“Data is the lifeblood of AI agents.” Is your data ready for the future of AI? Phillip and Alistair welcome William McKnight, President of McKnight Consulting Group and a leading global influencer in big data, data centers, cloud, and analytics, on the podcast today. William shares his insights on preparing enterprises for AI adoption, the importance of data accessibility, and the critical role of thoughtful data architecture. He also discusses the evolving role of data scientists, the AI-driven transformation in various industries, and the significance of strong leadership in managing AI implementations. The episode concludes with practical advice on maximizing ROI from AI investments and preparing for the future landscape of AI agents.

Takeaways:

• Develop a Strong Data Strategy: Ensure all your data is accessible, well-performing, and governed. Consider adopting a data mesh approach to balance centralization and decentralization.
• Commit to AI Agents: Begin experimenting with AI agents now rather than waiting. Pick initial use cases that are simple yet impactful and scalable for future projects.
• Emphasize Organizational Change Management: Successful AI implementation often requires significant organizational change and strong leadership. Be prepared to tackle change management as a critical component of AI projects.
• Focus on Data Maturity: Assess your organization's data maturity by evaluating data performance, understanding, and governance. Implement an information management action plan to improve analytical capabilities and enterprise data architecture.
• Embrace New Roles: Consider emerging roles like prompt engineer, AI ethics manager, AI explainer, and advanced data architects to support AI initiatives. Encourage upskilling and reskilling of current team members to fill these roles.
• Explore Diverse Use Cases: Investigate and apply AI in diverse areas such as drug discovery, predictive maintenance, fraud detection, personalized marketing, and healthcare.
• Prepare for Integration Challenges: Anticipate and address data integration challenges, especially in environments with multiple legacy systems.

Quote of the Show:

• “Data is the lifeblood of AI agents.” - William McKnight

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmcknight/
• Website: https://mcknightcg.com/
• Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-McKnight/author/B002QLXASK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://agenticinsider.show/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fCCuVl6tL5p2kEAwFCQNJ
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agentic-insider/id1807346381
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9fe0482d-d798-4420-a93a-fc6653bce437
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-agentic-insider-6057241
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iridiusAI

Will AI lead to a manufacturing resurgence in North America? According to Vlad Romanov, Founder and Manufacturing Executive of Solis PLC, that is the hope he has. He discusses the loss of manufacturing advantages in recent years and the potential role of technology, including AI and robotics, in enhancing competitiveness. The conversation covers topics such as the impact of AI on operational technologies, workforce dynamics, supply chain communications, and Industry 4.0 initiatives. Vlad also shares his thoughts on the importance of training, change management, and the need for real-world AI application case studies. The episode concludes with Vlad giving career advice for aspiring professionals in the manufacturing sector and sharing a glimpse into his interests.

Takeaways:

• Explore AI Tools: Start experimenting with AI tools to improve different aspects of your business, such as sales, operations, marketing, and manufacturing efficiency. Consider running small, fast sprints and MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) to test out different solutions.
• Focus on Sales and Marketing: Improve your sales and marketing strategies to get more orders through the door. Utilize AI to better understand customer needs, enhance marketing efforts, and streamline sales processes.
• Invest in Education: Invest time in learning and understanding both the technical and business sides of manufacturing. Consider upskilling in AI, programming, and data analysis through available online resources and AI models.
• Leverage Data: Ensure you are collecting and utilizing data effectively. This includes data from various sources, such as machine operations, sales, customer feedback, and more. Apply AI to analyze this data for better decision-making.
• Address Obsolete Systems: Assess your current equipment and systems, especially if they are obsolete. Look for ways to modernize and integrate new technologies that can improve efficiency and data collection.
• Share and Learn: Encourage the sharing of case studies and successful implementations of AI in manufacturing. Learning from the experiences of others can help improve your own AI deployment strategies.

Quote of the Show:

• “ I think AI is gonna drastically change every single area, and if we're not up to speed on it, we're simply not gonna be able to win on that front.” - Vlad Romanov

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladromanov/
• Website: https://www.solisplc.com/
• Podcast: https://www.manufacturinghub.live/

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://agenticinsider.show/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fCCuVl6tL5p2kEAwFCQNJ
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agentic-insider/id1807346381
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9fe0482d-d798-4420-a93a-fc6653bce437
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-agentic-insider-6057241

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iridiusAI

How can we build future-proof AI? It’s nearly impossible, but that’s something Phillip and Alistair touch on in this episode with Dr. Vinesh Sukumar, VP Head of Gen AI/ML Product Management at Qualcomm. Vinesh discusses the challenges and innovations in the Edge AI space, the significance of personalization, and the transition from static AI models to autonomous agents. He shares insights into the elements necessary for creating a best-in-class Edge AI processor and reflects on his extensive career. The episode also covers the importance of security and governance in AI systems, successful and challenging AI projects, and future trends in AI technology.

Takeaways:

• Embrace Continuous Learning: The field of AI is evolving rapidly. Continuously update your knowledge by reading research papers, books, and watching educational talks.
• Understand the Importance of Personalization in AI: Focus on creating AI systems that offer personalized user experiences. AI should be able to adapt to individual needs and preferences while ensuring privacy and security.
• Leverage Edge Computing: Explore the benefits of edge computing for AI applications, especially in scenarios where latency, bandwidth, and power constraints are critical.
• Participate in Consortia and Standards: Engage with industry consortia like NIST to stay informed about best practices in AI safety, governance, and standards.
• Focus on Interoperability: Ensure that your AI systems can work seamlessly with other external tools, APIs, and multi-agent systems. Interoperability is crucial for robust AI deployment.
• Innovate Responsibly: Prioritize responsible AI development by continuously monitoring deployed systems and updating them as necessary to ensure ongoing safety and performance.

Quote of the Show:

• “It’s a learning experience everyday.” - Vinesh Sukumar

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineshsukumar/
• Website: https://www.qualcomm.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://agenticinsider.show/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fCCuVl6tL5p2kEAwFCQNJ
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agentic-insider/id1807346381
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9fe0482d-d798-4420-a93a-fc6653bce437
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-agentic-insider-6057241
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iridiusAI