Info

OPEN Tech Talks: Technology worth Talking| Emerging Tech |Tools & Tips

Open Tech Talks is your weekly sandbox for technology insights, experimentation, and inspiration. Hosted by Kashif Manzoor, Tech Evangelist, Cloud Expert, and Enterprise Architect, this Podcast combines technology products, artificial intelligence overviews, how-to's, best practices, tips & tricks, and troubleshooting techniques. Whether you're a CIO, IT manager, developer, or just curious about technology, Open Tech Talks is for you, covering a wide range of topics, including Artificial Intelligence, Multi-Cloud, ERP, SaaS, and business challenges. Join Kashif each week as he explores the latest happenings in the tech world and shares his insights to help you stay ahead of the curve. Here's what you can expect from Open Tech Talks: Interviews with industry experts Insights into the latest technology trends Best practices for using technology in your career Tips and tricks for troubleshooting technology problems Inspiration to learn more about technology Subscribe to Open Tech Talks today and start growing your career in technology! Additional details about the podcast: The podcast is available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, and Google. New episodes are released every Saturday. The podcast is about 30 minutes long for each episode. The podcast is free to listen to. I hope you enjoy the podcast! The views expressed on this Podcast and blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my current and previous employers.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
OPEN Tech Talks: Technology worth Talking| Emerging Tech |Tools & Tips
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May


2022
August
June
May
January


2021
November
September
August
July
June
May


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: Category: AI
Mar 17, 2024

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational technology sector is revolutionizing the learning and teaching landscape. As AI continues to advance, its application within education is not just enhancing educational experiences but is fundamentally transforming the industry. 
From personalized learning paths to intelligent tutoring systems, AI in education unlocks unprecedented opportunities for students and educators alike, setting the stage for a future where education is more accessible, efficient, and tailored to individual needs.

In our earlier podcast session 126, we talked to the founders of AI Teacher about how they are using Generative AI for secondary school teachers. 

In today's enlightening episode, we had the privilege of interviewing the founder of Plabook, a revolutionary educational tool designed to transform how we approach oral reading fluency and comprehension in students.

Plabook stands out by leveraging advanced speech recognition technology to listen to students as they read, providing instant, personalized feedback and smart recommendations. 


This innovative platform assesses reading abilities and delves deep into understanding each student's unique strengths and weaknesses through diagnostic reports. These reports are powerful tools for teachers and parents, offering insights to support and enhance the learning journey. Throughout our discussion, we explored Plabook's inception, development, and impact on the educational landscape, uncovering the vision and challenges behind integrating AI into education.

Episode # 131

Today’s Guest:

Dr. Phil Hickman, Founder / CEO PlaBook

This podcast offers invaluable insights into how AI and technology can bridge educational gaps, challenge traditional learning methods, and pave the way for a future where every student has the tools to succeed.

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. Exploring Use of Speech Recognition for Feedback: Discover the role of advanced speech recognition in providing real-time, tailored feedback to students.
  2. Understanding the Impact of Plabook on English Reading Comprehension: Gain insights into how Plabook is transforming the approach to teaching and assessing reading fluency.
  3. The Journey from Pilot to Validation: Learn about initial testing phases and the validation of its innovative concept.
  4. Adapting to Diverse Dialects and Languages: Find out how accommodates the linguistic diversity of its users.
  5. The Educational Sector’s Response to AI Innovations: Delve into how new technologies like Plabook are being received and adopted in educational settings.
  6. Anticipating Future Educational Innovations: Get a glimpse of potential advancements and changes in the education sector influenced by AI technology.

Resources:

 

Mar 10, 2024

In our connected world, keeping our online spaces secure is a top priority for everyone - businesses, startups, and individuals alike. Today's episode is all about making cybersecurity simple and accessible. We'll cover how to start protecting yourself and your organization, address the need for more skilled professionals, and examine how new technologies make security brighter. Suppose you've ever wondered about the best ways to stay safe online. In that case, this conversation is for you about what it takes to build a career in cybersecurity or how innovation is shaping the future of protection. Let's dive in together and learn how to keep our digital lives safe and sound.

Before inviting the guest speaker, I will also discuss my experience attending WebSummit Qatar and some of the latest news from the Leap 2024 event in Saudi Arabia.

We all now must be aware that the consequences of neglecting cybersecurity can be dire, from personal data breaches to large-scale attacks on corporations and governments. I know we hate to keep long-digit passwords, but there is so much happening in the security world that we all need to be extra conscious and take serious steps.

Episode # 130

Today's Guest:

Nick Lorizio, Founder, AstuteTechnologists

The insights into cybersecurity include learning how to bolster security within your organizations and personal digital spaces.

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today's podcast, you'll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. Understanding Security Necessities: Learn why individuals and organizations must prioritize cybersecurity, recognizing the unique challenges each faces and the critical importance of investment in this area for protecting data and ensuring operational continuity.

  2. Innovation in Security: Learn about the inspiration behind developing a security product, identifying market needs, and how innovative technologies like AI are integrated into cybersecurity solutions to enhance protection and efficiency.
  3. Guidance for Startups: Discover tailored advice for startups or those early in product development on embedding cybersecurity measures from the outset, ensuring a secure foundation as they scale.

  4. Personal Security Strategies: Gain strategies and best practices that individuals can adopt to safeguard themselves in the digital world.

  5. Addressing Talent Shortage: Explore the current landscape of cybersecurity talent shortage, understand its impact on the industry, and learn about ways to mitigate this issue through education, training, and community engagement.

  6. Career Growth in Cybersecurity: Receive suggestions for individuals looking to start or advance their careers in cybersecurity, including educational paths, skill development, and networking strategies.

  7. Foundational Insights: Hear firsthand about the biggest mistakes to avoid as a founder and the key traits to look for when building a team, providing a deeper understanding of the leadership and decision-making process in the cybersecurity sector.

Resources:

Mar 3, 2024

Welcome to today's episode of "Open Tech Talks," where we delve deep into the digital economy's convergence of technology, business, and creativity. Our focus today centers on the transformative wave of Web3 technologies, with a special spotlight on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and how they revolutionize customer engagement and loyalty programs across industries.

The advent of Web3 has ushered in a new era of digital interaction characterized by decentralized networks, blockchain technology, and a strong emphasis on digital ownership and assets. NFTs have emerged as a groundbreaking concept, offering verifiable ownership of unique digital items through blockchain technology. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting the President of SHOPX, a leading platform at the forefront of integrating NFTs into the retail and e-commerce sectors to create unparalleled customer experiences.

Episode # 129

Today’s Guest:

Eric Mchugh, President at SHOPX Labs and Chief Growth Officer at Dataing

We'll explore SHOPX's journey within the rapidly evolving landscape of Web3 and e-commerce, understanding how the platform leverages NFTs to empower brands and consumers.

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. An understanding of how NFTs and Web3 technologies create new customer engagement and loyalty paradigms.
  2. Insights into the practical applications and benefits of integrating NFTs into e-commerce and retail strategies.
  3. Strategies for navigating the challenges of adopting Web3 technologies in traditional business models.
  4. Inspiration from successful case studies of brands leveraging SHOPX to enhance customer experience and drive growth.

Resources:

Feb 25, 2024

In today's digital era, we are bombarded with overwhelming information on our screens daily. This flood of data creates a significant problem: filtering through the massive content to find what truly matters and what should be avoided. We must identify information that captures our interest, enhances our understanding, and enriches our lives rather than just being controlled by the algorithms' contents.

To tackle this challenge, we must develop strategies and tools that help us efficiently access high-quality, relevant content amidst the constant buzz. It requires a discerning eye to differentiate valuable content from the trivial, ensuring that what we consume contributes positively to our knowledge, well-being, and satisfaction. It is quite a challenging task, and even before making it into a task, there needs to be awareness that, yes, this is the challenge that we as humans are getting content from the algorithms to support the interest of these platforms.

In addition, promoting digital literacy plays a crucial role in this context. Educating internet users on effectively searching for, evaluating, and engaging with digital content can empower them to make informed decisions about what they read, watch, and listen to online. This knowledge is invaluable in an age where the quality of information can significantly impact our perceptions, decisions, and actions.

Ultimately, our goal is to transform the challenge of information overload into an opportunity for growth, learning, and enrichment. By leveraging advanced technologies, fostering critical skills, and promoting high standards of content quality, we can create a digital environment where abundant information becomes an asset rather than a hindrance.

Episode # 128

Today's Guest:

Alex Fink, Chief Executive Officer, OtherWeb

From the insightful conversation with the CEO of OtherWeb, listeners will have the opportunity to explore several key questions that illuminate the process of creating a more enriching digital content landscape:

What Listeners Will Learn:

    1. What are the 'secret recipes' behind OtherWeb's successful use of AI in personalizing user content over the last two years?

    2. How does one tackle labeling, particularly in categorizing content by neutrality, tone, and identifying offensive language or hate speech?

    3. What are the critical characteristics of hiring data scientists and AI engineers to drive innovation and ethical AI development?

    4. Why is it essential for individuals to be as selective with the information they consume digitally as they are with the food they consume?

Resources:

Feb 11, 2024

In the dynamic realm of tech innovation, Web3 and blockchain emerge as pivotal forces, heralding a transformative era. These technologies redefine the digital frontier, promising enhanced security, transparency, and a shift toward decentralization in digital transactions. 

This journey into uncharted territories has challenges, including blockchain's intricate nature, scalability issues, and regulatory landscapes. Further, infusing the hype of blockchain technology by the prominent vendors to not going mainstream technology is another concern. Yet, the advantages are compelling, offering a peek into a future where digital interactions are underpinned by trust, accountability, and open access.


At their essence, Web3 and blockchain aim to grant users unprecedented control over their digital selves, assets, and data. This movement towards a user-centric web is reshaping industries, from finance to entertainment, emphasizing the need to navigate its complexities and seize the opportunities it presents.

As we delve deeper into Web3 and blockchain, their potential to remodel our digital existence is evident. Despite facing obstacles, the path ahead is laden with the promise of a digital domain characterized by security, transparency, and inclusivity.


In today's marketing and innovation frontier, we explore Web3's impact on social networks, content creation, and business communication strategies. We're joined by Viktoriia Miracle, Chief Communication Officer at Cheelee.io, a pioneering startup transforming social media engagement and profit sharing. With her extensive marketing expertise and growth achievements, Viktoriia offers rich insights into effective content creation, public speaking, and customer engagement.

Episode # 127

Today’s Guest:

Viktoriia Miracle, CCO Cheelee.io

This episode is a deep dive into the latest marketing and communication trends within the swiftly evolving tech landscape, offering invaluable lessons from a leader at the innovation vanguard.

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. Web2 vs. Web3 Social Networks: Differences between traditional and Web3 social platforms and user adaptation challenges.
  2. Content Creation Strategies: The best approach to producing impactful content fueled guest's own marketing agency's success.
  3. Marketing Tips for Newbies: Practical marketing advice for startups and solopreneurs operating on tight budgets.
  4. Customer Engagement and Feedback: Tactics for engaging customers, soliciting feedback, and refining offerings based on genuine insights.
  5. Cheelee.io's Innovative Model: An exploration of Cheelee.io's unique revenue-sharing model attracted over 1 million users in seven months.

Resources:

Feb 3, 2024

The advent of AI in education is paving the way for a new era of teaching and learning. Digital teachers, powered by artificial intelligence, are making their mark by transforming traditional teaching methods. These AI educators can quickly digest university curriculum content and craft detailed lesson plans, making education more accessible and personalized.

At the heart of this transformation is the ability of Generative AI to process extensive educational materials swiftly, using advanced technologies to create comprehensive lessons complete with questions and answers. This approach not only streamlines the preparation phase for educators but also ensures that students receive a tailored learning experience. The use of Generative AI in lesson planning allows for adapting content to meet students' diverse learning paces and styles, enhancing engagement and understanding.

Furthermore, this technology can identify gaps in knowledge, offering additional resources to help students master complex concepts. The efficiency brought by AI teachers means that educational content is always up-to-date, reflecting the latest developments in various fields of study.

Benefits:

  • Personalized Learning: AI tailors lesson plans to cater to individual student needs, promoting a more effective learning process.
  • Efficiency: Teachers save valuable time with AI handling lesson planning, allowing them to focus more on engaging with students.
  • Accessibility: Students can access high-quality lessons anywhere, anytime, making education more accessible to a broader audience.
  • Updated Content: AI ensures the curriculum is current, incorporating the latest information and research into lessons.

This innovative approach to education introduces a new dimension of flexibility and efficiency, marking a significant leap forward in how knowledge is delivered and absorbed.

Welcome to an exciting episode where we introduce Beatrice, the digital human teacher designed by OIAI. 

Episode # 126

Today’s Guest:

Dr Pauldy Otermans, Academic, Researcher, and HE Leader

Dev Aditya, Global Under 30, Innovator & Entrepreneur.

Co-founders, Otermans Institute

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. The innovation behind Beatrice, OIAI's digital human teacher, and how it personalizes the learning experience.
  2. The process of integrating educational content into an AI teacher using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and training with LLAMA 2.
  3. The importance of ethical AI in the context of digital education and how human oversight ensures the quality and integrity of lessons.
  4. The concept of Teaching and Learning 3.0 enhances traditional classroom education with AI support for instant problem-solving.
  5. The challenges encountered during developing AI educational products and the solutions devised to overcome them.
  6. How Teddy AI facilitates engaging and adaptive learning experiences tailored to children's individual learning speeds.
  7. Strategies for managing the lifecycle of AI-driven educational products to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Resources:

Jan 14, 2024

The impact of large language models, also known as Gen AI, can be seen in every industry. In the healthcare sector, Generative AI Technologies is gaining momentum and becoming a key priority. Generative AI can revolutionize the healthcare industry by automating medical coding, improving medical claims processing. 

Generative AI can also assist healthcare payors and insurers, providing valuable call report summarization and performance analytics.

AI-enhanced imaging can further elevate the accuracy of medical diagnoses. Generative AI has the potential to refine, reconstruct, or synthesize medical imagery, including X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. This provides clinicians with more detailed and accurate visual data, which supports better-informed diagnoses and treatment plans.

The healthcare industry stands on the brink of a transformative era, with the integration of advanced technologies reshaping its landscape. Today, we will talk about the dynamics of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models into healthcare systems. We explore the challenges and breakthroughs in developing go-to-market strategies, healthcare IT integration, and the profound impact of AI in operational systems.

This podcast delves into the contrasting requirements of medical record interoperability among different healthcare facilities and the rigorous cybersecurity standards. Additionally, we explore how the healthcare industry is being transformed by AI, with closed-loop systems that are FDA-approved at the forefront.

Episode # 124

Today’s Guest:

James F. Jordan, Distinguished Service Professor of Health Care and Biotechnology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, the President of StraTactic

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. The Role of AI and LLMs in Decision Support: How AI shapes healthcare decision-making processes, including precision medicine.
  2. Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Addressing the high stakes of protecting medical records in an increasingly digital landscape.
  3. Interoperability vs. Cybersecurity: Balancing the need for shared medical records with the imperative of data protection.
  4. Regulatory Challenges: Navigating the speed of technological advancement versus the pace of regulatory approval.
  5. Startups in Healthcare: Analysis of the current state and future prospects for startups in the healthcare industry.

Resources:

Jan 8, 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the introduction of AI-powered voice solutions, particularly in call centers, marks a significant revolution.

This transformative shift is not just about automating conversations but about redefining the very essence of customer interactions. AI voice technologies, harnessing advanced algorithms and vast data sets, are enabling call centers to provide more personalized, efficient, and consistent customer service.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global AI in the call center market size was valued at USD 1.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6% from 2021 to 2028. This growth is attributed to the increasing demand for AI solutions that can manage large volumes of calls and enhance customer satisfaction while reducing operational costs.

Moreover, the integration of AI in call centers goes beyond just handling inquiries; it's about leveraging technology to understand customer needs better. AI systems can analyze speech patterns, recognize customer emotions, and provide responses that are not only accurate but also empathetic.

For instance, a study by IBM reveals that AI can analyze customer call data to identify underlying issues and trends, helping call centers to improve their services proactively.

The implementation of AI in call centers represents a confluence of technological advancement and practical application, signaling a new era in customer service where efficiency, empathy, and understanding are paramount.

Listeners will gain insights into Barky AI's innovative strategies, including their early adoption of ChatGPT2 for team integration and their groundbreaking use of AI voice agents in call centers. The podcast will unravel how Barky AI's partnership with call centers and its rigorous quality testing led to handling a million calls daily, transforming customer service in banks and other sectors. With the seamless integration of synthetic voice technology, Barky AI has blurred the line between human and AI interactions, ensuring undetectable, efficient customer service.

Episode # 123

Today’s Guest:

Chris Barkhurst, CEO, Barky AI

What Listeners Will Learn:

In today’s podcast, you’ll gain insights into several key areas:

  1. The early adoption of ChatGPT2 by Barky AI and its impact on team onboarding.
  2. Strategies for elevating AI applications beyond chatbot functionalities.
  3. The development and integration of AI voice agents in call centers.
  4. The process and importance of quality testing in AI voice solutions.
  5. The role of synthetic voice technology in enhancing customer service experiences.
  6. Chris Barkhurst's secret hiring process and find a new talent.

Resources:

Nov 26, 2023

In this era where technology is not just an enabler but a driver of business innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of this transformation. AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it's a tangible, powerful tool reshaping how businesses operate and compete across various industries. Generative AI, a subset of AI, has started ruling the world in the last year, and every industry is being impacted. 

AI's vast and varied capabilities, from streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences to driving data-driven decision-making and innovation. Organizations will focus not just on the theoretical aspects of AI in business but, more importantly, on real-world applications and strategies proving successful. Whether you're a startup embracing AI for agility or an established corporation using AI to maintain a competitive edge, understanding how to integrate this technology into your business strategy effectively is critical. Incorporating AI into business is not just about adopting new technology but fundamentally rethinking how we approach problems, make decisions, and create value. 

Real-world examples include:

  • AI-driven predictive maintenance in manufacturing.
  • AI-powered personalization in retail.
  • AI-enhanced diagnostic tools in healthcare.

This involves understanding the AI maturity curve, where businesses evolve from experimental AI projects to scaling AI across the organization.

An important facet is developing an AI-literate workforce and fostering a culture that embraces data-driven decision-making.

This comprehensive discussion aims to equip business leaders, strategists, and technologists with insights and actionable strategies to harness AI's power effectively and responsibly. As AI continues to evolve, staying ahead in this AI-driven business landscape requires not only technological advancements.

Episode # 121

Today's Guest:

Abdul-Jabbar Sani, CEO, VezTek

An excellent quote from the guest speaker, 'Bitcoin introduced the blockchain to the world, and similar to this, ChatGPT has introduced machine learning to the world.'

What to Expect in Today's Discussion:

    1. AI's Transformational Role: Insights into how AI is a tool and a catalyst for business innovation and strategy.
    2. Practical Applications: Understanding how AI is being used in real-world scenarios, such as predictive maintenance in manufacturing, personalization in retail, and diagnostic tools in healthcare.
    3. AI Maturity in Business: Learn about the evolution of businesses from initial AI experiments to full-scale AI integration across operations.
    4. Developing AI Skills: The importance of building an AI-literate workforce and how this impacts data-driven decision-making in organizations.
    5. Navigating the Hype Cycle of Technologies: Understanding the difference between hype and actual demand in emerging technologies, with examples from blockchain and machine learning.
    6. Leadership in AI: Discover what CEOs and leaders seek in candidates working with emerging technologies.
    7. Staying Ahead: Strategies for keeping up with the rapid technological changes every 15-18 months and leveraging them for business success.

Resources:

 

Oct 1, 2023

With the dawn of ChatGPT, to be more accurate, the Large Language Models (LLMs) have given a new way to interact with everything, from content to writing code to design/drawing a picture.

These models, sophisticated as they are, rely on one critical component: the prompt. 

As AI technology matures, crafting the perfect prompt, termed "prompt engineering," has become a high-demand skill set.

This brings us to the new field of prompt engineering. How best will you pass the instructions to large language models? The best results you will get it.

 

The Evolution of Interaction:

With the ChatGPT, how we communicate with machines has taken a quantum leap. No longer are we confined to simple commands; now, we can engage in intricate, layered conversations. This transition isn't just about the models themselves but how we "talk" to them. The better the prompt instruction, the more refined and effective the output. Just as the pen is mightier than the sword, the prompt holds the power in the AI domain.

Today's guest speaker will reveal his findings and research how he is writing prompts not for him, but he has started sharing those prompts with the broader world and is stormed with the subscribers who began using his crafted prompts to solve his daily jobs.

Session # 116

Today’s Guest:

Ali Abassi, Founder, AI for Work

What to Expect in Today's Discussion:

  1. The Prompt Engineering Revolution: Discover how the inception of large language models has birthed an entirely new field dedicated to optimizing prompts for best results.
  2. A Novel Approach to Crafting Prompts: Our guest introduces an innovative method using JSON formatting, which he believes garners superior results from ChatGPT.
  3. Secrets to Effective Prompting: Delve into a unique recipe from the guest speaker, emphasizing referencing, validation, and iterative revision. The approach mimics a loop, refining the output until perfection is achieved.
  4. Automation & The Future: Explore how, with the proper prompts, ChatGPT can be a revolutionary tool in automating various tasks, making your tech experience smoother and more intuitive.

Resources:

Sep 24, 2023

In an increasingly competitive and fast-paced world, the traditional trajectory of education followed by a lifetime of work is evolving, and it is getting more common to see many working professionals returning to universities.

Welcome to the era where working professionals are headed back to the classroom, juggling Excel sheets by day and academic journals by night. As the demand for upskilled employees and lifelong learning rises, we're witnessing a notable increase in adults pursuing degree programs while working full-time. So, why are adults flocking to universities and online platforms for higher education?

The Landscape of Adult Learning:

With advancements in technology and shifts in job requirements, it's no longer a "one-and-done" situation regarding education. Fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and project management are not limited to a few; now, all fields are mandated to update skill sets and in-depth knowledge, making it imperative for working professionals to up their educational game. 

For some, it's about career advancement; for others, it's about pivoting to entirely new fields, like I am transitioning to the area of artificial intelligence. Yet, it's a mutual understanding that a higher degree could be the ticket to professional and personal growth.

I have recently completed my MSc in A.I. In session 106, 'The Journey of a Working Professional Pursuing a Degree in A.I., ' I shared my take on this subject. 

Whether you're contemplating going back to school, already enrolled, or simply interested in personal development and technology's role, this episode has something for everyone. Guest speaker helps us explore these complex questions and offers concrete steps you can take right now to elevate your educational and professional journey.

Today’s Guest:

Christie Carmelle, Higher Education Consultant and Manager, Deloitte

What You Will Learn from This Podcast:

  1. Learning as an Adult: Has the rate of adults returning to university increased? Christie sheds light on this trend and offers actionable tips to improve your writing skills and study habits.
  2. Choosing Between an MBA and a Tech Program: What's the right program for you? We dive into the essential questions you should ask yourself before opting for a degree.
  3. Selecting a School or Degree Program: Guidance on making this crucial decision that will impact your future.
  4. The Impact of Generative A.I. on Jobs: How is generative A.I. likely to affect employment as technology advances? Get insights straight from the expert.
  5. Balancing Act: Learn how to prioritize and manage your time better and achieve a more excellent balance in your life, straight from the author of 'Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind.'

Resources:

  • Website: Mediakit
  • session 106, 'The Journey of a Working Professional Pursuing a Degree in A.I

 

Sep 10, 2023

In the evolving financial sector landscape, harnessing First-Party Data and leveraging AI for a competitive edge has become more than just a trend; it's a necessity, without any doubt. Every successful institution today stands on a bedrock of data-driven decisions and how quickly they are getting these decisions done is vital, how they are enabling the executives to make informed decisions. 

All lies with how organizations can truly unlock the potential of their data that is their in different silos. How do first-party data, artificial intelligence, and personalized banking experiences tie into the bigger picture? 

I recently got to speak with Rich Edwards, CEO of Mindspan Systems, to demystify these concepts. His insights, shaped by early experiences with platforms like IBM Watson and rooted in a deep understanding of data strategy, shine a spotlight on the path forward for financial institutions.

Today’s Guest:

Rich Edwards, CEO, Mindspan Systems

What You'll Learn in This Podcast:

  • Understanding Data's Role: Learn how the underlying data layer is the backbone for all development in the financial world.
  • Maximizing First-Party Data: Why an organization's first-party data is its primary asset and how to derive unparalleled value from it.
  • Unstructured Data – The Hidden Goldmine: Every organization possesses vast reserves of unstructured data. How tapping into these overlooked resources can get them ahead of others
  • The Essence of Personalization: In an age where customer-centric approaches reign supreme, discover the strategies to know your customers better and wrap personalized experiences around them.
  • Data-Driven Strategies and Technologies: Gain insights into how financial institutions can differentiate themselves in a regulated industry by harnessing data.
  • Scouting the Right Talent: How do institutions ensure they have the right talent as IT development accelerates? What are the key traits in candidates and why is in-depth knowledge crucial in this era of short, impactful projects.

Resources:

Sep 3, 2023

In today's fast-paced digital age, bonding moments come in various forms - playing a new video game or watching the latest viral video. Yet, Sam Keller and his 12-year-old son, Kaz Keller, have taken this bonding to an entirely new level. They're navigating the rough waters of artificial intelligence, particularly with OpenAI's ChatGPT. But what's more fascinating is how this tech journey reshapes Kaz's young world, from bolstering his leadership skills to conquering the age-old fear of public speaking.

Every parent can relate this journey to their kids and how such activities can be treated as extracurricular activities that enable kids to learn in this high-paced world.

When we think of artificial intelligence or ChatGPT, we often picture seasoned tech enthusiasts or professionals behind keyboards. Rarely do we envision a vibrant 12-year-old eager to absorb and share this knowledge.

This Story, however, is that rare gem. A seasoned tech enthusiast has turned their shared interest into an enriching experience beyond the screen. It's about preparing for a tech-forward future while mastering life skills that stand the test of time. Their journey is a testament that technology, blended with passion and mentorship, can become a powerful tool for holistic growth.

What You'll Learn from this Story of Teaching ChatGPT:

  1. The Power of Bonding Over Tech: Discover the heartwarming tale of a father and son using ChatGPT as a medium of connection and growth.
  2. Mastering ChatGPT: Delve into the intricacies of this large language model and understand its potential from both an adult's and a child's perspective.
  3. Leadership Skills Through AI: Uncover how diving deep into tech can enhance essential life skills, even in young learners.
  4. Overcoming Public Speaking: Learn about Kaz's journey from hesitance to confidence, all thanks to his immersion in the world of AI
  5. The Future of Young Tech Enthusiasts: Gain insights into how early exposure to technologies like ChatGPT can shape a child's future.

Today's Guest:

Sam Keller & Kaz Keller, Co-Founder, Gen AI Academy

Joseph is a CTO helping startups and other organizations design, develop, and launch innovative products and solutions.

  • Is there any impact on kids' education with such activities?
  • What are the risks of using ChatGPT by kids, and what can they benefit from it?
  • How is it helping to learn leadership and public speaking skills?
  • How can such activities help kids in the future get admission to higher education?

Resources:

Aug 19, 2023

The big question is, How do CTOs, CIOs, IT Managers, and IT Directors choose the right technology software, applications, and tools for their organizations?

Navigating the ever-evolving world of technology can be daunting, especially when someone is at the helm of a company's IT decisions. The landscape is riddled with established technology solutions, from packaged applications (ERPs) to SaaS, PaaS & IaaS vendors to Emerging technologies, each promising to be the game-changer and now with the Artificial Intelligence hype at the peak.
Being at the C-level is about more than just knowing tech stuff. It's about making sure that tech helps the business do well, and irrespective of the technology or who the vendor is providing, so many moving pieces need to be put in place.

Today we have a guest who is Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and he will take us on an exciting trip of starting with a simple idea, something you jot down quickly, and then you turn it into something tangible - Smart helmets. It must. be challenging as some people might doubt you, especially when they hear stories of other businesses that tried and didn't succeed.

Today’s Guest:

Joseph Azar, Managing Director, Azar Consulting

Joseph is a CTO who is helping startups and other organizations design, develop, and launch innovative products and solutions.

  • You will hear the story of the world's first smart helmet that was developed from idea to mass production.
  • How do you decide or select technology for the business?
  • How to fail fast can help to refine your idea to invest more time and money into it
  • What are the qualities you are looking into the candidates, especially in the technology space?
  • When is the right time to add AI to your startup idea?
  • How can we learn quickly from mistakes without wasting time and money?

Resources:

Aug 13, 2023

Writing in the Age of AI has become crucial and a skill that requires a mindset to be grasped. Writing a book is a long-standing item on my to-do list, and today, I have got an exceptional expert on the show to learn from him about writing books and how to write books with the support of Artificial Intelligence.

I have been writing blogs for the last 12 years; I wrote my first blog in the year 2011, and interesting to see it was on 16th August 2021.

Without any doubt, writing a book offers a unique platform to share knowledge, experiences, and expertise. 

It establishes one as an authority in a particular domain and allows one to reach and impact a larger audience.

For technical experts, writing books becomes even more crucial. It’s an avenue to translate complex technical jargon into consumable content. 

In doing so, they bridge the gap between technological advancements and make it understandable for the wider community; it’s become like demystifying and democratizing knowledge.

However, writing a book is no mean feat. It demands time, patience, and a high level of commitment, which I am also struggling to overcome over the years.

Here’s where Artificial Intelligence comes into play.

AI tools can assist in multiple ways:

  1. Research: AI-driven tools can sift through vast amounts of data, summarizing and pulling out key insights that can be valuable for a writer.
  2.  Editing: AI-powered grammar and style checkers ensure the content is coherent, error-free, and engages the reader.
  3.  Content Enhancement: Through predictive text and content suggestions, AI can aid in refining the narrative, making it more compelling.
  4.  Market Analysis: AI can analyze current market trends to suggest topics or themes that resonate with readers.
  5.  Personalization: AI tools can help tailor content, ensuring it addresses the specific needs and preferences of the target audience.

Today, in our Podcast, we’re privileged to have a guest who embodies the confluence of traditional book-writing and modern AI tools. Having authored over 300 books, he not only understands the nuances of the writing process but has also harnessed the capabilities of AI to amplify his online business. His journey offers invaluable insights for anyone looking to venture into writing, especially in the technical domain.

Today’s Guest:

Jonathan Green, Founder, ServeNoMaster

Jonathan is an expert at using Artificial Intelligence tools to accelerate your online business.

  • How AI tools are shifting from optional to mandatory for every business.
  •  You can use AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney to save work hours.
  •  What is the objective of writing books? Different categories give you the context of why to write a book.
  •  How you should structure your book and add the story, follow the formula of 3 things to write in the book.
  •  How you need to market your books, the secret to getting reviews on Amazon.

Resources:

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a comment in the section below on this post
  • Do you want to suggest any new topic I should cover in future Podcast
  • Join us in the Mastermind tribe
  • Share this on Twitter and Facebook; if you enjoyed this episode, we are learning new technologies together.
Aug 6, 2023

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the term “AI Frontier” is more than just a buzzword; it represents the uncharted territories of innovation and possibilities that AI promises. As organizations worldwide stand on the cusp of integrating AI into their core operations, the quest for knowledge on navigating this frontier becomes paramount not only for the organizations but for an individual how to navigate and start taking action to learn and grow.

Our guest today has ventured into this frontier and laid down markers, guiding others through his profound insights and groundbreaking work. As we dive deeper into today’s discussion, you will be privy to a firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs at the forefront of AI development. From understanding the nuances of AI integration to decoding its vast potential across sectors, our thought leader will shed light on the intricacies that organizations grapple with. How do businesses discern hype from genuine AI opportunities? What does it take to transform an AI concept into a tangible asset? These questions, and many more, will be unraveled as we journey through the AI frontier together, guided by the insights of a true industry pioneer.

Today’s Guest:

Manuj Aggarwal, Founder, TetraNoodle

A global thought leader who has been in AI for 15 years and has 4 patents in AI, he has served clients like Microsoft, IBM, Pearson Education, and more, producing $500 million in value for them.

  • What is the biggest problem in business, and how to identify them and then look into AI to solve it?
  • What is the readiness of AI for an organization, and how you can identify it
  •  Is AI going to take over our jobs?

Resources:

Jul 23, 2023

Understanding AI for business and how to develop AI strategy for your organization is vital for everyone. Navigating the complex world of AI for business can be a daunting task, and with so much hype, it is now a daunting task for everyone.

However, understanding the Artificial Intelligence potential and integrating it into your organization's strategy can unlock new opportunities for growth and efficiency. In this podcast, you will get some of the very simplified areas for you to help you how to develop an AI strategy for your business.

Before anything else, it's crucial to have a solid understanding of what AI is, its capabilities, and how it can be utilized in various industry contexts. AI isn't just a buzzword—it's a tool that can automate tasks, provide insights, and even help you make more informed business decisions. Then you need to focus on what you aim to achieve with AI. Whether it's improving customer service, increasing efficiency, or gaining a competitive edge, having clear objectives will guide your AI strategy rather than just going to adopt AI for the sake of AI.

Today’s Guest:

Kavita Ganesan is an AI advisor, strategist, educator, and founder of Opinosis Analytics.

Kavita has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, with a specialization in NLP, Search Technologies, and Machine Learning, and she also wrote a book 'The business case for AI'.

  • How to identify use cases where AI can help the organization and the steps to follow to build the AI strategy.
  • Why it is important to look at your current processes, technologies, and data infrastructure. Are they AI-ready? This assessment will help you understand where you stand and what needs to be done to integrate AI into your operations.
  • If you are new to AI and how will you start using it in the organization?

Resources:

 

Jun 10, 2023

Wondering if your business is ready for the AI revolution and if you are already aligned with AI strategy? You are not going to join the race of AI/ML just for the sake of AI/ML. These are the common questions that come to nowadays in everyone's mind that I need to get on the bus of AI/ML and my organization or the business should not be left behind. Whereas some fundamentals need to be looked into before embarking on this journey, and in this open talk with the guest, we tried to find out some of the questions and answers which can help you.

We need to start with the basics. First, ask yourself if your business goals are driven by data. Do you have a robust data infrastructure? Can you readily access and analyze relevant and high-quality data? Are you able to act on the insights this data provides? If you nodded along, you're already on the path to becoming AI-ready!

Now, let's talk about aligning AI and data analytics with your business goals. Maybe you want to drive up sales, streamline operations, or deliver a better customer experience. Your roadmap is data analytics - it will guide you on the best route to reach your destination. Always remember, AI isn't a magic wand but a handy tool in your toolbox. Used wisely, it can power up your business journey.

Today's Guest:

Frank Mendoza, Founder, Catalytics Consulting

Frank will share his journey of moving from working full-time at Dell to starting his consulting firm, focusing on helping customers get results from the data. He addresses the most common misconceptions about AI and data analytics and how you handle them.

  • How to create a foundation for getting long-term value rather than just focusing on adopting AI/ML
  • Why is it important to focus on the objective of solving the problem and then pursue to have AI/ML implementation
  • How to drive use cases for ChatGPT
  • If you are new to AI and how will you start learning

 

Resources:

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a comment in the section below on this post
  • Do you want to suggest any new topic I should cover in future Podcast
  • Join us in the Mastermind tribe
  • Share this on Twitter and Facebook; if you enjoyed this episode and we are learning new technologies together.

To help out this initiative:

  • Leave a candid review for the OTechTalks Podcast on iTunes! Your ratings and reviews will help the session on iTunes.
  • Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes to get the subsequent sessions.

May 30, 2023

In today's rapidly evolving corporate landscape, continual learning and upskilling have become crucial for career advancement. Various educational options are available to professionals, each offering unique benefits, from corporate organizations to opting for MOOCs or having formal degree programs. The debate between colleagues and friends often refers to two main paths: a formal degree versus hands-on experience. In this Podcast, I will cover higher degrees during a professional career and how I decided to go for it.

Finally, after a break of six months due to my university dissertation, I am back to writing blogs and podcasts.

  • What is happening in the corporate world concerning degree programs while working?
  • Why is upskilling essential?
  • What are the options available? Or how usually it is being considered.

Choosing Your Path:

The decision to pursue higher education can be complex, with common considerations such as MBA programs versus technical degrees. This dilemma often feels like a roller coaster ride, requiring much thought and time, and the same thing I was going through while contemplating this.

My journey toward earning an MSc in AI started in late 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. While working on several emerging technologies initiatives with many customers, I explored online courses on platforms like edx.org, coursera.org, and LinkedIn learning.

While these courses provided valuable information, I wanted to get deeper into the basics and build upon them. It depends on your personality and, historically, how you take up any new topic or subject to develop your knowledge of it.

After numerous discussions with friends, colleagues, and former managers, it became clear that my aspirations needed to align with what I was targeting or aiming for. I had to spend considerable time deciding whether to pursue an MBA or a tech-focused degree. I concluded that I envisioned a two-step progression: first, to follow the latest technical degree, which equips me with the latest tech, and then to supplement it with management courses.

The Decision to Pursue AI:

Given my involvement in numerous emerging tech projects, my interest naturally gravitated toward data science and AI degree programs. The question then became, where to enroll? Back in 2020, there were fewer options than there are today.

After extensive research, I decided not to go to US universities due to time zone differences and targeted UK universities. While the selection of universities was essential, and the considerations included the fee structure, overall university ranking, job placement record, course structure, and location.

The Online Learning Experience:

The pandemic has exponentially increased the demand for online courses and degrees. As an online student of an AI MSc program, I've been introduced to a new learning methodology that differs from traditional face-to-face instruction.

The primary challenge of online learning is maintaining self-discipline. With it, staying on track with the courses and completing them is challenging. Furthermore, studying in-depth and grasping the material beyond just checking off completion boxes is essential and needs to be paramount in the study approach.

Balancing Professional and Personal Life:

It's complicated, and the journey of juggling a professional career, pursuing a higher degree, and maintaining a personal life was no less than walking a tightrope. The constant switch between work, studies, and family responsibilities was often overwhelming, and there were countless moments when I felt like dropping out of the university program.

Despite the challenges, what kept me going was the unwavering support of my wife. Despite the up and downs, She often reminded me of why I started this journey in the first place and now need to keep an eye on it rather than focusing on something else.

In this ride, I've learned that pursuing a higher degree while working full-time and managing family responsibilities is incredibly challenging. However, with the right support system and a clear vision of the end goal, it is indeed possible.

And learning, growth, and career advancement reward the trip worthwhile.

You'll Learn the following:

The journey to pursuing a higher degree while working:

  • Why go for the formal university route
  • Why upskilling is important
  • How did I start it, and what were the considerations that can help you decide for yourself?

Resources:

  • University of Bath
  • Edx.org https://www.edx.org
  • Coursera.org https://www.coursera.org
  • Linkedin Learning https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
  • MOOC.org

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a comment in the section below on this post
  • Do you want to suggest any new topic I should cover in future Podcast
  • Join us in the Mastermind tribe
  • Share this on Twitter and Facebook; if you enjoyed this episode and we are learning new technologies together.

To help out this initiative:

  • Leave a candid review for the OTechTalks Podcast on iTunes! Your ratings and reviews will help the session on iTunes.
  • Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes to get the subsequent sessions

Jun 10, 2022

An open talk on the challenges of having a data pipeline for the images, audio and videos, The Hub enables to have several famous machine learning datasets with just a single command, like CIFAR-10, MNIST or Fashion-MNIST, Google Objection, ImageNet, COCO, and many others.

As I came from a Relational Database management system (RDBS) background, this talk gives me a new perspective and helps to think outside of the known areas. Enjoy the talk with the CEO of Active Loop. This session was recorded in October 2021 and is now being published.

Today’s Guest

Davit Buniatyan, CEO at ActiveLoop.ai

A great insight talk with the guest speaker on a topic, a product owner focuses on a dataset format to offer API for creating, storing, and collaborating on any size of AI datasets.

  • What were the challenges faced in the unstructured data storage and how the hub is offering a solution to solve the data problem?
  • The question of where you will store the large data sets of images, and videos - you will get all the answers in this talk
  • How the opensource Github repo is helping thousands of people to use datasets to PyTorch or TensorFlow with one line of code.

Resources:

Jan 30, 2022

Project management is changing how emerging technologies are becoming on-board, and complex business transformations are happening in different industries. All this requires new approaches and methodologies. In this podcast, I discussed the role of artificial intelligence in project management, how we can get ready with the future of project management, and what it looks like. What are the traits someone needs to have? What is impacting the current project management and the challenges being faced?

You will also learn why project management professionals & executives need to understand the need to transition to an AI-powered approach in project management. You will also learn the vital steps for effective collaboration between intelligent technology and project professionals. The organization is collecting enormous amounts of data and how the collected data can help have informed decisions for the project management.

You will get the answers to 4 key areas:

  • What are the current challenges with project deliveries, their root causes, and why AI is the cure?
  • Which AI will impact areas of Project Management?
  • How will AI work in the project management practice, and what is the impact on current practices?

Understand the steps that organizations and project professionals need to take to prepare for the future

Another view to look the future of project management as Gartner reported that "By 2030, 80 percent of the work of today’s project management (PM) discipline will be eliminated as artificial intelligence (AI) takes on traditional PM functions such as data collection, tracking and reporting, according to Gartner, Inc."

However, project managers need to be ready with the help of AI and to use the latest tools in routine tasks rather than just stopping them. The core skills like leadership, people stakeholder management, storytelling, communication and many more skills will play a significant role to be a great project manager.

Today’s Guest

Marcus Glowasz, Project Management Coach, Speaker, Facilitator

A talk with the experienced project management practitioner as a guest speaker on how the latest Technologies and Innovations in Project Management.

Resources:

Sep 6, 2021

A deepfake refers to a specific kind of media or photo where a person in an image or video is transacted with another person however it will look like the original person in an image or video.

To make a deep fake video, a creator swaps one person’s face and replaces it with another, using a deep learning algorithm generative adversarial networks (GAN).

A formal definition as per Wikipedia:

Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else's likeness. While the act of faking content is not new, deepfakes leverage powerful techniques from machine learning and artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate visual and audio content with a high potential to deceive. The main machine learning methods used to create deepfakes are based on deep learning and involve training generative neural network architectures, such as autoencoders or generative adversarial networks (GANs) – Source: Wikipedia

Today’s Guest

Ilke Demir, Research Scientist at Intel

An inspirational talk with the guest speaker on a variety of topics, like

  • How to decide to pursue a short course or a degree program in AI/Data Science,
  • What is a new fake catcher tool? and from where you can find out the number of large datasets.

Resources:

1