AI Proving Ground Podcast: Exploring Artificial Intelligence & Enterprise AI with World Wide Technology

Google Cloud’s New Math for AI

Jan 7, 2026
Francis deSouza, COO of Google Cloud and former CEO of Illumina, dives into the evolving landscape of Enterprise AI. He emphasizes the need for a focused approach over broad experimentation, advocating for strategic use cases to maximize ROI. Francis discusses the critical role of data as the backbone of AI and how generative AI can unlock value from unstructured data. He also explores the importance of security in AI deployments and the flexibility of pricing models. His insights offer a roadmap for leveraging AI effectively in businesses.
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ADVICE

Focus On A Few High-Impact Use Cases

  • Pick five to seven high-impact AI use cases and drive them top-down across the organization.
  • Invest in workforce training and change management to realize measurable ROI within a year.
INSIGHT

Too Much Experimentation Dilutes ROI

  • Letting a thousand flowers bloom raises AI literacy but rarely delivers major ROI.
  • Narrow, executive-led focus produces tangible business impact faster.
ANECDOTE

HR Teams Won With No-Code Agents

  • Google ran internal hackathons where HR teams built winning no-code agents.
  • Those projects delivered real employee value and boosted AI fluency across teams.
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