Cybersecurity is a growing concern as cyber attacks become more frequent and sophisticated. The cybersecurity market is expected to continue growing at double-digit rates, with estimates up to $16 billion by 2028.

Addressing cybersecurity requires a comprehensive approach that includes threat modeling, implementing controls, and establishing governance policies. However, finding the right balance between security and functionality, as well as allocating sufficient resources, remains a huge challenge for most organizations.

In this episode of Technology Tangents, our conversation explores the latest news and considerations of cybersecurity. We discuss the need to simplify and streamline cybersecurity practices while balancing speed to market and innovation, and the role of governance and regulations in cybersecurity.

The vast majority of enterprise companies have created dozens of GenAI pilots at this point, yet most are struggling to move these into production.

On this week’s episode of Technology Tangents, our leaders are unpacking the challenges of getting AI projects out of “pilot purgatory”, and why that’s still an essential task leaders need to be prioritizing.

We also discuss the need for cultural and operational changes within organizations, the importance of curiosity and white space in a busy work environment, and the role of governance in balancing innovation and risk.

One final theme that comes through on many of our episodes - organizations must adopt AI and innovate to survive in the face of this incredibly disruptive technology.

Junior employees are historically faster than senior leaders to adopt new technologies, but there may be some serious consequences to relying on junior leaders as a source of expertise in the GenAI space.

In our latest episode of Technology Tangents, Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders at Credera, breakdown a recent paper from Harvard Business School and Boston Consulting Group that highlights the risks and challenges associated with the use of generative AI, particularly in the context of junior consultants using these tools. Their discussion highlights the potential for inexperienced users to misunderstand and misuse the technology, leading to inaccurate and unreliable results.

They also touch on the unique nature of generative AI, which involves solving problems in a non-algorithmic way, and ultimately the need for proper training, understanding, and critical thinking when using generative AI.

Show outline:

00:00 – Introductions and greetings

1:48 – The change management required for generative AI: Embracing GenAI in reality

2:39 – The reliance on junior employees to adopt & implement new technologies

8:18 – The biggest risks and hurdles to the technology – in the eyes of junior and more senior employees

22:15 – Concerns and risks with the low barriers to entryof Gen AI  

33:48 – “Just change how you work” – the message that’snever worked

39:00 – The importance of systems-level thinking

46:43 – Changing the user interaction of GenAI

In 2024, is there a world outside of AI?

We're taking an ever so slight break from our regular topic of AI to discuss other topics that CIOs should be considering, outside of AI. Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders at Credera, discuss a wide range of topics related to the evolving landscape of technology and business strategy, including the move back to the edge, how to handle technical debt, and the increasing need to focus on cybersecurity.

Show outline:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 1:02 – Outside the world of AI - what else should tech leaders be thinking through?
• 2:00 – Moving AI to the edge
• 10:39 – The downsides of building on the edge
• 23:00 – Technologies tangential to edge computing (i.e., WasmEdge)
• 26:38 – Why crypto and blockchain still aren't popular
• 29:26 – Protein folding (AlphaFold) - should it be done with AI?
• 33:56 – "Musings of tired minds"
• 40:15 – The increasing importance of investing in cybersecurity
• 43:20 – Getting a handle on technical debt
• 49:59 – Quick thoughts on employee engagement and retention in 2024

Most business leaders are aware that if AI isn’t incorporated into their businesses, they are at risk of being disrupted and outdated shortly. In light of this, many organizations have built out proof-of-concepts for AI, but now don’t know where to focus or which ideas to take to production.

From building an initial AI strategy to enabling chosen AI initiatives at scale, Credera has helped clients realize measurable results from their AI initiatives. Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders at Credera, discuss how to build muscle and maximize optionality in the realm of AI, share suggestions for evaluating your organization’s POCs, and provide insights into the considerations and strategies for effectively implementing AI.

Show outline:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 1:03 – Where to focus AI efforts
• 14:06 – Why the real winners of AI likely won’t be the first disruptors
• 15:25 – “Maintaining optionality” and the necessity to build the innovative muscle
• 17:42 – How to get AI POCs into production
• 22:05 – The backbone of successful AI? Good, reliable, and clean data
• 29:50 – If you’re starting from scratch, how to build your AI strategy and take advantage of third-party products
• 31:27 – The necessity of taking a “build, measure, learn” approach
• 37:00 – The role in corporate development in AI

Website: https://www.credera.comLinkedIn:   / credera  Twitter:   / credera  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcredera/

We've heard that first-party data will be crucial for marketers with increased regulations and Google's ongoing depreciation of third-party cookies, yet many marketing leaders are still asking the questions, "am I going about this the right way?" or even, "how do I actually get started?"

With this in mind, Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders at Credera, discuss the benefits of building a first-party data strategy, how to create value that drives data sharing, and tips for building a lucrative first-party data strategy.

Show outline:

• Intro 
• 00:45 – Definitions of first-party and third-party cookies and the need to collect first-party data
• 6:30 - How leaders are responding to new regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) and regulatory risk
• 10:15 - When some customers want privacy and some want customized experiences...
• 12:25 - The value of the value-exchange
• 15:00 - Creating a valuable experience that makes users want to share their data
• 25:10 - Technological solutions helping organizations overcome the depreciation of third-party cookies (hint: first-party data collection)
• 29:00 - Rethinking your channel strategy and advertising approach
• 37:04 - The functionality of data clean rooms
• 39:32 - Fingerprinting
• 44:00 - Why leveraging your first-party data is likely your most lucrative approach

"Who should own AI in my organization?" It's a question our AI leaders are getting asked a lot, as organizations sort through how to structure and scale AI adoption at their organizations.

With this in mind, Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders are Credera, discuss who should own AI in organizations to ensure quick, innovative, and safe adoption.

(Spoiler alert–it's the CEO.)

Show outline:

• Intro 
• 00:45 – Who should own AI in an organization? 
• 8:22 – How boards should get up to speed on AI success and governance, and why boards need to be more aggressive with AI adoption
• 12:06 – Comparing AI and ecommerce – adopt or get left behind
• 15:40 – The immediate need to create an AI strategy and concrete goals
• 20:11 – No excuses – should CEOs set significant challenges to enforce faster adoption?
• 24:00 – Is creating a Center of Excellence the way to move faster?
• 30:40 – Balancing security risks with opportunity  
• 34 – Why AI adoption is ultimately the CEO's job, and a call to move quickly
• 46:30 – The exciting chapter of AI

AI talent is the need of the hour. It's been a mad dash to gobble up whatever talent organizations can find, at very high costs. With such high stakes, how should companies navigate this landscape and ensure ROI on AI talent investments? Vincent Yates, Jason Goth, and Kevin Erickson, three senior leaders are Credera, deep dive into the AI talent wars.

Find out more on Credera.com.

Show outline:

• Intro 
• 0:30 – The AI talent gold rush & the Gartner hype cycle 
• 5:00 – Building AI technology verses utilizing the technology – what does your organization actually need? 
• 11:00 – Is fear the real root of the hype?  
• 15:00 – Labor market shifts in the backdrop of the AI hype  
• 23:45 – How AI will change capital allocation & the world of VCs and startups 
• 29:07 – Is the AI boom unique, or similar to past tech revolutions?  
• 31:59 – How will AI-natives change the workforce? 
• 36:30 – The societal and economic impacts of the AI revolution 
• 39:27 – Practical advice on what should companies do to navigate this landscape 

Vincent Yates and Jason Goth are back for their first podcast in 2024 and are deep diving into the trends unveiled at CES. The tech leaders share their thoughts on what trends might stick, what was truly innovative, and what was disappointing about the event.

Vincent Yates and Jason Goth are joined by Kevin Erickson, Partner at Credera. The trio share their perspectives on the imperative of retooling in the face of AI and its significance for organizations across the globe.