Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to experiments in labs or one-off pilot projects. For many enterprises, it is becoming the backbone of how they operate, innovate, and compete. But as companies race to deploy AI, the biggest challenge is not whether the technology works, but whether the foundations exist to scale it safely and effectively.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Christian Buckner, Senior Vice President of Data and AI Platform at Altair, a company known for combining rocket science with data science. Christian unpacks the concept of an AI Fabric, a framework that harmonizes enterprise data and embeds AI directly into a universal model. Rather than scattered tools and isolated projects, the AI Fabric acts as a living system of intelligence, helping organizations move faster, make better decisions, and unlock new kinds of automation.

We talk about how global enterprises from automotive suppliers to petrochemical giants are already using Altair's technology to improve safety, optimize production, and cut costs. Christian shares examples including a transportation company that boosted revenue by $50 million in its first year of AI-driven dynamic pricing and a healthcare provider that saved $17 million in analysis time using knowledge graphs for drug discovery.

The conversation also explores the hype and the risks around AI agents. While it is easy to spin up a proof of concept with a Python library, Christian explains why real enterprise impact requires governance, monitoring, and infrastructure to make agents trustworthy and sustainable. He likens it to building HR systems for AI, where agents need onboarding, oversight, and performance evaluation to operate alongside humans.

We also touch on Altair's acquisition by Siemens and what this means for the future of industrial AI. By integrating Altair's data and AI expertise with Siemens' deep industrial systems, enterprises can add intelligence without ripping out existing infrastructure. The result is not about replacing workers but enabling them to become what Christian calls "10x employees," augmented by AI tools and agents that multiply their effectiveness.

For anyone curious about how AI will change product design, operations, and enterprise decision-making, this episode offers a rare inside look at the technology foundations being built today. You can learn more at altair.com/ai-fabric.

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