CXOTalk

Pradeep Mannakkara (CIO) and Ben Mayrides (CISO) of Cvent explain how they govern AI agents at scale across their 5,500-person organization, which now has over 6,000 agents in production. In this fireside chat recorded at a Glean event in NYC, they walk through the AWARE framework developed by Glean's Work AI Institute with Databricks and Palo Alto Networks, and describe the practical tradeoffs of moving fast while managing risk. The conversation covers agent identity, observability, cultural adoption, CIO/CISO dynamics, and what enterprise-grade AI governance looks like in practice.You'll discover:✅ Why traditional IAM and observability controls fail in agentic architectures where agents reason, delegate, and act autonomously✅ How Cvent deliberately encouraged 6,000 agent creations to build AI fluency before layering in moderation and metrics✅ The AWARE framework's five pillars: identity, context, guardrails, risk scoring, and ecosystem observability✅ Why "risk is too high" is never the final answer, only "risk is too high for now"✅ How Cvent filters AI demand through ROI gates before projects reach security review✅ Why replacing gut-feel security objections with shared criteria moves the CISO from gatekeeper to business partner✅ The sandbox-first approach that separates experimentation from production deployment✅ Why SOC 2 control criteria for AI agents are likely within 18 to 24 months⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Introduction and the AWARE framework0:34 Core challenges of agent governance2:43 What agents do for us and to us4:36 Applying the AWARE framework in practice7:09 Choosing platforms with built-in controls9:25 Making governance a cultural shift11:51 Earning trust through deliberate risk decisions13:49 Replacing gut reactions with shared criteria15:20 Managing the CIO/CISO tension18:54 Shared language for hard tradeoffs22:01 Go/no-go decisions are never one and done24:48 Advice for putting AWARE into practice26:38 Scaling to 6,000 agents🔔 Subscribe to CXOTalk and hit the bell for new episodes every week.📩 Get the CXOTalk newsletter: https://newsletter.cxotalk.com💬 Show notes: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/ai-agent-governance-inside-the-glean-aware-framework-with-cvents-cio-and-ciso🎙️ ABOUT CXOTALKCXOTalk features unfiltered conversations with C-suite executives from major companies about AI, digital transformation, and business strategy. Hosted by Michael Krigsman.Episode 913 | Recorded March 10, 2026#CXOTalk #AIGovernance #AIAgents #CISO #CIO #EnterpriseAI #AgenticAI #AWAREFramework #AICompliance #CyberSecurity

Bill Briggs, CTO of Deloitte, shares findings and advice for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from the 2026 TechTrends report: 93% of enterprise AI spending goes to technology and tooling, while only 7% of funding goes to culture, change management, and learning. Briggs explains why this imbalance drives failed pilots and runaway costs, and what leaders should do about it. 📌 KEY POINTS-- Your AI spending ratio is upside downEnterprises allocate 93% of AI budgets to technology and tooling, while devoting only 7% to culture, change management, and workforce learning. Leaders who invest first in simplifying processes from first principles, before adding AI, consistently produce the strongest returns.-- Frontline trust in AI sits at 6.7%, and it's costing youC-suite executives report 70% trust in AI, while entry-level workers register only 6.7%, creating an inverted value chain where the people closest to broken processes stay silent. Organizations can close this gap by declaring intentions upfront and making it safe for workers to experiment openly, rather than hiding behind personal AI tools.-- Measure outcomes, not agent headcountCompanies broadcasting "tens of thousands of agents" substitute effort metrics for evidence of value; if real business results existed, those numbers would be the headline. Tie every AI initiative to specific operational and financial metrics and kill pilots that result in press releases but no movement that benefits shareholders and employees.YOU'LL DISCOVER:✅ Why applying AI to an inefficient process "weaponizes inefficiency" and drives costs through the roof✅ How trust in AI drops from 70% at the C-suite to 6.7% at the frontline, and why this inverted gap blocks real value✅ Why hospitals are putting robots on org charts and holding naming competitions for AI coworkers✅ The specific governance frameworks enterprises need for a workforce of AI agents (modeled on the HR lifecycle)✅ How inference costs create sticker shock and when to shift from cloud to dedicated hardware✅ Why Briggs says the CIO's most important skill is now storytelling, not systems architecture✅ What "success theater" looks like and how to spot it in your own organization✅ Why 99% of enterprises are fundamentally transforming their IT organizations right now⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Deloitte's CTO: Spend less on technology0:20 The 93/7 AI spending imbalance3:59 Why a technologist argues against more tech investment5:43 State of enterprise AI: 30% reach production scale8:05 Treating AI deployment like onboarding a coworker10:29 AI itself means nothing without culture change13:14 Redesigning work from first principles16:51 Quantifying AI financial risk and token economics20:03 Inference costs, shadow IT, and runaway bills23:14 The trust gap: 70% at the top, 6.7% at the bottom26:47 Governing a workforce of AI agents32:15 Success theater vs. real business metrics37:37 Responsible deployment, guardrails, and OpenClaw lessons42:37 How AI is transforming the CIO role46:05 Why storytelling is the CIO's most important skill50:02 Human times machine: the essential equation🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations with global technology and business leaders who speak candidly about the strategies behind AI, transformation, and organizational change.📩 Get notified about upcoming episodes and exclusive insights: https://newsletter.cxotalk.com💬 Read show notes and get the transcript: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/deloitte-cto-on-the-ai-investment-trap-cio-advisory-2026🎙️ ABOUT CXOTALKCXOTalk features unfiltered conversations with C-suite executives from major companies about AI, digital transformation, and business strategy. Hosted by Michael Krigsman.Episode 912 | Recorded March 15, 2026#CXOTalk #AIStrategy #EnterpriseAI #DigitalTransformation #Deloitte #CIO #AIGovernance #TechTrends2026 #AIInvestment #AgenticAI

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director and NYC health commissioner now leading Resolve to Save Lives, champions prevention and better incentives. He discusses how current payment systems punish prevention, why primary care is underfunded, Kaiser’s capitation success, the See, Believe, Create formula, the 7-1-7 outbreak system, and the danger of monetized misinformation.

David A. Bray, public-interest technologist focused on strategy and policy, and Rob T. Lee, SANS Chief AI Officer and cyber expert, discuss AI agents as a new attack surface. They cover AI-driven offensive velocity, federated learning for shared threat intel, hallucination-based supply-chain attacks, rapid incident response needs, and hiring for learning velocity and a hacking mindset.

Tim Crawford and Isaac Sacolick, both former Chief Information Officers and world-class CIO advisors, join Michael Krigsman on CXOTalk episode 909 to break down why enterprise AI strategies are failing, what separates transformational CIOs from those who are drowning, and why earning your seat at the table matters more than ever in 2026.You'll discover:✅ Why Tim says both AI strategy AND IT execution are failing, and what CIOs are focused on instead of outcomes✅ The "three-legged race" framework: how CIO behavior, IT culture, and external perception must align for strategic credibility✅ Why most CIOs have only a "layperson's understanding" of their own business, and how that kills AI value✅ Tim's two swim lanes of AI success: invisible integration or robust training (there is no middle ground)✅ Why Isaac says AI is "reshaping" business but not yet "transforming" it, and the product management shift that changes everything✅ How to evaluate agentic AI: the human-in-the-loop vs. human-out-of-the-loop decision framework and why cybersecurity proves you can't wait✅ The shadow AI paradox: why the best CIOs encourage it (with guardrails) instead of shutting it down✅ The three skills every IT professional needs now: business acumen, critical thinking, and data literacy⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Cold open: "If you think you should have a seat at the table, you've failed"0:35 Why both AI strategy and IT execution are failing2:08 The productivity measurement problem with AI2:45 What CEOs and boards want from CIOs in 20264:28 Why CIOs don't truly understand their business6:54 Why organizations are stuck in AI pilot mode9:04 Tim's 2 swim lanes: invisible AI vs. training-wrapped AI11:23 Audience Q&A: Inside-out thinking vs. outside-in thinking14:34 The 3-legged race: earning your seat at the table17:09 Moving from AI efficiency to true business transformation20:03 The shift from project-oriented to product-oriented IT20:31 AI governance, CISO alignment, and data sensitivity27:15 Agentic AI: fully autonomous vs. human-in-the-loop34:46 Agentic AI strategy and the value equation (opportunity minus cost)38:46 Shadow AI: innovation source or security threat?43:00 Governance as culture, not a bolt-on46:00 The AI skills gap: business acumen, critical thinking, data skills, and curiosity49:46 Are survival-mode CIOs sabotaging their careers?52:15 What CIO greatness looks like in 2026🔔 SUBSCRIBE to CXOTalk for unfiltered conversations with the world's top technology and business leaders.📩 Get notified about upcoming episodes. Subscribe to the CXOTalk newsletter: https://newsletter.cxotalk.com🎙️ Read the summary and full transcript: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/cio-agenda-2026-delivering-on-the-ai-promise#CXOTalk #CIOAgenda2026 #AIStrategy #AgenticAI #DigitalTransformation #CIO #AIGovernance #EnterpriseAI #AILeadership #BusinessTransformation

MIT and Stanford professor Alex "Sandy" Pentland, one of the most cited researchers in the world with over 165,000 citations, explains why the real AI advantage isn't smarter models but collective intelligence. It's smarter humans working together with AI as the connective tissue. Drawing from his latest book Shared Wisdom, Pentland reveals the frameworks behind community intelligence and why data ownership, not frontier AI, will determine who wins the next decade.You'll discover:✅ Why "people plus AI" consistently beats AI alone, and the hedge fund evidence that proves it✅ How "AI buddies" are replacing corporate manuals, newsletters, and hallway conversations to keep distributed teams aligned✅ The Deliberation.io tool that makes meetings more than twice as effective by neutralizing power dynamics and keeping groups focused✅ Why a 350,000-person multinational is cutting in-house staff to 150,000 while hiring 100,000 more project-based workers, and how AI enables that shift✅ How a doctor with zero technical background built a hospital operating system in 6 weeks using AI tools✅ The staggering stat: AI costs are dropping by 50% every 3.5 months, a factor of 1,000 over three years, and what that means for personal, on-device AI✅ Why China's Belt and Road and India's Citizen Stack (1.4 billion customers signed up) are quietly winning the global data game while Silicon Valley focuses on frontier models✅ Sandy's provocative proposal: a 10% equity contribution to sovereign wealth funds at company formation, which would have created a $10 trillion US fund if started in 1990⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Why AI alone loses money: the hedge fund reality check2:07 Shared wisdom, community intelligence, and organizational culture4:25 AI buddies: the brilliant librarian inside your company5:44 Deliberation.io: making meetings 2x more effective7:01 Using AI for exploration and long-range strategic thinking11:29 Who's to blame when AI fails: executives or the machine?14:28 Why AI can't do causality and what that means for leaders18:14 AI's killer app for remote work and distributed organizations21:09 A doctor built a hospital OS in 6 weeks: small teams, massive impact24:09 Job displacement, social safety nets, and the sovereign wealth fund idea27:01 Reinventing education: Costa Rica's bet and the MIT Media Lab model32:16 LLMs vs. older AI: why you need both (and the loyalagents.org initiative)37:13 Practical starting points for redesigning work with AI40:16 Misinformation, data provenance, and the billion-dollar North Korea problem48:50 The global data race: China, India, UAE, and why frontier models aren't the game54:00 Cybersecurity warning: agentic AI creates massive new attack surfaces🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a conversation with the world's top business and technology leaders.📩 Get notified about upcoming shows. Sign up for the CXOTalk newsletter: https://newsletter.cxotalk.com💬 Check the summary and full transcript: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/ai-and-collective-intelligence-for-smarter-decision-making🎙️ ABOUT CXOTALKCXOTalk features unfiltered conversations with C-suite executives from major companies about AI, digital transformation, and business strategy. Hosted by Michael Krigsman.Episode 907 | Recorded February 8, 2026#CXOTalk #CollectiveIntelligence #AIStrategy #SandyPentland #CommunityIntelligence #SharedWisdom #EnterpriseAI #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #DigitalTransformation

AI coding tools are writing more code than ever, but your software isn't shipping any faster. Welcome to the AI Paradox and the solution, intelligent orchestration.Bill Staples, CEO of GitLab, explains why AI-accelerated coding is actually creating massive downstream bottlenecks in code reviews, security checks, and deployment, and why adding more AI tools only makes the problem worse. GitLab's solution: intelligent orchestration across the entire software development lifecycle.You'll discover:✅ The "AI Paradox:" why faster coding isn't translating into faster software delivery✅ How tool fragmentation and context-switching are killing developer productivity✅ Why agents that thrive on context fail when your tools are siloed✅ The "inner loop architecture" that makes AI agents 40% more accurate and 25% faster✅ How GitLab's intelligent orchestration approach combines workflows, context, and guardrails✅ Why mid-level developers are about to become strategic orchestrators (not just coders)✅ The exact metrics CIOs should track, and why "lines of code" is the wrong one✅ First steps: audit, consolidate, and pilot before going all-in on AI⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 The AI Paradox: Why faster coding doesn't mean faster delivery1:10 How tool fragmentation creates developer bottlenecks3:40 Why AI agents make complexity worse (not better)5:12 Solving the AI automation problem: people, process, and technology6:36 Inner loop architecture: co-locating agents and data9:14 Intelligent orchestration: workflows, context, and guardrails10:32 How GitLab's knowledge graph supercharges agent accuracy12:49 Universal guardrails for humans and AI agents13:39 Real-world results: 2-3x more merge requests, pipeline fixes in minutes15:00 Common threads driving customer success16:36 How AI transforms the mid-level developer's role19:06 Advice for CIOs and CTOs putting this into practice20:49 First steps: audit, measure, and pilot22:45 Core metrics to evaluate AI's real value25:02 Wrap-up🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with top technology executives.📩 Get the CXOTalk newsletter: https://newsletter.cxotalk.com💬 Drop your questions in the comments: Michael and our community actively engage.🎙️Read the summary: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/intelligent-orchestration-software-delivery-for-the-ai-era-with-ceo-of-gitlab#AI #SoftwareDevelopment #DevOps #GitLab #AIAgents #DeveloperProductivity #CIO #CTO #DigitalTransformation #CXOTalk

Prashant Mehrotra, Chief AI Officer at US Bank, discusses how the bank evaluates AI initiatives and scales projects from pilot to production. He explains how to build customer trust through responsible AI design and prepare for the future of autonomous banking in CXOTalk episode 906. This conversation covers key aspects of AI in business and AI implementation within a large banking institution.=======Please support our sponsor Emeritus: Explore executive education programs from Emeritus, in collaboration with top universities: https://cxotalk.partner.emeritus.org/=======Key topics discussed:→ Why AI should transform processes, not simply make them more efficient→ How U.S. Bank cut governance approval times in half by engaging risk partners early→ The critical role of baselines in determining whether AI pilots scale or fail→ Why "AI without data is a hallucination" and how the bank organizes Digital, Data, and AI under one leader→ Building AI literacy across the entire workforce, from executives to frontline associates→ The shift from building models to leveraging external foundation models at scale→ Balancing personalization with privacy in customer interactionsMehrotra emphasizes that the client remains the "North Star" for every AI initiative. He offers practical guidance on metrics, funding pilots through to production, and creating repeatable governance processes that accelerate rather than slow down AI deployment.🔷 Show notes: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/u-s-banks-chief-ai-officer-on-strategy-governance-and-scaling-ai🔷 Newsletter: www.cxotalk.com/subscribe🔷 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cxotalk🔷 Twitter: twitter.com/cxotalk📍 CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: AI at U.S. Bank00:30 How AI Ideas Get Evaluated and Funded02:24 The Chief AI Officer Role: The 4 E's Framework05:21 AI as a Transformative Force, Not Just Technology09:05 Real-World AI Impact: Customer Service and Developer Tools11:15 Measuring AI Success: Metrics That Matter15:31 Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail: The Importance of Baselines17:05 AI and Sustainability Goals18:01 Managing Risk and Governance at Scale22:46 Moving from Pilots to Production25:54 Aligning AI Strategy with Business Objectives28:39 Building an AI-Ready Workforce: Skills and Education32:12 How AI Differs from ERP and Traditional Technology Rollouts35:05 Regulatory Compliance in AI-Driven Customer Outreach37:16 Leadership Structure and Cross-Functional Collaboration39:07 Data as the Foundation of AI42:20 Technology Platforms and Vendor Partnerships43:24 Build vs. Buy: Leveraging Foundation Models45:56 AI as Strategic Investment: Creating Durable Value47:58 Personalization Without Being Invasive50:14 Conclusion#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Banking #DigitalTransformation #EnterpriseAI #ChiefAIOfficer #Leadership #CXOTalk

An AI chatbot that hallucinates is annoying. A robot or physical AI that hallucinates can cause injury or death. Burkhard Boeckem, CTO of Hexagon, explains why the bar for physical AI is fundamentally higher than digital AI, and what it takes to deploy robots that actually work in the real world. All this in CXOTalk episode 905.\In this conversation, we cover:→ What physical AI actually means (and why it's different from the AI you use every day)→ Why digital twins are the foundation for training robots safely→ The gap between impressive YouTube demos and robots that create economic value→ Functional safety: the "big theme" coming in 2026→ Cloud vs. edge computing for autonomous systems→ Where robotics deployments fail (hint: it's not the technology)→ What boards get wrong about robotics investments→ Timeline: when will we see real autonomy?Key insight: "Many boards overestimate the speed and underestimate the system work. It's not a software rollout—it's a complex engineering system."Burkhard's prediction: Autonomy in constrained environments is 1-3 years away. The "butler humanoid" that does everything? Still a ways off.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction: What is Physical AI?02:06 Digital Twins as the Foundation03:23 Understanding Ground Truth06:42 Digital AI vs. Physical AI: Safety and Reliability08:47 Real-World Business Applications10:48 Security and Functional Safety14:57 CES Announcements and Industry State20:01 Cloud vs. Edge Computing in Robotics22:32 Regulations for Physical AI25:10 Addressing Bias in Physical AI27:51 Timeline to Autonomy31:46 Creating Economic Value Beyond Demos33:26 Where Robotics Deployments Fail35:59 The Future of Humanoid Form Factors38:38 The Humanoid as User Interface40:06 Digital Twins for Robotics42:36 Fleet Collaboration and Swarm Intelligence43:46 What Boards Get Wrong About Robotics45:18 The Future of Work46:32 Responsible Deployment47:15 Manager AIs for Worker AIs?48:16 Looking Ahead: Next 2-3 Years49:37 Core Technical Challenges————————————————🔷 Full episode, show notes and resources: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/google-clouds-cto-inside-the-ai-strategy🔷 Newsletter: www.cxotalk.com/subscribe🔷 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cxotalk🔷 Twitter: twitter.com/cxotalk————————————————About the Guest:Burkhard Boeckem is Chief Technology Officer at Hexagon, a global leader in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software, and autonomous technologies.About CXOTalk:CXOTalk features direct, unfiltered conversations with the world's top business and technology leaders. No fluff, no PR speak—just honest discussion about what's actually working (and what isn't).#PhysicalAI #Robotics #Humanoids #DigitalTwin #AI #AutonomousSystems #CXOTalk #EnterpriseAI #Manufacturing #FutureOfWork

Anand Oswal, Executive Vice President of Network Security at Palo Alto Networks, dives into the critical intersection of cybersecurity and quantum computing. He reveals how nations are harvesting encrypted data now, anticipating the rise of quantum computers. Key timelines for algorithm deprecation, the urgency of enterprise migration, and the potential business risks from delayed response are highlighted. Anand outlines a three-pillar strategy for quantum readiness—Discover, Protect, Accelerate—and emphasizes the essential role of AI and immediate action for business leaders.