The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era

A city can’t be smart if its systems don’t serve its citizens. Ayesha Khanna, AI advisor, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, joins The AI Forecast to explore how AI is reshaping the cities we live in and the lives we lead within them. She and host Paul Muller dive into the intersection of AI and urban development, where infrastructure, governance, and personalization come together to elevate the quality of life. They discuss the real-world challenges of deploying innovative city technologies, the critical role of data management, and how AI can expand access to services like education and healthcare. She also shares her journey as a technologist, her work empowering women in the industry, and why ethical, human-centered design must guide the future of AI-powered cities. Stay in touch with Ayesha:  Ayesha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayeshakhanna/    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.

When AI needs to think faster, the architecture beneath it matters more than ever. Val Cook, Chief Software Architect at Blaize, joins The AI Forecast to unpack how today’s AI systems demand more than raw compute, but more adaptable infrastructure. He and host Paul Muller explore the critical intersection of hardware and software, the growing importance of data flow machines, and the limits of traditional architectures in real-time environments. They examine the emerging hybrid approach to AI, balancing centralized and Edge computing, and why dynamic use cases require systems that can react in the moment. Cook also emphasizes that innovation, not scale alone, will define the future of AI and that the teams that rethink the foundation will build what’s next. Stay in touch with Val: Val on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val-cook-5a552520/   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.

When trust collapses, everything else goes with it.  Jim Brennan, Chief Product and Technical Officer at GetReal Security, joins The AI Forecast to break down one of the biggest challenges in today’s world: securing digital trust. He and host Paul Muller explore why trust is the backbone of modern business and how advancements like deepfakes, impersonation attacks, and AI-powered deception are shaking that foundation They discuss why digital trust is forged through signals like signatures and interactions, how its erosion can trigger real business fallout, and what it takes to fight back. Stay in touch with Jim: Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jibrennan/ 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 AI systems grow more powerful, so does a more profound structural concern: ownership. A handful of players now control the data, infrastructure, and models shaping global AI and, with them, the rules of access, participation, and innovation. Sean Ren, co-founder of Sahara AI, joins The AI Forecast to explore the implications of competition in the AI industry, the necessity of decentralized technology, and the challenges of data ownership. Sean shares the potential for decentralized AI to disrupt existing economic models, the risks of centralized AI for businesses, and the future of knowledge workers in an AI-driven world. Stay in touch with Sean:  Sean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xren7/  Sahara AI: https://saharaai.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.

Jim Liddle, Chief Innovation Officer of Data Intelligence and AI at Nasuni, joins The AI Forecast to spotlight a critical obstacle to enterprise AI: messy, ungoverned data. He and host Paul Muller trace the evolution of data management and unpack why so many organizations still struggle with the basics, starting with the challenge of taming unstructured information. They explore how the absence of a unified data foundation blocks progress, how poor taxonomy erodes trust in AI, and why critical thinking, not just compute, is the missing piece in most AI strategies. Jim also looks ahead to the future of AI, tackling emerging concerns from algorithmic bias to the geopolitical implications of intelligent systems. Because in the end, if your data’s not ready, your AI won’t be either.   Stay in touch with Jim: Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimliddle/  +++ 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.

In the race of not being left behind in adopting new technology—like AI—enterprises often overlook the most straightforward, strategic question: what decision are we trying to make? Cassie Kozyrkov, first and former Chief Decision Scientist at Google and founder of Kozyr, joins The AI Forecast to reframe the conversation. Her take? It’s not about the genie granting the wish—in this case, AI; it’s about the wisher.  Cassie and host Paul Muller unpack why decision-making is the real competitive edge in enterprise AI. They explore what human tendencies shape our use of AI, the cognitive costs of over-automation, the fallacy of the “unicorn” hire, and why clarity of intent is the most underrated skill in the age of generative and agentic tools. Tune in as they explore why decision intelligence is essential and how it can reshape enterprises’ perception of AI from a prediction engine to a strategic partner that only delivers value if you know what to ask.   Stay in touch with Cassie:  Cassie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kozyrkov/  Cassie’s Website: https://www.kozyr.com/about    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 the conversation around job loss vs. job evolution heats up, how can we look at the glass half full? Derek Osgood, Founder and CEO of DoubleO and Ignition, joins The AI Forecast to explore how agentic AI is reshaping business workflows and reframing the conversation from replacement to augmentation. As Derek puts it, automation isn’t about erasing opportunity; it’s about redefining it. Tune in as Derek and host Paul Muller trace the evolution of automation from the Luddites to today’s AI agents, cutting through the hype to uncover where the real value lies. They unpack what non-technical teams need to harness agentic tools effectively and break down how successful AI workflows should begin small and scale with intention. Derek demystifies the job-loss narrative, showing how automation has historically created opportunity rather than erased it. Stay in touch with Derek: Derek Osgood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekosgood3/ Derek’s Website: https://www.derek-osgood.com/ DoubleO AI: https://www.doubleo.ai/   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.

The next era of business intelligence is here. Traditional dashboards and static reports give way to AI-driven systems built for faster, more informed decision-making. John Santaferraro, CEO and founder of Ferraro Consulting and host of The Digital Analyst podcast, joins The AI Forecast to share how enterprises can modernize BI to unlock real business value. Because in today’s data-rich world, turning insight into action still depends on a clear ‘story’ that helps decision-makers understand what to do next. Tune in as John and host Paul Muller explore the evolution of BI from early reporting to advanced analytics, unpacking the limits of self-service, the importance of metadata, the rise of AI copilots and cockpit-style dashboards, and the skills data teams need to lead in an AI-first world. Stay in touch with John:  John Santaferraro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsantaferraro/  The Digital Analyst Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLivd8WaRu-XkJsuP8YAtk8T1QYRYlEkD5   Ferraro Consulting: https://www.ferraroconsulting.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.

It’s official. AI has reached the classrooms, but not without pushback and hesitancy. Marlee Strawn, co-founder of Scholar Education, joins The AI Forecast to discuss. Marlee’s years of experience in education—both as a teacher and school administrator—ground her strong perspective that AI won’t replace teachers or make students “dumber.”  Tune in as Marlee and host Paul Muller delve into the significance of personalized learning through AI, the varying impacts across different education levels, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment in classrooms.  Stay in touch with Marlee:  Marlee Strawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlee-strawn/  Scholar Education: https://joinscholar.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.

In this episode of The AI Forecast, we’re joined by Jack Kennedy, CTO and co-founder of Whippy. From SMS to email to voice, Whippy helps unify fragmented communication channels—boosting efficiency with real-time AI tools. Jack joins host Paul Muller for a wide-ranging conversation covering the evolution of Whippy from a scrappy consulting operation to a fully productized platform, the surprising advantages of building with niche programming languages, and why speed—not just scale—is a critical differentiator in enterprise AI. You’ll hear Jack’s reflections on working with large language models before ChatGPT changed the game, how he evaluates AI tooling amid a rapidly evolving ecosystem, and what it takes to separate hype from substance when applying AI to business problems. He also shares pragmatic advice on how leaders can responsibly introduce AI to their teams—by starting small and focusing on useful outcomes. Stay in touch with Jack:  Jack Kennedy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackbkennedy/ Whippy: https://www.whippy.ai/  +++ 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.