The AI in Business Podcast

Robert Kubin, Head of Sales for Central Europe at Amundi, shares his 20+ years of expertise in asset management. He discusses how AI can enhance decision-making and automate manual processes in the sector. Kubin highlights the importance of overcoming legacy systems and the necessity of C-suite buy-in for effective AI integration. He offers practical advice on starting with process automation and emphasizes the need for clear metrics to measure ROI. His insights are essential for those looking to leverage AI in asset and wealth management.

In this discussion, Aaron Levie, the CEO of Box, delves into how AI is revolutionizing enterprise data architecture. He highlights the importance of managing unstructured data, like contracts, and how AI can enhance workflows through retrieval-augmented generation. Levie also explains Box's approach to minimizing misinformation with domain hubs and the significance of modular architecture for accelerating AI innovations. He emphasizes the pressing need for businesses to integrate AI deeply into their core products rather than as an afterthought, all while considering the ethical implications of this rapid evolution.

Michael Finley, Chief Technology Officer at AnswerRocket, shares insights on harnessing AI agents for real-time business decisions. He emphasizes the importance of training agents to align with business goals and providing them with reliable data to prevent hallucinations. Finley discusses the need for enterprise-grade software packaging and warns against over-restriction, which can limit capabilities. He advocates for governance in data management and highlights the value of leveraging multiple data sources to drive insights without extensive harmonization efforts.

Nick Masca, Head of Data Science for Growth & Personalisation at Marks & Spencer, discusses the transformative power of data in retail. He emphasizes the importance of change management over traditional digital transformation, highlighting challenges in customer experience and automation. Nick explores data's role in improving loyalty programs and supply chain efficiency, suggesting that stakeholders must adapt to new automation-driven roles. He also points out the need for careful buy-in from teams to ensure successful adoption and the potential of generative AI in automating content tasks.

Kriti Sharma, CEO of IFS Nexus Black, leads efforts to integrate AI in industrial settings, focusing on rapid, practical solutions. She reveals how embedding AI teams with frontline workers enables quick problem-solving. Kriti discusses uncovering hidden data within aging assets and emphasizes reducing unplanned downtime through predictive maintenance. She shares insights on upskilling technicians with AI and advises targeting impactful use cases for real business results. These approaches promise meaningful ROI by transforming operational challenges into actionable solutions.

Today's guest is Andrew Deutsch, CEO of the Fangled Group and Director of Operations at RR Donnelley. Fangled Group is a global marketing and sales consultancy specializing in data-driven strategies that accelerate market entry for small to medium-sized manufacturers. Andrew joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss leveraging data and AI to enhance operational efficiency and drive growth in complex industries. Andrew also shares practical insights on integrating technology with workforce solutions to improve workflows and generate measurable ROI. This episode is sponsored by OneTrust. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Roanie Levy, a Licensing and Legal Advisor at Copyright Clearance Center, shares insights on the evolving landscape of copyright in the age of generative AI. She discusses the risks posed by Shadow AI, contrasting today’s challenges with those from the Napster era. Roanie highlights the complexities of fair use, explaining the risks of relying on it for AI training. She advocates for proactive copyright strategies, including robust licensing policies and cross-team education, to navigate compliance and protect intellectual property effectively.

Trish Vassar, Vice President of Global Learning & Development at Coca-Cola, shares her extensive expertise in talent management and leadership development. She discusses the pitfalls of traditional role-based planning in the workplace, advocating for a shift to skills-based strategies driven by AI. Trish highlights practical approaches to defining skills through business outcomes and the importance of a shared skills language. She also addresses the balance between AI automation and human judgment, offering insights on utilizing AI to enhance workforce agility.

Julian Tang, Chief Operations Officer for the Innovation Office at BlackRock, shares his vast expertise in financial technology and AI infrastructure. He discusses how enterprises struggle to scale AI due to unclear goals and siloed operations. Julian emphasizes the importance of smooth workflows and strong governance, advocating for early involvement of legal and security teams. He also suggests practical steps for legacy firms, the viability of hybrid cloud solutions, and lessons learned from past tech trends. Crucially, he highlights the need for transparent data practices to foster trust.

Raúl Monroig, People Organization Vice President at Bristol-Myers Squibb, dives into the complex challenges of integrating AI in HR. He emphasizes the importance of quality HR data for meaningful insights and advocates for focusing on a few critical skills like curiosity and agility over broad training. Raúl discusses the ideal AI systems for skill identification and how AI coaching can enhance performance and engagement. He stresses the need for customer-centric HR tools and the value of hiring great users of AI instead of just builders.