For Episode 69 of This Week in Local, co-hosts Mike Boland and Charles Laughlin shared highlights and insights from the recently completed L24 event in Arlington, Texas. This episode was recorded on stage at the end of the conference.

L24 wasn’t 100% AI-focused. Yet it was a key theme. In recalling his key L24 themes, Mike noted how practical the conversation around AI was at the show. 

“What I was hoping to hear at this conference wasn’t just ’insert AI here’ … but a practical discussion around how it applies to SMBs,” Mike said. ”And I’m glad to say I did.”

I point out that it was a relief that there wasn’t a lot of AI “doomerism” at L24. Yet I also noted that it felt to me that some tough conversations about AI were being avoided.

For example, I continue to wonder what’s really behind the talk about how AI is “democratizing” this or that.

“This democratization point keeps being made, but I wonder if this papers over some other conversations,” I say in the episode. 

Mike and I also discussed TikTok’s U.S. future. This surfaced throughout the event, which was completed before legislation was passed requiring TikTok’s owner ByteDance to divest its U.S. holdings.

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