Uli Homann, Microsoft CVP, on Navigating the AI Tsunami - The Agentic Insider - Episode #18

7 snips

Aug 7, 2025

Uli Homann, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and Distinguished Architect, brings over 35 years of tech experience to the discussion. He explores the transformative power of AI and its responsible usage in business. Uli stresses the need for a clear AI charter, prioritizing business needs over platform development, and creating avenues for raising AI-related concerns. He also touches on the exciting potential of quantum computing in achieving sustainable solutions, and how AI can revolutionize manufacturing in Industry 5.0 through enhanced automation.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Coding Is No Longer The Only Route

Generative AI reduces the need to write explicit code to achieve outcomes.
Uli Homann predicts models will reach and exceed PhD-level capabilities by 2030.

INSIGHT

Developers Remain Essential

AI models need surrounding software to host, scale, secure, and operate tools.
Developers will write the systems and glue code that enable AI to take actions in the world.

INSIGHT

Agents Move From Co-Pilots To Actors

Agents evolve AI from reactive co-pilots to proactive business-process actors that prepare and execute work.
Human supervisors will approve, refine, and collaborate with multiple agents in workflows.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What does the future of responsible AI and quantum hold? Uli Homann, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, joins today to dive into some huge topics in the industry. With over 35 years at Microsoft, Uli shares invaluable insights into AI, big data, and the future of technology. Topics covered include Microsoft's AI strategy, the paradigm shift in AI, responsible AI, the potential of quantum computing, and the impact of AI on industry and society. Uli also emphasizes the importance of a responsible AI charter, organizational readiness, and the integration of AI into business processes to achieve tangible outcomes. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of AI's transformative power and practical advice on implementing AI effectively.

Takeaways:

Define Your AI Charter: Before going "big" with AI, establish a clear public charter outlining what your company will and will not do with AI.
Prioritize Business Needs Over Platform Building: Focus on building applications (apps) with AI that add immediate business value, rather than spending excessive time building an AI platform from scratch.
Establish Independent Escalation Paths for AI Concerns: Create organizational structures that allow employees to raise concerns about uncomfortable AI use scenarios without fear of reprisal from their direct management.
Address Data Readiness and Security: Prioritize getting your data in order, ensuring you have the right, sufficient, and accessible data, and implementing robust security models for AI capabilities.
Understand When to Use AI vs. Traditional Code: Use AI for tasks where the outcome is unclear and requires reasoning or plan-building (e.g., trip planning, marketing plans), but stick to traditional code for fixed, deterministic, and repetitive processes.
Anticipate the Rise of Physical AI and Humanoids in Manufacturing: Be aware of the increasing role of robotics and humanoids in factories, driven by AI, to address labor shortages and dangerous conditions.
Shift Human Roles from Operator to Supervisor in Industrial Settings: As AI becomes the "operator" for tasks like configuring refineries, humans will transition to supervisory roles, focusing on security, safety, and optimization.

Quote of the Show:

“ Without the people, AI won't be able to do anything for quite some time, if ever.” - Uli Homann

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrichhomann/
Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/

Make sure to check out our Substack: https://theagenticinsider.substack.com/

Ways to Tune In:

Transistor: https://agenticinsider.show/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fCCuVl6tL5p2kEAwFCQNJ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agentic-insider/id1807346381
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9fe0482d-d798-4420-a93a-fc6653bce437
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-agentic-insider-6057241
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iridiusAI