In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Andy Leonard sit down with Lawrence Snapp, CEO and board member of TrustScale, an innovative AI trust and verification platform. Together, they explore the crucial topic of trust in artificial intelligence—how hallucinations from AI models can spiral out of control and why it’s essential to catch them early.

Lawrence Snapp pulls back the curtain on TrustScale’s journey from early AI and translation work in the 1980s and call center solutions, to its modern-day mission: empowering humans to verify and trust AI outputs with products like Argus.

You’ll hear about real-world impacts in fields like healthcare, legal, and research, learn how TrustScale’s deterministic engine outpaces humans in hallucination detection, and dive into debates around truth, trustworthiness, and the future of configuring AI values. Whether you’re an industry veteran or just curious about how we build trustworthy AI, this episode is packed with insights on technology, responsibility, and the power of rigorous engineering.

• Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjM7lxn3Qk8
• Lawrence on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-snapp-408339/

00:00 Funny AI-generated story

03:37 Company's Evolution from Translation to AI

07:32 Developing the TrustScale engine

11:35 Using AI for collaboration

13:39 Building a trust scoring system

18:12 Working at BASF and AI testing

19:32 New developments in voice assistants

23:41 Trust scale and company confidence

26:13 AI mishap in medical drama

32:48 Overcoming AI recency and cost challenges

36:54 AI's impact on career growth

38:50 Interviewing and developing talent

43:31 Starting with Polaroids and AI goals

46:54 Discussing TrustScale and AI interactions

50:42 Empowering AI customization for users

51:45 AI ethics discussion in Los Altos

In this episode, host Andy Leonard sits down with Ilan Man, founder and CEO of Paradox Machines, a full-stack data and AI company based in Brooklyn. Ilan shares his fascinating journey from an actuarial career to the dynamic field of data science, exploring the rise of big data, the art of translating complex mathematics into code, and the importance of numeracy in society.

Together, they discuss the paradoxes at the heart of data and AI, the challenges of decision-making under uncertainty, and why intuition, risk management, and storytelling remain critical in a world driven by data. Whether you're a data enthusiast, decision-maker, or just curious about how numbers shape our lives, this conversation delivers valuable insights and a healthy dose of skepticism about the limits, and possibilities, of analytics.

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanman/

00:00 Starting a career in data science

03:34 Discovering a career in actuarial science

08:17 Learning coding and joining Squarespace

11:40 Understanding Probability in Code

15:36 Questioning Confidence in Decision-Making

20:06 Discussing COVID vaccine effectiveness

21:09 Understanding vaccine effectiveness

24:41 Consumers interacting with unpredictable AI

29:35 Discussing disease perception and interpretation

33:01 Casino audiobook and extra details

35:41 Balancing data-driven decisions

40:07 Career journey to founding Paradox

40:49 Building a data platform with AI

46:41 Data's Role in Decision Making

47:30 Value and limits of data-driven decisions

In this episode, Frank La Vigne sits down with Pradnesh Patil, co-founder and CEO of Altima AI, to explore how AI is revolutionizing the world of data engineering. Together, they dive into the challenges of modern data stacks, the explosion of tools and technologies, and how AI-powered agents are transforming the way data teams build and maintain complex systems. From automating data pipeline management to optimizing infrastructure and safeguarding governance, Pradnesh Patil shares insights on the next wave of data engineering and what the future holds for professionals in the field. Whether you’re a veteran data engineer or a student curious about the evolving landscape, this episode offers practical advice, industry trends, and an optimistic look at how embracing AI can supercharge your career and your organization’s capabilities.

• Pradnesh's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradneshpatil/
• Watch on YouTube -https://youtu.be/vxQrjE-U3gw

00:00 Evolution of data technology tools

04:11 Managing tool stack complexity

09:09 Discussion on AI guardrails and future

10:55 Managing MCB server outputs

14:32 Streamlining Data Pipeline Efficiency

18:48 Managing and Deleting Memories

21:12 AI security and virtual employees

27:16 AI transforming jobs and automation

30:43 Impact of AI on IT Industry

32:32 Upgrading legacy systems with AI

37:10 Importance of Data Engineering

39:10 Changing role of data managers

42:45 Home lab challenges and data management

In this episode, hosts Candace Gillhoolley and Frank La Vigne are joined by Neil Katz, Chief Product Officer at Valantor AI—a four-time Emmy winner whose unconventional journey spans from technology startups to award-winning journalism, and now to the forefront of enterprise AI innovation.

Neil shares his unique perspective on the evolution of AI, from the early days of digital design and machine learning, to building large-scale AI and document intelligence platforms for major organizations. The conversation explores the critical challenges of knowledge extraction, document comprehension, and securing sensitive data in today's era of sovereign AI. Together, they uncover the hidden complexities behind Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), discuss the importance of hybrid search strategies, and reflect on where the field is heading as enterprise needs push the boundaries of what AI can do.

Whether you're a data professional, an AI enthusiast, or just curious about how language models are transforming how we understand information, you won’t want to miss this candid and thought-provoking deep dive into the future of AI and data integrity.

• Neil on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkatz/
• Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf8qifz_RL8

00:00 Early career in tech and journalism

04:01 Early consumer AI experiences

06:49 Early AI and machine learning developments

11:43 Anthropic's new findings on AI models

16:15 Data sovereignty in AI systems

19:27 Implementing open source AI models

22:49 Breaking down documents for models

25:45 Understanding the RAG system process

28:47 Challenges in AI data processing

31:22 Challenges in RAG with Insurance Data

36:35 Understanding and managing data security

39:35 Early days with OpenAI GPT

40:48 Explaining vector and similarity search

46:57 The evolution of computing models

47:29 Computing evolution to cloud and edge

In this episode, Frank sits down with Devansh Devansh, founder and head of AI at Iris, whose journey spans from building a thriving tech community of over 10,000 on Substack to developing advanced legal AI tools that revolutionize how lawyers work through complex reasoning.

The conversation explores Devansh Devanche's unconventional path into AI, his experiences navigating the evolving landscape of machine learning, and the unique challenges of creating transparent, trustworthy agentic systems in legal tech. Along the way, we uncover the story behind his distinctive "chocolate milk cult leader" branding, his philosophy on startup building, and why he believes that innovation in AI is more accessible than it may seem.

Whether you’re a technologist, a lawyer, or just curious about the future of AI, this is an episode packed with insight, optimism, and actionable advice.

• Devansh on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/devansh-devansh-516004168/
• Devansh on SubStack -https://substack.com/@chocolatemilkcultleader

00:00 Transitioning to Substack and AI Journey

05:32 Starting to publish research insights

07:37 Connecting with Senior Leaders

13:27 Issues with Legal AI Systems

16:55 Challenges with current AI systems

19:49 Demand for AI in legal and non-legal sectors

23:29 Challenges with AI system state management

24:51 Compounding AI returns over time

30:50 Meeting the CEO of Iris

34:20 Tailoring Startup Strategy to Strengths

36:26 Insights on Cluli's Market Presence

40:27 Opportunities in AI Innovation

42:57 Reflecting on market evolutions

In this episode, the conversation focused on the intersection of data intelligence, artificial intelligence, and philanthropy. A key theme that emerged was the growing importance of data-driven decision making in the nonprofit sector, which, despite representing 5% of the GDP and employing 10% of the American workforce, has lagged behind other industries in the adoption of technology and data practices.

The discussion explored how organizations like Impala are aiming to transform the philanthropic landscape by providing robust data platforms and AI-driven tools to empower both large foundations and small nonprofits. Several points were raised, including the unique challenges philanthropy faces in measuring impact versus the traditional business focus on ROI, the rise of a new generation of data-savvy philanthropists, and how collaborative giving and customized data solutions are shaping a more transparent, effective, and innovative sector.

Tune in as we examine how technology is not just changing the way give, but also who gives, why, and with what outcome—pushing philanthropy into a new age powered by actionable insights and human connection.

• Impala -https://impala.digital/

00:00 Importance of Data and Relationships

03:59 Joining Impala through philanthropy

09:00 Measuring organizational impact

12:15 Engaging younger donors with data

14:38 Impala's role in education analysis

20:24 Empowering small nonprofits with AI

22:50 Impala's AI platform strategy

25:07 Improving investment decisions with AI

28:25 Integrating AI with Data Platforms

32:01 Using AI in philanthropic decisions

34:58 Discussing collaborative giving trends

39:28 Supporting small businesses with tech

42:35 Appreciation and social impact goals

This week, we dive deep into the world of data, decision-making, and uncertainty with Dale Nesbitt, a lecturer at Stanford and principal at Arrowhead Economics.

Drawing on his unique upbringing in a mining town, Dale Nesbitt shares how witnessing raw data collection firsthand shaped his perspective on what it really takes to make informed decisions—hint: it's not just about having more data.

Together, we explore the pitfalls of relying solely on data for critical choices, the importance of understanding probability and risk, and why data-gathering itself is often a noisy and imperfect process.

From commodity pricing and speculation in oil markets to the real-world impact of data-driven decisions in healthcare, Dale Nesbitt reveals why true analytic power comes from combining rigorous analysis, sound judgment, and the right kind of data—not just more of it.

Join us as we challenge myths around "data-driven" decisions, unpack lessons from COVID-era data science, and discover why wisdom of the crowd, probability, and a healthy respect for uncertainty are key to navigating our data-rich world.

Links

• Dale's LinkedIn profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-nesbitt-b574a83a/
• Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USOKgv1avHo

Time Stamps

00:00 Growing up in a mining town

05:44 Data as the New Crude Oil

07:31 Estimating and Understanding Stochastic Processes

12:49 Impact of Strait of Hormuz Closure

14:19 Challenges of AI in Economics

17:05 Betting on events and elections

21:43 Bayesian analysis and hydroxychloroquine data

23:28 Understanding data and judgment

26:38 Analyzing data for better decisions

On this episode of Data Driven, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley are joined by hardware and open source expert Michael Makowski to discuss the shifting landscape of developer workstations and AI hardware. As Windows usage declines among developers and AI engineers, Linux is experiencing a surge in desktop adoption. Michael takes us inside the latest efforts to make Linux not just accessible, but enterprise-grade—sharing how his team is driving advancements in stability, reliability, and user experience for validated Linux hardware.

We talk about the dramatic improvements in Linux desktop support, the importance of privacy and avoiding surveillance-driven proprietary systems, and the game-changing features coming to market—like automated system rollback and curated app installs. Plus, we explore the current state of gaming on Linux, the technical edge unified memory brings to AI development, and why companies are increasingly opting for supported, Linux-based workstations. Whether you’re Linux-curious, rethinking your hardware choices, or just passionate about the future of developer tools and data engineering, this conversation will equip you for what’s next.

• Mike's Company Website -https://kfocus.org/
• Mike's LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mikowski-7601393/
• Watch this show on YouTube -https://youtu.be/E03EObEa2lQ

00:00 Website security concerns and solutions

05:03 Supporting KDE for long-term stability

09:45 Desktop environment compatibility issues

10:46 Conflicts in desktop environments

15:07 AMD vs Intel & Nvidia Performance

18:58 Showing the production site

23:49 Steam's Linux runtime environment

25:43 Running Windows games on Linux

29:47 Concerns about software privacy issues

33:31 Migrating from Windows challenges

37:48 Setting up machine learning hardware

41:31 Resolving system issues efficiently

42:59 Setting up a VPN correctly

47:40 Running VMs on alternative OS

52:49 Upcoming OS Upgrade Details

56:19 Rigorous testing and development process

57:25 Tuning BTRFS for performance

In this episode of Data Driven, we're diving into the rapidly evolving world of agentic AI—where autonomous AI agents collaborate, communicate, and occasionally collide. Our guest, Vlad Luzin, co-founder and CTO of Band, joins us to explore the technical challenges and real-world implications of building collaboration layers for agents that act like distributed, non-deterministic microservices.

We’ll unpack the myths and realities surrounding orchestration, governance, and security, and discuss how enterprises can operationalize these agent ecosystems safely. Tune in as we share lessons learned, amusing engineering mishaps, and get a glimpse of what the future holds as agents become everyday colleagues in the digital enterprise.

• Vlad's LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/luzin/
• Watch this episode on YouTube -https://youtu.be/MZztFagEX_E
• Band Website -https://www.band.ai/
• Band Docs -https://docs.band.ai/

00:00 Explaining orchestration in tech

03:42 Understanding models and harnesses

09:38 Misconceptions about A2A communication

10:41 Understanding multi-agent systems

16:18 Observability for distributed systems

18:54 Agent communication and collaboration

24:28 Unauthorized agent interactions

25:49 Remote agent collaboration ideas

28:54 How foundational AI models communicate

33:20 Agent communication protocols overview

35:39 Discussing tech standards and AI velocity

40:53 Learning to Work with AI Agents

42:41 Using Band AI tools

Imagine waking up to find a thousand AI agents silently making decisions across your company—and no one knows exactly what they're accessing.

In this episode of Data Driven, hosts Frank La Vigne and Andy Leonard sit down with Ron Longo, CEO of Trustlogix, to explore the evolving landscape of AI governance, security, and data engineering. As enterprises race to integrate AI at unprecedented speed, the noise and confusion have never been greater. Ron Longo unveils the concept of the AI control plane with a "kill switch," discusses the real-world challenges of securing both human and non-human agents, and explains why classic best practices—like least privilege and prompt engineering—are more important than ever in an era where machines operate at breakneck pace.

Join us as we dive into how Trustlogix keeps enterprise data safe, why innovation must balance with protection, and what it takes to build systems resilient enough for the next wave of AI-driven change. Whether you’re a data engineer, business leader, or just AI-curious, this episode brings practical insights and lively stories from the front lines of AI governance.

• Ron's LinkedIn profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronlongo/
• TrustLogix Web site -https://www.trustlogix.ai/
• TheDingo -https://www.thedingo.ai/

00:00 Managing data security threats

05:08 Developing the kill switch concept

07:20 Enforcing least privilege access

12:43 AI communication challenges and best practices

15:40 Revoking agents and data access

19:25 AI kill switch for security

22:00 Managing data access with control plane

25:59 Applying AI to complex environments

29:45 Discussing data engineering basics

32:16 Language experts' unique advantage

33:49 Creating an app with Claude AI

37:09 Balancing AI and security in enterprises

43:43 AI's impact on job roles

44:51 Learning from Air Force RFP