In this episode, Dr. Zoldi offers insight into the transformative potential of blockchain for ensuring transparency in AI development, the critical need for explainability over mere predictive power, and how FICO maintains trust in its AI systems through rigorous model development standards. We also delve into the essential integration of data science and software engineering teams, emphasizing that collaboration from the outset is key to operationalizing AI effectively. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Scott integrates his role as an inventor with his duties as FICO CAO.
• Why he believes that mindshare is an essential leadership quality.
• What sparked his interest in responsible AI as a physicist.
• The shifting demographics of those who develop machine learning models.
• Insight into the use of blockchain to advance responsible AI.
• How FICO uses blockchain to ensure auditable ML decision-making.
• Operationalizing AI and the typical mistakes companies make in the process.
• The value of integrating data science and software engineering teams from the start.
• A fear-free perspective on what Scott finds so uniquely exciting about AI.

Quotes:

“I have to stay ahead of where the industry is moving and plot out the directions for FICO in terms of where AI and machine learning is going – [Being an inventor is critical for] being effective as a chief analytics officer.” — @ScottZoldi [0:01:53]

“[AI and machine learning] is software like any other type of software. It's just software that learns by itself and, therefore, we need [stricter] levels of control.” — @ScottZoldi [0:23:59]

“Data scientists and AI scientists need to have partners in software engineering. That's probably the number one reason why [companies fail during the operationalization process].” — @ScottZoldi [0:29:02]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

FICO

Dr. Scott Zoldi

Dr. Scott Zoldi on LinkedIn

Dr. Scott Zoldi on X

FICO Falcon Fraud Manager

How AI Happens

Sama