OSL Podcast: How Tech is Raising Standards - Kath Hipwell on using Data to Elevate Safety Standards

AI agents were hyped to be 2025’s big productivity breakthrough, but the real wins came from small, practical automations rather than bold “digital worker” fantasies. Businesses that focused on clear use cases, team upskilling, and quick, measurable improvements saw the most value, while grand AI transformations mostly stumbled due to messy processes and poor data.

Most startup AI implementations fail because founders rush into tools without a clear strategy. Scott Evans and Richard Geary break down what it really takes to implement AI successfully and avoid costly mistakes.

In this episode of the OSL Podcast, Rob sits down with Nick Sales to unpack what a fractional CTO actually does, how outcome driven retainers work, and why strong product, team, and technical foundations matter for growth stage companies. Nick also shares his non linear journey into consulting and startup advisory, plus his perspective on GenAI, where it shines for prototyping and where it can become risky in production if you do not yet know what good looks like.