In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, Ben speaks with Durai Rajamanickam, a senior AI leader, about what it really takes to turn AI ambition into something organisations can trust and scale.

They discuss why many AI initiatives fail long before the technology becomes the issue, the risks of hype-driven decision-making, and the importance of clear goals, strong business ownership, and measurable outcomes.

The conversation explores the tension between speed and governance, when to build vs buy, and why trust and governance are not obstacles to progress, but foundations for sustainable AI adoption.

This is a practical, experience-led discussion for leaders who want to build AI capabilities that last.

00:00 Introduction: The AI Hype and Strategy Revisions
01:09 Guest Introduction: Meet Durai Rajamanickam
02:09 AI Initiatives: Technical Capabilities and Investments
03:46 Build vs Buy: Evaluating AI Tools
05:36 Common AI Missteps: Hype and Misdiagnosis
07:41 Successful AI Implementation: Business and Technical Alignment
09:11 Governance and Trust: The Key to Sustainable AI
09:47 Real-World Examples: When AI Falls Short
12:22 Balancing Speed and Governance in AI
15:22 Decision-Making in AI: Trust and Autonomy
21:03 Final Thoughts: Advice for AI Leadership
23:04 Conclusion: Wrapping Up the Discussion

Thank you for listening!