As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates across the telco industry, operators are grappling with a big challenge: how to empower employees with transformative AI tools while ensuring responsible use. For this episode, I’m talking with McKinsey & Company Partner Ferry Grijpink who leads the global consulting firm’s Center for Advanced Connectivity within the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice. As one of the authors of a recent report, Responsible AI: A Business Imperative for Telcos, he has ideas on how telcos can find the right balance between innovation and managing risk. Listen now to hear:

• The definition of Responsible AI and how it comes into play for telcos [02:27];
• How to balance responsible behavior with innovation [04:28];
• Guidance on guardrails and policies that can encourage responsible use across your teams [08:58]; and
• How organizations can track AI usage and cost [12:56].

Links and Resources

• Read McKinsey & Company’s recent report, Responsible AI: A Business Imperative for Telcos
• Find out more about McKinsey’s Center for Advanced Connectivity
• Ferry has been a guest on Telco in 20 two other times. Check out these great episodes for more of his valuable insights:
  • Episode 83: Monetizing Network APIs
  • Episode 45: Drumming up ways to increase ARPU with McKinsey
• Ferry is famous for his scarves, but they can be hard to style. Check out this video on all the ways to tie a scarf. 
• My trademark: my Golden Goose sneakers! Don’t judge me on the cost; I save money by not buying heels! 👠 I’m partial to the Mid-Star; with their wingtip styling in the front, they qualify as business wear. Check them outI
• Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
• You can find the episode transcript here.

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This week’s guest

Ferry Grijpink leads the McKinsey Center for Advanced Connectivity within McKinsey & Company’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice, and advises telecommunications companies on strategy, marketing, and operations, including mobile operators that are launching adjacent businesses in areas such as mobile health and money services. He also co-leads McKinsey’s research on deploying and commercializing next-generation infrastructures, such as fiber, mobile broadband, and 5G networks.

Podcast Credits

• Executive Producer and Host: Danielle Rios, TelcoDR
• Senior Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
• Senior Editor/Brand Manager: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
• Audio Editor: Andrew Condell
• Supervising Producer: Amanda Avery
• Associate Producer: Kriselda Dionisio
• Music: Dyami Wilson