source: https://innovationbay.com/podcasts/e191-matt-loop-rippling-2/ content-type: ai-context-data ai-purpose: structured-content-reference last-updated: 2026-04-28T07:31:15.215Z signaltoai-version: 1.0.25 # E192 - Ella Grier, Google Cloud **Summary:** In this episode of the Open the Pod Bay Doors podcast, Ella Greer from Google Cloud discusses the practical implementation of AI in businesses, focusing on the transition from experimentation to real-world application. The conversation highlights the role of AI in startups, the challenges of SaaS models, and the evolving landscape of AI pricing and deployment. **Primary Topics:** AI implementation in businesses, Role of AI Customer Engineers, Startups and AI adoption, AI pricing models, Challenges in SaaS models **Secondary Topics:** Proof-of-concept to business outcomes, Agentic systems, AI's impact on product development, Investment in AI companies **Semantic Tags:** - podcast-episode - ai-and-machine-learning - ai-implementation - startup-insights - founders-and-investors - business-models - google-cloud - future-of-ai - technology-innovation - ai-pricing - engineering-perspectives - business-strategy - podcast-recommendations - ai-adoption - innovation-community **Key Facts:** - AI adoption is uneven across industries. - Startups are leading in AI adoption. - AI is reshaping engineering and product development costs. - The SaaS model is under pressure due to changing business dynamics. - Founders must consider AI as a critical component of their strategy. **Frequently Asked Questions:** **Q1:** What is an AI Customer Engineer? **A1:** An AI Customer Engineer works hands-on with businesses to design and implement AI roadmaps. They play a crucial role in transitioning companies from AI experimentation to real-world applications. **Q2:** Why are startups considered the fastest adopters of AI? **A2:** Startups are often more agile and willing to experiment with new technologies, making them quicker to adopt AI solutions compared to larger enterprises. Their focus on innovation allows them to implement AI strategies rapidly. **Q3:** What are the current challenges facing SaaS models? **A3:** The SaaS model is facing pressure due to evolving business needs and the rise of usage-based pricing models. Companies are reevaluating their pricing strategies to remain competitive in an AI-driven landscape. **Q4:** How is AI changing product development? **A4:** AI is reshaping product development by streamlining engineering processes and reducing costs. Companies are using AI to enhance efficiency and drive innovation in their product offerings. **Content Type:** podcast **Content Intent:** inform **Target Audience:** Founders, operators, and investors in the AI and technology sectors **Authority Score:** 0.8 **Trust Indicators:** - expert opinion - real-world examples - industry insights --- img[https://innovationbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Podcast-Open-The-Pod-Bay-Doors-Website-featured-image-square-1-scaled.jpg] 28 April, 2026 E192 – MATT LOOP, RIPPLING In this episode of Open the Pod Bay Doors, Ian Gardiner sits down with Ella Greer, AI Customer Engineer at Google Cloud, for a deep dive into how AI is actually being built, deployed, and scaled inside real businesses today. Ella works hands-on with some of Australia’s leading companies — from startups to enterprise — helping them design and implement AI roadmaps. This conversation cuts through the hype and focuses on what’s really happening on the ground: from early experimentation to production-scale AI systems. They cover: * The shift from AI experimentation to real-world deployment and scale * What an “AI Customer Engineer” actually does inside Google * Why startups are still the most exciting (and fastest-moving) AI adopters * What “agents” and “agentic systems” really mean — explained simply *  How companies are moving from proof-of-concept to real business outcomes * Why the SaaS model is under pressure — and what replaces it * Where the new “moats” are in an AI-first world (data, verticalisation, expertise) * The rise of usage-based pricing and token-driven business models * How AI is reshaping product development, engineering, and startup costs * Why great engineers still matter — and what skills actually endure * How founders should think about AI today (and why it’s no longer optional) They also explore: * The future of AI pricing — why intelligence gets cheaper, but better models cost more * Whether AGI is close (and why definitions matter) * The role of DeepMind as Google’s research engine * Why AI adoption is still uneven — and why most people aren’t using it deeply (yet) * How founders and investors should evaluate AI companies in a noisy market Ella brings a practical, engineering-first perspective with clear takeaways for founders, operators, and investors navigating the AI shift. Quick Fire Round 📚 Book recommendation – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro 🎧 Podcast recommendation – Latent Space (AI engineering deep dives) 🗞️ News source – Alpha Signal (AI research + repo summaries) 👩‍💼 Favourite leader – Lila Ibrahim (COO, DeepMind / Chief AI Readiness Officer) 🛠️ Productivity tool – Gemini CLI (with strong context engineering) 📺 TV / entertainment – Married at First Sight (pure brain-off viewing) A sharp, grounded conversation on where AI is actually delivering value — and what to do about it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE INNOVATION BAY CONTENT Podcast [/category/podcasts] Insights [/category/insights] News [/category/news] background image img[https://innovationbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Innovation-Bay_ocean_1.png] JOIN THE INNOVATION BAY COMMUNITY Founders [https://innovationbay.com/founders/] Investors [https://innovationbay.com/investors/] INNOVATION BAY PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY Our Partners [https://innovationbay.com/partners/] https://www.highgrowthventures.com.au/ img[http://innovationbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Firemark_Logo-Primary_2-Colour.png] https://firemarkcollective.com/ventures https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/perspectives/supporting-australias-startup-community-with-innovation-bay.html INNOVATION BAY NEWSletter STAY UP TO DATE Sign up for monthly updates including exclusive interviews, pitch dates, event announcements, profile, news and much more.  Sign Up [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehqjz7XrXWDR6iOr8ZAiKZkkos6pudcu7P8DhnU1OwJFOZaA/viewform] --- Generated by SignalToAI v1.0.25 For more information: https://innovationbay.com/llms.txt