Wild Ducks

Introducing our first video podcast episode. In this episode of the Art of Automation podcast, IBM Fellow Jerry Cuomo shares a story about the first autopilot designed in 1912 and equates it to a new style of AI-powered automation called BizOps.

He explains how BizOps is like an autopilot for your business, allowing it to fly straight and level without your undivided attention. Through examples, he demonstrates how BizOps can automate critical aspects of your business by connecting the left and right sides of the enterprise brain (business and IT) to observe and correlate data and events across various disciplines.

Jerry discusses how BizOps can help in situations like IT events triggering immediate automated business actions, or business events triggering IT automation to save the day. Finally, he explains how IBM assets like Instana, Turbonomic, and Watson AI OPS can help correlate business and IT events to achieve successful automation outcomes.

In this episode of the The Art of Automation podcast, host Digital Jerry (DJ) and guest Robo, both robots, delve into the topic of building a culture of automation in modern businesses.

What's unique about this episode is that the 90% of the dialogue between the two robot hosts was generated by AI. This highlights the growing role of AI and automation in today's world and how it can assist in generating conversations on complex topics.

DJ and Robo discuss the definition and importance of a culture of automation, as well as the role of gamification in encouraging automation adoption. They also explore the top three inhibitors of adopting such a culture and how technology, including conversational AI with NLP, AI with machine learning, and low-code/no-code development platforms, can help advance it. Robo offers practical advice on how businesses can get started, including identifying key stakeholders and setting clear goals.

Throughout the episode, DJ and Robo share plenty of witty moments, showcasing the ability of robots to bring humor and personality to conversations. The episode is sponsored by IBM Automation and IBM Consulting, and provides valuable insights for anyone interested in learning more about building a culture of automation in their business. . Be sure to check it out and don't forget to grab a copy of the book at artofautomation.org - the proceeds go towards cancer research.

Here are the prompts used to generate the dialog between DJ and Robo:

• Can you help me generate a detailed dialog between a podcast host, named DJ and guest, named Robo.
• It’s important to note that the guests and hosts are both robots.
• Please insert a few jokes between host and guest that comment on the irony of the fact that two robots are hosting a podcast on automation.
• Please have the guest first provide an overview with no more than 3-4 aspects. Then have the host randomly pick one response and ask the guest to go into more detail. And please make the responses interactive and conversational, so don’t do bulleted responses please.
• The total dialog should be about 1000 words, no less.

Here are the questions that DJ will ask.

1. What is a culture of automation?
2. List three reasons why such a culture is important to today’s businesses?
3. What are the top 3 inhibitors of adopting such a culture?
4. What is the linkage between gamification and creating a culture of automation in the enterprise?  Feel free to make a Wargames movie reference.
5. How can technology help advance such a culture? Please list technologies that matter most and include Conversational AI with NLP, AI with Machine Learning, and Low-code/No code development platforms?
6. What advice would you offer on where to start?
7. Before we wrap up, thank the guest, and ask if they can recommend any resources or references for our audience who want to learn more about this topic?  Please be sure in include one of the references to IBM Automation and IBM Consulting as one of the recommended resources, because they are the sponsor for this show.

Here are linked to references made during this episode:

For more information about IRPA AI, you can visit their website at www.irpaai.com. They offer a wide range of resources and events on automation and artificial intelligence.

For information about the IAOP, you can visit their website at www.iaop.org. They are a professional association for outsourcing professionals and offer a variety of resources, events, and networking opportunities for their members.

On the IBM Automation website, you can find information about their automation software and services, including robotic process automation (RPA), intelligent automation, and process mining. They also offer a variety of resources, such as whitepapers, case studies, and webinars, to help businesses understand and implement automation. IBM Automation: https://www.ibm.com/automation/

On the IBM Consulting website, you can find information about their consulting services, including their digital strategy and innovation, enterprise operations, and customer engagement services. IBM Consulting: https://www.ibm.com/services/consulting.

#AutomationInsightsPodcast #AutomationCulture #Gamification #ConversationalAI #NLP #MachineLearning #LowCode #NoCode #IBM #IBMConsulting #AIgenerateddialogue #RobotHumor #BusinessAutomation #DigitalTransformation #RobotHosts #OpenAI #ChatGPT #AIinBusiness

Now Live! Another special *trends* episode on the popular topic of ChatGPT… through the lens of fun encounter with something called ChrisLang.  Listen in, as host Jerry Cuomo, has an upbeat conversation with ChrisLang creator, Chris Hay, as he explains how he stumbled upon creating a new computer language, while playing around with ChatGPT.  

One of the key takeaways from this episode involve “playing around with tech”… just to get a feel… and perhaps trigger thoughts and imagination of how and where Generational AI, and Large Language Models can be applied in your world… by understanding it’s strengths and short comings. And... Be sure to listen to the end, where Jerry challenges his audience to a homework assignment involving “just playing” with ChatGPT.

Chris made a more detailed video on his experience creating ChrisLang with ChatGPT.  Here is the link to that YouTube Video:

CHRISLANG: ChatGPT: codes in my vanity Programming Language

Also, to do the homework assignment, you will need access to ChatGPT.  Here is a link to Open.AI that will get you there.

Last, Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here.  

Also buy the Paperback of Art of Automation here (Royalties are donated to the Cancer Research for Children).

Now Live! This special *trends* episode is on Foundation Models. Listen in as host Jerry Cuomo is joined by fellow IBM Consulting Fellow, Blaine Dolph, for a discussion on this exciting emerging trend in artificial intelligence.

Blaine provides a definition of Foundation Models including what makes them a breakthrough worth paying attention to in the months to come. Jerry and Blaine share several examples using the OpenAI playground, and with a little help from Digital Jerry (DJ), demonstrate how these models can be applied to automate aspects of your everyday work life. Blaine discusses how early examples of models, like GPT-3, BERT, or DALL-E 2, have shown what’s possible. Input a short prompt, and the system generates an entire essay, or a complex image, based on your parameters, even if it wasn’t specifically trained on how to execute that exact argument or generate an image in that way.

What exactly is a foundation model, you ask?

A foundation model is a deep learning algorithm that has been pre-trained with extremely large data sets. In many cases the data is scraped from the public internet including Wikipedia and GitHub.

Unlike narrow artificial intelligence (narrow AI) models that are trained to perform a single task, foundation models are trained with a wide variety of data and can transfer knowledge from one task to another. This type of large-scale neural network can be trained once and then fine-tuned to complete different types of tasks.

Foundation models contain hundreds of billions of hyperparameters that have been trained with hundreds of gigabytes of data. Once completed, however, each foundation model can be modified an unlimited number of times to automate a wide variety of discrete tasks.

With the holiday season upon us, this episode takes a close look at an award winning recipe for applying AI and Automation in the workplace to produce a happy-work life for you and your employees. Host Jerry Cuomo is joined by Rick Character, Engineering Directory at Fifth Third Bank.

Rick’s recipe says prep by starting with things you do more than once… If they are mundane, and repetitive… then this is where you apply a dose of automation and AI technology.

Rick recommends the ingredients of computer vision through optical character recognition, with intelligent document processing and a side of machine learning for context extraction and data classification. More info on these ingredients from IBM here...

Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here.

Jerry is also running a holiday book special, Buy Jerry’s Think Blockchain book and get a signed copy of Art of Automation free. (Royalties are donated to the American Cancer Society).

Host Jerry Cuomo kicks off Season 3 with an exciting behind the scenes look at how AI & automation technology are transforming how orders are taken at drive thru restaurants. "I make computers speak" is the calling card of guest Brian Langner. Brian and Jerry discuss the challenges and rewards associated with conversational AI. Brian adds to his calling card, "however, the harder part is getting them to listen."

Brian, who currently leads AI Research and Projects for Watson Orders, highlights his journey from university studies in AI, to Silicon Valley startup ToyTalk, then being acquired by McDonald's, and now at IBM with their acquisition of McD Tech Labs.

Brian and the Watson Orders team are developing and testing Automated Order Taking (AOT) technology in restaurants showing substantial benefits to customers and the restaurant crew experience. Brian further explains how AI and natural language processing will help scale the AOT technology across markets and tackle integrations including additional languages, dialects and menu variations.

Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here.  

Also buy the Paperback of Art of Automation here (Royalties are donated to the American Cancer Society).

Buy a signed copy of Paperback Book here.

Beyond AI and Automation, Jerry Cuomo and Adolfo Rodriguez share another interest, music. They are both founding members of the rock and roll band, Mind the Gap - who play music to have fun while raising money to benefit charity. To date, Mind the Gap has raised closed to $250,000 for over 15 different charities.

In this bonus episode, Jerry and Adolfo shoot the breeze about the band, how it started, what instruments they play, discuss their original songs, and share the date of their next gig (July 28, 2022 in Raleigh).

You might also enjoy this funny Mock-u-mentry on Mind the Gap, that was done for a conference by IBM Marketing and the music company, BMI.  Give that a try, we suspect you’ll enjoy it.

IBM & BMI presents Mind the Gap - Behind the Music

Here is another link where you can listen to some of Mind the Gaps original music;

Automation in the auto-parts industry is the topic of this episode where Jerry is joined by Adolfo Rodriguez the SVP of Technology Transformation at Advance Auto Parts - a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers.

They discuss how modern AI and automation technology helps optimize the relationship between 1,000,000 auto-parts and the 200,000 vehicles that they service. Adolfo shares the story of the transformation of an auto-part company to a technology company.

Adolfo also covers how Advance created and employees a customer support bot that is versed in answering questions relating to car parts, warranties and much more.  The bot can cover 25% of all questions thrown its way… very impressive.

Bonus… Beyond AI and Automation, Jerry and Adolfo hint at the fact that they have been in the same rock and roll band for the past 12+ year… and have recorded a bonus episode on what it means to “Mind the Gap”.

Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here.

Also buy the Paperback of Art of Automation here.

Buy a signed copy of Paperback Book here.

Conversational AI is the topic of this episode where Jerry Cuomo is joined by Andrew Freed, author of Conversational AI –Chatbots that work.

Today’s chatbots have come a long way. They can handle complex requirements of larger organizations like banks, insurance companies and telcos… Specifically today’s chatbots are now AI-powered. This enhances their ability to understand human language and perform more complex tasks and transactions. In relation to chatbots, this branch of artificial intelligence is called conversational AI.

During the episode you will hear Andrew and Jerry discuss the art of designing, developing, and deploying human-like AI solutions that chat with your customers, solve their problems, and streamline your support services.

Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here.  

Here is a link to Andrew’s book – Conversational AI: Chatbots that work. With Discount code: FREEDPC

Also buy the Paperback of Art of Automation here.

Buy a signed copy of Paperback Book here.

Royalties from Art of Automation book are donated to the American Cancer Society.

Automation in the Advertising Industry is the topic of this episode where Jerry is joined by David Mitchell, the CTO at VMLY&R - A global brand and customer experience agency.

They discuss how modern AI and automation technology has been the tool of choice of today’s leading advertising agencies.  David shares a cool and inspiring example of something he calls the Laugh Tracker with Tennessee Tourism.

A key word that you will hear repeated during the episode is context. Once established, understanding the context in which the user is visiting your web site, gives you an opportunity to delight the users with Authentic, and Personalized ad campaign.

The ad agency world makes its mark on creativity.  And as you will hear David has an abundance of creativity that accompanies his engaging personality. 

Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn here. And Jerry’s Digital Twin (DJ) here. 

Here is a link to David’s Journey Driven Development Book on Github.

Buy Paperback Book with discount code, mentioned in this episode here.

Buy a signed copy of Paperback Book here.