The AI in Business Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

Padma Hari, Chief Digital Officer at Nestlé Purina, has over 20 years of experience in digital strategy. In this discussion, she shares insights on how COVID transformed consumer goods demand and the essential shift toward synchronized planning. Padma emphasizes redesigning processes before technology implementation and the need to harmonize goals across functions to reduce operational friction. She advocates for the use of agentic AI as a force multiplier, enabling better decision support by synthesizing diverse data sources. Practical takeaways for leaders are also highlighted.

Kevin Ahlstrom, Associate General Counsel in Patents at Meta, shares his insights on leveraging AI for patent strategy. He discusses how AI can streamline mundane review tasks and optimize legal workflows, significantly reducing time spent on portfolio analysis. Ahlstrom highlights innovative tools that prioritize patents in minutes rather than days. He emphasizes the importance of AI responsibility and encourages lawyers to adapt their skill sets towards strategic roles as AI transforms legal support.

Naveen Kumar, Director of Financial Crimes at Walmart, discusses the transformative power of AI in retail. He reveals how video and sensor analytics are pivotal for real-time fraud detection and operational safety. By integrating diverse data sources, businesses can enhance compliance and boost employee protection. Kumar also highlights the innovative use of visual data in connecting point-of-sale activities with surveillance to prevent loss. His insights on cross-functional collaboration emphasize breaking down silos to foster more effective risk management.