Earley AI Podcast

Ian Hook is an exemplary professional whose journey spanned from an early career as a blacksmith and preschool teacher to becoming a seasoned expert in knowledge management and artificial intelligence (AI) at Nevartis. His unorthodox path and hands-on experience have endowed him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of knowledge management and its pivotal role in leveraging generative AI tools efficiently and effectively within operational teams. Ian's significant contributions have led to remarkable operational efficiencies, including an $18 million savings for his company by centralizing market research resources.

Key Takeaways:

- Knowledge management and generative AI are integral to improving the speed and accuracy of issue detection and remediation in operational teams.

- Understanding the lineage and flow of data is vital for data scientists to fulfill their responsibility effectively.

- Ian Hook illustrates the considerable impact of having a centralized knowledge management platform on efficiency and cost savings within a corporate setting.

- The importance of governance in the context of utilizing generative AI is highlighted to mitigate unreliable outcomes due to ungoverned data.

- Knowledge graphs are presented as sophisticated tools that visualize expertise and the relationships between different domains of knowledge.

- The episode explores the limitations of large language models and emphasizes the importance of human oversight to prevent inaccuracies.

Quote of the Show:

"In our quest to harness AI, we must remember that the texture of human knowledge and expertise is the bedrock upon which these systems must be built." - Ian Hook

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhook1/
• Website: Novartis.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Mark Pickren currently serves as the President of Next Net Media. With over 25 years of experience as a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader, he possesses expertise in marketing-focused technology companies. Mark has demonstrated a consistent track record of building and managing successful ventures, with leadership experience spanning various industries, including Fintech, SaaS, and Digital Marketing. He has effectively overseen hundred-million-dollar P&Ls at large public corporations and Madison Avenue agencies. Remaining at the forefront of the dynamic digital landscape, Mark consistently delivers innovative solutions for consumers and businesses.

Takeaways:

• Organizations need to prepare for around a 25% decline in organic search traffic as search becomes more personalized. 
• Marketers need to focus on multi-dimensional targeting and providing value to specific customer personas to optimize content for search.
• As repetitive tasks are automated, career paths will focus more on managing autonomous agents and leveraging AI effectively. 
•  Large language models pose risks if not properly overseen by humans, and differentiation requires responsible use of proprietary data and knowledge.
• Emerging technologies like retrieval-augmented generation will have major impacts on enterprises by improving information access.

Quote of the Show:

• "Don't be a cynic. Lean into the better angels of technology, and be part of the solution." (Advice for graduates on how to approach emerging technologies.) 

- Marc Pickren

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcpickren/
• Website: https://nextnetmedia.com/
• Marc's Website: https://www.marcpickren.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Our guest this episode is Kristina Francis, a Executive Director at JFFLabs. Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to reshaping U.S. education and workforce systems for inclusive economic progress.

Kristina is a experienced professional with a rich background spanning management consulting, software development, engineering, and cybersecurity. She began in database administration at the American Institutes for Research, evolving from an individual contributor to leading a 120-member development team for the Department of Defense. In 2016, a pivotal moment led to a dual career path, involving founding a consulting company, angel investing in women-owned tech ventures, and engaging in workforce opportunities. Currently serving as the Executive Director for JFFLabs at Jobs for the Future, Kristina  provides a distinctive perspective on the present and future of workforce and education, emphasizing innovation, disruption, and foresight into the implications of emerging technologies.

Takeaways:

• AI has the potential to both disrupt jobs and create new job opportunities, but ensuring access to skills training will be important for workforce development.
• Personalized learning and career discovery tools that integrate assessments and map out skills pathways could help more people navigate changing job opportunities.
• Addressing systemic barriers and biases will be important to ensure all populations can benefit from new economic opportunities.
• Regions and employers can play a role in workforce development through public-private partnerships, on-the-job training programs, and investing in employees' skills.

Quote of the Show:

• " How do we get more innovators, school systems, programs, and employers to get on board and provide the support and systems needed so that everyone in our communities is able to discover and navigate through our system to achieve their highest potential? "

- Kristina Francis

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinaharrisonfrancis/
• Website: https://www.jff.org/
• Email: [email protected]

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Our guest this episode is Alexander Schober, a data & AI project owner at Motius. He manages a diverse team of tech experts, focusing on Machine Learning, Knowledge Graphs, and Data Analysis.

Alexander previously worked at Siemens Technology which involved pioneering research in Federated Learning and Self-Supervised Methods for anomaly detection. He used algorithms like Federated Averaging and SimCLR to address data privacy and label sparsity. Alexander joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss knowledge graphs, metadata modeling for data engineering, using large language models to build data pipelines and more.

For more content related to LLM's and Knowledge Graphs: https://www.earley.com/case-studies

Takeaways:

• AI Enhancements with Knowledge Graphs: While not strictly required, knowledge graphs enhance the capabilities of AI, particularly large language models. The ability to provide context and resolve conflicts within the data contributes to more accurate and reliable AI outcomes.
• Unified Metadata Model: There's a need for a unified metadata model across different tools and platforms in the data engineering and AI landscape. Disjointed metadata tools can lead to inefficiencies, and efforts should be made to integrate and unify metadata for better collaboration.
• AI-Powered Data Pipeline Construction: Large language models can be used to generate data pipelines based on provided metadata. This approach can streamline the data engineering process, ensuring that quality checks, governance attributes, and privacy classifications are integrated into the pipeline.

Quote of the Show:

• " All of these things are interconnected. Knowledge graphs, ontologies and semantics. They are all very important."

                    - Alexander Schober

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-schober/
• Website: https://www.motius.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Rachad Najjar, working the forefront of innovation in the fields of organizational learning and knowledge management for nearly a decade. Prior to this, he served as a knowledge management advisor for the Dubai Land Department, where he played a pivotal role in achieving the EFQM Excellence Award. Notably, he's also a co-author of a recent book on knowledge management and research innovation, alongside numerous scientific publications in prestigious journals. In his ground breaking thesis, he introduced a framework to configure collaboration for virtual collectives, improving effectiveness across various professional contexts. Rachad joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss his insights on AI, knowledge management, enterprise strategy implementation and more.


Takeaways:

• Seven guiding principles for a successful AI strategy, including a strong business case, process integration, quality training data, continuous supervision, powerful computing infrastructure, and AI and ML skills.
• AI governance should involve diverse expertise, including legal, supply chain, project management, and knowledge management.
• Focus on how generative AI is adding value in knowledge management and learning, particularly in areas such as customer support, search, learning, and marketing.

Quote of the Show:

• "AI models heavily depend on the quality of the training data, so quality in and quality out."

              - Rachad Najjar

• Links:
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachadbn/
  • Article: 7 Guiding Principles of a Successful Enterprise AI Strategy
  • Article: A conversation between a knowledge sharing advocate and a knowledge sharing skeptic
  • Article: AI Integration Strategy for Learning and Knowledge Management Solutions
• Ways to Tune In:
  • Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
  • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
  • iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
  • Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
  • Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
  • Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Amar Goel, founder of Bito. Amar joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss the increase in new A.I. tools, LLMs and the journey behind forming Bito! The A.I. assisted software developing tool. 

Takeaways:

• Converting AI prototypes into reliable, production-ready products is a non-trivial task, often requiring significant effort and expertise.
• AI has the potential to assist developers in various ways, from code refactoring to code migration, helping to address issues related to legacy code and modernization.
• The cost of running AI models can be significant, and businesses need to consider the expenses involved in deploying AI tools in their products and services.
• AI can play a pivotal role in streamlining developer processes, such as enhancing code quality, security, and test coverage, while allowing developers to maintain their creative freedom. However, it's essential to strike a balance between automation and creativity in the development process.

Quote of the Show:

• "We don't know what we don't know yet" about AI ethics and privacy, as everyone is learning on the job." - Amar Goel

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amargoel/
• Website: https://https://bito.ai/

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• CMSWire
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Sanjay Mehta, Head of Industry Commerce for LucidWorks. Sanjay joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss the rapidly evolving hype of generative AI and how it can be applied to your industry.

Takeaways:

• Sanjay points out that emerging AI is "not turn key". Maybe from a consumer side but when it comes to B2B there are many hoops to jump through before it's easy and effective.
• Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses, and its true potential shines when we connect the dots between customer behaviors, product attributes, and user experiences. At the heart of this transformation is the concept of ingesting good product data into the vector space.
• There are many preceded knowledge graphs for certain industries. When you build your index of data it is important to know your users context and application. Using a knowledge base to build your own vector space can be helpful. 

Quote of the Show:

• “AI is Not Turn Key" - Sanjay Mehta

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaymehta/
• Website: https://lucidworks.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Doug Kimball, Chief Marketing Officer for Ontotext .  Doug joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss the rapidly evolving world of knowledge graphs and AI.

Takeaways:

• Doug Kimball's statement about knowledge graphs being an "add to" and an "enhancement of" data is spot on. In the world of modern data management and analytics, knowledge graphs are a game-changer.
• There is a proper way to ask the right questions when communicating with Generative AI models. It is important to include the correct context and parameters.
• Knowledge graphs have many applications to a variety of different business models and use cases. Doug mentions an example where a mass migration of population from one place to another could be an opportunity for businesses to track and profit based off of user demographics utilizing knowledge graph practices.

Quote of the Show:

• “Knowledge graphs are not a rip and replace, they are an add to/enhancement of" - Doug Kimball

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougkimball/
• Website: https://www.ontotext.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDKimball

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• Marketing AI Institute
• CMSWire
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Ben Clinch, Head of Information Architecture for BT Group .  Ben joins Seth Earley and Chris Featherstone to the discuss the rapidly evolving world of data science in organization. 

Takeaways:

• An intriguing aspect is the common practice of Large Language Models (LLMs) utilizing generic data models Ben and Seth discuss more effective ways to harness the power of LLMs through specialized data models and organization.
• Companies will realize quickly that they cant do any sensible Generative AI without a core of useful referential data to utilize, train and not hallucinate.
• If people lean on Generative AI, that accelerates things rapidly, but all it does is deferring knowledge to somebody else's data model.
• Some people ask if we really need a data model.  Can't we just get an industry standard view and follow that?  Do you want to buy an org chart?  Do you want to defer how you structure your teams to somebody else's view of how you should?  This may be a good starting point, but a terrible ending point.
• What is the ROI on data modeling?  Think of data as an asset for your organization, and think of people as an asset for your organization.  Everybody from the chairman to the guy sweeping the floor understand an org chart. They understand you have to organize your people.  Otherwise, there will be involuntary anarchy.

Quote of the Show:

• “Taxonomy is a chart of accounts for knowledge" - Seth Earley

Links:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benclinch/
• Website: https://www.bt.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BritishTelecom 

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-earley-ai-podcast-87108370/ 
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/earley-ai-podcast 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18524b67-09cf-433f-82db-07b6213ad3ba/earley-ai-podcast 
• Buzzsprout: https://earleyai.buzzsprout.com/ 

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book

Today’s guest is Glenn Gow, CEO of Coaching at The Peak Performance CEO Coach. Glenn joins Seth Earley and shares how people should start leaning into what technology is advancing today. Glenn expresses the importance of learning these new materials to create opportunities for you and your company. Be sure to listen in on Glenn giving his advice on how larger companies should incorporate AI into their business!

Takeaways:

• Glenn believes that the enhanced value that Predictive AI and Analytical AI can bring to CEOs can create a crucial aspect of the evolution. By harnessing AI approaches, CEOs can gain insights that can drive decision-making and strategic planning. Glenn advocates for adopting AI methodologies to empower CEOs in navigating the rapidly evolving business landscape.
• Glenn created a concept known as "Winner Takes All." This concept is if you excel in AI, both you and your direct competitor will consistently accumulate data about your customers. This resource empowers you to gain insights into your customer base, enabling you to enhance your understanding and knowledge. The stakes are high, as falling behind your competitor could lead to setbacks and missed opportunities.
• An example of the vast impact Chat GPT and AI have on our world is Chegg—software designed to provide students with vital information to excel in school. However, when Chat GPT came to light, the AI world dramatically shifted. In a single day, the creation of Chat GPT caused Chegg's stock to plummet by 45%. Today, AI is globally, revolutionizing to assist with education, essay writing, tests, and countless other domains. Its pervasive influence continues to reshape the way we approach and engage with knowledge.
• Glenn believes enterprises will find it effortless to gather information about open-source technologies their competitors developed. By integrating the resources into their frameworks and incorporating their data, businesses will gain access to carry out operations within their competitors' organizations that were once beyond their reach. Glenn thinks people should take advantage of these opportunities to safeguard their data.
• Glenn describes prompting by taking a large language model and condensing it to a specific area of focus. This act of shrinking allows the model to channel toward a defined domain or subject matter. By honing the model's attention on a particular area, it targets outputs that align with the desired scope. This makes it simple for users to leverage the language model while meeting specific objectives.

Quote of the Show:

• “Become good at all the tools that are being made available to us, because that's going to create opportunity for you.” - Glenn Gow

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenngow/ 
• Website: https://www.glenngow.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/glenngow1 

Ways to Tune In:

• Earley AI Podcast: https://www.earley.com/earley-ai-podcast-home 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1586654770 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nkcZvVYjHHj6wtBABqLbE?si=73cd5d5fc89f4781 
• iHeart Radio: https://w

Thanks to our sponsors:

• VKTR
• Earley Information Science
• AI Powered Enterprise Book