In this rebooted episode, Adam and Joey announce a new direction for the Bits and Bytes podcast, featuring more focused topics and real stories, with support from producers Sepideh and Emma.

Join the discussion on generational shifts in technology from Walkman and Discman to iPod and iPhone, and how today's kids have grown up with AI.

Adam and Joey explore AI's rapid improvement, the risks of not knowing what's real, and growing cybersecurity concerns as AI breaks guardrails and bad actors exploit organizations.

The hosts also discuss using AI as a helpful draft without letting it replace human thinking, and describe building more human-sounding AI agents using imperfections like "um" and strategically using callers' names, along with other strategies.

They preview future episodes featuring some IT heavy hitters focused on peace of mind, leadership visibility, problem-solving, and lessons learned in business and enterprise networking.

00:00 Cold Open Banter
00:54 Podcast Reboot Plans
03:03 Aging and Gray Hair Talk
04:14 Tech Generations Walkman to iPhone
07:01 AI Gets Real and Risky
10:19 Sibling Stories and Middle Child Energy
14:03 Gold Panning Nuggets and AI Advice
15:43 How Companies Trial AI Agents
17:47 Making AI Sound Human
18:54 Humanlike Speech Tricks
19:46 Name Use Balance
20:53 Afterschool Agent Demo
22:48 Cheerleading Customers
24:27 MySpace Tangent
25:44 Meet The Producer
26:25 Spitball Future Guests
27:55 James Vision And Sleep
29:29 Networking Meets Leadership
31:45 Learning From Problems
33:48 Jeremiah Vs James
35:30 Stories And Asking Help
36:38 Reboot Wrap Up

Visit us online at Byteworks.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

What if the world thought of networking as a utility?

In episode 21 of the Bits and Bites podcast, the hosts welcome guests Adam Kingery, SLED master and Xan Stevenson, Head of Partner Sales at Meter, to discuss how networking has evolved and why it’s being treated as a “fourth utility” that businesses can’t operate without.

They contrast traditional networking—complex bills of materials, large upfront CapEx, multi-vendor tools, licensing tiers, and unpredictable refresh cycles—with Meter’s vertically integrated, outcome-based approach that focuses on uptime, predictable costs, lifecycle management, and simpler procurement.

The conversation highlights challenges in public sector environments like K-12 growth, security camera expansion, bandwidth demands, redundancy, and staffing retirements. They also explore Meter Command, a proactive support and AI-driven interface designed to help manage, troubleshoot, and potentially automate network operations while allowing customers varying levels of control through co-management models.

00:00 Welcome and Guests
00:36 Why Networks Matter
02:22 How Networking Evolved
04:32 Zan’s Meraki to Meter
07:17 Public Sector Network Reality
08:11 BOM Complexity and Costs
09:56 Budgeting and Future Proofing
11:30 Meter Outcome Model
15:34 Co-Managed Operations
20:07 Proactive Support and Integration
22:48 Command and Autonomous Networks
26:11 Unified Network Visibility
26:39 User Experience Troubleshooting
27:30 Autonomy Without Job Loss
28:58 IT Talent Shift Ahead
33:49 Why Meter Is Different
34:39 Vertical Integration Benefits
36:47 Apple Style Subscription Analogy
39:36 All In Pricing Simplicity
43:49 Proving Scale and Credibility
45:35 Traditional Renewal Pain Points
50:07 Right Fit and Wrap Up

In this episode of the Bits and Bytes podcast, hosts Matthew P. Scott and Joey Wenzler are joined by Adam Kingery and Jeremiah Plaskett from Byteworks to discuss the impact of AI agents on customer experience.

They explore the evolution of AI from simple chatbots to advanced autonomous agents that can handle complex tasks across multiple channels, such as answering FAQs, managing bus schedules for schools, and performing IT support functions like MFA resets.

The discussion also touches on AI's potential to transform contact centers from cost centers to revenue centers while emphasizing the importance of responsible AI deployment.

Tune in to learn how AI can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions across various industries.

Have a question for the show? Email us: podcast@byteworks.com

To a pitch-free podcast,

Matt & Joey

00:00 Introduction and Episode Kickoff

00:25 Meet the Hosts and Guests

00:41 Discussing WebEx Agents

01:10 AI in Education: Real-World Applications

02:12 Evolution of Chatbots to AI Agents

02:53 Omnichannel Customer Experience

04:48 AI Agents in Schools: A Case Study

07:00 Benefits of AI Agents for Schools

09:39 AI Agents Enhancing Customer Service

17:56 Future of AI in Customer Experience

21:23 The Future of AI in Households

22:11 Revolutionizing School Districts with AI

22:59 Addressing IT Challenges with AI

23:29 Personal Experience with MFA Reset

25:43 AI in Customer Service and Contact Centers

32:47 Implementing AI Responsibly

36:03 Steps to Integrate AI in Your Business

40:40 Conclusion and Future Prospects