Today in Tech

Are shoppers starting to trust AI like a person? Host Keith Shaw talks with Brett Leary of Accenture about research showing users treat GPT-style tools as trusted advisors — and how that shifts product discovery, brand loyalty, and the future of shopping agents.

In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw is joined by Sydnee Mayers, Product Lead for AI at Cribl, to explore the fast-growing world of AI certifications. As tech companies, cloud providers, and universities race to offer AI training programs, how can professionals know which certifications matter — and which ones might be outdated before you even finish them?

We break down:

The explosion of AI certifications post-ChatGPT

The most popular programs (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Andrew Ng)

Why developer skills don’t always translate to working with AI

The difference between a “course” and a real certification

How employers actually view AI certs in hiring decisions

The skills (like prompt engineering) that still aren’t being formally taught

The lack of certifications for non-technical roles (sales, marketing)

Why AI certifications may never become standardized — and what to do instead

AI is reshaping both sides of the job market—from how companies hire to how freelancers win work. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw talks with Dave Bottoms (SVP & GM of Marketplace at Upwork) about AI-powered hiring, instant interviews, the surge in demand for AI skills, and how freelancers can stay competitive without losing the human creativity and judgment that clients value.

What you’ll learn:

How AI is changing recruiting and interviews (speed, fairness, transparency)

The freelance skills in highest demand (prompting, model training, AI integration)

Smart ways freelancers use AI to boost productivity—without sacrificing quality

Trust, bias, and the future role of AI agents in the freelance economy

Watch to see how to thrive in the new freelance economy shaped by AI.

Most companies are racing to adopt generative and agentic AI — but many are skipping the most important steps. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw is joined by Prem Natarajan, EVP, Chief Scientist, and Head of Enterprise AI at Capital One, for a candid discussion about what true AI readiness looks like in the enterprise.

Learn why flashy demos aren’t enough — and what organizations must invest in to move beyond experimentation:

Why data quality, cloud architecture, and talent are non-negotiables

How Capital One built its own AI agent platform (and why most companies can’t yet)

The difference between outputs vs. outcomes in agentic AI

What “human in the loop” really means in 2025

Why trust must be earned — by the technology

The overlooked role of governance, risk, and strategic patience

AI success starts long before the first model is deployed.

For decades, quantum computing seemed like science fiction — complex, mysterious, and always “in the future.” But in 2025, that narrative is changing. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Murray Thom, VP of Quantum Technology Evangelism at D-Wave, to explore how quantum computing is already solving real-world problems. This includes workforce scheduling to materials science and even AI optimization.

Learn why this isn’t a distant future technology anymore:

The real reason 2025 may be the tipping point

How companies like Ford and grocery chains are using quantum tech today

Why quantum won’t replace classical computing — but will enhance it

The surprising energy savings vs. supercomputers

How quantum computing could help cure cancer, tackle climate change, and optimize AI training models

As enterprises embrace agentic AI, the cybersecurity challenges are multiplying. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Lee Klarich, Chief Product Officer at Palo Alto Networks, to explore the growing concerns around AI security — from prompt injection and rogue agents to emerging attack vectors enabled by autonomous AI systems.

Lee breaks down the three core risk categories facing companies in 2025:

Misuse and lack of visibility into generative AI tools

New attack surfaces opened by copilots and embedded agents

The looming threat of AI-powered attackers and autonomous red teaming tools

They also cover:

The evolution of security from generative AI to agentic AI

Real-world vulnerabilities already observed in agent communication protocols (MCP)

Why discovery and control are the first steps in protecting AI deployments

How security teams can evolve their playbooks without slowing down innovation

The optimistic case for AI as a force multiplier for defenders—not just attackers

Will the defenders stay one step ahead, or are we building systems we can’t control? This episode delivers must-watch insights for CISOs, security engineers, and tech leaders navigating the next phase of AI adoption.

Artificial intelligence is powerful, but are businesses using it the wrong way? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Alan Trefler, Founder and CEO of Pega, to discuss why so many AI projects are failing and how companies can still unlock real value from generative AI and agentic AI.

Alan shares why organizations confuse design-time AI (for creativity and planning) with run-time AI (for execution and reliability), and why that mistake leads to unscalable, risky, and sometimes embarrassing outcomes. From failed AI pilots to the hype around agents, Alan breaks down:

Why at least 40% of AI projects fail

The dangers of running your business on “prompts”

The three categories of AI every business leader must understand

How workflows, not prompts, create predictability and trust

The future of agentic AI, and how to avoid repeating today’s mistakes

From spotting weapons and detecting smoke to predicting where incidents are most likely to occur, artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of physical security. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw and guest James Benum explore how AI-powered cameras, drones, and large language models are improving response times, reducing false alarms, and helping security teams work smarter.

They also discuss the balance between safety and privacy, the convergence of cyber and physical security, and why humans will always play a vital role in protecting people and property.

Is AI helping or hurting your job search? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Cliff Jurkiewicz, Vice President of Global Strategy at Phenom, to uncover the truth behind applicant tracking systems (ATS), the rise of generative engine optimization (GEO), and the new AI-powered job hunt.

Discover why your traditional resume may be getting ignored, how AI is quietly reshaping hiring from both the company and candidate side, and what you can do to stand out. Cliff explains the difference between old-school ATS systems and modern intelligent talent platforms, warns about ethical lines job seekers are crossing with prompt injection and fraud, and shares why storytelling and networking are now essential job-seeking strategies.

:fire: Key Takeaways:

Why legacy ATS systems are like "taping an iPad to a school bus"

How to write resumes for AI using GEO and semantic relevance

The dangers of resume fraud and prompt injection

How to practice interviews with ChatGPT (the right way)

Why face-to-face networking is more valuable than ever

:pushpin: Whether you're job hunting now or preparing for the future, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and surprising truths.

Generative AI has been hyped for years — but is it delivering real value? In this episode of Today in Tech, Keith Shaw talks with Ketan Karkhanis, CEO of ThoughtSpot, about what’s really working in AI, what isn’t, and where the technology is headed next. From replacing dashboards with AI agents to transforming onboarding, customer service, and engineering productivity, Ketan shares how companies can move beyond the headlines and focus on ROI, culture, and trust.

Learn why he believes AI won’t cut jobs — it will actually create new opportunities — and how leaders can avoid “AI theater” and deliver real results.

If you want to understand the future of AI adoption — and how to compete with the biggest players — this conversation is for you.