The AI in Business Podcast

Ranjan Sinha, an IBM Fellow and CTO for watsonx, discusses the pivotal role of scalable AI infrastructure in transforming enterprises. He highlights the evolution from isolated AI experiments to mission-critical applications, emphasizing a robust data strategy as foundational. Ranjan elaborates on innovative advancements like IBM's NorthPole neuromorphic chip and the roadmap for quantum computing by 2029. He also addresses the risks associated with generative AI, the significance of open-source frameworks, and the need for reliable governance in enterprise AI adoption.

Scott Bradley, Vice President of AI and Innovation at Novartis, discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing clinical trials. He highlights the challenges of outdated protocols and how COVID pushed for innovation. Scott explains the evolving role of clinical staff with AI focusing on oversight. He emphasizes AI's ability to streamline protocol design and enhance patient engagement while maintaining trust through user testing. With a focus on personalized medicine, he reveals how predictive models can optimize trial processes, ultimately reshaping the future of pharmaceutical development.

Xiong Liu, Director of Data Science and AI at Novartis, discusses how generative AI is revolutionizing life sciences R&D. He highlights the shift from traditional machine learning to foundation models, which can significantly enhance small-data tasks. Xiong explains the importance of domain-specific strategies and the role of data quality in accelerating research. He emphasizes organizational alignment among scientists and AI teams to ensure successful AI adoption, providing insights on overcoming challenges like data scarcity and validation risks.

Mathias Cousin, Managing Director at Deloitte, shares his insights on leveraging AI in life sciences. He addresses common misconceptions around AI adoption, highlighting the importance of data quality and AI-native talent. Mathias introduces the concept of 'string of pearls' use cases, which link multiple AI applications for maximum value. He discusses the potential of productive hallucinations in creative discovery and outlines cultural barriers to AI integration. Listeners gain actionable strategies for R&D leaders to enhance efficiency and drive impactful change.

Sandro Venturini, Executive Director at UBS, dives into the intersection of AI and fund compliance. He highlights how AI can streamline data fragmentation, enhance stakeholder alignment, and preemptively identify regulatory issues. Venturini discusses the importance of a single source of truth in decision-making and the necessary data inputs for AI-driven fund structuring. He also emphasizes the role of human oversight in drafting legal documents, advocating for higher-value tasks over manual processes in the evolving financial landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Christo Siebrits, Senior Associate and General Counsel at AbbVie, dives into the complexities of integrating AI in the pharmaceutical sector. With over 20 years of legal expertise, he highlights the importance of balancing internal and external data use while adopting generative AI. Christo shares strategies for effective matter-centric workflows and the necessity of human involvement to minimize risks associated with AI outputs. He also discusses the challenges of measuring AI's ROI and offers insights on knowing when to pivot in AI investments.

Rob DeSantis, CEO and co-founder of Arkestro with a rich background in procurement technology, shares insights on AI's transformative power in procurement. He discusses the disconnect between finance and procurement goals, emphasizing the need for collaboration to adopt AI effectively. Rob reveals how AI simplifies complex data, yielding 20-30% savings, and fosters transparency, improving supplier relationships. He also highlights the importance of C-level leadership in overcoming risk-averse cultures to scale AI adoption successfully.

Benjamin Ninio, Principal in Strategy at Deloitte, shares his expertise in AI-driven scientific discovery. He discusses how language serves as a unifying framework across various R&D sectors like pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Ninio highlights the innovative role of large language models in reducing the need for heavy computation, facilitating the discovery of new insights. He also addresses the challenges of AI predictions, emphasizing the importance of validation and data quality while projecting an exciting future for AI in research.

Steve Taczala, VP of Service Operations at Impact Networking, shares insights on reducing ticket noise in managed service provider (MSP) operations. With a wealth of experience in IT workflows, he discusses the detrimental effects of non-actionable alerts and quantifies ticket noise impact. Taczala emphasizes the importance of staging platform migrations and aligning capabilities before implementing AI. He also highlights essential metrics to prove AI's value and reassures that AI can enhance, rather than replace, jobs in the tech sector.

Sunitha Rao, SVP and General Manager for Hybrid Cloud Business at Hitachi Vantara, shares her expertise in modernizing data infrastructure for AI. She discusses the challenges of explosive data growth and emphasizes the importance of data quality over sheer volume. Sunitha explains how to prevent model degradation through effective monitoring and service-level objectives, while also advocating for energy-efficient data management. She provides actionable insights for aligning IT investments with sustainability goals, helping enterprises scale their AI initiatives responsibly.