The Lean AI Podcast presented by Eric Ries

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Siddarth Anand from Royal Bank of Canada. Together, they explore the critical gap between business leaders and technologists in AI initiatives, the importance of starting with business problems rather than technology, and how to build cross-functional teams that deliver real value through strategic prioritization and execution.

Philip Chew, a veteran technologist with extensive experience in financial platforms, shares his insights on AI transformation in large corporations. He discusses the crucial shift from deterministic to probabilistic programming and the importance of breaking down silos for effective collaboration. Chew also emphasizes the value of smart failures and a structured portfolio approach to manage risks and incentivize thoughtful decisions. He provides essential advice for corporate leaders on adapting to the AI landscape with humility and bravery.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Adam Newton, AI transformation leader with experience at EON, Danone, and Amazon. Together, they explore the critical difference between problem-focused and technology-focused AI initiatives, the importance of strategic speed over operational speed, and practical frameworks for securing funding and scaling AI projects.Resources:Adam Newton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newton-45a85440/Ben Hafele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hafele/Lean Startup Co: https://leanstartup.co/contact.aiWorld Economic Forum - Future of Jobs ReportHarvard Business Review - Strategic Speed vs Operational Speed

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Kunal Sawarkar, Chief Data Scientist and Distinguished Engineer at IBM. Together, they discuss practical strategies for embedding AI into products successfully, including Kunal's "burning star syndrome" approach to AI investment, the importance of customer-focused problem solving, and building the right talent composition for AI teams.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Supreet Kaur, AI professional at Microsoft. Together, they discuss strategic approaches for securing leadership buy-in for AI initiatives, the importance of aligning AI with business problems, and how to effectively communicate AI progress to maintain momentum and support from executives.

In this engaging discussion, Chris Reitz, an expert in AI education and product management, shares insights from his 15-year journey in the field. He emphasizes the need to focus on real user problems rather than falling into 'magical thinking' around AI capabilities. Chris advocates for nurturing smaller, manageable AI use cases to foster genuine innovation. He also dives into strategic approaches for corporate AI initiatives, stressing data quality and evidence-based decision-making as keys to successful implementation.

In a riveting finale, Eric Ries, bestselling author and Lean Startup creator, explores the future of innovation. He emphasizes the significance of testing assumptions and the MVP concept for aligning products with real customer needs. Eric delves into the challenges large corporations face in funding AI projects and critiques traditional models. He advocates for metered funding to stimulate creativity within teams. The conversation also touches on AI's transformative power in jobs, highlighting both the risks of displacement and new opportunities for creativity.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Mike Hollinger, Distinguished Engineer at IBM and President of the Austin AI Alliance. Together, they explore the critical importance of understanding user intent, leveraging organizational data effectively, and avoiding common pitfalls in AI implementation.Website: ibm.com/design/ai

In this engaging discussion, Chris Withers, a seasoned leader in data and AI with a background at BT Group, EY, and IBM, shares his insights on leveraging generative AI for business transformation. He explores how AI can enhance productivity and improve customer service. The conversation highlights innovative approaches to AI development, emphasizing human-centric strategies and agile practices. Challenges in governance and cultural resistance within organizations are also addressed, along with key strategies for successful AI integration.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Christina Mongan, Global Director of AI Practice at Unisys. Together, they discuss driving successful AI transformation in large organizations. Christina shares insights on prioritizing business outcomes, creating a human-centered approach to AI, and avoiding common pitfalls in AI adoption.