Tech Talks Daily

In today’s episode, I sit down with Ryan Kuhlenbeck, CEO and co-founder of Pico MES, to explore a persistent and costly challenge in manufacturing. While many OEMs have embraced cutting-edge technology, their suppliers often remain disconnected from the digital conversation. This gap isn’t just inconvenient, it creates delays, quality issues, and serious communication problems on the factory floor. Ryan brings two decades of experience across GM, Tesla, and a range of hands-on manufacturing roles, and shares how that journey inspired the launch of Pico MES. During our conversation, Ryan walks through how Pico MES was born out of necessity rather than opportunity. After years of building and managing software systems within factories, he became frustrated by the lack of flexible, scalable tools for smaller suppliers. His vision? A modern MES system that can be deployed in weeks, not years, and one that supports rather than hinders the work being done at the operator level. We unpack how disconnected systems across the supply chain often lead to errors and miscommunication. Ryan explains why shortages are often just the symptom, not the real issue. The real problem is the inability to access or share the right information in time. With a fully connected infrastructure, businesses can address problems long before they snowball into production halts. Ryan also shares examples from the factory floor, like how a hip-activated switch became a surprise productivity win and how smaller suppliers often drive some of the smartest innovations. For OEMs, there are valuable lessons to learn by observing these smaller, more agile teams. Whether you're part of a multinational manufacturing company or a small factory operation, this episode provides a grounded, real-world look at what it takes to modernize without breaking what already works. How can we build a smarter, more connected supply chain? Let’s find out.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Samit D'Cunha, a legal advisor at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), about the innovative Digital Emblem Project. For over 160 years, the Red Cross emblem has symbolized protection in conflict zones, designating medical and humanitarian organizations as safe from attack. Now, as warfare increasingly extends into cyberspace, the ICRC is developing a digital version of this emblem to provide the same legal protections for online infrastructure. We examine the increasing frequency of cyberattacks on hospitals and aid organizations during armed conflict, and why the Digital Emblem is more crucial now than ever. Samit explains the technical side of the project, including the use of cryptographic certificates and DNS systems to ensure global, decentralized protection. He also discusses the importance of legal recognition and trust-building across governments, tech companies, and humanitarian sectors. As the digital battleground expands, this emblem could play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and ensuring that humanitarian operations continue uninterrupted. We also explore the challenges of implementing this system without increasing organizations' vulnerability, and why support from over 100 tech companies and states is crucial for its success. If you’re interested in the intersection of cybersecurity, law, and humanitarian efforts, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I am joined by Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20, to explore the key trends shaping finance's future. As Money20/20 Europe celebrates its 10th anniversary, Scarlett provides a detailed preview of what we can expect from this year's event, bringing together over 8000 senior industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of fintech, regulation, and technology. Money20/20 Europe is not just a conference. It is a critical platform for addressing the big questions about where money, tech, and regulation are headed. Scarlett highlights the growing collaboration between traditional banks and fintech companies, calling it the "golden era" of partnerships. This shift drives innovation, and we discuss how these partnerships are evolving to enable more personalized, efficient financial services for businesses and consumers alike. A significant focus of our conversation is the rise of stablecoins, which are transforming cross-border payments in ways similar to how the internet changed the telecom industry. We talk about the regulatory challenges that need to be addressed to fully harness their potential and ensure their adoption on a global scale.  Scarlett also shares insights into how AI revolutionizes financial services, enabling more intelligent, automated solutions while raising important questions about trust, data privacy, and security. We also discuss the impact of the UK's post-Brexit regulatory flexibility, with Scarlett explaining how this presents a unique opportunity for the UK to lead in fintech innovation. However, she points out that policy execution must keep pace with technological advancements. Tune in for a conversation about the future of fintech and a timely preview of Money20/20 Europe, where innovation and regulatory discussions will define the next wave of financial services.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Glen Shok, VP of Product Marketing at Panzura, for a detailed look into how the company is rethinking hybrid cloud storage with the release of CloudFS 8.5 Adapt. CloudFS 8.5 isn’t just another update. Built in direct response to customer feedback, it introduces powerful new features like Instant Node and Regional Store that redefine performance, availability, and business continuity. Instant Node allows failed systems to be replaced or migrated in under five minutes.  Regional Store brings high-speed data access closer to end users around the world while reducing latency and cloud egress costs. As Glen explains, the latest release meets the growing demand for flexibility in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, rising cloud costs, and evolving IT infrastructure. Panzura is helping organizations maintain uptime, protect data, and adapt quickly, whether moving away from VMware or modernizing a global IT footprint. CloudFS 8.5 Adapt enables this without forcing customers to compromise on control, performance, or security. We also explore how Panzura’s vision for autonomic data infrastructure is becoming a reality. With every CloudFS node sharing full configuration metadata, new nodes can spin up almost instantly. AI plays a central role here too. Through Panzura Data Services, AI tracks behavioral anomalies to detect early signs of data exfiltration, ransomware, or internal threats. This provides not just alerts, but the ability to interdict and isolate risky behavior in real time. Looking ahead, Glen shares how Panzura is preparing to support AI workloads directly where unstructured data lives. Instead of migrating terabytes to external platforms, organizations can train language models in place, reducing cost and complexity. With features like enhanced RBAC, native Entra ID support, and a virtual data lake model on the horizon, Panzura is clearly positioning itself at the intersection of enterprise storage and AI innovation. If you work in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, or AI deployment, this episode offers practical insights into the challenges IT teams face today and the technologies that are solving them.

Chase Garbarino, Co-Founder and CEO of HQO, is revolutionizing commercial real estate by creating human-centric smart buildings. He discusses how technology is reshaping workplace experiences, enhancing community engagement, and adapting to hybrid work models. Chase emphasizes the importance of meaningful connections in the built environment, showcasing their platform's features like digital keycards and smart access. He also introduces the Quantum City Initiative with MIT, aimed at transforming urban spaces for the future without starting from scratch.

Murphy John, an ecosystem development expert at StorX, discusses the revolutionary world of decentralized cloud storage. He explains how StorX empowers users by encrypting and fragmenting data, offering a trustless and censorship-resistant solution. The platform aims to address privacy concerns amid rising surveillance and ransomware threats, boasting cost efficiency of up to 90% compared to traditional storage. The conversation also delves into the philosophical shifts around data control and the impacts of AI on digital ownership.

David Kanter, Founder and Executive Director of MLCommons, delves into the world of AI performance benchmarking. He shares how MLPerf, the industry's leading benchmark, addresses the question of what constitutes 'good' AI as it evolves beyond Moore’s Law. Kanter discusses the importance of transparency and collaboration in developing standards, while also tackling the challenges of energy consumption in AI. He highlights innovative solutions such as low-precision computation and the role of community collaboration in driving AI advancements.

In this engaging conversation, Jose Soto, VP of Engineering at Converge Marketing, shares his expertise in data-driven marketing. He discusses how eliminating data silos empowers marketing teams with self-service tools, enhancing agility and collaboration. Jose also highlights the transformative role of AI and machine learning in enabling predictive analytics and optimizing campaigns. Additionally, he underscores the importance of continuous learning and the need for effective data governance to maintain quality across organizations. Tune in for insights on staying ahead in marketing!

Ryan Frankel, President and CTO of Digital Brands and creator of HostingAdvice.com, dives into the world of "vibeware"—AI-assisted development tools that empower anyone to build software. He discusses how these tools lower entry barriers for creators while emphasizing that human oversight is still crucial for debugging and architecture. Ryan reveals a shift in business strategies toward custom solutions, allowing smaller companies to craft tailored tools. He shares his inspirational journey from early programming to leading tech innovations, highlighting the ongoing importance of foundational knowledge in coding.

Gene Hoffman, CEO of Chia Network, shares insights on tokenizing equity investments while ensuring regulatory compliance. He explains how their innovative platform, Permuto, will redefine investment by separating dividends from capital gains, paving the way for a new era of secure and sustainable investing. This approach is particularly beneficial for low-risk investors, especially retirees. Gene also emphasizes Chia's commitment to open-source technology and green practices, which are attracting institutional interest and shaping the future landscape of digital finance.