Gérard – Gérard Métrailler

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

AI SaaS Pricing: How to Profit When Every Prompt Has a Real Cost

In SaaS, variable costs are familiar. AWS and Azure bills rise and fall with traffic, storage, and bandwidth, but you can usually forecast them and smooth them with commitments.

AI flips the model because cost is triggered by a mixture of behavior and model choice, not just scale. Each generation can add metered COGS, and multimodal makes the spikes sharper: images, audio transcription, voice output, and video generation can cost orders of magnitude more than a short text reply. Retries, longer outputs, bigger context windows, and tool calls amplify this fast.

Then comes the perception problem. Buyers are trained by ChatGPT and Gemini that AI feels cheap or “free” at the point of use, which anchors expectations. The executive challenge becomes defending value and margin while keeping usage predictable.

January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

On AIO / GEO for Content Creation

SEO isn’t dead—but it’s no longer enough. In this episode, Gérard explores how AI-driven search is changing the visibility game and why “AIO” (AI Optimization) is the next frontier for marketing leaders. From the history of SEO and social sharing to today’s AI-first discovery, you’ll learn how to stay ahead of the curve.

For leaders, the key message is clear: early adopters of AIO will win in a world where AI assistants choose the answers people see.

Read the full article here: https://m8r.me/aio-article

November 11, 2025January 27, 2026

Going Deep: My Journey from ChatGPT User to AI-First Builder

Like many of you, I started experimenting with ChatGPT out of curiosity.

Initially, it was a helpful assistant, assisting with tasks ranging from writing emails to drafting summaries and even brainstorming ideas for presentations. I got good at writing prompts. I learned to coax better answers by refining my questions, layering context, and iterating until the output was just right.

But here’s what I quickly realized:

Being proficient at using ChatGPT doesn’t mean you understand how large language models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI) really work, nor what they can and can’t do to transform a business.

I’ve had the privilege of leading global teams, driving SaaS transformations, and delivering meaningful outcomes. I’ve seen firsthand how technology waves come and go, from the early days of web software to mobile, cloud, and subscription models, but what’s happening now with AI is fundamentally different. It’s not just a new tool; it’s a new paradigm for how businesses think, operate, and create value.

And so, earlier this year, I made a decision: If I wanted to lead in this new era, I needed to go deep.

August 12, 2025January 27, 2026

SEO Alone Is Dead: It’s Time To Embrace AIO

Online marketing is undergoing a dramatic transformation. For over two decades, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the tyranny of being “above the fold” have been the cornerstone of online visibility. Then came the viral power of social media optimization (SMO), focusing on “sharability”. The rules of the game are changing once more: AI assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and even Google now directly answer millions of queries, often without redirecting users to your content! This article outlines the history, best practices, and future strategies to ensure your brand remains visible, whether in search results, social feeds, or AI-generated answers.

July 15, 2025July 15, 2025

Generative AI: Your Strategic Partner or Sneaky Cognitive Trap?

Generative AI can supercharge productivity, spark creativity, and even free up your calendar—but it can also lead you into some unexpected cognitive traps. In this episode, I dive into how business leaders can harness the power of AI while avoiding the pitfalls of blind trust, content overload, and strategic overreach.

From the myth of the “Expert Beginner” to the ethical dilemmas of Agentic AI, this episode will help you strike the right balance between innovation and judgment, because leadership still needs a human touch.

Read the written companion to this episode: ⁠m8r.me/ai-business⁠

April 1, 2025April 1, 2025

GenAI for Business Leaders: Strategic Lever or Cognitive Trap?

Generative AI (GenAI) and large language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4o, have swiftly revolutionized our work dynamics. They have emerged as indispensable business tools, reshaping the modern corporate landscape. These advanced AI systems promise transformative benefits, driving unparalleled productivity, innovation, and profitability. Despite the complex challenges that come with their adoption, companies embracing GenAI are on the brink of a transformative era. The success of this journey hinges on intentional oversight, robust governance frameworks, and a strategic balance between automation and human judgment. How prepared is your organization to harness the full potential of this transformative era?

February 26, 2025February 26, 2025

Are you leading or just reacting? A look at the systems thinking mindset

Most leaders don’t realize they’re stuck in a cycle of reacting to problems instead of solving them at the source. In this episode, we explore Systems Thinking—the mindset that helps leaders break silos, anticipate ripple effects, and make smarter long-term decisions. From the great toilet paper shortage of 2020 🧻 to business strategies that backfire, we’ll dive into why understanding the bigger picture is the key to effective leadership.

📖 Read the written companion to this episode: ccworld.ca/systems

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025

Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Why Leaders Need a Systems Mindset

Leading a business is like running a control center. Every switch, gauge, and flashing red light represents decisions, external forces, and a network of human relationships. It’s tempting to jump from crisis to crisis, putting out fires. But without stepping back to see the whole system, leaders risk missing the bigger picture. Problems persist, and root causes remain untouched.

Systems thinking shifts focus from firefighting to foresight. It reveals hidden bottlenecks, delays, and inefficiencies. It helps leaders make smarter decisions by understanding how changes ripple across an organization.

My introduction to systems thinking came when I decided to attend an elective course at university. What I learned about seeing the bigger picture and inter-connectedness has shaped my thinking ever since. This mindset has helped me always consider how decisions ripple through organizations over time.

March 9, 2023February 26, 2025

Go beyond PLG and focus on the Customer Journey

In this podcast episode, I look at why it isn’t about Product-Led, OR Sales-Led, OR Marketing-Led Growth. It’s all the above simultaneously. It’s about Customer-Led Growth. It’s about delivering an end-to-end experience at every touchpoint of the customer life cycle that feels like one, delighting the user at every step.

This episode has a related blog post, and includes a graphical representation of the Customer Journey “Game of Life” and the Product “Ferris Wheel”.

March 1, 2023March 8, 2023

Time to go beyond Product-Led Growth – think Customer Journey

In recent years, PLG, or Product-Led Growth, has become a significant buzz in the tech world, and rightfully so. Products that delight customers and fuel growth loops are essential. If your offering can’t deliver considerable value to your users, if your product isn’t resolving major pain-points, or isn’t providing big WOWs over the alternatives where it matters, then you’ve got (lots of) work ahead. But with the rise of digital channels, customers interact with businesses in multiple ways that drive the overall experience. Only focusing on the product or go-to-market-led growth is no longer enough – it’s time to prioritize the whole Customer Journey (CJ).

It isn’t about Product-Led, OR Sales-Led, OR Marketing-Led Growth. It’s all the above simultaneously. It’s about Customer-Led Growth. It’s about delivering an end-to-end experience at every touchpoint of the customer life cycle that feels like one, delighting the user at every step.