In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Max Winter, Principal Solutions Architect at AWS and a former IT leader at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. With decades of experience in financial systems and a front-row seat to the rise of generative AI, Max explores how AI can both unlock new potential and unintentionally trap us in cycles of past ideas.

Key Lessons Covered in This Episode:

From Warehouses to Wall Street: Discover how Max’s early work in automation and user experience shaped his transition from industrial IT to cloud infrastructure and AI at Amazon Web Services.

How Generative AI Actually Works: Max breaks down how large language models function—not as thinking machines, but as statistical mimics that simulate human responses based on past data.

Creativity vs. Mimicry: Understand the crucial difference between human and AI creativity—and why relying too heavily on AI could limit original thinking.

The Trap of Remixing the Past: Learn how generative AI tends to gravitate toward familiar ideas, recycling popular concepts rather than pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Gravity Wells in AI Output: Max explains how AI models develop “conceptual gravity,” pulling outputs toward dominant ideas (like Mario for cartoon plumbers)—and what that means for innovation.

When AI Excels—And When It Doesn’t: Explore use cases where AI is most effective (like classification and automation) versus where it struggles (like creating something truly new).

What Jobs Will AI Create? Max encourages us to ask the right question: not just what AI will replace, but what new industries and roles it can help unlock.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Generative AI is a powerful tool, but it mimics—it doesn’t create.

✅ Real innovation requires human input to break free from recycled patterns.

✅ Successful use of AI depends on understanding its limitations and strategic applications.

✅ Future job creation hinges on how we use AI to unlock new possibilities, not just optimize the old.

Links And Resources:

• Connect with Max Winter on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxwinter