#85 From CDO to author: Jackie Janssen on the evolution of AI and implications for business and society

Send us a text

Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world! Datatopics is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society.

This week, co-host Ben is joined by Jackie Janssen, former Chief Data Officer at CM, author of AI: De Hype Voorbij, and an evangelist for pragmatic, human-centered AI. Together, they trace the winding path from early tech roles to enterprise transformation, exploring how AI can actually serve humans (and not just the hype machine).

In this episode:

• Leadership in AI transformation: From KBC to CM, lessons on creating cultural buy-in.
• Building effective data teams: Why the first hire isn’t always a data engineer.
• AI governance: What makes a strong AI Council and why CEOs should care.
• Product and process thinking: How MLOps, data factories, and product mindsets intersect.
• Agents and autonomy: The future of work with AI teammates, not just tools.
• The human edge in a machine world: A preview of Jackie’s next book on rediscovering humanity in the age of AI.

Curious about Jackie’s take on AI agents, cultural inertia, or what really makes a great data strategy tick? Tune in, you might just find a new way to think about your tech stack and your team.