The Brave Technologist

Katie Winterbottom, Director of AI (Digital and Merch) at Nordstrom, discusses a new pilot program that uses AI-powered trend reports and agentic architecture to craft unique fashion journeys. She also emphasizes the need for tech education within companies, and updating antiquated processes to leverage the benefits of emerging tech. Key Takeaways: How AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry by capturing precise fashion trends and assisting in areas such as product surfacing, merchandising, and customer personalization. Operational challenges of integrating AI, and the importance of infrastructure scalability. The development of AI-powered trend reports and agentic architecture to enhance customer experiences. Limitations of recommendation models, and the importance of modern architectures like sequential transformers. Guest Bio: Katie Winterbottom leads AI innovation at Nordstrom, where she directs a team of 32 data scientists and engineers building next-generation personalization and recommendation systems. She's particularly passionate about responsible AI deployment, and has pioneered frameworks for measuring and monitoring AI's business impact while ensuring ethical implementation. Prior to her current role, Katie scaled multiple data science organizations and built enterprise-wide platforms that transformed Nordstrom's digital capabilities. Her teams' innovations have generated hundreds of millions in revenue through enhanced personalization, fraud prevention, and automated merchandising solutions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

Jo Davaris, Global Chief Privacy Officer at Booking Holdings, discusses how to build trust in AI, emphasizing privacy and ethical governance as the pillars of AI innovation. We explore the importance of feedback mechanisms and transparency in AI systems, along with how to maintain user control without compromising innovation. Key Takeaways:  Building trust in AI systems and the role of privacy in AI governance The need for public and private collaboration on AI regulations Concerns with AI’s rapid advancement The importance of integrating privacy and ethical considerations into AI development from the start Guest Bio:  Jo Davaris is the Global Chief Privacy Officer at Booking Holdings, where she established a unified privacy framework across brands like Booking.com and OpenTable. She leads AI Governance, Digital Trust, and Cybersecurity efforts, integrating privacy and innovation globally. Previously, Jo was Mercer’s first Global Chief Privacy Officer, developing a privacy program that protected data while enabling growth. At American Express, she strengthened privacy governance for institutional & network businesses. Earlier, as an attorney for New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services, she prosecuted child abuse cases. Jo serves on advisory boards, speaks at conferences on privacy and governance, and advocates for social services in NYC. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

Sophia Rowland, a Senior Product Manager at SAS with a robust background in data science, shares insights on integrating AI and analytics in operational settings. She tackles the challenges of dependency management caused by siloed IT and data science teams, and the psychological impact of algorithms on user motivation. Sophia also discusses the importance of aligning technical and business perspectives for effective MLOps, while emphasizing the significance of data ethics and responsible AI practices.

Senthil Padmanabhan, VP of Platform and Infrastructure at eBay, discusses how eBay’s use of fine-tuning is improving their operational workflows. He explains why fine-tuning existing models can often be more cost-effective than training from scratch, and how methods like low-ranking adaptation (LoRa) are pivotal in improving AI performance. Key Takeaways:  The impact of strategic fine tuning on achieving peak performance AI's broader impact on eBay's infrastructure, fraud detection, and customer-facing experiences The challenges of tech debt and software upgrades Case studies from eBay that illustrate productivity gains via fine-tuning Considerations for choosing between open and proprietary AI models The importance of data quality over quantity in fine-tuning processes Predictions for the future of AI development and fine-tuning techniques Guest Bio: Senthil Padmanabhan is a Vice President and Technical Fellow at eBay, where he runs Platform and Infra (private cloud) Engineering for the global eCommerce marketplace, providing infrastructure for 4000+ engineers to deliver products at scale. Before this role, he was in the Product engineering space, building consumer-facing applications at eBay and Yahoo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

Jacqueline Karlin, Sr. Director of AI Product & Personalization at PayPal, discusses how AI is revolutionizing the financial technology landscape, particularly in payment transactions and operational efficiency. She highlights the importance of mindful product management and the balance between innovation and responsible AI usage. Key Takeaways:  PayPal's three main AI investment areas How PayPal is using AI to drive product innovation and improve customer experience How to be a responsible technologist, contributing positively to the community Ethical practices to find product-market fit while avoiding biases The need for transparency, trust, and responsible AI How we can develop AI literacy among consumers Guest Bio: Jacqueline Karlin is the Sr. Director of AI Product & Personalization at PayPal. With a rich background at industry giants like Amazon, Meta, and Santander, Jacqueline has launched AI-powered products used by millions of consumers around the world today. As a thought leader in the AI space, she is dedicated to advancing industry standards and exploring the transformative potential of AI in financial technology. Her approach combines a pursuit of driving value to customers with a passion for responsible AI, with the ultimate goal of building products that matter. Join us as we explore her insights on the transformative power of AI in financial technology! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

Vivek Kumar, Director of CX Innovations and Strategy at Oracle, shares his extensive expertise in CRM and generative AI. He discusses how generative AI is reshaping enterprise solutions, driving automation, and enhancing customer experiences. Vivek delves into the evolution of agentic workflows, revealing their role in optimizing decision-making. He addresses AI adoption challenges, emphasizing the importance of user experience and continuous learning. With insights on overcoming resistance and collaborating effectively, he inspires organizations to embrace AI’s transformative potential.

Ryan Paterson, CEO of Unplugged Technologies, shares his mission to empower users with a privacy-focused mobile device. He discusses the alarming surveillance landscape and why privacy is essential today. Paterson reveals challenges in building a secure device and emphasizes the importance of engaging with early adopters for feedback. The conversation also highlights a new collaboration between Unplugged and Brave, showcasing their commitment to user privacy amidst growing industry demands. A must-listen for anyone concerned about data security!

Kyle Den Hartog, Security Engineer at Brave Software, discusses emerging use cases for crypto, and their respective privacy implications. He emphasizes the urgency for innovative solutions to safeguard personal information in our digital financial systems given current privacy gaps on blockchains.  Key Takeaways:  The delicate balance between transparency and privacy in the blockchain era The importance of community engagement in driving technological advancements and shaping the future of decentralized commerce The role of the browser in powering the evolving standards of Web3 Guest Bio:  Kyle Den Hartog, Security Engineer at Brave Software, is helping to promote a world where the Web can be more private and secure for everyone. This vision led him to be an eager contributor to the design and development of standards in W3C and IETF. With a background in security and cryptography, he has worked in domain verticals such as digital identity, Web3, and now work on browsers here at Brave. His long term focus remains on improving our symbiotic relationship with technology, and he’s active in communities related to these topics. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Cahill Camden, Founder of Echo Jockey, discusses how the landscape of media is shifting towards podcasts and away from traditional media. He also shares success stories from users of Echo Jockey, highlighting how automation can enhance outreach and content creation. Key Takeaways:  Why podcasts are the number one medium to reach and create trust with your ideal client.  Tough decisions creators will be forced to make when balancing privacy with the growing need for AI driven data insights The future of content creation and the creator economy in the age of AI The need for human connection in an increasingly automated world Guest Bio: Cahill Camden is the founder of Echo Jockey and Press Jockey, two advanced AI-powered platforms that help businesses quickly build brand awareness, secure media coverage, and unlock more guest podcasting opportunities. Having guided Coinberry and Blockchain Foundry from early-stage investments to 8-figure exits, and working with multiple Web3 and technology companies over the past 8-years, Cahill now works selectively with fast-growing startups, helping them scale and increase their valuations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

Jan Piotrowski, VP at Brave Software, shares his journey from venture capital to leading Brave Search, the largest independent search engine outside Google. He emphasizes the significance of independent search engines and reveals how Brave's unique approach has scaled to over 30 million daily queries. Jan discusses the pivotal acquisition enabling their own search index and the unexpected use cases of their API, especially in AI. He highlights the necessity of diverse data sources for effective AI training, making a strong case for innovation in search technology.