Digitally Curious

Imagine a world where AI seamlessly integrates into your daily workflows, driving productivity gains, efficiency increases, and automation. 

AI and in particular Generative AI is all over the media, and now companies are looking at how they should be introducing AI into the enterprise.

While Generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have been trained on publicly available data, they may not be suitable for always-on and mission-critical systems. So what’s the opportunity for enterprise-grade AI?

To answer this question, I’m delighted to have on this episode Umesh Sachdev, CEO of Uniphore,  an Enterprise-class, AI-native company that has set out to transform businesses delivering compelling and engaging customer and employee experiences.

As we navigate the exciting yet challenging landscape of AI, we discuss potential pitfalls along the way. Umesh candidly shares insights into vital areas like regulation, data security, and total cost of ownership.

We dive into how regulation is necessary, including guardrails for AI ensuring ethical use of public data, and protecting against biases and inappropriate use.

Umesh also provided three actionable steps to ready your business for the AI revolution.

More on Umesh
Umesh on LinkedIn
Umesh on X

Resources Mentioned
Jolt Effect, The: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision
Uniphore website

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Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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Can machines really think like humans? What is the future of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) when machines more closely resemble human behaviour than ever before?

In this episode, Peter unveils his journey into the realm of AGI and his vision of machines possessing the ability to think, learn, and reason like humans. We look at the intricacies of general AI and how it sets itself apart from narrow AI.

The episode also looks at how companies are tackling the immense challenges associated with crafting machines with general intelligence - from understanding the significance of concept formation in artificial general intelligence to discussing the role of quantum computing and resources in AI development.

Peter also provided his views on the potential of machines developing empathy and the role of AI in ethical and moral debates, and answers the questions I've always wanted to ask - can AI feel empathy and love?

Finally, we take a peek into the future as Peter shares how Aigo.ai is harnessing the power of conversational AI to revolutionize personalised experiences.

More on Peter
Peter on LinkedIn
Peter on Medium
Aigo website

Peter Voss is the world's foremost authority in Artificial General Intelligence. He coined the term 'AGI' in 2001 and published a book on Artificial General Intelligence in 2002. 

He is a Serial AI entrepreneur, technology innovator who has for the past 20 years been dedicated to advancing Artificial General Intelligence. Peter Voss' careers include being an entrepreneur, engineer and scientist. 

His experience includes founding and growing a technology company from zero to a 400-person IPO. For the past 20 years, his focus has been on developing AGI (artificial general intelligence). In 2008 Peter founded Smart Action Company, which offers the only call automation solution powered by an AGI engine. 

He is now CEO & Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai Inc., which is developing and selling increasingly advanced AGI systems for large enterprise customers. Peter also has a keen interest in the inter-relationship between philosophy, psychology, ethics, futurism, and computer science.

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In the race to dominate Al we have seen our data privacy, democracy, and even our human rights impacted. 

To understand what brands and consumers need to do to fight back, I spoke with Anton Christodoulou, Group Chief Technology Officer at leading experiential design company, Imagination and co-founder of the new Trust 3.0 initiative.

The Trust 3.0 initiative  is a Data Privacy Advocacy Group convening the brightest minds in privacy, AI, and technology to champion responsible innovation for a safer society.

I’m proud to say that I’m also a part of this timely initiative.

Anton is responsible for overseeing Imagination's global technology strategy, project and service delivery execution; to deliver immersive, engaging and measurable experiences to clients including Mastercard, Ford, Major League Baseball, Jaguar Land Rover and Shell.

I started our discussion by asking Anton more about Trust 3.0 and why it has been set up.

This episode looks at its implications on data privacy for consumers and businesses and offers a deep dive into the necessity of transparency, security, and fair exchange of value in handling customer data.

We also discuss how businesses can leverage this to promote trust and security.

More on Anton
Anton on LinkedIn
Imagination website
Trust 3.0 website

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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Consumers are beginning to understand that their personal data has real value, but it is still held in the hands of big technology companies.  The promise of consumers managing and owning their own data will become a reality thanks to decentralised or self-sovereign identity (SSI).

To delve into this topic, I'm delighted to welcome onto the podcast Marie Wallace, Digital Identity Lead at Accenture.

Marie and I both had the chance to work together at IBM and I've always enjoyed our discussions about analytics and data, and this conversation explains SSI in a very accessible way.

Self-Sovereign Identity, or decentralized identity, is a model where individuals have full control over their personal data.

During the episode, Marie debunked the common myth that implementing this model necessitates a blockchain, and we looked at the concept of "streaming trust".

We also looked at Marie's instrumental role in projects like IBM's Digital Health Pass and New York's Excelsior Pass during the pandemic.

A fascinating part of the discussion revolved around the concept of verifiable data, and the potential of AI in offering personalised career advice, primed with our own personal data.

We also examined how companies might interact with customers to provide incentives for releasing individual data and how LinkedIn is starting to verify profiles to allow individuals to have more control over the data they own.

This episode also looked at the integral role of trust networks, the need for secure digital wallets, and the exciting prospects of verifiable data.

We also covered topics such as

• The concept of "streaming trust" & how SSI works
• Sovereign identity & worker onboarding
• Trusting the trust provider
• The need for secure, trusted digital wallets
• Using SSI to validate my LinkedIn profile
• Exploring the Concept of Verifiable Data
• Empowering consumers with their own data
• The role of AI with SSI & personal data
• SSI drivers: risk, cost, fraud reduction
• Where do I store my SSI data?
• The Philosophy of Self-Sovereign Identity
• Examples where SSI is working already
• Self-Sovereign Identity and AI Explorations
• Embedding trust with the supply chain
• AI uses in SSI
• Empowering Individuals with Self-Sovereign Identity
• Who needs to drive SSI adoption?
• The biggest challenge in SSI
• What are the steps to take to control my own data?
• Being more data literate and caring about your identity and online safety
• Three actionable steps to manage your own identity

More on Marie
Marie on LinkedIn
Marie on Twitter
Marie's blog
Marie's TED talk

Resources mentioned
1Password

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
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@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
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What if you could unlock the full potential of Generative AI and its impact on your life and company? Get ready for a fascinating fireside chat recorded live in front of an audience at the offices of leading international law firm RPC during London Tech Week.

The Actionable Futurist Andrew Grill was interviewed on stage by Helen Armstrong, a Partner in RPC’s IP and technology disputes team.

The discussion examined the risks, issues, and ethics surrounding this powerful technology and the roles played by giants like OpenAI, Google, and Facebook in this rapidly evolving space. 

This episode also covers the current applications and trends of generative AI in the retail and consumer sectors and how it's already making a mark on our daily lives. 

As we navigate the complex world of AI regulation, Andrew shared his insights on explainability, transparency, trust within AI systems, and the implications of the UK Government's white paper on AI. 

The episode also touched on the challenges of IP rights, GDPR, ongoing AI model training, and the importance of auditing systems to prevent bias.

Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation as we uncover the incredible potential of generative AI, its ability to unleash creativity, and the crucial need for ethical use of this game-changing technology.

We covered a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Generative AI and Its Impact
• Chat GPT’s definition of a futurist
• What is Generative AI?
• Why AI is so popular now
• The risks of using Generative AI
• Why ChatGPT so confidently provides incorrect answers
• How ChatGPT actually works
• ChatGPT data sources
• Is ChatGPT that useful?
• The “magnet of mediocrity”
• Where is Generative AI being used?
• The “enthusiastic always-on intern”
• The need for critical thinkers
• The responsible use of AI
• Challenges and Considerations for Generative AI
• The AI black box problem
• The challenges for regulation around AI
• Can we trust AI?
• Regulation areas for AI
• Government response to AI regulation
• Are you involving your risk department around AI?
• Recruitment considerations for AI teams
• The future of Generative AI
• Enterprise AI Implementation
• EnterpriseGPT challenges
• Will AI provide us with more free time to be creative?
• Actionable items for tomorrow
• Your two tribes and the opportunity for a hackathon
• Why AI comes at a cost
• Is your data “AI ready”?
• Will AI replace human creativity?
• Adobe’s AI products
• Accenture’s use of AI generated imagery in a report
• Generative AI will drive more creativity

Audience questions included

• Who is responsible for ensuring AI training data is valid
• Will AI disrupt or strengthen the economy?
• The environmental impacts of Generative AI
• The difference between human emotional intelligence & creativity and replicating this
• As Generative AI improves, will it become more creative?

Episode Resources
More on the event can be found here
More on Helen Armstrong
More on Andrew Grill

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
Andrew on YouTube
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
Keynote speeches here
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How will AI shape the future of marketing and advertising? Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with our guest, Isabel Perry, VP of Emerging Technology at DEPT, as we explore the role of AI and its impact on various industries.

Isabel shares valuable insights on how her background in architecture has prepared her for the challenges of working with cutting-edge technology and how DEPT's unique approach helps brands stay ahead of the competition throughout their digital customer journey.

We dive deep into the myths and opportunities surrounding AI, augmented reality's potential societal impacts, and recall's power in AI-driven conversation management. Listen as Isabel discusses the ethical issues related to AI and content creation, the need for industry bodies to assist regulators, and the potential of AI to provide equal advantages for everyone.

Finally, we examine the future of AI in marketing and how individuals and businesses can stay updated with the latest technology. Discover the skills needed for the advertising and marketing intern of the future and the potential of AI tools in streamlining the creative process.

Join us for this enlightening conversation with Isabel Perry that covers everything from AI ethics to the future of marketing.

More on Isabel
Isabel on LinkedIn
DEPT Website

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
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@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
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When you settle into your seat on your next rail journey, see if you notice small towers dotted along the journey right next to the track. These are GSM-R base stations - a private GSM network for rail operators.

Launched in the UK around 2007, the technology is based on the GSM mobile standard, and GSM-R suppliers have committed to support this system until 2030.

So what’s the future of rail communications? Enter the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) using the latest 5G technologies.

To learn more about the opportunity for this new mode of operation, I spoke with Jochen Apel, Global Vice President of Digital Industries at Nokia, on the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.

We explored the exciting world of 5G technology for rail networks and its potential for transforming the rail industry.

We also discussed the unique benefits of upgrading from the existing GSMR system to a 5G-based system, such as faster data speeds, a larger ecosystem of vendors, and more data to support critical operations, automation, and asset management.

Jochen also sheds light on the potential of the Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) as a global standard.

We dive into the trials being run by Nokia with customers and SNCF, SBB, and Deutsche Bahn, and discuss the transition process for rail operators moving to FRMCS systems.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we uncover the advantages of 5G technology integration for rail networks and learn what smart rail operators can do now to prepare for this imminent change.

We covered topics such as:

• What is the future of Rail?
• The Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)
• What is holding back the move to FRMCS
• Unique benefits of the Nokia approach
• The opportunity for FRMCS to become a global standard
• 5G's use in Rail Networks
• New services unlocked by FRMCS
• Transitioning to new FRMCS services
• What should smart rail operators be doing to prepare?
• What does a forward-looking rail operator look like?
• Three actionable things to better understand the needs of modern transportation networks

More on Jochen
Jochen on LinkedIn
Nokia FRMCS solution website

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
Andrew on YouTube
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
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Baby Boomers, Generation X, Gen Y, Millennials, Gen Z and now Gen Alpha. Is it right to define whole generations with a letter, and are we all that different?

How can understanding generational differences pave the way for a successful future in the workforce, and how will Generative AI impact different generations?

To answer these questions and more, I spoke with Social Researcher Mark McCrindle, who has spent his career examining each generation and how technology and societal issues affect each type.

In this far-ranging discussion, we also covered:

• Putting labels on generations
• How technology impacts each generation
• Technology adoption across the generations
• Encouraging older generations to become digitally curious
• Generational Impact on Workforce Dynamics
• The Generations and the future of work
• The impact of hybrid working in each generation.
• Hybrid Work, Employee Experience
• Where does wellness fit into the modern workplace?
• The importance of “employee experience”
• Future Employment Culture and Impact
• The need for re-skilling the workforce
• The impact of Generative AI on the workforce
• Enterprise GPT impacts
• Advice for leaders to attract and retain talent
• What is the future of work and how do we get there?
• Three actionable tips to better understand the changing workforce

If you want to understand how technology is likely to affect each generation and what is the future of work, then this episode is for you.

Join us as we discuss the generational impact of technology on society and the workplace with Mark McCrindle, founder and principal of McCrindle Research. Prepare to uncover insights into how generational labels define us, and the crucial role they play in shaping workforce dynamics.

We'll delve into the importance of bridging the gap between young and experienced employees, as well as the future of hybrid work and the significance of employee experience in retaining top talent. Learn how bringing together diverse generations within the workplace creates a level playing field, fosters understanding, and ultimately prepares organizations for the challenges ahead.

Mark shares his wisdom on the importance of fostering organizational culture and investing in training and development to attract, retain, and empower the best talent.

Don't miss this engaging conversation with Mark McCrindle, where we uncover the mysteries of generational impact, technology, and the future of work in a world of Generative AI.

More on Mark
Mark on LinkedIn
McCrindle Research

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
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We all know that ethics are important in AI, but beyond doing the right thing, are we actually focusing on the things that matter with the current AI tools?

While ChatGPT can write you an analysis of a Shakespeare play to help you pass the semester, should AI be used for more pressing world problems - and are we building AI on the wrong paradigm?

AI Ethicist Stephanie Antonian thinks so. I first met Stephanie at a recent Cadastra event around e-commerce, and over networking drinks, we debated these points about AI.

Having worked for Accenture, Google, DeepMind and GoogleX, she has been thinking about the role of AI in humanity for some time.

She has written a series of essays, the latest one titled: “On Generative AI: Denying the Necessary Limits of Knowledge” and asks the question: What if uncertainty was the secret to advancing knowledge?

Her thinking sparked my curiosity, so a few weeks ago, I packed my portable podcast recorder and we went for a 90-minute walk around London’s Regent’s Park to discuss these issues and more.

We covered a lot of ground (literally around 4 kilometres) and one phrase that captivated me was "AI is a love letter to humanity".

We explore this and much more in this fascinating episode including:

• How Stephanie got started in AI Ethics
• Stephanie's experience with AI
• The biggest issue in AI Ethics at the moment
• Dealing with algorithmic bias
• The issue with AI regulation
• Highlights of working for Google, Deep Mind and X
• Advice for graduates working in tech
• How can AI be used for good?
• Dealing with the hype around Generative AI and ChatGPT
• Humanity’s problem of fact vs fiction
• The problem with ChatGPT
• Open-sourcing the truth to train AI
• Should AI development be halted?
• Stephanie’s essays
• Love and AI
• The role of empathy in AI
• The link between AI and self-worth
• The hysteria in the AI industry
• Are we building AI on the wrong paradigm?
• The opportunity for AI
• The need for ethics and integrity in AI
• Where will the next phase of positive innovation come from?
• AI’s love letter to humanity
• Will AI take our jobs?
• How does AI compare to previous innovations?
• Are you worried about AI?
• Three actionable tips to better understanding AI opportunities & threats

More on Stephanie
Stephanie on LinkedIn
Aestora website
Stephanie’s Essays

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
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Andrew on YouTube
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
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AI Ethics isn’t just something we should be aware of - it is a movement according to Gaurav Rao from AtScale. Gaurav says “To me AI Ethics is a movement. and the reason why I define it as a movement is I think it has two distinct parts. There's technical frameworks that are continuing to evolve, and there's societal best practices, and both of these are put in conjunction to drive the responsible use of AI.

Gaurav is EVP & GM of Machine Learning and AI at AtScale and has been working in the AI space for a long time, and he really knows this topic. 

This episode is a really interesting one, as it peels away the layers of AI and ethics and challenges you to think about how your internal processes are structured to support the ethical use of AI.

Bad decisions made by AI may have a limited impact when it comes to song choices, but when reviewing who might get a home loan or health insurance, it could have far-reaching societal implications.

Gaurav argues that the issue of AI Ethics goes beyond the risk and legal departments and is something that your marketing and sales teams should be looking at now.

As always, the Actionable Futurist Podcast show also provides actionable advice you can put into place today and next week.

We discussed a range of issues related to AI and ethics including:

• Ethical considerations when developing AI systems and models
• The implications of bad decisions when AI is involved
• The role of regulation and AI ethics
• The ethical challenges Governments face with AI
• How can we trust AI systems
• Involving the Chief Risk Officer in AI discussions
• Where to go to learn more about ethics AI issues

Many of my clients have set up AI working groups to share best practices across departments because AI is now no longer the domain of the tech teams, it is permeating every area of every company.

With AI in the news on a daily basis, you need to consider the ethical use of AI in your business, so set aside 35 minutes this week and listen to this episode.

More about Gaurav
Gaurav on LinkedIn
AtScale website

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

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
Andrew on YouTube
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
Keynote speeches here
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