Tech Talks Daily

RJ Pittman is the CEO of Matterport, a leading company that develops digital twins. Think of it as a way to create a digital replica of the real world, where people can either visit locations virtually to keep track of their inventory. Matterport is also a company contributing to the metaverse conversation, which is a topic that will likely continue to evolve next year. RJ joins me in a conversation about using this technology across many verticals. We explore the role of digital twins across tourism, travel, and real estate and how it ties to a potential metaverse. I learn more about Matterport's spatial computing platform turns buildings into data making every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 150 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal, and marketing.

A 2021 EdScoop survey underwritten by Dell Technologies and Intel found that higher education officials believe the demand for AI training is outpacing both supply and the current ability of higher education institutions to meet that demand. Fifty-three percent of survey respondents suggested AI would account for the most significant increase in instructional demand over the next three years, and 50 percent said they would like support from a consortium/association of peer institutions. Intel, Dell Technologies and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently announced the AI Incubator Network. The new initiative from Intel's AI for Workforce program will design and build artificial intelligence (AI) labs across the country by utilizing the expertise and industry connections of America's community college system. The partnership is opening applications for community colleges that would like to participate in the AI Incubator Network by designing and building their own AI incubators as physical laboratories, on virtual platforms or in hybridized models. Community colleges that join the AI Incubator Network can participate in discussions, connect on economic development, strategize on student engagement into AI programming, share lessons about student projects between the participating colleges. It will also gather best practices from the field of AI Incubation as identified by AACC, Intel, Dell and other industry partners. The labs will also provide students with more access to AI equipment, tools and resources, and foster the skills needed for future jobs. Carlos Contreras shares more information on the announcement along with Intel's 2030 Goals and the company's dedication to using tech as a force for good, underscoring its aim to make technology fully inclusive and to expand digital readiness worldwide.

imimobile, part of Webex by Cisco, provides cloud communications software and services that manage business-critical customer interactions at scale. Cisco Systems acquired the business in February 2021 and now forms an integral part of the Webex CX strategy. Since its foundation in 2000 at the start of the mobile internet era, the company has worked with many large enterprises across different industries to create superior customer experiences. Its API and low-code Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) offering, Webex Connect, enables large enterprises to automate, orchestrate and monitor their customer interactions all on one platform. This helps businesses to lower costs, reduce complexity and accelerate IT roadmaps. I invited Ramy Riad on Tech Talks Daily to learn more about how they are helping businesses stay connected to their customers in a world where every touchpoint, on every channel, is an opportunity to deliver rich, engaging, intuitive experiences. A world where every interaction matters. We discuss the right strategies that can make it possible to employ a single platform to deliver next-level CX, the future of messaging, and how leaders can expedite their approach across digital channels with solutions like CPaaS.

Do the traditional "moats" around the legal services industry still exist? And is the legal industry still slow to embrace technology? I wanted to bust a few myths today and learn how the industry embraces technological change and does things differently. Today I want to explore the world of legal tech, document automation, negotiation, and analysis platforms. Giles Thompson, Head of Growth at Avvoka, a lawyer by trade (formerly Kirkland & Ellis and Herbert Smith Freehills) shares his story on Tech Talks Daily and how he is now a tech investor and entrepreneur. I ask if LegalTech is the next FinTech, and who/what will be the next DocuSign? We also discuss how many lawyers are beginning to ask why they still have to negotiate contracts over email, with track changes and several lawyers building a different future that makes their lives easier. I also learn how Avvoka is a document automation, negotiation and analytics tool designed to help law firms, in-house legal teams and businesses draft documents, negotiate them, and leverage data insights from that process to draft better documents and get to "yes" faster.

Paul Oppong is a leader in the project management & digital transformation space. I invited him to join me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss why more companies are beginning to embrace digital transformation and why it's key to their survival. We also talk about how to pivot and increase revenues through digital transformation. ABOUT PAUL: Paul Oppong is a project management consultant, author, and speaker specializing in digital transformation and leadership. He has a strong record of success in helping organizations meet the technology challenges of tomorrow in a wide range of sectors such as Aeronautics, Defence, Automotive, Transport, Financial Services, and Energy. In addition, he's delivered countless projects in big data and technology. Paul is also a published thought leader whose writing has appeared in The Project Times and The Business Analyst Times. In addition, he's written several books, including "The Future-Proof Business

Carey Blunt, Global Head of ServiceNow Solutions at Fujitsu joins me in a conversation about diagnosing the symptoms (and solutions) of technical debt. In a nutshell, technical debt is the cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy solution over a better approach that would take longer. It's something that is impacting a huge number of organisations, especially in the wake of all the disruption we've seen in recent years. But while this has likely been born out of necessity, if these burdens from the past aren't addressed, the repercussions for your future could be severe. As shown by the fact that for every hour spent on innovation, organisations spend three hours tackling technical debt. Even more worrying, however, is the recent study that revealed how 68% of organisations believed their technical debt would increase in 2022. So, to help organisations overcome this, this podcast will explore the main traits of technical debt to raise awareness among leaders who often fail to recognise the symptoms in their own business. But of course, like any good doctor, we won't just diagnose the symptoms, we'll also provide the cure – in the shape of thought leadership from our experts and a healthy dose of looking at the benefits of digital / IT workflows.

This is a highly challenging time for energy companies as we head towards a cleaner future that is only achievable through decarbonization and electrification. John Kochavatr, VP of IT & Supply Chain and CIO at Portland General Electric joins me on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast to share their story. Portland General Electric is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. Oregon has some of the most ambitious clean energy targets in the U.S. – and PGE is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power served to customers by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. John shares how their path to reach these targets involves everyone working together - from their customers, regulators, stakeholders and technology providers. But how they have also participated in multiple ambitious projects to help us reach those targets, including our up-and-coming battery storage facility Wheatridge and the recently completed Integrated Operations Center (IOC). I learn more about how Portland General Electric sees technology in service of its larger mission of providing their customers with clean, safe and reliable energy. We also discuss some of the innovative ways they are currently using technology to improve reliability.

Richard Walters, CTO of autonomous integrated cloud security firm Censornet joins me on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast. Censornet provides mid-market organizations with the confidence and control of enterprise-grade cyber protection. Its platform integrates attack intel across email, web, and cloud to ensure their cyber defenses can react immediately, whether it's day or night. The company has more than 1,500 customers globally, including several standout names such as Fever-Tree, the National Portrait Gallery, Hallmark Hotels, and Thatchers Cider. We discuss why attacks on critical infrastructure are on the rise and why ransomware will be the next security threat to cause human casualties. In addition, we also discuss the ABC of cybersecurity will be Activity, Behaviour, and Context and why we are moving a step closer to Walled gardens to protect data.

Mark Curtis, Head of Innovation and Thought Leadership at Accenture Interactive returns to the Tech Talks Daily podcast. Mark is a serial entrepreneur and innovator. His first company, Curtis Hoy, pioneered radio sales promotion from 1989. Highlights included introducing fixed frequency low-cost radios as a sampling driver for the Pepsi taste test, bringing drive-in movies to the UK for the first time ever (Diet Pepsi) and designing the first marketing use of virtual reality in 1993 (for a Unilever brand). Today's episode discusses how the Metaverse and its technology could impact brands and customers. In addition, we talk about how this is expanding beyond just the gaming community – designers, digital product developers, creatives, and technologists will play a central role in virtual world-building and content placement, as everything is 3D-based. However, as brands seek to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Metaverse, ethics around behavior manipulation, sustainability, and accessibility for all must remain front of mind. Finally, we discuss the democratization of access might lead to a new wealth of shared cultural experiences and new economies.

WiFi has increasingly become a critical need for both consumers and enterprises over the years, and technology has needed to evolve to address these new experiences for all. WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E are fast becoming mainstream, and there is a growing need to improve performance. Just when you thought you were on top of the game, WiFi 7 is now within tangible reach, and it's expected to bring next-level wireless connectivity and performance to all. So today, I have invited Andy Davidson, senior director of technology planning, at Quualcom in a discussion about What is WiFi 7? And why it's already shaping up to be the next big thing in connectivity. Andy also shares how Qualcomm is at the forefront of WiFi evolution, driving the standards and technology to meet the aspirations of the ever-growing customers, devices, applications, and services.