Eye On A.I.

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In this episode of Eye on AI, Craig Smith sits down with Jason Hardy, Chief Technology Officer for AI at Hitachi Vantara, to explore what it really takes to deploy AI at scale in the enterprise, beyond the hype.

Jason shares how Hitachi is building a pragmatic, outcomes-driven AI platform through Hitachi iQ. From working with NVIDIA to integrating agentic AI into operations, this conversation unpacks the infrastructure, mindset, and strategies needed to move AI projects from experimentation to production.

Whether you're navigating AI adoption, battling with data readiness, or looking to build your own LLM-powered applications, this episode offers invaluable insights from a company that's actually doing it globally, sustainably, and at scale.

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(00:00) Preview

(02:10) The Role of CTO for AI at Hitachi Vantara

(05:38) Applying AI Across Manufacturing, Energy & Transport

(09:54) What Is Pragmatic AI?

(13:21) Infrastructure Demands of Generative AI

(14:47) Why Most AI Projects Fail

(20:25) Inside the Hitachi iQ Platform & NVIDIA Partnership

(25:42) Building a Model-Agnostic, Hybrid AI Stack

(32:08) Beyond Selling GPUs: Delivering Real AI Outcomes

(38:09) Supporting Hybrid Deployments Across Cloud and On-Prem

(42:02) Rethinking ROI: Failure as a Strategic Advantage

(47:44) Agentic AI and the Future of Autonomous IT Workflows

(49:37) Five Core Domains of Agentic AI at Hitachi

(53:02) Making AI Infrastructure Sustainable

(56:48) Hitachi's Vision for the Future of Enterprise AI

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How AI Is Transforming the Physical World | Samsara's Vision for the Future of Operations

In this episode of Eye on AI, Craig Smith sits down with Kiren Sekar, Chief Product Officer at Samsara, to explore how AI, edge computing, and IoT are revolutionizing the world of physical operations - from fleets and factories to farms and field teams.

Samsara has quietly become the digital backbone for thousands of frontline businesses, collecting trillions of data points across vehicles, tools, and teams. Kiren explains how they're building AI-powered systems that don't just collect data, they deliver real-time safety alerts, optimize routes, track fuel efficiency, and even coach drivers automatically.

Whether you work in tech, operations, or AI, this episode shows how AI is finally meeting the real world.

Check our Samsara, AI Build for Physical Operations: https://www.samsara.com/

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(00:00) Preview

(02:01) Kiren Sekar's Background and Why Samsara Was Founded

(06:38) The Real-World Impact of Samsara's AI Systems

(09:04) What Changed After Samsara Went Public

(11:09) How Samsara Gives Businesses Visibility Into Operations

(13:08) The Hardware and Cellular Network Powering Samsara

(14:13) AI to Detect Driving Risks

(23:13) Tracking Every Asset: From Cranes to Toolkits

(25:20) Why Even Mid-Sized Companies Can Use Samsara Easily

(27:25) Regional Dashboards and AI Insights for Executives

(29:57) How Samsara Decides Where to Apply AI

(32:54) Can AI Read Handwritten Forms?

(35:31) The AI Models Samsara Uses

(39:21) What Samsara Processes at the Edge vs in the Cloud

(43:00) Why Samsara Keeps Its R&D Team Small and Fast

(46:35) Why Legacy Industries Are Finally Adopting AI

(49:12) What Agentic AI Workflows Look Like at Samsara

(54:53) What's Next: AI Voice Assistants for Field Worker

What does the future of enterprise networking really look like?

In this episode, Extreme Networks' Chief Product & Technology Officer Nabil Bukhari joins Craig to explore how AI, autonomous agents, and platform thinking are transforming the core infrastructure of modern businesses.

From managing mission-critical networks to building agentic systems that collaborate, troubleshoot, and scale autonomously - this is a deep dive into how connectivity is being redefined from the ground up.

Whether you're a tech leader, CIO, product builder, or simply curious about how infrastructure evolves, this conversation reveals where the enterprise is headed next.

Check out Extreme Networks: https://www.extremenetworks.com/

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(00:00) Preview

(01:02) Introducing Nabil Bukhari & Extreme Networks

(05:24) Why Global Connectivity Is Still Accelerating

(07:54) How Enterprise Data Flows Across Modern Networks

(12:34) Networking for AI vs. Built-in AI

(14:12) Platform One & Agentic AI Systems Explained

(21:20) Human-in-the-Loop, Over-the-Loop, and Above-the-Loop

(23:35) Why AI Guardrails Must Be Baked into the Architecture

(27:33) Introducing the ARC Framework

(31:15) Persona-Based Interfaces for NetOps, CFOs & CMOs

(33:25) The Problem with Chatbots

(36:06) Enterprise vs. Public Networks

(38:38) Global Connectivity Infrastructure & Use Case Variability

(44:29) How Secure and Resilient Are Enterprise Networks?

(52:24) In-House AI for Critical Infrastructure

AGNTCY - Unlock agents at scale with an open Internet of Agents. Visit https://agntcy.org/ and add your support.

What if AI could actually be trusted in healthcare, law, or even car repair?

In this episode, Andy Kurtzig, founder and CEO of Pearl (formerly JustAnswer), reveals how his platform is solving the biggest problems in AI: hallucinations, liability, and monetization.

Pearl blends large language models with real human experts across 700+ categories—so users get AI speed and human-verified accuracy. Whether you're a doctor, mechanic, or just someone with a question, Pearl offers fast, affordable, and expert-backed answers—without the risk of misinformation.

If you're building in AI, working in a regulated industry, or just curious about the future of trusted automation—this episode is for you.

Check out Pearl, AI Enhanced Human Expertise: https://www.pearl.com/

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(00:00) Introduction (03:20) Why Pearl Focuses on High-Stakes Industries (06:10) How Pearl Reduces AI Hallucinations with Human Trust Scores (10:11) Pearl.com's Ideal Customers (14:14) Solving AI Liability with Platform Protection (23:27) The Three Big Problems in AI: Risk, Quality, and Monetization (29:00) Why Human-in-the-Loop Is the Future of AI (33:26) Pearl's API: Bringing Verified Experts to Any App (39:27) Building Trust in AI Through Human Validation (41:03) The Road Ahead for Pearl and Human-Centered AI

What if you could translate any video into any language—instantly—and make it look like the speaker was really speaking it?

In this episode of Eye on AI, host Craig Smith sits down with Jeff Liu, founder and CEO of Akool, to explore how AI avatars and real-time video translation are eliminating global language barriers. With a background at Apple, Google, and Stanford, Jeff is leading Akool to the frontier of generative AI: cloning faces, voices, and emotions in live video streams.

We dive into the technical architecture behind Akool's real-time avatars, the role of large language models in translation latency, and what the future looks like when the need to "learn languages" may disappear.

Whether you're a content creator, marketer, technologist, or just curious about what's next in AI and communication, this episode is a must-listen.

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(00:00) Creating Digital Clones with AI

(01:20) Jeff Liu's Journey from Big Tech to Startup Founder

(02:54) What Akool Does and Who It's For

(07:11) Inside the Live AI Avatar Suite

(10:32) How Akool Powers Real-Time AI Avatars

(16:05) Solving Language Translation with Avatars

(21:40) Translating YouTube Videos with One Click

(28:36) The Technology Behind Real-Time Translation

(33:22) Competing with Tech Giants Like Google

(36:26) Akool's Vision

(39:36) Avatar Types: Instant, Studio, and Ultra explained

(43:39) Building Emotional Nuance into Voice and Video

AGNTCY - Unlock agents at scale with an open Internet of Agents. Visit https://agntcy.org/ and add your support.

What's stopping large language models from being truly enterprise-ready?

In this episode, Vectara CEO and co-founder Amr Awadallah breaks down how his team is solving one of AI's biggest problems: hallucinations.

From his early work at Yahoo and Cloudera to building Vectara, Amr shares his mission to make AI accurate, secure, and explainable. He dives deep into why RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) is essential, how Vectara detects hallucinations in real-time, and why trust and transparency are non-negotiable for AI in business.

Whether you're a developer, founder, or enterprise leader, this conversation sheds light on the future of safe, reliable, and production-ready AI.

Don't miss this if you want to understand how AI will really be used at scale.

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What if language was no longer a barrier to global business?

In this episode, DeepL CEO Jarek Kutylowski joins Craig Smith to unpack how AI-powered translation is reshaping the way companies communicate across borders.

From real-time speech tools to enterprise-grade language workflows, Jarek shares DeepL's journey, the tech behind their LLMs, and why accuracy, nuance, and localization matter more than ever. If you're building for a global audience, this conversation is a must-listen.

About Jarek: Dr. Jaroslaw "Jarek" Kutylowski is the founder and CEO of DeepL, the Cologne-based Language AI company transforming global communication and breaking down language barriers for businesses worldwide.

Born in Poland and having spent a large part of his life in Germany, Jarek brings an international perspective and a lifelong passion for technology - a developer at heart, he began coding at just 10 years old, building tools he found useful in daily life. He holds a PhD in Computer Science with a focus on mathematics and has held roles at several tech companies prior to founding DeepL.

Under his leadership, DeepL has grown rapidly, expanding its Language AI platform to offer highly accurate and nuanced human-like translation in both written and spoken formats, as well as a contextual AI writing assistant. Today, over 200,000 businesses and governments - and millions of individuals across 228 global markets - trust DeepL for secure, seamless and effective communication.

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(00:00) Introduction to DeepL and Jarek's Vision

(05:09) DeepL's Technology Evolution

(08:17) The DeepL Platform: Products, APIs, and Enterprise Use Cases

(12:39) Why DeepL Outperforms Consumer Tools

(15:14) How Enterprises Use DeepL

(17:05) DeepL's Translation Accuracy

(21:20) Breaking Language Barriers in Global Workforces

(23:46) A Future Without Language Barriers

(27:19) Expanding Language Coverage and Industry Verticals

(31:44) DeepL's Role in High-Compliance Sectors

(34:04) Tackling Latency and Real-Time Use Cases

(38:38) DeepL as the Translation Engine Behind Other Products

(42:40) Partnering with News Media and Government

(45:40) Pricing Models and Accessibility

(46:24) The Human Impact of AI-Powered Language Tools

(49:22) What's Next for DeepL and Global Communication

AGNTCY - Unlock agents at scale with an open Internet of Agents. Visit https://agntcy.org/ and add your support.

Can AI expand human consciousness? Or is it just a simulation of wisdom?

In this mind-bending episode of Eye on AI, host Craig Smith sits down with world-renowned spiritual teacher and author Deepak Chopra to explore the future of Artificial Intelligence, consciousness, health, and spiritual awakening.

Deepak unpacks the ideas behind his latest book, Digital Dharma, and shares how his team built a small language model—DeepakChopra.ai—designed to serve as a digital health and spiritual guide. Together, they dive deep into quantum theory, the illusion of the physical world, and why consciousness is not something AI can ever possess—but it can help us reach it.

Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply curious about the future of human evolution, this episode will challenge your assumptions and expand your perspective.

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(00:00) Why Deepak Chopra Is Entering the AI Space

(04:05) The Promise and Peril of the AI Revolution

(09:47) How Deepak Chopra Built His Own AI Model

(13:58) Is AI the Future of Human Evolution?

(15:39) How the AI Landscape Has Evolved Over Time

(21:22) AI in Preventative Healthcare

(24:49) Key Insights from "Digital Dharma"

(25:40) Using Prompt Engineering for Inner Growth

(38:28) Exploring Human Potential Through AI

(43:16) Can AI Understand Human Emotions?

(47:00) Spiritual Awakening in the Age of AI

(50:54) The Future of AI and Consciousness

This episode is sponsored by Oracle. OCI is the next-generation cloud designed for every workload – where you can run any application, including any AI projects, faster and more securely for less. On average, OCI costs 50% less for compute, 70% less for storage, and 80% less for networking. Join Modal, Skydance Animation, and today's innovative AI tech companies who upgraded to OCI…and saved.

Try OCI for free at http://oracle.com/eyeonai

What if you could fine-tune an AI model without any labeled data—and still outperform traditional training methods?

In this episode of Eye on AI, we sit down with Jonathan Frankle, Chief Scientist at Databricks and co-founder of MosaicML, to explore TAO (Test-time Adaptive Optimization)—Databricks' breakthrough tuning method that's transforming how enterprises build and scale large language models (LLMs).

Jonathan explains how TAO uses reinforcement learning and synthetic data to train models without the need for expensive, time-consuming annotation. We dive into how TAO compares to supervised fine-tuning, why Databricks built their own reward model (DBRM), and how this system allows for continual improvement, lower inference costs, and faster enterprise AI deployment.

Whether you're an AI researcher, enterprise leader, or someone curious about the future of model customization, this episode will change how you think about training and deploying AI.

Explore the latest breakthroughs in data and AI from Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/events/dataaisummit-2025-announcements

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AGNTCY - Unlock agents at scale with an open Internet of Agents. Visit https://agntcy.org/ and add your support.

What if your blood could reveal the future of your health - years before symptoms ever appear?

In this episode of Eye on AI, Craig Smith sits down with Ash Anwar, co-founder of Molecular You, to explore how AI and advanced biomarker analysis are transforming how we detect and prevent disease.

From a real-life case where stage 1 pancreatic cancer was caught early, to the science behind tracking 250+ dynamic biomarkers, Ash breaks down how Molecular You is shifting healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive longevity.

They dive into the limitations of genetic testing, the power of machine learning models trained on clinical data, and how personalized action plans are helping individuals take control of their health in real time.

If you're curious about the intersection of AI, diagnostics, and the future of preventive medicine—this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

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(00:00) How AI Can Predict Disease Before It Happens (02:02) Meet Ash Anwar: From Scientist to Health Tech Leader (06:31) What Is Molecular You and How It Works (09:43) Why Biomarker Tracking Over Time Is a Game-Changer (15:46) How Molecular You Detected Stage 1 Pancreatic Cancer (23:15) Biomarkers vs Genetics: What Really Matters (28:11) The AI Models Behind Early Disease Detection (32:37) How the Product Works for Clinics and Consumers (35:05) Who They Compete With and What Makes Them Different (37:34) Research vs Product: The Cancer Risk Challenge (43:43) How Often Should You Get Tested?