The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era

In this episode of The AI Forecast, Tom Harshbarger, Director of Cloud and AI Strategy at Arrow Electronics, joins host Paul Muller to unpack what it really takes to build enterprise AI solutions that deliver value. From navigating an immature market to choosing the right partners, Tom shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the industry on how to start small, experiment intelligently, and scale with confidence. They also explore why AI feels different from past technology waves, what makes today’s ecosystem uniquely complex, and how leaders can balance ambition with responsibility as the world races to integrate AI into every corner of business and life. Stay in touch with Tom: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-harshbarger/  Arrow Electronics: arrow.com +++   Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.

The AI era is redefining what it takes to stay on top. Success won’t come from protecting the status quo, but from embracing the “always day one” mindset—where reinvention, adaptability, and bold experimentation drive progress.  Drawing on Big Tech’s playbook, Alex Kantrowitz, former journalist and now founder of Big Technology, joins host Paul Muller on The AI Forecast to discuss why continuous reinvention is the key to thriving in this new landscape, and how leaders can navigate AI’s impact on business, culture, and society. Stay in touch with Alex: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkantrowitz/  Big Technology: https://www.bigtechnology.com/    +++   Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.  

What does it mean to design AI with humanity at its core? Jess Von Bank—futurist, HR transformation leader, and president of Diverse Daisies—joins The AI Forecast to discuss. With host Paul Muller, the two explore how AI is reshaping the workforce and our very sense of what it means to be human. From AI-driven recruiting and workforce redesign to the mental health crisis and the erosion of human connection, Jess challenges leaders to slow down, think deeply, and build technology that serves people, not replaces them. Stay in touch with Jess: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessvonbank/  +++   Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.

We’re entering a new era of Big Data defined by convergence—where on-premises and cloud systems come together to power trusted, private AI. By integrating AI with modern data architectures, organizations can harness the full value of their information, drive innovation, and enable a new wave of business outcomes in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. In this episode of The AI Forecast, Cloudera CTO Sergio Gago joins host Paul Muller to unpack the “third wave” of data and AI.  Plus, drawing on his experience as a musician, entrepreneur, and quantum computing leader, Sergio explores the creative and human dimensions of AI — from how music teaches us about data patterns to why the real value in AI lies in skills, context, and control. He shares his vision for a world where digital colleagues work alongside humans, how organizations can safely embrace AI agents, and why the future of business will depend on sovereign data and private intelligence. Stay in touch with Sergio: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiogh  Sergio’s Quantum Pirates Newsletter: https://quantumpirates.substack.com/  +++ Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.

The future will not be decided by who experiments with AI first, but by who can operationalize it at scale - turning messy, fragmented data into trusted insights, deploying models seamlessly across hybrid environments, and delivering measurable business outcomes. To discuss, we’re joined by Patrick Moorhead, Founder, CEO and Chief Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.  He and host Paul Muller explore the importance of data quality, the impact of AI on various industries, and the need for effective data management strategies. Patrick shares insights from his extensive experience in technology and highlights the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for businesses today. Stay in touch with Patrick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patmoorhead/  Moor Insights & Strategy website: https://moorinsightsstrategy.com/    +++   Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.  

Fresh off his keynote at Cloudera’s EVOLVE NYC, futurist and author Mike Walsh returns to The AI Forecast to share bold insights on the rise of AI agents and what they mean for business, culture, and society. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mike explores how AI is evolving from simple automation into a limitless digital workforce, and why the real disruption lies in the second- and third-order consequences of this transformation. From model collapse and embodied AI to sovereign intelligence and the future of work, Mike challenges us to look beyond the hype and consider how AI will reshape organizations, economies, and even culture itself. Along the way, he reflects on his upcoming book, the risks of algorithmic echo chambers, and why now is the best time to be a creative thinker willing to embrace change. Stay in touch with Mike: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwalsh/  +++   Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast YouTube page.  

AI is changing the way businesses operate. But without trust, governance, and accountability, progress stalls.  Ojas Rege, SVP and GM of Privacy and Data Governance at OneTrust, joins The AI Forecast to explore how organizations can balance innovation with responsibility. He and host Paul Muller unpack why AI represents a “new class of risk,” what it means to design privacy and governance into systems from the very beginning, and how curiosity and context fuel better decision-making with data.  They also examine the shifting role of organizations as regulators sharpen their focus on AI, the need for new tooling to ensure explainability, and how human oversight will remain essential even as automation scales.   Stay in touch with Ojas:  Ojas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ojasrege     Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay updated on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast. 

AI can’t transform businesses if organizations aren’t prepared to embrace it. Christian Lund, Co-Founder of Templafy, joins The AI Forecast to explore thoughtful AI deployment in an organization. He and host Paul Muller dive into the realities of today’s AI landscape—from why over 40% of AI projects are likely to be canceled, to the untapped potential of document workflows as a proving ground for successful adoption. They discuss how quality and context determine whether AI truly adds value, why trust is the indefinable ingredient in scaling AI, and how integrating tools into existing workflows can ease resistance. Christian also shares his perspective on finding “low-hanging fruit” projects that drive early wins, the transformative impact AI will have on knowledge workers, and why purposeful applications focused on ROI will define the future of AI in business. Stay in touch with Christian: Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianlundcph/  +++ Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast.

As part of our Women Leaders in Technology (WLIT) series on The AI Forecast, we’re joined by Avani Desai, CEO of Schellman, a leading cybersecurity firm. Each quarter, we’ll take a break from the regularly scheduled AI programming on The AI Forecast to direct our attention to this important topic in tech. Avani shares her journey from a curious kid in Orlando who loved to tinker with technology to becoming a leader in cybersecurity. She reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her career, like her 15-year journey to accept vulnerability as a means of connection, not failure. She also shares how her leadership style—rooted in empathy, authenticity, and radical transparency (e.g., her “eye-to-eye with Desai” meetings with employees where no question is off limits)—has helped her build trust, inspire teams, and drive innovation.  To learn more about Cloudera’s Women Leaders in Technology, join the LinkedIn community and visit the home page. LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13104138/  WLIT Website: https://www.cloudera.com/about/women-leaders-in-technology.html  And to stay in touch with Avani, follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avanimehtadesai/ 

AI can’t transform businesses if organizations aren’t prepared to embrace it.  Donna Beasley, Chief AI Enablement Officer, joins The AI Forecast to explore thoughtful AI deployment in an organization. She and host Paul Muller dive into the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption, from ensuring data quality to driving organizational change management.  They discuss the importance of collaboration across departments, strategies for overcoming resistance, and the critical role of training and meeting individuals where they are in their openness with AI.   Stay in touch with Donna:   Donna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-beasley04349/     Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast.