI movement builder" and Chris discussed his transformational experience at the Vatican's Ethical AI Summit. The discussion revealed deep alignment on Catholic tech innovation, youth education, and the potential for St. Teresa Catholic Church to become a hub for faith-based technology initiatives. Both men explored how their career pivots toward faith-centered work could intersect in practical projects.

Key Topics Discussed

Gary's Applied AI Revelation

The Realization:

• Gary: "I'm not going to invent the next foundational model. That's just not me... That's not what God designed me to do."
• Shift from trying to build the next OpenAI to empowering others with practical AI skills
• Vision to help "a million people become applied AI producers" over the next decade

Applied AI Consulting Model:

• Friend making five figures for 2-3 week AI agent projects for companies
• Finding business through meetups and word of mouth
• Parallel to early iPhone app development gold rush
• Chris: "These three kids... build iPhone apps for companies... went from zero to 15 million in one year."

Distribution Over Technology:

• Chris: "All these deals are distribution deals. They're not technology deals."
• Gary: Recognition that "genius technology is nothing without people playing with it and giving feedback"
• Vision of becoming equity partner to autistic technical founders who need distribution

Chris's Vatican Tech Transformation

The Rome Conference Impact:

• Attended Ethical AI Summit (EAIS) with 200 participants
• Couldn't sleep, only 3 hours per night: "My brain was just firing off"
• Chris: "I've never been in a situation where so many of the pieces are at hand to go build something big."

Vatican Structural Revolution:

• Pope streamlining all tech under one group
• One Monsignor becoming "czar of everything tech"
• Jill (key contact) arranged lunch with this future tech leader
• Chris potentially returning to Rome in January for education meetings

The Doer vs Rider Distinction:

• Chris: "Of the 200 people at EAIS, how many people are actually going to do something? I would argue 75 at the most."
• Brantley (Ethereum Name Service) walked out second day due to too many "riders"
• Used analogy: "Chicken lays the egg, but the pig gives his life"

Chris's Career Pivot Story

The Rejection Phase:

• Company distributed money to shareholders end of 2020
• Had enough savings to not work immediately
• Multiple rejections from Amazon, Meta, other tech giants
• Chris: "I was told that I would have had to have a perfect score as a white male my age to get in"
• All promised connections "melted away"

The Divine Calling:

• Chris: "The deacon called from St. Teresa and said, Father Larry thinks you're perfect for where we're headed."
• Father Larry: married Chris and wife, baptized daughter
• Negotiated salary up 30%: "I'll make it worth your while. I promise you."
• Chris: "This is probably a career-destroying move on some level. But let's go get in the weeds."

The Fulfillment:

• Chris: "It's just been crazy fulfilling"
• Recognized as act of submission: "That act of giving in was really hard, man"
• Now sees clear path forward combining faith and tech

Catholic Education Innovation

AI in the Classroom Vision:

• Microphones capturing classroom dialogue for AI analysis
• Parent insights on child performance combining grades, homework, participation
• Chris: "AI is data capturing, right? If you don't have the data, you can't function."

The Producer Concept:

• Chris: "AI doesn't need programmers moving forward. It needs the producer."
• Person who understands both business requirements and technology
• Bridge between technical and practical implementation

Applied AI Education Program:

• Planning elective for 7th-8th graders at St. Teresa
• Focus on practical application vs theoretical knowledge
• Gary: "Getting your St. Teresa kids to think about how to use AI practically to improve their family life, spiritual life, their school operations."

St. Teresa as Innovation Hub

Catholic Tech Incubator Vision:

• Chris: "Maybe the first Catholic church has an incubator inside of it. Why not?"
• Recruited "Tiger team" of volunteer developers from parish
• Ten men approached after presentation wanting to help
• Chris: "There's momentum. You can't lose the momentum."

Resources Available:

• Tech-forward parish community
• Principal "eating out of my hand"
• Kyle's VC connections for funding
• Jill's Vatican connections
• Physical space and operational capacity

Competitive Advantage:

• Chris: "Vatican approved is a moat... That's all I look for anymore."
• Catholic school culture respects Vatican endorsement
• Global reach through Catholic education network

The Trilogy/Alpha Schools Context

Joe Liemandt's Shadow:

• Discussion of Joe's sexual escapades with employees
• Gary: "He has leverage over them... The ransom is he's basically bribing them to not say anything."
• Chris's wife worked at Trilogy during "hedonistic" 90s era
• Chris: "Joe is the most influential person in Austin Tech history"

Alpha Schools Moral Compromise:

• Gary: Comparing to FTX: "This is why my spirit said FTX when I was still there"
• Discussion of godless, valueless approach
• Parents willing to compromise: "People will give up a lot for their kid"
• John Prince as "spiritual godfather" making Joe's ruthlessness palatable

Collaboration Opportunities

Youth AI Education:

• Gary offering to advise on student programs
• His background: Civics Unplugged and Dream DAO youth work
• Gary: "What does it look like for Catholic school students around the world to be the most apt at applying AI to improve their lives?"

Certification Programs:

• Vatican-approved AI producer certifications
• Chris: "You can do that kind of thing and get it Vatican approved"
• Global scaling through Catholic institutions

Immediate Actions:

• Chris developing AI elective for January launch
• Gary to review curriculum and framing
• Potential workshops with 7th-8th graders
• Social media strategy: "We are the most innovative K-8s"

Key Quotes

On Divine Design:

• Gary: "Whether people recognize our Heavenly Father or not, I do feel like they're designed for something."

On Career Maturity:

• Chris: "That's very astute of you and mature of you to realize that... our generation, we were all like, oh yeah, we're going to go create the next big thing."

On Distribution:

• Chris: "If you don't have a distribution angle, you're screwed. It doesn't matter how good it is."

On Submission:

• Chris: "I told my friends, I'm going to submit completely... It was the first time maybe I ever said that."

On Corporate Culture:

• Chris: "Executive idolatry almost. Like, oh, so-and-so VP wants this. We're going to scurry and go do this. It wasn't natural. It wasn't very human."

On Vatican Opportunity:

• Chris: "I feel pressure. I feel like a lot of pressure. To go execute... self-induced pressure. Because everybody's looking for someone else to make the first move."

On Mission Work:

• Chris: "I would argue that maybe you do [need to work with Christian businesses]... When I submitted... I just see a path to this stuff. Like, I've never seen one."

On Practical Training:

• Chris: "There's a vocation to helping train people to be more productive employees and employable."

Action Items / Takeaways

1. Chris's Commitments:

   • Send Gary materials on Catholic tech initiatives
   • Develop AI elective for January Q3 launch
   • Talk to Father Larry about incubator at St. Teresa
   • Record 15-minute interview with principal about AI in education

2. Gary's Commitments:

   • Review AI curriculum plans for St. Teresa
   • Consider attending Mass at St. Teresa (December 14th suggested)
   • Advise on youth programs combining his Civics Unplugged experience
   • Stay connected while Chris travels (back November 30th)

3. Joint Opportunities:

   • Vatican-approved AI producer certification
   • Catholic school global AI curriculum
   • St. Teresa as pilot site for programs
   • Leverage Chris's Rome connections for Vatican endorsement

4. Strategic Timeline:

   • Chris has 1.5 years until daughter graduates (natural transition point)
   • January 2025: Launch AI elective at St. Teresa
   • Potential January Rome trip for education strategy
   • Build momentum while "ingredients are there"

Strategic Context

The Moment's Significance

Chris recognizes a unique convergence: innovative Pope, Vatican restructuring, available funding, willing community, and technical capability. His repeated emphasis on momentum ("You can't lose the momentum") reflects understanding that this window may be temporary.

Moat Building

Both men understand competitive advantages. For Chris, Vatican approval creates an unassailable moat in Catholic markets. For Gary, combining technical skills with ministry calling creates unique positioning.

Distribution Philosophy

The conversation revealed shared understanding that technology without distribution fails. Chris's Microsoft experience and Gary's Google background inform their focus on reaching users rather than perfecting technology.

Faith Integration

Neither man compartmentalizes faith from work. Chris's dramatic career pivot and Gary's vision for serving Christian businesses demonstrate commitment to integrated calling rather than secular/sacred divide.

Personal Reflections

Chris's Journey

From bitter rejection by tech companies to fulfilling work at fraction of previous salary, Chris embodies costly obedience. His statement "I'm going to submit completely" marks spiritual watershed moment.

Gary's Evolution

Recognition that he won't build foundational models but will enable others represents mature self-awareness. His vision to help "million people become applied AI producers" shows service orientation over ego.

Shared Values

Both men value:

• Action over theory ("imperfect, just go")
• Service over profit (willing to help Christian businesses free)
• Community impact over individual achievement
• Divine calling over career optimization