Turning AI into business impact through data and strategy

In the latest episode of AI in Action, Bernard Marr shares his perspective on how AI is changing the way we work and why AI literacy is becoming essential for every organization. He explains that real AI-driven business growth starts with a clear strategy. To make AI work at scale, companies need strong data foundations, modern data architecture and solid data management practices.

Many organizations still struggle with siloed systems, weak governance and low data literacy, which hurts their competitive edge. Bernard encourages leaders to connect business intelligence with AI goals, rethink existing processes and give teams space to experiment. From agentic AI to quantum computing, he reminds us that change is happening fast and that a thoughtful, strategic approach to AI is key to building future-ready organizations.

0:00 Intro

03:47 What AI really means for companies in 2026

06:47 Scaling AI starts with strategy

10:42 Leading the cultural shift to AI

13:17 Competitive advantage starts with AI awareness

18:14 The real barriers to scaling AI

28:33 What enterprises can learn from AI startups

30:58 Top trends for data and AI leaders

34:24 Overcoming data and governance challenges

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

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