Transform NOW

On this podcast, Brad Hairston talks with Aaron Denman, Utilities & Renewables Practice Leader in the Americas at Bain & Company, who explains how the demand for energy to power AI is exacerbating an already surging demand for power globally and how this issue might be addressed in light of decarbonization goals.

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Here’s what we talked with Aaron about: 

*Why the AI power-sourcing topic has become so urgent this year

*How utilities plan to balance the immediate need for fossil fuel power with long-term decarbonization goals

*How emerging renewable technologies might help bridge the gap in power sourcing in the near future

*Opportunities to improve the efficiency of existing data centers

*How nuclear energy might make a comeback

*The opportunity for utilities, tech companies, and governments to collaborate on these energy challenges and build a more resilient system

*Entrepreneurial actions being taken to address the need for more AI energy sourcing

*How AI-driven energy demand varies across the globe

*Where the industry should prioritize its investments to best prepare for the future energy demands of AI and other technologies

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On this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI.

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News stories covered in this episode:

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The promise and peril of ‘agentic AI’ https://www.computerworld.com/article/2514480/the-promise-and-peril-of-agentic-ai.html

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Klarna: AI lets us cut thousands of jobs - but pay more

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/klarna-ai-lets-us-cut-thousands-of-jobs-but-pay-more/ar-AA1pzpg1

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How should the labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work? https://phys.org/news/2024-08-qa-labor-movement-ai-automation.html

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AI companies are pivoting from creating gods to building products. Good. https://www.aisnakeoil.com/p/ai-companies-are-pivoting-from-creating?utm_source=tldrai

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In this episode, host Michael Marchuk talks with Emmanuel Daniel, a global thought leader in the future of finance. Emmanuel discusses the current state of the banking industry and the impact of cryptocurrencies, AI, and the financialization of everything, explaining how banks are transitioning from traditional core banking systems to more responsive and secure infrastructure that can support 24/7 operations and personalization of finance. Emmanuel also highlights the potential role of cryptocurrencies in disrupting the banking industry and the need for banks to adapt to the changing landscape and the potential digitization of currencies.

Here’s what we talked with Emmanuel about: 

-Banks are transitioning from traditional core banking systems to more responsive and secure infrastructure that can support 24/7 operations and personalization of finance.

-Cryptocurrencies have the potential to disrupt the banking industry by enabling direct peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries.

-The future of banking may involve the digitization of currencies, with central banks exploring the possibility of issuing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

-The role of banks in the future will depend on their ability to adapt to technological advancements and provide value-added services in a rapidly changing financial landscape.

To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

On this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI.

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News stories covered in this episode:

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Millennial and Gen Z small-business leaders aren’t just embracing AI. They’re using it differently

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/millennial-and-gen-z-small-business-leaders-aren-t-just-embracing-ai-they-re-using-it-differently/ar-AA1oRjYH?ocid=BingNewsVerp

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Tom’s Guide: OpenAI outlines plan for AGI — 5 steps to reach superintelligence https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/openai-has-5-steps-to-agi-and-were-only-a-third-of-the-way-there

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The Best Available Human Standard

https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-best-available-human-standard

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On this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI.

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News stories covered in this episode:

• OpenAI Warns Users Could Become Emotionally Hooked on Its Voice Mode - https://www.wired.com/story/openai-voice-mode-emotional-attachment/

• Automation is coming for private equity’s junior roles - https://www.ft.com/content/8c76fefd-dae4-41a9-b963-1a118a29f011

• Europe Has Put Its AI Act Into Effect: What It Means for You - https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/europe-has-put-its-ai-act-into-effect-what-it-means-for-you/

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On this podcast, Brad Hairston talks with Eric Bourget, CEO of the product innovation studio called HalfSerious, who explains how his firm uses design thinking to enable companies to take advantage of AI innovation in the most practical ways.

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Here’s what we talked with Eric about: 

*What’s exciting and scary about the future of AI in business

*The difference between using traditional software and using AI-centric

*The role of design in the discipline of AI

*Why deploying ChatGPT in your organization is generally a bad idea

*How companies are navigating the proliferation of LLMs

*The new product launched by HalfSerious to simplify AI access

*Positioning AI assistants or AI agents as virtual employees

*How to address the fears around AI potentially replacing people

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To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

On this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI.

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News stories covered in this episode:

Google Search Is an Illegal Monopoly, US Judge Rules

https://www.wired.com/story/google-search-antitrust-monopoly-ruling/

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Automation needed to fight army of AI content harvesters stalking the web https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/30/taming_ai_content_crawlers/

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Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI        

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-so-many-bitcoin-mining-companies-are-pivoting-to-ai/ar-BB1p4LG6?ocid=BingNewsVerp

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To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

On this podcast, Brad Hairston talks with Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Theological Education at Southern Methodist University, who makes the case that intelligence is not what makes us human and explains why preserving our humanity is so important as AI continues to permeate everything around us.

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Here’s what we talked with Robert about: 

*What inspired the article “Shall we lose our humanity for AI?”

*What being human enough really means

*The specific aspects of humanity AI will never be able to replicate

*How our educational systems can better foster humanity?

*AI-enhanced human-to-human interactions

*How individuals and communities can recover and preserve our humanity in the AI age

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To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

On this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI.

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News stories covered in this episode:

• The antithesis of the Olympics: Using AI to write a fan letter https://www.npr.org/2024/07/30/nx-s1-5056201/google-olympics-ai-ad

• AI Is Making Economists Rethink the Story of Automation https://hbr.org/2024/05/ai-is-making-economists-rethink-the-story-of-automation

• Cost and model complexity remain barriers to enterprise AI, IBM finds - https://venturebeat.com/ai/cost-and-model-complexity-remain-barriers-to-enterprise-ai-ibm-finds/

• Hundreds of Taco Bell drive-thrus are set to be AI-run by the end of this year - https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/hundreds-of-taco-bell-drive-thrus-are-set-to-be-ai-run-by-the-end-of-this-year/ar-BB1qZJUU

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In this episode, host Michael Marchuk talks with Dr. Al Naqvi, founder and CEO of the American Institute for Artificial Intelligence, regarding the revolutionary impact of Gen AI on the AI profession and the need for a strategic orientation in adopting this technology. Dr. Naqvi emphasizes that Gen AI is not just for tech people, but for everyone, and highlights the importance of creativity and imagination in developing new business models and strategies. He also addresses concerns about privacy and ethics in the Gen AI era, and emphasizes the need for policy to lead rather than follow.

Here’s what we talked with Dr. Naqvi about: 

-Gen AI is a revolutionary technology that is transforming the AI profession and requires a strategic orientation for its adoption.

-Gen AI is not limited to tech people and offers opportunities for professionals in all industries and sectors.

Creativity and imagination are crucial in developing new business models and strategies in the Gen AI era.

-Privacy and ethics should be prioritized in the development and implementation of Gen AI, and policy should lead rather than follow.

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