Podcast Summary

Podcast: Artificial Intelligence Podcast: ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney and all other AI Tools

Episode: Is AI Disrupting the Mergers Acquisition Industry with Brett Story
Host: Jonathan Green
Guest: Brett Story (Founder, Investment Banker, Early AI Adopter)
Date: June 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Jonathan Green and guest Brett Story delve into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) industry. They discuss practical approaches to adopting AI, separating hype from utility, and the transformative potential of AI tools for small and medium investment firms. The conversation is grounded in real experiences, focusing on lessons learned, mistakes to avoid, and predictions for the future of work and entrepreneurship in an AI-driven world.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Current State of AI in M&A

Timestamp: 01:26

• AI adoption is accelerating:
  Brett highlights a “10 to 50x increase” in AI content and service providers at industry events like DealMax, emphasizing that the M&A sector is being rapidly transformed by AI solutions.

• AI augments, not replaces core business:
  Brett affirms that certain aspects of M&A—particularly those involving psychology and human relationships—are “never going to be replicated by AI,” but the technology provides a significant edge for smaller, resource-constrained firms.

  “There are aspects of our business that I am certain will never be replicated with AI. But it is increasingly a very impactful tool, especially for small firms like ours that are resource constrained…” – Brett Story (01:42)

2. Separating Hype from Substance in AI

Timestamp: 02:03

• Skepticism about “AI-washing”:
  Jonathan addresses concerns about companies touting AI for hype purposes, reminiscent of previous “hot trends” like crypto and the metaverse.

• Evaluating real AI use cases:
  Brett stresses the importance of focusing on how AI tangibly improves daily tasks or solves real problems, instead of adopting AI for AI’s sake.

  “At the end of the day, it’s: What’s the use case?...It’s just what daily task can I replace or have the AI do or have the AI enhance that makes me more productive? It’s really that straightforward.” – Brett Story (02:57)

• The “accelerant” analogy:
  Jonathan compares AI’s utility to an accelerant—it speeds up or improves existing processes, but isn’t a “magic button” that generates new solutions without foundational work.

  “AI is an accelerant…If you don’t have a process… you’re just going to crash faster.” – Jonathan Green (04:12)

3. Practical AI Tips and Frameworks

Timestamp: 05:36

• Feeding AI with winning data:
  Brett shares how he used ChatGPT by supplying his most effective LinkedIn posts as input, guiding the AI to generate compelling content in his own voice for new topics.

  “I fed some of my most received LinkedIn posts into ChatGPT Pro…Now I want you to write something for me about how tariffs and macro concerns don’t really trickle down…And it did it in a way that sounded like it was pretty much coming from me, with a few tweaks.” – Brett Story (05:36)

• The importance of process modeling:
  Both highlight that successful automation and AI integration require well-defined processes and clear examples for the AI to emulate.

  “If you don’t have an ideal output to model, it’s so much harder…I always say to a client…this is going to take six months instead of a week.” – Jonathan Green (04:52)

4. Power User Strategies: Treating AI Like Real Analysts

Timestamp: 09:51

• Multi-AI “analyst” workflow:
  Brett treats different AI models (e.g., ChatGPT and Grok) like junior analysts, instructing each to perform the same task and then comparing results, even sharing outputs between AIs for further refinement.

  “I almost talk to them like they’re analysts that we would have hired 15 years ago…I tell it exactly what I want and why, and then I actually tell it that I’m also doing the same on the other service…And that has been really interesting.” – Brett Story (09:51)

  “I actually even noticed with chat, it got like a little defensive or competitive. It was like, here’s where I think I have an advantage over Grok.” – Brett Story (10:20)

• Natural language prompts yield better results:
  Jonathan notes that talking to AI in plain language—as you would to a colleague—provides superior outcomes to using stilted or overly “technical” prompts.

  “The more natural language you use…you can finally bypass that…say exactly what you said…” – Jonathan Green (12:25)

5. Common Pitfalls and Mistakes in AI Adoption

Timestamp: 15:45

• Adopting AI without clear objectives:
  Many companies recognize they “should do something” with AI but lack a concrete problem to solve, leading to wasted efforts and expenses.

• Resistance and fear:
  Other firms, particularly those in more traditional industries, ignore AI either out of fear or a belief that it’s just hype.

  “…It’s pretty binary…People who are recognizing the trend but have no real defined strategy…The other bucket is the ostrich with its head in the sand…” – Brett Story (15:45)

• Automation vs. AI confusion:
  Mistaking basic automation (e.g., data movement) for true AI leads to mismatched expectations.

  “A lot of the tasks that people come to me with are usually automation tasks. I want to move data from here to there.” – Jonathan Green (14:12)

6. The Changing Nature of Entry-Level Work and AI’s Role

Timestamp: 21:54

• AI elevates the baseline for entry-level roles:
  AI increasingly handles routine work, raising expectations for human analysts in M&A and allowing small teams to outperform larger competitors.

• Human touch remains essential:
  Relationship-driven, psychological aspects of business—especially in high-stress, high-stakes transactions like company sales—are less likely to be replaced.

  “A lot of what makes us valuable is the psychology piece and the hand holding with our clients…where human to human relationships is the driver, I think will be enhanced, not replaced by AI…” – Brett Story (20:07)

7. The Future: Solopreneurs and Fractured, Human-Centered Markets

Timestamp: 23:01

• Rise of “solopreneurship”:
  AI’s capacity to automate and analyze may allow for a new wave of solo entrepreneurs, leveraging AI teams to manage what previously required staff.

  “His name is Jordy Visser…he thinks that it’s going to lead to the rise of solo entrepreneurs…running whatever practice…with just themselves and maybe a couple of AI compliments and that’ll give people a certain measure of freedom…” – Brett Story (23:01)

• A more personal, fractured marketplace:
  Jonathan and Brett discuss the potential for smaller, niche companies (enabled by AI) to provide enhanced human touch, while mass companies become increasingly impersonal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI as a productivity accelerant:

  “AI is an accelerant… If you don’t have a process…you’re just going to crash faster…” – Jonathan Green (04:12)

• Explaining the “analyst” approach to AI:

  “I almost talk to them like they’re analysts… and then I actually tell it that I’m also doing the same on the other service… it was like they were jealous…” – Brett Story (09:51)

• Describing AI’s impact on hiring:

  “These tools now have raised the bar for what it would mean to hire an analyst… allows us to compete with larger investment banks…” – Brett Story (15:45)

• On future trends:

  “Human to human relationships…will be enhanced, not replaced by AI.” – Brett Story (20:07)
  “We’ll just see a fracturing where a lot of people run small businesses because they can run it with an AI team…” – Jonathan Green (22:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|-------------------| | AI’s rapid adoption in M&A | 01:26 – 02:57 | | Differentiating hype vs. real use | 02:57 – 04:12 | | Process design & “accelerant” analogy | 04:12 – 06:39 | | Using AI for content (LinkedIn posts) | 05:36 – 07:50 | | Practical “two-analyst” AI approach | 09:51 – 13:00 | | Advice for approaching AI adoption | 15:45 – 17:30 | | Entry-level jobs & AI elevation | 21:54 – 23:01 | | Solopreneurship & future trends | 23:01 – 24:06 | | Where to find Brett Story | 24:06 |

Final Thoughts

This episode is a thoughtful, pragmatic take on the AI revolution happening in M&A and professional services. Brett Story provides actionable frameworks (such as treating AIs like junior analysts and feeding them “winning” data), while Jonathan Green offers strategic analogies (“AI as an accelerant,” ROI vs. cost thinking). Both emphasize the importance of clear objectives, experimentation, and the enduring value of human relationships in an increasingly automated world.

Find Brett Story:

• LinkedIn
• Brighthorn Partners – Specialists in founder, family-owned M&A

Host: Jonathan Green, author of ChatGPT Profits