Tech Talks Daily

In this engaging discussion, Jason Ambrose, CEO of People.ai, sheds light on transforming sales activity into actionable insights. He highlights how the phase of AI pilots is fading, and leaders now demand measurable results. Jason illustrates the chaos of activity data overwhelming sales teams and argues for simplifying workflows through AI. He also discusses how tools like ChatGPT are redefining enterprise software, advocating for focus on human judgment in sales rather than complete automation. A thought-provoking listen on the future of sales!

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Keith Zubchevich, CEO of Conviva, to unpack one of the most honest analogies I have heard about today's AI rollout. Keith compares modern AI agents to toddlers being sent out to get a job, full of promise, curious, and energetic, yet still lacking the judgment and context required to operate safely in the real world. It is a simple metaphor, but it captures a tension many leaders are feeling as generative AI matures in theory while so many deployments stumble in practice. As ChatGPT approaches its third birthday, the narrative suggests that GenAI has grown up. Yet Keith argues that this sense of maturity is misleading, especially inside enterprises chasing measurable returns. He explains why so many pilots stall or quietly disappoint, not because the models lack intelligence, but because organizations often release agents without clear outcomes, real-time oversight, or an understanding of how customers actually experience those interactions. The result is AI that appears to function well internally while quietly frustrating users or failing to complete the job it was meant to do. We also dig into the now infamous Chevrolet chatbot incident that sold a $76,000 vehicle for one dollar, using it as a lens to examine what happens when agents are left without boundaries or supervision. Keith makes a strong case that the next chapter of enterprise AI will not be defined by ever-larger models, but by visibility. He shares why observing behavior, patterns, sentiment, and efficiency in real time matters more than chasing raw accuracy, especially once AI moves from internal workflows into customer-facing roles. This conversation will resonate with anyone under pressure to scale AI quickly while worrying about brand risk, accountability, and trust. Keith offers a grounded view of what effective AI "parenting" looks like inside modern organizations, and why measuring the customer experience remains the most reliable signal of whether an AI system is actually growing up or simply creating new problems at speed. As leaders rush to put agents into production, are we truly ready to guide them, or are we sending toddlers into the workforce and hoping for the best? Useful Links Connect with Keith Zubchevich Learn more about Conviva Chevrolet Dealer Chatbot Agrees to Sell Tahoe for $1 Thanks to our sponsors, Alcor, for supporting the show.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Imran Nino Eškić and Boštjan Kirm from HyperBUNKER to unpack a problem many organisations only discover in their darkest hour. Backups are supposed to be the safety net, yet in real ransomware incidents, they are often the first thing attackers dismantle. Speaking with two people who cut their teeth in data recovery labs across 50,000 real cases gave me a very different perspective on what resilience actually looks like. They explain why so many so-called "air-gapped" or "immutable" backups still depend on identities, APIs, and network pathways that can be abused. We talk through how modern attackers patiently map environments for weeks before neutralising recovery systems, and why that shift makes true physical isolation more relevant than ever. What struck me most was how calmly they described failure scenarios that would keep most leaders awake at night. The heart of the conversation centres on HyperBUNKER's offline vault and its spaceship-style double airlock design. Data enters through a one-way hardware channel, the network door closes, and only then is information moved into a completely cold vault with no address, no credentials, and no remote access. I also reflect on seeing the black box in person at the IT Press Tour in Athens and why it feels less like a gadget and more like a last-resort lifeline. We finish by talking about how businesses should decide what truly belongs in that protected 10 percent of data, and why this is as much a leadership decision as an IT one. If everything vanished tomorrow, what would your company need to breathe again, and would it actually survive? Useful LInks Connect with Imran Nino Eškić Connect With Boštjan Kirm Learn More about HyperBUNKER Lear more about the IT Press Tour Thanks to our sponsors, Alcor, for supporting the show.

Wade Myers, a tech entrepreneur and founder of MythWorx, discusses a paradigm shift in AI from size to reasoning. He critiques the current scaling practices of large language models, highlighting the challenges of power, cost, and latency. Wade emphasizes how GPUs create a 'tax' on tech progress and introduces MythWorx's innovative reasoning models that learn efficiently and provide clearer audit trails. He also raises concerns about data sovereignty for enterprises, advocating for low-footprint, private AI solutions to meet growing demands.

In this engaging discussion, Raghu Nandakumara, VP of Industry Strategy at Illumio, sheds light on the urgent need for organizations to rethink their approach to cybersecurity. He argues against the outdated mindset of prevention-only strategies, emphasizing that risk reduction is the true measure of success. Raghu also tackles the real gaps attackers exploit, such as misconfigurations and outdated processes, while highlighting the importance of incident preparedness. He advocates for a shift towards proactive containment and the necessity of embedding zero trust principles deeply into organizational culture.

Max Vetter, VP of Cyber at Immersive, combines years of law enforcement and intelligence experience to tackle the chaos of cyber incidents. He reveals how incident response plans often crumble under real pressure, emphasizing the importance of leadership and communication. Max discusses the critical trade-offs organizations face during crises, such as ransom decisions and operational continuity. He advocates for resilience through practice, highlighting that true strength is revealed in action, not merely documented. The podcast offers valuable insights into the realities of crisis management.

In this engaging conversation with Michael Shieh, the Founder and CEO of Mammoth Cyber, explore the evolution of AI browsers transforming passive web use into intelligent coworker interactions. Michael highlights the growing consumer adoption of AI tools at home, juxtaposed with enterprise reluctance due to security concerns. He explains pressing threats like prompt injection from malicious websites and details Mammoth's innovative secure-first architecture that safeguards sensitive data. This shift could redefine workflows, with predictions for a tipping point in 2026.

Chris Cooney, Director of Advocacy at Coralogix, explores the intersection of observability and business success. He argues that technical metrics should inform business strategies, revealing how a single log can uncover costly issues impacting revenue. Cooney introduces the Observability Maturity Model, guiding teams from basic data collection to business decision-making. He also presents Oli, an AI agent that helps democratize observability, making technical insights accessible to non-engineers. This shift in perspective is crucial for aligning engineering priorities with business outcomes.

Melissa Smith Machado, Chief Strategy Officer for EMEA at CI&T, teams up with Alex Cross, Chief Technology Officer for EMEA, to explore the chasm between AI ambition and tangible results. They discuss how CI&T transforms AI from mere prototypes to measurable business outcomes, highlighting a case with ITAU, where modernization led to significant productivity and satisfaction improvements. Alex introduces the Flow platform, which streamlines AI integration and accelerates processes, addressing concerns over ROI and showcasing a promising future for AI-driven solutions.

Join Venk Korla, CEO of HGS, as he unpacks the transformative power of AI in business. With a wealth of experience in integrating AI and human empathy, Venk reveals how to create 'intelligent experiences' that connect customer interactions to operational outcomes. He shares fascinating examples, like airlines proactively rebooking passengers and guiding patients through surgeries. Venk emphasizes the importance of embedding AI into workflows for tangible results, while cautioning against common pitfalls in cloud strategy and AI implementation.