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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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How can insights from managing a winery help shape the future of AI technology at Intel? Carla Rodríguez bridges both worlds. When I asked Robert Hallock at Intel who I should invite next onto the podcast – his response was instant - Carla Rodríguez, who runs Intel’s client software ecosystem.

“Razor sharp … just so smart, so capable” was his description, so I just had to invite her onto the show. Carla is no ordinary big tech company exec. She served in the Peace Corps in Romania and worked her way through the ranks of Intel, joining in the finance area to become VP of one of the most important and innovative parts of the company.

In between these roles, she has also found time to help run a winery business with her husband, which gives her a unique perspective on the issues facing companies of all sizes.

Her role at Intel is to work closely with the developer ecosystem. With the recent launch of their AI PC program, which utilises the Intel vPro platform powered by Intel Core Pro processors, we’re seeing AI rise to become mainstream and a must-have tool in the workplace, driving innovation and productivity.

In our discussion, Carla explains how running a boutique winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her Husband gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of running a small business, insights that she brings back to her role at Intel.

You’ll also learn about:

AI: Moving from Niche to Mainstream

AI has now reached a tipping point where it is becoming mainstream and Intel is at the forefront of this revolution with their AI PC platform, integrating CPU, GPU, and the new Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle complex AI tasks efficiently. 

Empowering Developers with AIPC

Intel's AIPC Developer Program is a crucial initiative aimed at supporting developers in harnessing the power of the NPU. By providing hands-on labs and development kits, Intel is enabling developers to experiment and create groundbreaking applications. 

The Immediate Impact on Businesses

For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the benefits of adopting AIPC are immediate. Carla emphasised that the time to invest in AIPC is now, as it offers enhanced productivity, security, and innovative capabilities. 

Future of Work: Embracing AI

The future of work will be significantly shaped by AI, with tools that enhance productivity and free up time for more strategic tasks. As Carla pointed out, AI is like having an always-on intern, ready to assist with various tasks, making us more efficient and effective in our roles.

This podcast is sponsored by Intel.

More on Carla
Carla on LinkedIn
Intel AI PC
Beacon Hill Winery

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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How can emerging technologies and critical thinking shape the future of business? Join us on Digitally Curious as we sit down with Arvind Ravishunkar, General Manager of Think Tank and Tech Strategy at Wipro.

Arvind offers an inside look at the groundbreaking projects at Wipro's innovation lab, Lab45, and discusses how the lab is pioneering new business models and sustainable practices. Discover how their Think Tank's new podcast, Unpacked, aims to make complex technical topics accessible, and why understanding technology at a fundamental level is crucial for modern business leaders.

Imagine a workplace where debate and critical thinking are not only encouraged but essential. Arvind explains the transformative power of monthly debates within their think tank, designed to challenge team members to see all sides of an issue, backed by data and evidence.

These debates sharpen minds and foster adaptability, preparing the team to navigate an unpredictable business landscape. He shares how knowledge-sharing sessions and a culture open to change are vital for fostering innovation and staying ahead.

The future of AI is here, and it's reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. Arvind delves into the implications of AI integration, from Apple's latest partnerships to the broader trends in AI adoption. He underscores the importance of data quality and strategy in successful AI projects and shares his journey towards cultivating digital curiosity in his team.

Explore the far-reaching impacts of AI on job markets, the evolving role of educational institutions, and the necessity for responsible AI practices. Tune in for an episode rich with insights into the evolving landscape of technology and business leadership.

More on Arvid
Arvind on LinkedIn
Lab45 Think Tank
Unpacked podcast

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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This episode is sponsored by Intel.

There are some exciting new developments in AI, and we're at the beginning of a truly transformative era, thanks largely to innovations led by companies such as Intel.

Intel's recent advancements in AI technology, particularly Intel vPro PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, are setting a new benchmark for what professional devices can do.

With a strategic shift towards local AI processing, Intel is mitigating the traditional reliance on cloud services, which cuts costs and significantly boosts data privacy and processing speeds.

I spoke with Robert Hallock, Intel's Vice President and General Manager, Client AI & Technical Marketing, to learn more about what Intel is doing with AI.

Robert believes the integration of AI capabilities directly into PCs will drive the most significant change in personal computing in 20 years.

A significant development enabling this shift is Intel's new Core Ultra processor. It is designed to optimise AI software performance by efficiently splitting tasks between the CPU, GPU, and a new component – the Neural Processing Unit or NPU.

This will allow AI PCs to provide enhanced experiences with marketing & content creation, productivity assistance, and privacy controls, all powered by on-device AI.

Intel and Microsoft have co-defined the definition of AI PC. It is a PC with a dedicated copilot key, and it brings new AI experiences in productivity, creativity, and security through a combination of the CPU, GPU, and the new NPU from Intel.

In this episode, Robert and I looked at the business case for the AI PC.

The ability to perform traditionally processor-intensive AI tasks locally will benefit knowledge workers who aren't always connected and need to prioritise data security.

A key benefit of an AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor will be the improved capacity for AI powered threat detection offered by Intel Threat Detection Technology within the Intel vPro platform.

It's now becoming clear that organisations must adopt AI capabilities to remain competitive, as classic corporate software rapidly adopts AI and disadvantages non-adopters.

Whether you're a business leader looking to harness the power of AI for competitive advantage or an IT Professional keen to understand the vision for AI integration in personal computing, this episode is for you.

You can  find out more about Intel's vision for AI PCs Built for Business at

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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This podcast episode features an interview with Darshan Chandarana and Julia Howes from PwC about opportunities in enterprise AI. 

They discussed AI adoption across industries, with financial services and retail leading the way, and Darshan emphasised the importance of responsible AI and understanding societal impacts.

Julia discussed the challenges of AI adoption like determining value and data privacy issues. 

Julia gave examples where Microsoft's Copilot AI is helping non-native English speakers and explains how the future of work with AI could involve remote working and creativity hubs. 

Emerging technologies like augmented reality are also discussed, and our guests encourage experimenting with AI, embracing change, and coordinating cross-functional teams to unlock value from enterprise AI.

We also discussed:

• Industries benefiting the most from Gen AI
• Responsible AI in practice
• Getting started with AI
• Why GenAI needs an intelligent approach to adoption
• PWCs own tool - ChatPWC
• What are customers asking about Generative AI?
• What are AI Co-Pilots?
• AI Strategy and Execution Challenges
• The need for an AI Council to help co-ordinate activities
• What do clients need to look out for with AI projects?
• Common challenges faced in integrating AI
• Safe, short experiments
• AI Applications and Data Quality
• The quick wins for AI projects
• The need for quality AI-ready data
• Without good data, there is no good AI
• Industry-specific LLM's
• AI Industry Trends and Applications
• The most unique problems solved by AI
• Podcast tip - using AI for language translation
• Preparing the workforce for Gen AI
• Addressing employee issues around AI deployments
• Future Work Trends and Emerging Tech
• The need for critical thinking in the age of AI
• The future of work under AI
• Emerging technologies to watch
• How to stay informed on new technologies
• 3 actionable tips to prepare for Enterprise AI

More on Darshan
Darshan on LinkedIn

More on Julia
Julia on LinkedIn

Resources mentioned in this episode
The PWC Essential 8 Technologies
PWC website
"I am Flame" book on Amazon

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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In this episode, we look at a report I wrote in partnership with Vodafone UK to examine how 5G Standalone (5G SA) could transform UK over the next 5-7 years.

To talk more about the findings, I spoke with Nicki Lyons, Vodafone UK's Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer.

Some of the predictions in the report include:

We’ll see the end of Video Assisted Referee (VAR) and poor off-side decision-making thanks to smart ball tech, pitch sensors and player wearables enabled by 5G Standalone (5G SA) – meaning more time is devoted to the beautiful game and less time on disputes.

Connected clothing will mean trainers will ‘talk’ to each other and collate style and sustainability-inspired looks from other feet on the street, powering your very own AI-powered style guide – enabling fashionistas to discover styles and express themselves in new ways.

Working with Vodafone, in a new report, leading futurist Andrew Grill predicts how 5G SA could transform the things the UK loves most in the next five-to-seven years – from retail and sports to gaming and entertainment.

The report supports the growing need for 5G SA infrastructure in the UK, as the proposed Vodafone and Three merger paves the way for UK 5G SA leadership with a pledge to invest £11 billion and reach over 99% of the UK population with 5G SA by 2034.

More on Nicki Lyons

Nicki became Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability in October 2021. She’s responsible for external communications, government and regulatory affairs, and sustainable business. Before this, she worked in senior roles at Walgreen Boots Alliance, Unilever, PepsiCo, in UK government and in international development.

Nicki on LinkedIn

Resources mentioned in the show
Ann Patchett Tom Lake book
Vodafone UK Website
Vodafone and Three website

More on the report
Vodafone press release about the report
Download the report

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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In this episode, we’re casting our minds back to 2004, when NASA landed the Spirit rover on Mars; the last episode of Friends aired; George W Bush was re-elected US president, and the number one hits were LMC’s Take Me To The Clouds Above in the UK and Hey Ya! By Outkast in the US.

Over at Harvard University, computer science student Mark Zuckerberg is coding in his dorm room. Lately, he’s been nurturing a reputation as a minor enfant terrible on campus after creating the shortlived site FaceMash, which allowed students to rate each other’s hotness.

Today, Wednesday, 4th February, he’s about to push “publish” on TheFacebook, which would later become simply Facebook.

So what does Facebook look like at 20, and what can we learn from this social networking phenomenon?

To help me answer this and more, I’m joined by Jason Mander, Chief Research Officer at leading global consumer research platform GWI, to dive into their vast research platform and take a deep dive on Facebook at 20.

Here are the key statistics Jason mentioned on the podcast, extracted from the GWI platform.

• 75% of people in the UK use Facebook monthly, 66% use it weekly, and 50% use it daily
• Boomer Facebook usage has increased 20% over the last decade, with around 66% of boomers currently using it
• Gen Z and student Facebook usage has decreased compared to 10-20 years ago, though around 66% of Gen Z still use it
• Half of 13-14 year olds are on Facebook, despite declining usage among younger generations
• TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular platforms among children
• Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger – the top 4 platforms in the UK
• 15% of UK residents purchase secondhand items online weekly
• Around 50% of Brits use eBay for selling items, 25% use Facebook Marketplace, and smaller percentages use sites like Gumtree
• Three quarters of Millennials and Gen X in the UK use Facebook, with stable usage over the last 10 years
• Instagram ranks as the 4th most used social media platform in the UK, used by around 60% of people
• Facebook Messenger ranks 3rd for pure messaging platforms in the UK
• iMessage overtakes Messenger among younger Gen Z
• 96% of Gen Z in the UK use at least one Meta platform like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
• Boomers’ Facebook usage is up 20% in the last decade

More on Jason

Jason on LinkedIn
Jason on Twitter

You can listen to the episode with GWI Tom Smith here.

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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Twenty-four years ago, the world prepared for the risk of a global meltdown due to the "Y2K bug" - the potential for computer errors related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after the year 2000. The issue at the time was many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits, making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. 

Because many computer systems could not correctly distinguish dates, this had the potential to bring down worldwide infrastructures for computer-reliant industries.

Thanks to the awareness of this as early as 1985, many systems could be modified in time, and the impact of the Y2K issue was minimal.

However, a new threat is looming with the advent of Quantum computing. These mega-powerful computers will potentially be able to decrypt current-day encryption by 2030, with some cybersecurity experts suggesting it could even be as soon as next year.

What does this mean for businesses and consumers? Any currently encrypted data could be stored until such a time that quantum computers can decrypt it, exposing our most important secrets and personal information to bad actors and hackers.

Are you prepared for the quantum threat? In this first episode for season six, we discuss the risks and opportunities of quantum computing with Chris Johnson, Senior VP and Global Head of Enterprise at Nokia.

Chris explains how quantum computing will exponentially increase data volumes and processing power, potentially allowing encrypted data from today to be decrypted in the future. He stresses the importance of preparing networks and systems now to be "quantum safe."

We also explore the positive uses of quantum, such as accelerating research and optimizing complex systems, and Chris shares examples of how quantum could speed up vaccine development and financial analysis.

Tune in to learn what Nokia is doing in the quantum space, how edge and cloud computing will work with quantum and three actionable steps you can take today to future-proof against quantum threats. 

It's a fascinating look at an emerging technology with worldwide implications.

About Chris

Chris is Senior Vice President and Global Head of Enterprise at Nokia.

A veteran sales and business leader, Chris focuses on delivering critical network solutions for the world's most essential industries. He is a passionate champion of industrial digitalization for enterprises and government organizations, with a deep understanding of how innovative and intuitive digital technologies can bring resilience, productivity, efficiency and sustainability to any operation.

Drawing on his experience defining business strategies, developing teams, executing initiatives and driving profitable growth, Chris helps Nokia Enterprise customers harness the exponential potential of networks to unlock new business models and build capacity for long-term success.

Connect with Chris on Linkedin

Connect with Chris on Twitter

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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Curious about edge computing? Want to understand why it's the next big thing in the world of IT?

My conversation with Mark Swinson, an enterprise IT Automation Sales Specialist at Red Hat, might just be the discussion you're looking for.

Mark takes us on a deep dive into the world of edge computing, discussing its benefits, applications, and the crucial role of open-source projects.

We navigate the diverse applications of edge computing, exploring its transformative impact in sectors like retail, autonomous driving, and more.

Mark also enlightens us on the significant role of AI and Kubernetes in shaping the edge computing landscape.

Our conversation also touches upon the unique challenges in edge computing and why data security is paramount in this field.

More on Mark
Mark on LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned
Red Hat Connect London  7 November 2023
The Age of AI - Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Daniel Huttenlocher

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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On this episode of the Actionable Futurist Podcast, I had an in-depth conversation with Steve Young, UK SVP & Managing Director for Dell Technologies, on why it is now critical that CEOs, CIOs, CFOs and CISOs play a role in driving a well-planned multicloud strategy for their businesses.

In recent years, cloud technology has proliferated. However, many are realising that not all workloads and applications are suited to a single public cloud environment. Or, in fact, a public cloud environment at all.. As such, going 'multi-cloud' has been implemented unintentionally rather than strategically.

The need for a multi-cloud approach is now more urgent as companies are deploying more complicated applications and services, so this Podcast is timely and important for business leaders in any organisation to hear.

The discussion made me realise that multi-cloud strategy is not just about the tech world – and as Steve highlights, it has significant implications for various industries, including financial services and FMCG

In the podcast, we discussed how a financial services organisation has efficiently utilised multi-cloud for cost and efficiency using ground-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground approaches.

We also explored Dell Technologies' vision and differentiation in the multi-cloud space and how they focus on enabling customers to consume public cloud-style services irrespective of where their data and applications sit.

Dell Technologies is helping to bridge the gap in the market for multi-cloud skilled talent. Artificial Intelligence also impacts the multi-cloud environment, and we talked about how AI will function in a multi-cloud world.

It’s fair to say that multi-cloud environments offer numerous benefits, from increased flexibility and agility to improved cyber resilience; however, the journey towards effective multi-cloud adoption is filled with challenges.

We examined in detail how each member of the C-suite can benefit from a multi-cloud approach.

More and more, CEOs understand the importance of technology in driving business innovation and growth. Embracing a multi-cloud strategy allows CEOs to get their organisations on the front foot of digital transformation.

Steve explained how organisations can successfully navigate the multi-cloud maze through strategic planning, business understanding, and the right technological support.

We also spoke about the Dell Technologies Forum on November 28th in London that I'm attending, the premier conference for technology enthusiasts and business leaders looking to drive innovation and growth. You can sign up for a free pass at futurist.click/dell-forum

Resources mentioned in this episode
Steve on LinkedIn
Sign up for the Dell Technologies Forum

This was a sponsored podcast in partnership with Dell Technologies.

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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