What do you get when you mix five decades of tech experience, a front-row seat to every major shift in computing, and one of the most recognizable voices at AWS? You get Jeff Barr — and in this special bonus episode, we dive deep into his journey from the dawn of personal computing to the fast-moving frontier of Generative AI.

Jeff shares how GenAI fits into the larger story of software evolution, why today’s developers need to unlearn old habits, and how the next big innovation might come from a silly experiment — like turning 1,400 selfies into a perfectly aligned GIF.

Tune in to hear:

• Why deterministic thinking no longer serves developers in the GenAI era

• How AI is changing software development, data strategy, and even executive decision-making

• Why the “apps” of tomorrow might be disposable — but the data must endure

• Jeff’s advice for developers and execs on how to stay relevant: “Just start. Do something.”

Whether you’re an engineer, a business leader, or just AI-curious, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, thoughtful provocations, and the kind of long-view insight only Jeff Barr can offer.

Additional Resources:

• AWS News Blog

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Six months ago, The Generative Edge launched with one goal: demystify generative AI and help business leaders understand what it really takes to go from pilot to production.

Now, in our Season 1 finale, we’re taking a beat to reflect on how far the GenAI landscape has come — and where it’s headed next.

Join our hosts Donovan Spronk (Deloitte Central Europe), Vyasaraj Kulkarni (AWS), Brandon Eychaner (Deloitte Central Europe) and Executive Producers Ian Masters (AWS) and Stephanie Cohen (Deloitte Central Europe) as they revisit standout moments from the season, reflect on real-world client stories, and unpack key themes like:

• Why GenAI isn’t “just another IT project” — it’s a culture shift

• The move from generative to agentic and autonomous AI

• The persistent challenge of proving value in a hype-heavy space

• The role of data strategy, trust, and middle management in scaling GenAI

• And why “generate responsibly” is more than a sign-off — it’s a strategy

We’re also sharing a glimpse into what’s ahead for Season 2, including more on-the-ground insights from clients, live episodes from industry summits, and fresh perspectives on building GenAI into the day-to-day.

Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or have been riding the (Generative) Edge with us since episode one — thank you for listening!

👉 Season 2 is coming this fall. But don’t worry — we’re not going totally dark. We’ll be dropping a few bonus episodes throughout the summer — think of them as little surprises from The Generative Edge to keep the conversation (and the momentum) going.

Until then… generate responsibly!

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In today’s race to deploy cutting-edge GenAI solutions, slowing down might be the smartest move your organization makes. In this episode of The Generative Edge, Donovan Spronk (Deloitte Central Europe) and Vyasaraj Kulkarni (AWS) sit down with David Thogmartin, AI Partner at Deloitte Germany, to unpack what it takes to build AI systems that are not just fast—but trustworthy, reliable, and ready for scale.

Drawing from deep client experience and regulatory insight, David explains why trust isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a core accelerator for AI adoption, performance, and long-term success.

What’s inside:

• Why trustworthy AI starts with transparency, fairness, and security

• How legal frameworks like the EU AI Act are shaping the future

• Real-world risks of skipping over quality—and how to avoid them

• What business leaders can do now to build trust into every AI use case

• The rise of Agentic AI and why the stakes are getting higher

Whether you’re leading strategy, driving innovation, or building the tech itself—this episode is your reminder that rushing AI comes at a cost, and trust is the key to doing it right.

Remember: Trust isn't a delay—it's a multiplier.

Additional Resources on Trustworthy AI from David and his team:

• Operationalizing AI Governance

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What does it really cost to generate a meme, summarize an article, or run a chatbot? In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked environmental impact of Generative AI—especially when it comes to electricity and water use.

Dr. Kristof Schum, a Generative AI Partner Leader from AWS EMEA, joins Brandon Eychaner (Deloitte Central Europe) to discuss how major players in the AI space are building for scale and sustainability. From designing more efficient infrastructure to rethinking the value of each prompt, we unpack what it means to use Generative AI responsibly.

Whether you're an enterprise leader, a curious user, or just wondering what goes on behind the prompt, this conversation offers practical insights and a hopeful look at what’s possible when innovation and intention go hand-in-hand.

Fun fact: this episode was recorded back in August 2024—and it’s still just as relevant today. Turns out, good conversations (and solid thinking) age well.

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Can Generative AI really make your life easier—or are we at risk of outsourcing our thinking?

In this episode of The Generative Edge, Stephanie Cohen and Brandon Eychaner (Deloitte Central Europe) explore the top three ways people are using GenAI in their daily lives:

• Content creation (emails, LinkedIn posts, brainstorming ideas)

• Summarization (transcripts, reports, meeting notes)

• Question answering (especially with large documents or tools like ChatGPT)

They also discuss the common pitfalls that come with over-relying on these tools, including:

• Generic, repetitive content

• Loss of creative confidence and “learned helplessness”

• AI hallucinations and lack of factual accuracy

• The risk of summarizing summaries to the point of losing meaning

You’ll come away with a better understanding of what GenAI can and can’t do—and how to use it responsibly without losing your unique perspective.

Whether you’re new to GenAI or already using it every day, this conversation will help you stay productive, creative, and in control.

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Technology may kick off the GenAI journey—but it’s your people who determine whether it actually works.

In this episode, Donovan Spronk and Brandon Eychaner (Deloitte Central Europe) are joined by Hella Steinbrecher, a Senior Manager in Organizational Transformation in Human Capital from Deloitte Germany, to explore what most GenAI strategies overlook: trust, culture, and change management. From building workforce buy-in to measuring adoption KPIs, Hella shares hard-won lessons from large-scale GenAI transformations where people-first thinking made all the difference.

Whether you’re a C-suite leader or managing a transformation team, this conversation will challenge how you think about GenAI and give you the tools to lead it better.

• Why GenAI adoption fails without trust

• How to embed change management from day one

• What metrics really matter in people-led transformation

• The overlooked role of middle management

• How to build a culture that embraces AI—not fears it

Forget the tech-first mindset—this is the GenAI playbook every leader needs.

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Agentic AI is the latest buzzword in Generative AI—but is it truly revolutionary or just a new way of structuring AI workflows?

In this episode of The Generative Edge, hosts Brandon Eychaner and Stephanie Cohen (Deloitte Central Europe) break down what Agentic AI is, how it differs from traditional AI systems, and what it means for decision-making, automation, and ethics. They explore the risks, benefits, and real-world applications of AI with agency—where models don’t just process inputs but decide their own next steps.

From workflow automation to AI-driven decisions, this conversation explores where Agentic AI fits into today’s business landscape and whether it’s ready for large-scale adoption. The discussion also covers key ethical concerns and practical developer tools to help listeners get started.

In this episode:

• What Agentic AI actually is and how it works
• How it compares to traditional AI workflows
• The risks and limitations—can AI really make decisions?
• Ethical concerns and common AI errors
• The future of AI-driven automation

Is Agentic AI the next big step or just a reshuffling of AI architecture? Tune in to find out!

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The GenAI landscape is evolving fast, and we’re here to break it all down for you. In this episode of The Generative Edge, Brandon Eychaner and Stephanie Cohen (Deloitte Central Europe) dive into the latest developments shaping the world of Generative AI.

• What are people actually using GenAI for? We unpack the Anthropic Economic Index Report, revealing how LLMs are augmenting and automating work across industries.
• Is GenAI disrupting academia? With 17% of peer reviews now AI-generated, we discuss the fine line between efficiency and research integrity.
• Meet DeepSeek—the new LLM making waves. With high performance at a fraction of the cost, it’s already ranked #2 globally. But is it as powerful as it seems?
• Is Generative AI a corporate competition or a national race? We explore whether countries should be treating AI as a strategic asset.

Join us as we separate the hype from reality and discuss what these advancements mean for businesses, researchers, and everyday GenAI users.

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How did Telekom Srbija break down information silos and unify their analytics to become a leader in AI-driven decision-making? By accelerating their AI initiatives, they are bringing more value to their business and clients. With Generative AI at the core, Telekom Srbija is reshaping its organization to drive efficiency and impact. They have a clear AI strategy and have recently launched their first Generative AI use cases into production.

Like many companies, Telekom Srbija is in the early stages of their Generative AI journey, addressing critical questions:

• How does Generative AI disrupt existing data strategies?
• How do you pivot an established AI roadmap with the advent of Generative AI?
• Is it necessary to overhaul current systems?
• How do you build trust in Generative AI across the business?

In this episode of The Generative Edge, hosts Donovan Spronk (Deloitte CE) and Vyasaraj Kulkarni (AWS) engage with Siniša Arsić (Analytics Director), Kristina Miljević (ML Engineer), and Dušan Milenković (Head of Data Engineering) from Telekom Srbija. They discuss foundational steps for AI adoption, including breaking down data silos, securing executive buy-in, and deploying Generative AI in sales teams. The conversation sheds light on the steps taken and lessons learned along the way.

If your organization is still formulating its Generative AI strategy, this episode is essential listening. Discover how Telekom Srbija is:

• Building a strong foundation for Generative AI adoption
• Utilizing AI governance to drive alignment and investment
• Identifying quick-win use cases to demonstrate value
• Implementing Generative AI in their sales teams to enhance efficiency

Telekom Srbija is leading the way in innovative thinking, integrating AI into their culture, and already delivering significant impact to their business and customers. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from their pioneering approach—listen now to accelerate your Generative AI journey!

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Generative AI isn’t just another tech trend—it’s a business imperative. But while innovation is moving at breakneck speed, most enterprises are struggling to keep up. Are you ahead of the curve or already falling behind?

In this episode of The Generative Edge, Donovan Spronk (Deloitte Central Europe) sits down with Holger Mueller, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research, to break down what it really takes to scale AI across an enterprise. We’ll tackle the biggest misconceptions holding businesses back, the critical role of cloud adoption, and why GenAI isn’t just a project—it’s a core business function.

Inside this episode:

• The number one reason GenAI adoption is lagging behind innovation—and how to fix it
• The Campfire Model: A game-changing approach to enterprise-wide AI adoption
• From copilots to autonomous AI: The shift that’s redefining business operations
• Why data silos are killing your AI strategy and what to do about it
• What leading enterprises are doing right now to stay ahead in the GenAI race

Generative AI at scale isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The question is: will your organization lead the charge or struggle to catch up?

Additional Resources & Reports:

• [Full Report] 2024 Constellation Research - AI Enters the PaaS phase. Why Amazon Bedrock shows the way.

  • Constellation Research finds Amazon Bedrock enables up to 25x faster AI implementation: This deep-dive research discusses current AI trends and the evolution from infrastructure-focused development to a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). Analyst Holger Mueller from Constellation Research emphasizes how PaaS solutions like Amazon Bedrock can help organizations overcome AI implementation challenges by providing ready-to-use frameworks and tools, significantly reducing development time and complexity compared to DIY approaches.

• A Persona-Driven Innovation Model
  • Holger Mueller’s A Persona Driven Innovation Model (PDIM) introduces a framework for enhancing enterprise software development by centering innovation around user personas. By understanding specific user needs and workflows, organizations can design more intuitive, user-friendly solutions. Mueller emphasizes that this approach bridges the gap between complex enterprise systems and their end-users, driving better adoption and satisfaction.
• There Is Only ‘One’ (1) IT Strategy in 2025 and Beyond | Constellation Research Inc.
  • This Constellation Big Idea report lays out the reasons why a diverse portfolio of IT strategies has imploded into a single best-practice IT strategy, determined by the need for enabling artificial intelligence (AI), insights, next-generation applications,  and the move to global enterprise software. This go-forward enterprise strategy document lays out the underlying trends, walks through a step-by-step approach, and concludes with a set of practical recommendations. 

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