From Bottlenecks to Automation: AI That Actually Makes You Money | Michael Elliott

Summary In this episode, AI architect and automation expert Michael Elliott cuts through the hype and shows business owners how to actually implement AI in a way that drives real ROI. Michael and Anthony break down why most leaders get lost chasing “shiny tools,” how to audit your calendar and workflow for automation opportunities, and why speed to lead is the number-one place to start if you want AI to make you money—not just noise. From turning inbound leads into 24/7 automated conversations, to eliminating manual data entry, to reactivating “dead” inquiries sitting in your CRM, this conversation is a tactical roadmap for using AI to remove bottlenecks, boost conversions, and future-proof your business. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by AI, this episode will show you how to start simple, go deep, and stop getting left behind. Special Guest Michael Elliott is an AI architect and automation strategist who helps companies integrate AI into their sales, operations, and data workflows. With a background in PPC, SEO, and performance marketing, Michael has worked with brands across the UK, Europe, and the US — including building fully automated revenue systems and AI-powered speed-to-lead engines that run around the clock. He specializes in identifying the biggest bottlenecks inside a business and designing AI systems that remove them, often saving hundreds of manual hours while increasing conversion rates and profitability. Michael also creates educational content on AI implementation, showing founders and teams how to move beyond prompts and into full-stack automation. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Importance of AI Simplicity 03:26 – Dealing with Shiny Object Syndrome 05:42 – The Calendar Audit: Finding Time for What Matters 07:04 – Improving Business Productivity with AI 09:48 – Human Adaptation to AI in Business 12:26 – Speed to Lead: The Critical Sales Advantage 14:58 – Cold Outreach vs. Inbound Inquiries 18:18 – Automation: From Lead Generation to Data Entry 22:40 – Overcoming Prompt Engineering Challenges 26:43 – Business Bottlenecks & the Necessity of AI 31:21 – The Urgency for AI Adoption & Final Thoughts MICHAEL'S INFO: Upwork: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/michaelelliott YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelelliottai/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelelliottai/ PODCAST INFO: Website: https://FutureFactory.live Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SsZRdrvWTUs1QY6Zu1sU6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/future-factory/id1659895549 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/207e04aa-11a1-4b28-964a-148608422a49/future-factory   FUTURE FACTORY SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefactorypodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureFactoryFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurefactorypodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/futurefactorypodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@futurefactorypodcast?_t=8ZIxAf4Orra&_r=1 ANTHONY'S SOCIAL: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/anthonyamunategui/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.amunategui.3 Find great guests at PodMatch https://www.joinpodmatch.com/futurefactorypodcast