Conversations on Applied AI

Welcome everyone to the Conversations on Applied AI podcast. Today we're speaking with Mark Price. Mark brings academic experience and a strong foundation in business analytics, change management, and curriculum development.

He serves as a distinguished service professor and AI faculty lead at the University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business. In this role, he focuses on designing and teaching innovative AI courses, training faculty and staff to leverage AI, and contributing to university-wide initiatives on AI's transformative role in education.

Mark previously worked as chief data officer at CaringBridge, where he spearheaded the establishment of their first enterprise analytics function and supported a cultural shift toward a data-driven, customer-centered approach. So I'm truly excited for our conversation. Thank you, Mark, so much for being on the podcast today.

If you are interested in learning how AI is being applied across multiple industries, join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us as we plan future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

Crossing the Chasm — Geoffrey Moore's classic book on the technology adoption lifecycle, applied by Mark to AI adoption within organizations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm

Shadow AI — The use of AI tools by employees on personal devices without official organizational sanction or oversight.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/shadow-ai.html

Ethan Mollick's AI Productivity Research — Professor at Wharton studying AI's impact on work and productivity, including the Procter & Gamble studies referenced by Justin.
https://www.oneusefulthing.org/

Microsoft Copilot — The AI assistant referenced in the Chevron cautionary tale about deploying 20,000 licenses with zero results due to lack of training and change management.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot

Bayer — Global life sciences company whose new CEO restructured middle management to accelerate innovation and flatten approval layers.
https://www.bayer.com

Applied AI (podcast community & nonprofit) — Justin's organization hosting events, meetups, and conferences on applied AI in the Twin Cities.
https://appliedai.mn

Bonus links from the episode:

• University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business: https://business.stthomas.edu/
• CaringBridge: https://www.caringbridge.org
• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com
• Mark Price's Substack: https://substack.com/@profmarkprice

Welcome everyone to the Conversations on Applied AI podcast. Today we're speaking with Sruthi Pisipati. Shruthi is a software engineer turned data scientist with more than eleven years of experience across the consulting, IT, insurance, manufacturing, and medical device industries. She holds a Master's in Analytics from Georgia State University and a Bachelor's in Computer Science.

In her current role as a principal data scientist at Boston Scientific, Shruthi builds AI-powered solutions that drive innovation in healthcare and manufacturing. Her expertise spans computer vision, generative AI, time series forecasting, and uncertainty quantification, with a focus on deploying trustworthy, scalable models in high-impact environments.

Shruthi is a recognized speaker and thought leader in the AI space, with talks focused on optimization techniques, responsible AI practices, and real-world applications. Thank you, Shruthi, for taking the time to be on our podcast today. 

If you are interested in learning how AI is being applied across multiple industries, join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us as we plan future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

1. "Attention Is All You Need" — The transformer architecture paper by Vaswani et al. (2017)
   https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03762
2. ChatGPT — OpenAI's conversational AI
   https://chatgpt.com
3. Claude Code — Anthropic's AI coding assistant
   https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code
4. Chris Gregory's LinkedIn article: "Code is cheap now, but software isn't". -https://www.chrisgregori.dev/opinion/code-is-cheap-now-software-isnt
5. Hugging Face — Open-source model hub (visual-language models, etc.)
   https://huggingface.co
6. Conformal prediction / Uncertainty quantification — A statistical framework for calibrated prediction intervals. A good introductory resource:
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_prediction
7. Time series foundation models — This is an emerging topic, not a single resource. Shruthi's upcoming talk compares these transformer-based models against classical approaches like ARIMA. For an overview:
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoregressive_integrated_moving_average

Bonus links from the episode:

• Applied AI (podcast community): https://appliedai.mn
• Tesseract (OCR): https://github.com/tesseract-ocr/tesseract
• Google Vision: https://cloud.google.com/vision
• Amazon Mechanical Turk: https://www.mturk.com
• Boston Scientific: https://www.bostonscientific.com
• Novelis: https://www.novelis.com
• Accenture: https://www.accenture.com
• Georgia State University: https://www.gsu.edu
• LexisNexis Risk Solutions: https://risk.lexisnexis.com

Welcome, everyone, to the Conversations on Applied AI podcast. Today we're talking with Tyler Moberg. Tyler is the founder and owner of Amplified Impact Solutions, where he helps leaders and teams actually use AI in their everyday work. He's trained more than 10,000 professionals since 2024, from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits, educators to engineers, hr to finance.

Prior to his own business, he was an instructional coach at Edina Public Schools and a training consultant at the Bob Pike Group. Tyler also sponsored and presented at our applied AI conference this past fall. I wanna personally thank him for giving back and supporting the applied AI community. Thank you, Tyler, so much for being on our podcast today. 

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

1. The average AI prompt is only 7–9 words — based on a Google study, because people still treat AI like a search engine. Tyler argues a good prompt should be at least 21 words. He personally voice-dictates prompts that are "novel-length." (Hear the discussion)
2. An engineer saved 80 hours of work in 90 minutes — Tyler helped a city public works engineering department build a NotebookLM tool to cross-reference three large mandate documents, eliminating a massive manual comparison task. (Hear the story)
3. "The AI you use today is the worst AI you'll ever use" — a quote from Ethan Mollick cited during the episode, underscoring that resistance to AI now means falling further behind as the tools rapidly improve. (Hear the quote)
4. Plaud Note Pro device records in-person and cross-platform meetings — a physical external recording device that attaches to your phone, is HIPAA-compliant, auto-generates transcripts and executive summaries, and integrates into AI workflows for proposals, coaching notes, and more. (Hear about it)
5. NotebookLM can generate PowerPoint presentations — with a hidden "pencil" customization button before generating. The hack: export as PDF → import into Canva → use Magic Editor to make text editable. Tyler prefers this over Gamma for AI-generated decks. (Hear the tip)
6. Claude's "Skills" feature allows you to save reusable workflows — Tyler demonstrated teaching Claude to write proposals by providing examples and a template, saving it as a skill, then calling it up any time with a new transcript. This dramatically speeds up proposal generation. (Hear the workflow)

• Book: The AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods
• AI Mindsets course by Connor Grin
• Tools discussed: Claude, ChatGPT, NotebookLM, Gamma, Canva, Plaud, Perplexity, Grok

Welcome, everyone, to the Conversations on Applied AI podcast. Today we're speaking with Eric Lelos, a data and analytics leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations make better decisions with data.

Eric has worked across manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services. Building analytics and AI systems that connect complex technology to real-world operations. Alongside leading quantified mechanics, Eric is also a professional member of the Strategic Synergy Network, where he collaborates with other senior practitioners to help companies solve operational, financial, and strategic challenges without the overhead of full-time teams.

His work spans data engineering, modern cloud analytics platforms, and AI-driven insights.

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

• Modern Data Stack (Snowflake, Databricks, DBT, Fivetran)
  • https://www.getdbt.com | https://www.snowflake.com | https://www.databricks.com | https://www.fivetran.com
• Quantified Mechanics' Test Bench Solution
  • https://quantifiedmechanix.com/
• Agentic AI & LLMs in Production
  • https://www.langchain.com (framework for building agentic LLM workflows)
• ChatGPT / Generative AI as a Work Accelerator
  • https://chat.openai.com | https://www.perplexity.ai
• The AI Adoption Gap — Further Reading
  • https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodologies/gartner-hype-cycle (Gartner Hype Cycle)

Today, we're talking with Dr. Peter Olson-Skog. Peter is the Chief Administrative Officer of School District 197. He was named a Richard Green Scholar for his doctoral research, which described how district offices can support and empower principals. He's also been an assistant superintendent, principal, and director of teaching and learning.

Peter holds a BA in elementary education, an MA in human resource development, and a PhD in educational leadership and policy. Most recently, Peter has been leading his district and exploring how transformative the role of AI and artificial intelligence in education is, from empowering teachers to integrate AI tools responsibly to preparing students to graduate as AI-literate and ready for the future.

He's been co-leading district-wide fishbowl discussions on AI readiness for both students and faculty on how schools can navigate this new frontier. Peter's a thought leader in AI and education and policy, helping shape how K-12 systems can thoughtfully adapt to ensure the next generation is ready to thrive in an AI-driven world.

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

• How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy on the Fly -https://www.edweek.org/technology/how-school-districts-are-crafting-ai-policy-on-the-fly/2025/10
• Rising Use of AI in Schools Comes With Big Downsides for Students -https://www.edweek.org/technology/rising-use-of-ai-in-schools-comes-with-big-downsides-for-students/2025/10
• Teachers and Parents Weigh Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Schools - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/teachers-and-parents-weigh-benefits-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-in-schools
• Which States Require Schools to Have AI Policies - https://www.edweek.org/technology/which-states-require-schools-to-have-ai-policies/2025/09
• AI in Schools: Pros and Cons – College of Education - https://education.illinois.edu/about/news-events/news/article/2024/10/24/ai-in-schools--pros-and-cons

Today, we're talking with Thomas Feeney, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Master of Arts and Artificial Intelligence Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. Thomas now leads this one-of-a-kind program, which blends technical understanding with the critical thinking, foresight, and communication needed for responsible AI leadership.

With more than a decade in academia and a foundation philosophy, he helps organizations and leaders assess AI strategic implications. Translate complex ideas into practical action. He holds a PhD from Yale University and an MA in philosophy from Notre Dame. Thank you, Thomas, for being on the program today!

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

How AI Is Reshaping the Talent Pipeline and Career Development – As AI transforms job roles and skills needs, leaders are rethinking how to build talent pipelines that prepare workers for the evolving world of work and help organizations compete. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/building-a-talent-pipeline-for-the-ai-era

AI’s Critique of Higher Education and Learning Itself – A provocative analysis argues that generative AI is significantly disrupting traditional university learning, academic integrity, and the meaning of earning a degree. https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-destroying-the-university-and-learning-itself

Partnerships Between People and AI in the Future of Work – Research highlights how AI agents, robots, and humans will collaborate in the workforce, reshaping job tasks, skills, and organizational structures. https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/agents-robots-and-us-skill-partnerships-in-the-age-of-ai

Generative AI’s Impact on American Workers and the Future of Jobs – Analysis from a leading think tank explores what generative AI means for labor markets, outlining both risks and opportunities for workers. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/generative-ai-the-american-worker-and-the-future-of-work/

Ethical Challenges and Academic Integrity in AI-Driven Education – An overview of how AI affects learning environments, including concerns about over-reliance, accuracy, and integrity in educational settings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_in_education

Today we're talking with Ren Bin Lee Dixon. Renin comes to the podcast with a deep experience in public and artificial intelligence policy. She's experienced in the research and analysis of issues at the intersection of technology, socioeconomics, and politics, with an international and diverse professional background in academia, public and private sectors. 

She's currently a research fellow at the Center for AI and Digital Policy, where she drafts AI policy statements and comments to local and global regulatory bodies with a focus on human rights, democratic values, and the rules of law. A graduate of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, her master's thesis entitled AI Governance, A Comparative Analysis of China, the European Union, and the United States was awarded an excellence in global policy in 2022. She also previously has been a marketing and PR specialist with more than 15 years of professional experience in the private sector, including starting an online retail business. Thank you, Ren bin, for being on the podcast today. 

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Applied AI
• AppliedAI Meetup
• Emerging Technologies North

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

The Challenge of Regulating AI in the US – Lawmakers are struggling to keep up with AI’s rapid evolution, resulting in gaps in oversight and accountability. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48555

How Algorithms Incentivise Engagement – Social-media ranking algorithms optimise for clicks and shares, often amplifying polarising or sensational content. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11894805/

AI as a Foundational Technology – Artificial intelligence is moving beyond niche applications to become a core infrastructure across industries and business models. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-next-innovation-revolution-powered-by-ai

The Information Integrity Challenge – The rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation is undermining trust in digital ecosystems and societal decision-making. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/03/facts-not-fakes-tackling-disinformation-strengthening-information-integrity_ff96d19f/d909ff7a-en.pdf

Can AI Help Regulate AI? – Researchers and policymakers are exploring whether AI-based tools can monitor, audit, and govern other AI systems to ensure fairness and safety. https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety/article/44/1/85/7684910

Today, we're talking with Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams. Elizabeth is the Chief Engagement Officer at the Minnesota Responsible AI Institute and the CEO of EMA advisory services, where she curates knowledge-exchange initiatives with global leaders on the critical importance of responsible AI. She believes that responsible AI equals a better Minnesota to both preserve our state's natural resources and promote sustainable economic growth.

She's an author, TEDx speaker, and keynote speaker sharing her leadership of a responsible AI framework, which helps organizations sustain employee engagement. And I'm super excited for our listeners here to learn more about this framework and how they can apply it within their business and professional career.

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Emerging Technologies North
• AppliedAI Meetup

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

• Becoming Invisible in the Age of AI
  How individuals and communities risk being overlooked or "invisible" as AI systems make decisions that affect their lives.
  Learn more about algorithmic invisibility
• Discovering AI Bias and Building Ethics Principles
  The process of uncovering bias in AI and the importance of establishing ethical guidelines for development and deployment.
  Read about AI ethics and bias
• How Bias Creeps into AI Systems
  A discussion on the subtle ways bias can enter AI models, from data collection to algorithm design.
  Explore how bias enters AI
• The Urgency of Responsible AI Adoption
  Why organizations and society must prioritize responsible AI practices now, not later.
  Responsible AI: Why it matters now
• Linking Responsible AI to Natural Resources
  Drawing parallels between responsible AI stewardship and the management of natural resources.
  Responsible AI and sustainability
• Elizabeth's Journey into Responsible AI
  Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams shares her personal path and motivations for focusing on responsible AI.
  About Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams
• The Leadership of Responsible AI Framework
  An overview of frameworks and leadership principles guiding responsible AI implementation.
  Responsible AI leadership frameworks
• Community Engagement and Launching EMA Advisory
  The importance of community involvement in AI and the founding of EMA Advisory Services.
  EMA Advisory Services

The conversation this week is with David Quimby. David is a principal at Innovation Radiation, specializing in systematic innovation, experimental design, and technology forecasting. He is a patented inventor in web architecture and user experience, and co-founder of the Minnesota Change Management Network. David holds a BA in Mathematical and Developmental Economics from UCLA and a Master’s in Organizational Behavior and Sociotechnical Systems from UC Berkeley. With extensive experience in technology analysis, consulting, and product discovery, David is passionate about bridging technical and social systems to drive innovation. He has been an active member of the applied AI community, sharing his expertise at events and workshops. He is dedicated to advancing the field of AI through both practical application and thought leadership. 

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Emerging Technologies North
• AppliedAI Meetup

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

• Systematic Innovation
  Systematic Innovation Overview
• Design Patterns (Christopher Alexander)
  Design Patterns: Christopher Alexander
• Lateral Thinking (Edward de Bono)
  Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono
• TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving)
  TRIZ Methodology
• Morphological Analysis (Fritz Zwicky)
  Morphological Analysis
• Human-Centric Design (Doug Engelbart)
  Doug Engelbart and Human-Centric Design
• AI Alignment and Hallucination
  AI Alignment Problem
• Matrix Mentor (Custom GPT by David Quimby & Dan Olson)
  Matrix Mentor

The conversation this week is with Ayisha Tabbassum. Ayisha is a visionary technology leader with more than 10 years of experience in driving business infused technology initiatives and digital transformation in large enterprises. She's the founder and CEO of One Stop for Cloud, senior vice president at the New World Foundation and holds a master's in computer science from Indiana University Bloomington with multiple cloud certifications. Always someone to give back. She has been involved with the applied AI community for years. She has spoken at our applied AI conference. She's led sessions at our workshop Wednesday and is both passionate about learning new technologies and staying up to date with the latest trends in cloud computing and DevOps in AI. 

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

• Emerging Technologies North
• AppliedAI Meetup

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

• One Stop For Cloud
• The New World Foundation
• Vertex AI Studio
• CAMP IT Conferences
• Topmate.io
• Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

Enjoy!

Your host,
Justin Grammens