In this episode of That Tech Pod, we sit down with Josh Meier a Senior Generative AI Author at Pluralsight, where he helps professionals cut through the hype and learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively. With a background in software engineering, data engineering, and data science, Josh has built his career around translating complex ideas for both technical and non-technical audiences. We talk with Josh about what it really means to teach AI in a world where anyone can ask ChatGPT for an instant answer. He explains why structured learning still matters, how to separate casual tinkering from business-ready skills, and why human guidance is essential in a space that changes every few weeks. We also dig into some of the more controversial headlines—AI “lying” to users, models “trying to escape,” and facial recognition being used for both good and harm—and ask how society should weigh innovation against the risks of misuse. Finally, Josh shares his take on what the next big wave of AI innovation might look like. In the outtro, we discuss if we've finally made it because Laura saw someone in our swag "in the wild." You don't want to miss this episode!

Josh Meier (Meyer) is a Senior Generative AI Author at Pluralsight who helps professionals make sense of a fast-changing AI landscape. With a background in software engineering, data engineering, and data science, Josh has built a career around digging into data, uncovering insights, and translating complex concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences. Outside of work, he’s passionate about teaching and even finds inspiration in astronomy. In this conversation, we’ll dive into his work on generative AI, the hype around “AI gone rogue,” the unique challenges of AI security testing, and the ethical line between innovation and misuse.

This week on the pod, we welcome Bobby Coppola, Chief Strategy Officer and Bryant Gauthier, Vice President of Legal Technology at PLUSnxt. Bobby shares how his path from big law to legal tech shaped his focus on client service and strategy, while Bryant returns to the show to talk about what drew him to PLUSnxt after his time at Celerity.

We break down what sets PLUSnxt apart in the crowded eDiscovery space, from helping clients separate hype from reality to focusing on innovation that actually makes life easier for corporations and law firms. The conversation turns to artificial intelligence in document review, obviously, where Bobby and Bryant highlight where adoption is real, where skepticism remains, and how GenAI is shifting client expectations. They also weigh in on whether the future lies in best-of-breed solutions or all-in-one platforms, sharing why no one really wants to manage a “franken-stack.” To wrap up, Bobby and Bryant share their takeaways from ILTACON and what trends they see shaping the next phase of legal tech.

Along the way, the group reminisces about the dot-com era, old chat rooms (ASL anyone?), answering machines, fax machines, the Movie Phone guy, and even the “Callin’ Oates” hotline. Definitely check this one out!

At the intersection of law, business, and technology, Bobby Coppola is focused on delivering industry leading legal technology and services to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He leverages his unique skill set based on his big law background and decades long-experience in the eDiscovery space to solve business and legal problems for companies and law firms globally. As Chief Strategy Officer at PLUSnxt, he is focused on the development of the company’s short- and long-term strategy from both an operational and growth perspective. The underpinning of his approach to client relationships is a fanatical focus on client service and a vision of always putting himself in his client’s position when developing a strategic plan for success.

Bryant Gauthier is Vice President of Legal Technology at PLUSnxt, where he advises law firms and corporate counsel on building efficient eDiscovery programs. With more than 20 years of experience, he helps clients leverage technology, processes, and analytics to reduce costs and manage risk across the EDRM. He has led the launch of eDiscovery departments using advanced tools such as CAL, TAR, AI, text-to-audio search, and image recognition to streamline document review and investigations. His background includes leadership roles at Huron Consulting, Skadden Arps, Buckley Sandler, Finnegan Henderson, and Xerox. Bryant supports legal teams in litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters, including SEC, DOJ, and CFPB inquiries, across industries such as banking, energy, healthcare, intellectual property, and technology. His expertise covers data identification, analysis, governance, privacy, and cross-border matters.

PLUSnxt is a legal technology and services provider that helps law firms and corporations manage complex eDiscovery challenges with a focus on practical innovation and client service. They emphasizes building solutions that cut through the noise of legal tech hype, offering tools and expertise that actually improve how legal teams review, analyze, and manage data. PLUSnxt brings a mix of deep technical knowledge and real-world legal experience to its clients. Their approach combines advanced technologies such as AI and analytics with a clear understanding of business and legal priorities, making them a trusted partner for organizations navigating litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters.

We’re on vacation this week! While we recharge, enjoy this “best of” episode from our first year back in 2021. We’ll be back next week with a special new episode featuring PlusNXT!

Today (June 8, 2021) on That Tech Pod, Laura and Gabi sit down with Andrew Ochoa, CEO of Waverly Labs, to unpack the tech behind The Ambassador, a wearable translator built to remove language barriers. They dig into how real-time translation works, the hardware and software that power it, and where it shines in the real world, from travel and classrooms to business meetings. Andrew shares what accuracy really means, the tradeoffs between speed and quality, how the team thinks about privacy, and what might be next for multilingual communication.