AI-Enhanced Member Services: Turning Strategy Into Action

#Non-Profit #Business #Amith Nagarajan And Mallory Mejias #Amith Nagarajan #Mallory Mejias

35:00

The healing power of fitness goes far beyond physical benefits—for today’s guest, it’s a form of self-expression and a celebration of what the body can do. In this episode, host Nora McInerny sits down with fitness personality Ivylis Rivera, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life with Chronic Migraine while holding onto her passion for movement. Ivylis opens up about the struggle of staying active while facing the fear of triggering a headache or migraine attack and the resilience it takes to keep pushing forward—a resilience that carried her through the challenging journey of finding a Chronic Migraine treatment plan that worked for her. Join Nora and Ivylis as they explore the concept of “soft living,” a philosophy Ivylis embraces—staying active, listening to your body, and building trust in oneself. Click here for Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, or visit https://abbv.ie/prescribing_info See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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AI-Enhanced Member Services: Turning Strategy Into Action | 75

about a year ago 40:58

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In this milestone 75th episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith and Mallory return for part two of their deep dive into AI-enhanced member services. This second installment of AI-Enhanced Member Services shifts from ideas to action. Amith and Mallory focus on the infrastructure, mindset, and change management strategies needed to implement AI solutions within your association. You’ll hear clear advice on system integration, data platforms, and the human side of transformation—including how to reframe staff roles and build a culture of innovation. It’s a must-listen for association leaders ready to take the next step.
🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification:
https://learn.sidecar.ai

📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE
https://sidecar.ai/ai
📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now:
https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/
🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs!
Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc
Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago
🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt
Google Gemini ➡ https://gemini.google
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Episode 75 of Sidecar Sync
05:32 - The Three Building Blocks for AI Member Services
12:04 - In the Middle of an AMS Switch? Hit Pause
17:42 - Common Obstacles: The "Accounting" Mindset
20:44 - What to Automate First: Member Inquiries
22:05 - Change Management and the Leadership Imperative
28:32 - Culture Shifts: Asking “Why” and “Why Not?

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CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/
VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/

🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/
👍 Like & Subscribe!
https://x.com/sidecarglobal
https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync
https://sidecar.ai/
Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io, a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey.
📣 Follow Amith:
https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan
Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space.
📣 Follow Mallory:
https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias

...

84 episodes

AI-Enhanced Member Services: Turning Strategy Into Action | 75

Sidecar Sync

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

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🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors:
CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/
VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/

...

84 episodes

#Non-Profit #Business #Amith Nagarajan And Mallory Mejias #Amith Nagarajan #Mallory Mejias

همه قسمت ها

1
Breaking Math with Google’s AlphaEvolve | 84 49:48

18 hours ago49:48

49:48

Send us a text This week, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias dive deep into Google's groundbreaking AI breakthrough—AlphaEvolve. In their first-ever single-topic episode, the duo unpacks why this agent’s ability to autonomously invent and refine algorithms marks a pivotal moment in AI history. From shattering a 56-year-old math record to its potential to reshape how associations tackle "unsolvable" problems, Amith and Mallory explore what AlphaEvolve means for science, business, and the association world. Plus, they discuss how associations can remain relevant in the face of rapid AI advancement—even when the tech seems impossibly complex. 📽 Supporting video by https://www.youtube.com/@Pourya_Kordi: https://youtu.be/PcjhXA2bsh0?si=WuQeA3BuDAAROHIp 🤖 Join the AI Mastermind: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind 💡 Find out more about Sidecar’s CESSE Partnership - https://shorturl.at/LpEYb 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: AlphaEvolve ➡ https://shorturl.at/3vzXm Gemini ➡ https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini Claude by Anthropic ➡ https://www.anthropic.com/index/claude Perplexity AI ➡ https://www.perplexity.ai/ Betty ➡ https://www.meetbetty.ai/ Isomorphic Labs ➡ https://www.isomorphiclabs.com/ 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Snooze to Win: Why Digital Naptime Is AI’s Most Productive Hour | 83 54:40

8 days ago54:40

54:40

Send us a text This week on Sidecar Sync, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias dive deep into two cutting-edge developments in the AI world. First up is the mind-bending concept of "sleep time compute"—how LLMs might learn and improve during their downtime, transforming into smarter, faster assistants overnight. Then, the duo breaks down OpenAI's $3 billion acquisition of Windsurf, the booming arena of AI coding tools, and what it means for developers and associations alike. From persistent memory to prototype-ready AI partners, this episode is packed with insights for both techies and the tech-curious. 🤖 Join the AI Mastermind: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Claude Code ➡ https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/overview Claude Desktop ➡ https://claude.ai/download Windsurf ➡ https://windsurf.ai GitHub Copilot ➡ https://github.com/features/copilot Cursor ➡ https://www.cursor.so OpenAI Codex ➡ https://openai.com/blog/openai-codex ChatGPT ➡ https://chat.openai.com Gemini by Google ➡ https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Getting Your Board on Board with AI | 82 54:09

15 days ago54:09

54:09

Send us a text In this episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias take on one of the most pivotal—and often overlooked—challenges in association innovation: getting your board on board with AI. Drawing from Amith's personal boardroom experience and Mallory’s deep dive into board psychology, they break down how to navigate internal politics, craft compelling AI use cases, and turn skeptical board members into innovation allies. From emotional storytelling to small pilot wins, this episode is your roadmap to aligning AI ambition with boardroom approval. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt Claude ➡ https://www.anthropic.com HeyGen ➡ https://www.heygen.com NotebookLM ➡ https://notebooklm.google Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Sidecar Sync 01:00 - Setting the Stage: Why Board Buy-In Matters 06:55 - What Motivates Board Decisions in Associations? 10:15 - Volunteerism, Ego, and Career Goals 13:55 - Navigating Volunteerism, Legacy, and Tradition 25:37 - How Can You Build an Irresistible AI Use Case? 27:21 - Selecting the Right Pilot Project 32:59 - The Rol 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Fargo vs. Klarna & The Rise of Reasoning Models | 81 48:17

22 days ago48:17

48:17

Send us a text This week on Sidecar Sync, Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias explore Wells Fargo’s virtual assistant “Fargo” and how it stacks up against Klarna’s AI tool from a year ago. With 250 million fully automated interactions and measurable impact on customer engagement and bias reduction, Fargo offers a powerful case study in applied AI. Amith reflects on what’s now possible for associations, why a narrow pilot project is a smart first move, and how “human in the loop” isn’t just a safety net—it’s strategic. The duo also breaks down Microsoft’s new Phi-4 reasoning models, which pack PhD-level performance into incredibly compact packages that can run on your phone. If you're wondering where the AI trend line is heading, this one’s for you. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global: https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest: https://videorequest.io/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Fargo ➡ https://sites.wf.com/fargo/ Klarna AI Assistant ➡ https://www.klarna.com Microsoft Phi-4 Reasoning Models ➡ https://huggingface.co/microsoft Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 03:47 - Meet Fargo: Wells Fargo’s AI Assistant 05:59 - Comparing Fargo with Klarna’s Assistant 08:57 - The State of AI Agents in Associations 13:05 - Event Support: A Smart Use Case for AI 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Getting Hands-On with MCP & Anthropic’s AI Economic Index | 80 54:12

29 days ago54:12

54:12

Send us a text In this episode of Sidecar Sync, hosts Mallory Mejias and Amith Nagarajan take a deep dive into Model Context Protocol (MCP), a revolutionary standard making it dramatically easier for AI to interact with data, tools, and systems—no code required. Mallory shares her personal setup experience with Claude for desktop, walking through a live example of using MCP to automate file organization. Amith expands on why MCP is a game-changer for association leaders, how it enables business users to go from idea to execution quickly, and why data liberation is the missing piece for many organizations. The duo also breaks down new insights from Anthropic’s Economic Index, which reveals that AI is currently used far more for augmenting human effort than full automation. It’s an episode rich with practical insights, technical clarity, and a peek into the fast-arriving future of AI in the workplace. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: MCP Quickstart Guide ➡ https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart/user Claude for Desktop ➡ https://www.anthropic.com Zapier ➡ https://zapier.com Cursor ➡ https://www.cursor.so Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Sidecar Sync and What’s Ahead 01:02 - Catching Up: Spring Break and Autonomous Driving 05:02 - What Is Model Context Protocol (MCP)? 07:06 - How MCP Works: Mallory’s Simple Explanation 08:11 - Step-by-Step: Setting Up Claude Desktop With MCP 12:42 - Live Demo: Moving Files Using Claude and MCP 18:01 - Why Associations Should Care Abo 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Ian Andrews Talks Groq’s Fast, Smart AI Inference Tech | 79 57:36

5 weeks ago57:36

57:36

Send us a text In this special episode of Sidecar Sync, we dive into the future of AI infrastructure with Ian Andrews, Chief Revenue Officer at Groq (that’s Groq with a Q!). Ian shares the story behind Groq’s rise, how their LPU chip challenges Nvidia’s dominance, and why fast, low-cost, high-quality inference is about to unlock entirely new categories of AI-powered applications. We talk about the human side of prompting, the evolving skillset needed to work with large language models, and what agents and reasoning models mean for the future of knowledge work. Plus, Ian shares how Groq uses AI internally, including an incredible story about an AI-generated RFP audit that caught things humans missed. Tune in for practical insights, forward-looking trends, and plenty of laughs along the way. 🔎 Find Out More About Ian Andrews and Groq: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhandrews/ https://www.groq.com 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ ✨ Power Your Newsletter with AI Personalization at rasa.io: https://rasa.io/products/campaigns/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Superhuman ➡ https://superhuman.com Groq Cloud ➡ https://www.groq.com ChatGPT ➡ https://chat.openai.com Claude (Anthropic) ➡ https://www.anthropic.com Perplexity ➡ https://www.perplexity.ai Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - Meet Ian Andrews, CRO of Groq 05:48 - Ian’s Generative AI “Aha” Moment 10:30 - What Groq Is and What It Does 14:57 - The Launch and Growth of Groq Cloud 18:25 - What “High Quality Inference” Really Means 23:10 - Agents and Interns: Speed in Autonomous Work 29:26 - Use Cases: Finance, Legal, Customer Se 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Cartoon Avatars, Talking Robots, and AI That Draws | 78 45:37

6 weeks ago45:37

45:37

Send us a text In this vibrant and forward-thinking episode of Sidecar Sync, Mallory and Amith dive into the fun side of AI—exploring OpenAI’s new GPT-4o image generation capabilities, Hedra’s cartoon animation tech, and the jaw-dropping robotics work between Nvidia, Google DeepMind, and Disney. You’ll hear about Mallory’s creation of cartoon avatars of herself and Amith, animated with lifelike voices using Hedra and ElevenLabs, plus a lively discussion on how associations can use these tools for scalable content and member engagement. Plus, a look at how Disney’s droids and advanced physics engines are shaping the future of robotics far beyond entertainment. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ ✨ Power Your Newsletter with AI Personalization at rasa.io: https://rasa.io/products/campaigns/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ChatGPT-4o ➡ https://chat.openai.com Hedra ➡ hhttps://www.hedra.com/ Nvidia Reveals Project GROOT and Disney Robots ➡ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51TYhPJ4zys Amith’s AI Comic Strips ➡ https://shorturl.at/ItvQZ Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 05:30 - GPT-4o Image Generation: Features and First Impressions 07:28 - Creating Comics and Infographics with GPT-4o 11:40 - What Makes GPT-4o Truly “Omni-Modal”? 12:53 - Animating Avatars with Hedra: Cartoon Hosts Go Live 17:09 - Clip Reveal: Cartoon Mallory and Amith Talk AI 27:43 - Disney, DeepMind & Nvidia’s Plan for Entertainment Robots 36:30 - Should Associations Start Prepping for AI Robotics? 40:35 - Advice for the Next Generation in the Age of AI 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
Intel Bets Big on Chips Again as Meta Drops Llama 4 | 77 52:37

7 weeks ago52:37

52:37

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Sidecar Sync, Mallory and Amith dig into the fascinating world of semiconductors and how a historic joint venture between Intel and TSMC is reshaping the global tech landscape. They explore the underlying tensions between vertically integrated business models and specialization — a conversation that holds key lessons for association leaders navigating change in the age of AI. From reflections on the Innovation Hub Chicago event to an insightful breakdown of Llama 4’s powerful capabilities, this episode is a timely reminder that adaptability is everything — in both tech and associations. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 💡 Join Sidcar’s AI Mastermind Group: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Llama 4 ➡ https://ai.meta.com/llama GPT-4 ➡ https://openai.com Claude 3.7 ➡ https://www.anthropic.com Gemini 2.5 Pro ➡ https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini DeepSeek R1 ➡ https://deepseek.com Aqcuired Podcast ➡ https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/tsmc The Information (Article) ➡ https://shorturl.at/xymgG Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Sidecar Sync and This Week’s Topic 08:36 - Semiconductor Basics Explained: Fab vs. Fabless 10:20 - Intel and TSMC’s Joint Venture 16:08 - Lessons for Associations from Intel’s Journey 20:53 - Specialization vs. Integration in Association Work 26:41 - How AI Changes the Capacity to Do More 31:39 - LLaMA 4 Overview: Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth 34:29 - Multimodal Models and Mixture of Experts 40:47 - Why LLaMA 4’s Context Window Matters 45:03 - Open Source, Priva 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

1
AI Innovations from Gemini and DeepSeek to Break Your Brain | 76 48:26

8 weeks ago48:26

48:26

Send us a text In this episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith and Mallory dive deep into two major AI model releases—Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro and DeepSeek’s V3—and explore how they’re reshaping the landscape of artificial intelligence. They discuss the technical breakthroughs, from million-token context windows to open-source innovations, and what it all means for association leaders. This is a jam-packed episode with strategic insights for the forward-thinking association exec. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hub! https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago 💡 Join Sidcar’s AI Mastermind Group: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: GPT-4o ➡ https://openai.com Gemini 2.5 Pro ➡ https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini DeepSeek-V3 ➡ https://huggingface.co/deepseek-ai Midjourney ➡ https://www.midjourney.com HeyGen ➡ https://www.heygen.com Amith’s Comic Strip ➡ https://shorturl.at/2Khn5 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - Catching Up: Innovation Hub in Washington DC 07:58 - Gemini 2.5 Pro 15:58 - Google’s Position and Counter-Positioning Strategy 20:57 - Visual Breakthroughs in GPT-4o’s Image Generator 24:00 - Small vs. Large Models 28:36 - DeepSeek-V3 Release: What’s New and Different 33:29 - Why Open Source Models Matter for Associations 38:04 - The Impact of Lower AI Costs on Strategy 41:23 - Dream Bigger: Breaking Constraints and Thinking Abundantly 44:48 - Final Thoughts 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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AI-Enhanced Member Services: Turning Strategy Into Action | 75 40:58

9 weeks ago40:58

40:58

Send us a text In this milestone 75th episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith and Mallory return for part two of their deep dive into AI-enhanced member services. This second installment of AI-Enhanced Member Services shifts from ideas to action. Amith and Mallory focus on the infrastructure, mindset, and change management strategies needed to implement AI solutions within your association. You’ll hear clear advice on system integration, data platforms, and the human side of transformation—including how to reframe staff roles and build a culture of innovation. It’s a must-listen for association leaders ready to take the next step. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs! Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt Google Gemini ➡ https://gemini.google Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Episode 75 of Sidecar Sync 05:32 - The Three Building Blocks for AI Member Services 12:04 - In the Middle of an AMS Switch? Hit Pause 17:42 - Common Obstacles: The "Accounting" Mindset 20:44 - What to Automate First: Member Inquiries 22:05 - Change Management and the Leadership Imperative 28:32 - Culture Shifts: Asking “Why” and “Why Not? 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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Manus AI Tackles Complex Tasks While Sesame AI Sounds a Little More Human | 74 53:37

10 weeks ago53:37

53:37

Send us a text In this episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith and Mallory discuss the Manus AI Agent, a groundbreaking system that autonomously handles complex tasks like resume screening and real estate searches. They also explore the evolution of conversational AI with Sesame AI, which enhances digital interactions through natural speech. Amith shares insights from his keynote at AGRIP, an association leading the way in AI adoption, while Mallory demos an interactive AI voice assistant. Plus, they dive into how Sidecar is leveraging AI for automated learning content and more. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs! Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Member Junction ➡ https://memberjunction.org/ Betty AI ➡ https://meetbetty.ai/ Manus AI Agent ➡ https://manus.im/ Sesame AI ➡ https://sesame.com/research/crossing_the_uncanny_valley_of_voice Claude 3.7 ➡ https://www.anthropic.com/ Eleven Labs ➡ https://elevenlabs.io HeyGen ➡ https://www.heygen. 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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AI-Enhanced Member Services: What You Need to Know | 73 1:05:45

11 weeks ago1:05:45

1:05:45

Send us a text In this first installment of a special two-part episode of Sidecar Sync, Amith and Mallory explore the future of AI-enhanced member services. Associations face growing pressure to provide seamless, 24/7 member support—competing with the personalized service of big brands. In Part 1, we break down key member service functions and how AI can revolutionize them, from automating inquiries and renewals to personalizing communication and recommendations. Plus, we introduce Izzy, a groundbreaking AI agent designed to transform association operations. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive into real-world implementation strategies! 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs! Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Sidecar Sync 01:09 - Introducing AI-Enhanced Member Services 06:20 - Why AI is Critical for Modern Associations 08:08 - The Role of AI in Reducing Friction 16:55 - AI’s Task-by-Task Transformation of Member Services 18:29 - Responding to Member Inquiries with AI 28:54 - Automating Applications and Renewals 41:25 - Smarter Database Maintenance with AI 51:39 - AI-Powered Personalized Communications 57:36 - Smarter Upselling & Cross-Selling with AI 1:02:35 - Closing -- Stay Tuned for Part 2! 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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AI Tacos & Amazon’s Return to Office Mandate | 72 43:55

12 weeks ago43:55

43:55

Send us a text In this episode of Sidecar Sync, hosts Amith and Mallory explore AI’s surprising role in fast food, focusing on Byte by Yum, an AI-powered platform transforming operations at Taco Bell, KFC, and beyond. What can associations learn from Yum Brands’ AI strategy? Then, they tackle Amazon’s return-to-office policy and what it means for workplace culture, collaboration, and AI’s growing influence on job structures. Plus, a shocking revelation—Amith has never had a Crunchwrap Supreme?! Join us for a fun and insightful conversation at the crossroads of AI, associations, and tacos. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs! Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Sidecar Sync 03:21 - AI Tacos? Yum Brands’ Big Tech Play 08:47 - Can AMS Vendors Drive AI Innovation in Associations? 15:01 - Why Data is the Foundation for AI Success 27:05 - Amazon’s Return-to-Office Mandate: What’s Happening? 32:20 - Remote vs. In-Person Work: What’s Best for Innovation? 38:09 - What Associations Can Learn About Workplace Flexibility 41:05 - Closing: The Crunchwrap Supreme Challenge—Will Amith Try One? 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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The Next Generation Glow-Up of Claude and Grok & Microsoft Makes the Quantum Leap | 71 1:00:15

13 weeks ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Send us a text AI is evolving at a breakneck pace, and in this episode of Sidecar Sync, hosts Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias break down the latest advancements that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From the game-changing hybrid reasoning capabilities of Claude 3.7 and Grok 3 to the emerging field of quantum computing, they explore how these technologies are shaping the future. They also discuss Microsoft's Majorana One quantum chip and what it means for computing, AI, and beyond. Whether you're curious about scaling laws, the potential of digital twins, or the next steps in AI-driven learning, this episode is packed with insights that will get you thinking about what’s next. 🔎 Check out Sidecar's AI Learning Hub and get your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification: https://learn.sidecar.ai 📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREE https://sidecar.ai/ai 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🚀 Find out more about the upcoming Blue Cypress Innovation Hubs! Washington, D.C.: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-dc Chicago: https://bluecypress.io/innovation-hub-chicago 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Claude 3.7 ➡ https://www.anthropic.com Grok 3 ➡ https://x.ai DeepSeek R1 ➡ https://deepseek.com OpenAI GPT Models ➡ https://openai.com Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Sidecar Sync 02:06 - The Importance of Work-Life Integration 05:58 - What’s New with Claude 3.7 & Grok 3? 16:36 - Interactive AI Experiences & the Future of 📅 Find out more digitalNow 2025 and register now: https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai/ 🎉 More from Today’s Sponsors: CDS Global https://www.cds-global.com/ VideoRequest https://videorequest.io/ 🚀 Sidecar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/ 👍 Like & Subscribe! https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSync https://sidecar.ai/ Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress https://BlueCypress.io , a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey. 📣 Follow Amith: https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is the Manager at Sidecar, and she's passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. 📣 Follow Mallory: https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias ...…

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Updates from the Paris AI Summit & Reuters’ Copyright Showdown | 70 53:23

14 weeks ago53:23