The Agentic Insider

Robert Scoble, a famed tech evangelist and futurist, shares his insights on the future of AI and its impact on society. He discusses his long journey through tech, including launching Siri and his vision of an AI-driven world. Key topics include the rise of brain-computer interfaces, the ethical dilemmas of AI, and how companies like Coca-Cola are adapting to new technologies. Scoble emphasizes the importance of being a builder in this changing landscape, urging listeners to embrace AI tools and develop critical skills for collaboration with tech.

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.

“You need human-in-the-loop activities cause AI is still not that good yet.” Joining the podcast today is Doug Shannon, a two-time Top 25 thought leader and member of Forbes Technology Council to discuss the future he envisions with AI, emphasizing responsible data sharing and the educational approach in AI innovation. He explores the concepts of establishing AI centers of enablement, integrating diverse teams, and the importance of human oversight in AI-driven environments. Doug shares his insights into balancing automation with human oversight, the significance of transparency and clarity in deploying AI, and the critical role of ontology and taxonomy in understanding and leveraging data. The discussion also covers the Magi system, a framework Doug proposes for ensuring compliance and trust in AI systems, and the ethical considerations enterprises must address when integrating AI solutions. The episode culminates in rapid-fire questions about AI collaboration and Doug's vision for his legacy in intelligent automation.Takeaways:Embrace Collaboration: Actively collaborate within your organization and with external partners to better understand and utilize AI. As AI technology evolves, collaborative efforts can accelerate learning and implementation.Foster a Culture of Knowledge Sharing: Encourage a culture where information and best practices are freely shared among team members. This can drive greater innovation and improvements in AI-related projects.Balance Human and AI Roles: Develop strategies to balance automation with human oversight, particularly in high-risk and highly regulated industries. Feeding AI with quality data and maintaining human context in the decision loop can ensure better outcomes.Focus on Ethical Considerations: Ensure AI deployments comply with regulatory standards and ethical guidelines. Intellectual property and data management are important areas to monitor closely for compliance and protection.Utilize AI Thought Leadership: Engage with thought leaders and industry experts to gain insights and stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in AI and automation.Plan for Autonomous Systems: Begin developing strategies for integrating multi-agent systems and autonomous enterprise models. Prioritize initiatives that create centers of enablement within the organization for greater effectiveness.Quote of the Show:“The hope is that we learn and we dive in to use AI because if you don't use it, you don't really have a voice. And if you haven't used it, you don't really know what you're up against.” - Doug ShannonLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-shannon/ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/brewing-insights-7124563088439197696/ Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLivd8WaRu-XnT0kiQTmTAXQ2e5gloVLvp&feature=shared 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 

Spencer Bentley, an AI Technical Fellow at Iridius and OpenAI's Head of Developer Forum, joins Peter Larsen, Chief Technology Officer at Iridius. They explore the crucial difference between AI solution factories and agent factories. Key topics include reducing coding requirements, enhancing operational efficiencies, and ensuring compliance in AI deployment. They stress the importance of risk management and organizational culture in adopting AI technologies effectively, while advocating for specialized AI agents tailored for specific tasks to maximize enterprise performance.

Why do so many companies struggle with moving beyond AI pilot programs into production? Cat Valverde, Founder of Enterprise AI Solutions, joins The Agentic Insider to provide real, actionable advice on how to ethically and equitably implement AI in your business. Cat shares her unique background and motivation for focusing on ethical AI, driven by her father's telemarketing practices. The discussion covers the complexities of AI implementation in enterprises, the importance of strategy to scale, and the challenges of gaining trust in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. She emphasizes the need for ethical and equitable AI use, suggesting that enterprises should consider upskilling employees and focusing on long-term goals rather than short-term metrics. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions and insights into Cat's personal interests and upcoming projects. Takeaways:Prepare for AI Integration by Building Trust: Building trust is a key factor for adopting AI. Ensure transparent communication and demonstrate reliability to gain buy-in from all stakeholders.Upskill Existing Employees: Rather than resorting to layoffs, invest in upskilling your current workforce to handle new AI technologies. This approach can provide long-term benefits and stability.Evaluate AI Use Cases Carefully: Don't jump on AI trends just because others are doing it. Critically assess whether a particular AI solution addresses a real problem in your business.Measure Time to Value: Focus on leading indicators rather than lagging ones. Track how quickly a new AI implementation can deliver tangible value to your business.Pilot Programs and Feedback: When running AI pilots, frequently review and assess their progress. Abandon unsuccessful pilots early to minimize wasted resources.Collaboration and Discernment in AI: Encourage collaboration between human intelligence and AI. Ensure that staff members are trained to critically evaluate AI outputs rather than taking them at face value.Adopt a Long-Term Perspective: For AI implementation, set and review long-term goals rather than focusing exclusively on quarterly targets.Quote of the Show:“Scaling is important, profits are important, that's what business is. But finding a way that it can also be ethically and equitably implemented is the name of the game for everything that we do.” - Cat ValverdeLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catvalverde/ Website: https://www.eais.io/ RVSP for our next webinar: enterpriseai.events  Subscribe to the daily briefing: enterpriseaisolutions.io 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 

Join Mark Brady, the Deputy Chief Data Officer at KBR Inc. and former Chief Data Officer of the US Space Force, as he unpacks the dual singularities of AI that could reshape humanity. He explores the critical need for safety objective functions in AI systems and the risks posed by autonomous AIs creating other AIs. The conversation shifts to the future of AI and human coexistence while diving into its applications in defense. Brady also shares insights from his own journey and career tips for aspiring data scientists.

“Data is the lifeblood of AI agents.” Is your data ready for the future of AI? Phillip and Alistair welcome William McKnight, President of McKnight Consulting Group and a leading global influencer in big data, data centers, cloud, and analytics, on the podcast today. William shares his insights on preparing enterprises for AI adoption, the importance of data accessibility, and the critical role of thoughtful data architecture. He also discusses the evolving role of data scientists, the AI-driven transformation in various industries, and the significance of strong leadership in managing AI implementations. The episode concludes with practical advice on maximizing ROI from AI investments and preparing for the future landscape of AI agents.Takeaways:Develop a Strong Data Strategy: Ensure all your data is accessible, well-performing, and governed. Consider adopting a data mesh approach to balance centralization and decentralization.Commit to AI Agents: Begin experimenting with AI agents now rather than waiting. Pick initial use cases that are simple yet impactful and scalable for future projects.Emphasize Organizational Change Management: Successful AI implementation often requires significant organizational change and strong leadership. Be prepared to tackle change management as a critical component of AI projects.Focus on Data Maturity: Assess your organization's data maturity by evaluating data performance, understanding, and governance. Implement an information management action plan to improve analytical capabilities and enterprise data architecture.Embrace New Roles: Consider emerging roles like prompt engineer, AI ethics manager, AI explainer, and advanced data architects to support AI initiatives. Encourage upskilling and reskilling of current team members to fill these roles.Explore Diverse Use Cases: Investigate and apply AI in diverse areas such as drug discovery, predictive maintenance, fraud detection, personalized marketing, and healthcare.Prepare for Integration Challenges: Anticipate and address data integration challenges, especially in environments with multiple legacy systems.Quote of the Show:“Data is the lifeblood of AI agents.” - William McKnightLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmcknight/ Website: https://mcknightcg.com/ Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-McKnight/author/B002QLXASK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 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 

Will AI lead to a manufacturing resurgence in North America? According to Vlad Romanov, Founder and Manufacturing Executive of Solis PLC, that is the hope he has. He discusses the loss of manufacturing advantages in recent years and the potential role of technology, including AI and robotics, in enhancing competitiveness. The conversation covers topics such as the impact of AI on operational technologies, workforce dynamics, supply chain communications, and Industry 4.0 initiatives. Vlad also shares his thoughts on the importance of training, change management, and the need for real-world AI application case studies. The episode concludes with Vlad giving career advice for aspiring professionals in the manufacturing sector and sharing a glimpse into his interests.Takeaways:Explore AI Tools: Start experimenting with AI tools to improve different aspects of your business, such as sales, operations, marketing, and manufacturing efficiency. Consider running small, fast sprints and MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) to test out different solutions.Focus on Sales and Marketing: Improve your sales and marketing strategies to get more orders through the door. Utilize AI to better understand customer needs, enhance marketing efforts, and streamline sales processes.Invest in Education: Invest time in learning and understanding both the technical and business sides of manufacturing. Consider upskilling in AI, programming, and data analysis through available online resources and AI models.Leverage Data: Ensure you are collecting and utilizing data effectively. This includes data from various sources, such as machine operations, sales, customer feedback, and more. Apply AI to analyze this data for better decision-making.Address Obsolete Systems: Assess your current equipment and systems, especially if they are obsolete. Look for ways to modernize and integrate new technologies that can improve efficiency and data collection.Share and Learn: Encourage the sharing of case studies and successful implementations of AI in manufacturing. Learning from the experiences of others can help improve your own AI deployment strategies.Quote of the Show:“ I think AI is gonna drastically change every single area, and if we're not up to speed on it, we're simply not gonna be able to win on that front.” - Vlad RomanovLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladromanov/ Website: https://www.solisplc.com/ Podcast: https://www.manufacturinghub.live/ 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 

How can we build future-proof AI? It’s nearly impossible, but that’s something Phillip and Alistair touch on in this episode with Dr. Vinesh Sukumar, VP Head of Gen AI/ML Product Management at Qualcomm. Vinesh discusses the challenges and innovations in the Edge AI space, the significance of personalization, and the transition from static AI models to autonomous agents. He shares insights into the elements necessary for creating a best-in-class Edge AI processor and reflects on his extensive career. The episode also covers the importance of security and governance in AI systems, successful and challenging AI projects, and future trends in AI technology.Takeaways:Embrace Continuous Learning: The field of AI is evolving rapidly. Continuously update your knowledge by reading research papers, books, and watching educational talks.Understand the Importance of Personalization in AI: Focus on creating AI systems that offer personalized user experiences. AI should be able to adapt to individual needs and preferences while ensuring privacy and security.Leverage Edge Computing: Explore the benefits of edge computing for AI applications, especially in scenarios where latency, bandwidth, and power constraints are critical.Participate in Consortia and Standards: Engage with industry consortia like NIST to stay informed about best practices in AI safety, governance, and standards.Focus on Interoperability: Ensure that your AI systems can work seamlessly with other external tools, APIs, and multi-agent systems. Interoperability is crucial for robust AI deployment.Innovate Responsibly: Prioritize responsible AI development by continuously monitoring deployed systems and updating them as necessary to ensure ongoing safety and performance.Quote of the Show:“It’s a learning experience everyday.” - Vinesh SukumarLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineshsukumar/ Website: https://www.qualcomm.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 

In celebration of Iridius winning their first award, Phillip and Alistair welcome the CEO, Mike Kropp, onto the podcast. The discussion reveals Iridius's recent achievement of winning their first award at the ISG AI Impact Summit in Boston, covering the experience and significance of this recognition. Mike shares insights from the event, including pivotal discussions on AI implementation, the role of human oversight, and the hurdles companies face in production deployment due to security concerns. Additionally, Mike delves into a local event in Kirkland that focused on AI's regional impact, touching on issues like job growth and housing affordability in the Pacific Northwest. The episode wraps up with Mike's personal interests and career advice rooted in passion and discovery.Takeaways:Strategic Insight from Industry Leaders: Learn from strategic insights provided by industry leaders like ISG and consulting firms like IBM, which are setting benchmarks in AI implementation. Track the progress of other companies and their AI strategies to inform your own approach.Human-Centric AI Implementation: Recognize the importance of keeping humans in the loop during AI implementation to maintain control and oversight.Cultural and Behavioral Aspects of AI: Explore how to align AI agents with company culture and values to ensure seamless integration and positive interaction with human employees. Consider the potential for AI to influence and shape corporate culture, and plan accordingly.Real-World AI Applications: Follow up on developments in how AI is impacting specific sectors, such as real estate and job growth, particularly in tech hubs like the Pacific Northwest.Community and Regional Impact: Participate in local forums and discussions to understand how AI will affect your region and industry. Be aware of the socioeconomic impacts, such as housing affordability and job market changes, that technological advancements may bring.Quote of the Show:“ It's super exciting to see how customers reacted to what we're building. They clearly saw that implementing safe, responsible AI in their organizations and being able to do it fast with confidence is clearly something they're super interested in. ” - Mike KroppLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-k-kropp/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-swan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistaln/ Website: https://iridius.ai/ 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