The Everyday Millionaire Podcast — Episode 233

Guest: Dr. Alex Mehr
Host: Patrick Francey
Title: Will AI Take Your Job Or Build Your Wealth? Positioning Your Tribe
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking conversation, Patrick Francey sits down with Dr. Alex Mehr, a former NASA scientist turned entrepreneur and CEO of Famous AI. They explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its massive potential to reshape industries, jobs, and everyday life. The discussion is practical and philosophical, covering how individuals can harness AI, the pitfalls and opportunities of new technology, how entrepreneurs can ride technological waves, and what mindset is needed to thrive in the age of AI.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Embrace AI? Spotting the Right Wave

[03:03 – 05:59]

• Early AI Adoption:

  • Dr. Mehr saw a major shift with the advent of modern AI (e.g., ChatGPT) and decided to "be at the forefront" rather than a passive user.
  • Emphasizes the repeating pattern of technological revolutions and the choice to pioneer, participate, or ignore.

• Quote:

  “When I saw the new generation of AI… I was like, okay, it is going to happen. The moment I saw it, I knew it. ...I can be one of the pioneers and builders, I can be a participant and go for the ride, or I can just completely ignore it.” — Alex Mehr [03:34]

2. Entrepreneurial Approach: Experiment, Pivot, Repeat

[07:13 – 13:45]

• Action over Planning:

  • Mehr's approach: identify a tech “wave,” get involved early, and be willing to pivot repeatedly until finding product-market fit.
  • Fail forward, and stay flexible on products but steadfast on people and company vision.

• Quote:

  “You put your little dinghy, your boat, in that area… and it may not be the right boat, but your boat, you can pivot… until you have the first product market fit.” — Alex Mehr [08:36]
  “As long as you position yourself in the right industry with the right trend...think of my framework: people, company, products — be flexible on the products.” — Alex Mehr [13:47]

3. AI Opportunities: Still Early in the Revolution

[14:18 – 17:38]

• Adoption Stats:

  • Only ~20% of people or businesses are actively leveraging AI in a meaningful way.
  • Huge opportunity remains for onboarding the 80% who haven’t.

• Entrepreneurship & Integration:

  • Building around AI is not too late; macro-shifts like this take decades and latecomers can still win.

• Quote:

  “That 20% will go to 100% or very close to it at some point... you can also build businesses purely around onboarding people who are not using AI.” — Alex Mehr [16:12]

4. AI’s Environmental Impact & Societal Concerns

[17:38 – 21:34]

• Resource Usage:

  • AI’s high energy and water demands are real, but technological advances increase efficiency.
  • Regulatory and market pressures tend to improve sustainability over time.

• Quote:

  “Most things in technology, when it comes out, it's clunky and...not perfect for the environment. But over time, economic forces and regulatory government forces...improve the technology.” — Alex Mehr [20:06]

5. Will AI Replace Jobs? A Pragmatic Perspective

[21:34 – 26:08]

• Societal Impact:

  • Mehr is not entirely optimistic; AI will replace jobs and disrupt industries.
  • Advises focusing on personal and familial positioning rather than getting lost in macro-level anxiety.

• Quote:

  “Do you want to be in the category of people whose job is going to be eliminated, or do you want to be on the other side?" — Alex Mehr [22:49]
  "All I know is that...end of the day, humanity lives on and it adapts. ...Like Rumi said, this too shall pass.” — Alex Mehr [25:53]

6. Leveraging AI as a Tool: Productivity and Creativity

[26:08 – 29:16]

• Industry Shifts:

  • Comparing to computers in the 1970s, tech-induced fear often gives way to new opportunities.
  • AI can empower staff and boost productivity, not just cut jobs.

• Personal Experience:

  • Both host and guest note dramatic boosts in efficiency, idea-generation, and project management due to AI.

7. Innovation & App Development: The “AI Lens”

[29:26 – 31:11]

• Idea Generation:

  • Continuous use of AI cultivates a mindset where new ideas emerge effortlessly.
  • Viewing daily activities through “How would AI change this?” fuels ongoing innovation.

• Quote:

  "At this point, I have more ideas than I can implement...Now I have this new lens: 'how would AI change this?'" — Alex Mehr [29:57]

8. Prompts & Testing: Getting the Best from AI

[31:11 – 35:58]

• Prompt Engineering:

  • Critical for good AI outputs. Start prompts with “You are a world-class [X].”
  • AB-testing is vital; even major AI firms do not always know what prompt works best.

• Quote:

  “Most AI products…they are very sensitive to how they are programmed at a system level…it's more of a discovery process.” — Alex Mehr [32:30]
  “Every prompt, for the most part, start with, ‘You’re a world-class blank.’ As long as people go into that habit.” — Alex Mehr [35:59]

9. Does AI Make Us Dumber? Responsibility & Agency

[36:10 – 37:57]

• Analogy:

  • Like cars might make us physically less fit, AI could dull thinking — unless we choose to use saved time wisely.
  • Responsibility falls on the user to stay sharp.

• Quote:

  “It is your job to make sure your brain, which is…your most important asset, remains sharp.” — Alex Mehr [37:54]

10. Fears for the Future: Unpredictability and AI Safety

[37:57 – 41:01]

• AI Autonomy:

  • Rapid, unexpected behaviors—even developers can’t foresee all outcomes.
  • May one day need “police AI” to monitor AIs more intelligent than humans.

• Quote:

  “It does unpredictable things, I tell you that…In two years from now, we will probably have to have police AI…because it will outsmart the human.” — Alex Mehr [38:36]

11. Choosing and Using AI Platforms

[41:01 – 44:53]

• Platform Preferences:

  • Mehr uses and tests multiple AI models, not committed to one. Finds ChatGPT “too verbose,” but notes major models are converging in ability.

• IQ Comparison:

  • As AI “IQ” nears ours, it's harder to tell models apart. Eventually, only AIs may be able to judge other AIs’ intelligence.

12. Vision, Value, & Measuring Impact

[44:53 – 51:11]

• Personal Mission:

  • Mehr seeks to build products that touch a billion lives, even in small ways.
  • ‘Aggregate value delivered’ — broad or deep, as long as it's real and meaningful.

• Gmail “Vacuum” Test:

  • A valuable product’s absence is felt keenly — a mental model for assessing genuine value.

• Quote:

  “If your product ceases to exist, how much vacuum are you creating in the world? And that's a good test.” — Alex Mehr [49:32]

13. Mehr’s Unusual Entrepreneurial Origin: Science First

[51:22 – 56:08]

• Background:

  • Not initially entrepreneurial. Focused on science and mathematics, inspired by figures like Einstein.
  • Notes many entrepreneurs fail by being too money-focused.

• Fork in the Road:

  • Left NASA and cashed in savings to start a business. Cites “regret minimization” as motivation for taking the leap.

14. Navigating Macro Uncertainty: Focus on the Micro

[58:02 – 66:17]

• Macro Threats vs. Micro Action:

  • Tumultuous global changes (war, economics, politics) are real, but individuals should focus on micro-level actions for impact, resilience, and progress.

• Stoic Inspiration:

  • Emphasis on controlling what you can, ignoring emotional overload from macro crises and media narratives.

• Quote:

  “What matters is micro, micro. What do you do about it?” — Alex Mehr [61:43]
  “You have every possible question answered… The know-how…is now available to you through AI.” — Alex Mehr [65:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI opportunity:
  “It is definitely not late...that 20% will go to 100%...it is a reason to get involved now.” — Alex Mehr [16:14]

• On building products:
  “If you’re not embarrassed by the first product you’ve launched, you’ve launched too late.” — Alex Mehr [66:44]

• On fear and responsibility:
  “Personal responsibility. It is your job to make sure your brain...remains sharp.” — Alex Mehr [37:54]

• On personal mission:
  “I want to build a product or portfolio...that touches a billion lives.” — Alex Mehr [45:36]

• On value creation:
  “…If your product ceases to exist, how much vacuum are you creating in the world?” — Alex Mehr [49:32]

Timestamps by Topic

• 03:03 – Early impressions of AI and the motivation to pioneer
• 07:13 – Entrepreneurial methodology: experiment and pivot
• 13:45 – Fail forward: why action trumps perfect plans
• 14:18 – AI adoption rates and remaining opportunities
• 17:38 – Resource usage and environmental impact of AI
• 21:34 – Will AI replace jobs? Societal vs. individual outcomes
• 26:08 – AI as a tool: parallels to past tech adoption
• 29:26 – How Alex ideates new AI product opportunities
• 31:11 – Prompt engineering and AB testing for better AI results
• 36:10 – Does AI make us dumber? Analogy to physical fitness
• 37:57 – Fears of unpredictable AI behavior in the future
• 41:01 – Loyalty and critiques of different AI platforms
• 44:53 – Defining and measuring meaningful impact as an entrepreneur
• 51:22 – Mehr’s life story: from scientist to entrepreneur
• 58:02 – Macro risks vs. micro focus in uncertain times
• 62:12 – Data, information, and personal action strategies
• 66:44 – Favorite quote, book, and rapid-fire personal reflections

Tone & Style

• Candid and Philosophical:
  Both host and guest are down-to-earth, pragmatic, and willing to discuss uncertainties honestly.
• Inspirational and Empowering:
  The conversation is future-facing and designed to encourage listeners to take agency in uncertain times.

Conclusion

Dr. Alex Mehr’s journey from scientist to entrepreneur echoes his core philosophy: embrace new waves early, act and learn fast, and focus relentlessly on value creation. The era of AI will change the world, and whether we win or lose depends less on societal trends and more on our willingness to stay flexible, keep learning, and take bold action at the individual level.

For anyone seeking inspiration and practical strategies to thrive in an AI-driven world, this episode offers insights on mindset, risk, adaptability, and meaningful legacy.