Stay ConnectedThe Next Industrial Revolution is Already Here
Digital Disruption is where industry leaders and experts share insights on leveraging technology to build the organizations of the future.
As intelligent technologies reshape our lives and our livelihoods, we speak with the thinkers, the doers and innovators who will help us predict and harness this disruption. Join us as we explore how to adapt to and harness digital transformation.
Copyright: © Info-Tech Research Group
As AI becomes more capable, how should our social systems evolve in response?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined once again by Zack Kass, an AI futurist and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI. As a leading expert in applied AI, he harnesses its capabilities to develop business strategies and applications that enhance human potential.
Zack has been at the forefront of AI and played a key role in early efforts at commercializing AI and large language models, channeling OpenAI’s innovative research into tangible business solutions. Today, Zack is dedicated to guiding businesses, nonprofits, and governments through the fast-changing AI landscape. His expertise has been highlighted in leading publications, including Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.
Zack sits down with Geoff to explore the philosophical implications of AI and its impact on everything from nuclear war to society’s struggle with psychopaths and humanity itself. This conversation raises important questions about the evolving role of AI in shaping our world and the ethical considerations that come with it. Zack discusses how AI may empower low-resource bad actors, transform local communities, and influence future generations. The episode touches on a wide range of themes, including the meaning of life, AI’s role in global conflict, its effects on personal well-being, and the societal challenges it presents. This conversation isn’t just about AI, it’s about humanity’s ongoing exploration of fear, freedom, happiness, and the future.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:21 AI's exponential growth and speed of change
02:03 The expanding scientific frontier
03:19 Roger Bannister effect and AI inspiration
04:00 Societal vs. technological thresholds
06:00 The danger of low-resource bad actors
09:00 Psychopaths, crime, and the role of policy
12:00 Freedom vs. security
14:45 The risk of bias and broken justice systems
18:00 The role of AI in decision-making
20:00 Why we tolerate human error but not machine error
20:36 Breaking the fear cycle in a negative attention economy
22:12 Tech-driven optimism
23:55 Finding Happiness
25:32 Community, nature, and meaningful human connection
27:00 The problem with the “more is more” mindset
28:30 Narratives, new media, and information overload
31:09 The Power of local change and good news
33:06 Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the next wave of innovation
Connect with Zack:
Website: https://zackkass.com/
X: https://x.com/iamthezack
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackkass/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ @ZackKassAI
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What role should government, regulation, and society play in the next chapter of Big Tech and AI.
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter, Gary Rivlin.
Gary has been writing about technology since the mid-1990s and the rise of the internet. He is the author of AI Valley and 9 previous books, including Saving Main Street and Katrina: After the Flood. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, Fortune, GQ, and Wired, among other publications. He is a two-time Gerald Loeb Award winner and former reporter for the New York Times. He lives in New York with his wife, theater director Daisy Walker, and two sons.
Gary sits down with Geoff to discuss the unchecked power of Big Tech and the evolving role of AI as a political force. From the myth of the benevolent tech founder to the real-world implications of surveillance, misinformation, and election interference, he discusses the dangers of unregulated tech influence on policy and the urgent need for greater transparency, ethical responsibility, and accountability in emerging technologies. This conversation highlights the role of venture capital in fueling today’s tech giants, what history tells us about the future of digital disruption, and whether regulation can truly govern AI and platform power.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
02:45 The early promise of Silicon Valley
06:30 What changed in tech: From innovation to power
10:55 The role of venture capital in shaping Big Tech
15:40 Tech disruption vs. systemic control
20:15 The shift from public good to private gain
24:50 How Big Tech wields power over democracy
29:30 Can AI be regulated in time?
33:45 Lessons from tech history
38:20 Government’s role in tech oversight
43:05 Gary’s thoughts on tech accountability
47:30 Future risks of an unchecked tech industry
51:10 Hope for the next generation of innovators
55:00 Tech is at the center of politics
58:00 What should change?
1:09:00 Journalists using AI are more powerful
Connect with Gary:
Website: https://garyrivlin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-rivlin/
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
In a world of rising cyber threats, what keeps the CIA’s former head of cybersecurity up at night?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Andy Boyd, former Head of the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence.
Andy was a Senior Intelligence Service officer in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations (DO). His most recent assignment was Director of the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI) which is responsible for intelligence collection, analysis, and operations focused on foreign cyber threats to US interests. Andy has experience leading worldwide intelligence operations and has in-depth knowledge of geopolitics, cyber operations, security practices, and risk mitigation.
Andy sits down with Geoff to discuss the future of cybersecurity in a rapidly evolving digital world. With decades of experience in cyber intelligence, Andy explains how global threats are evolving, from traditional espionage to AI-driven cyberattacks and disinformation. He dives into how intelligence agencies like the CIA assess and respond to state-sponsored cyber threats from China and Russia, and why the private sector is now a primary target. Andy breaks down how emerging technologies like generative AI are changing both offensive and defensive cyber strategies, and what this means for governments, businesses, and people. Andy also shares how one of the world’s leading professional services firms is navigating this new landscape, using culture, data, and innovation to stay ahead of cyber risks.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
02:45 What the CIA's Cyber Intelligence Center actually does
05:30 Leading transformation across a global enterprise
07:20 Evolution of cyber threats from nation-states
08:15 Building trust and transparency with business stakeholders
11:10 The critical role of data in decision-making
13:00 How the CIA detects and responds to cyber attacks
17:05 Creating a culture of innovation and adaptability
17:45 The private sector as a frontline target
20:40 How Aon is approaching talent and upskilling
23:10 Offensive cyber operations: how far should the U.S. go?
27:30 Key leadership lessons and advice for future CIOs
29:50 China's cyber capabilities vs. Russia's tactics
35:25 The role of intelligence in election security
40:50 Why disinformation is more dangerous than hacking
45:30 How AI is transforming cyber espionage
50:10 What keeps Andy Boyd up at night
54:40 The importance of public awareness and resilience
Connect with Andy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-g-boyd-12194673/
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What if you could control technology using only your thoughts?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by an expert in the space of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), Tan Le.
Tan is the founder and CEO of EMOTIV, a Silicon Valley-based company pioneering EEG-based BCI technology. Her work centers on non-invasive “brainwear” that enables direct interaction between the human brain and computers. Tan is an advocate for democratizing neurotechnology to empower individuals, researchers, and organizations to drive innovation. In February 2020, she published her first book, The NeuroGeneration: The New Era of Brain Enhancement Revolutionizing the Way We Think, Work and Heal.
Tan sits down with Geoff to talk about how her company is making it possible to connect your brain directly to digital systems, no hype, just science. From decoding mental commands to enhancing human cognition, they dive into the ethical challenges of reading brain data, what it really means to give technology access to your mind, and why non-invasive headsets are reshaping human-computer interaction.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
03:00 Tan Le’s background
06:00 What is Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)?
09:00 The current state of BCI in 2025
12:00 Non-invasive vs. implantable tech
15:00 How BCIs read brain signals
18:00 Real-world applications: Healthcare and beyond
21:00 Consumer use cases and accessibility
24:00 The role of AI in brain signal interpretation
27:00 Ethics of brain data and consent
30:00 Mental wellness and performance insights
33:00 Government and regulatory perspectives
36:00 EMOTIV’s vision and tech stack
39:00 Human enhancement and neuroplasticity
42:00 Risks and misconceptions around BCI
45:00 Collaborations and research partnerships
48:00 Global adoption trends
51:00 Tan Le’s advice to future innovators
54:00 Predictions for the next 10 years
Connect with Tan:
Website: https://www.emotiv.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanle/
X: https://x.com/TanTTLe
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What if your data worked for you and not the platforms controlling it?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by John Bruce, CEO and Co-Founder of Inrupt.
With a background as both a founder and an executive at global tech firms, John Bruce is uniquely qualified to help engineer the next phase of the web alongside his co-founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee. He brings to bear decades of successful business leadership and experience creating new markets around innovative software. Prior to partnering with Tim, he was the co-founder and CEO of Resilient, now an IBM company, that developed a new approach to cybersecurity. Through Resilient and four other successful startups, John has experienced first-hand the strategic challenges that the current structure of the web causes for users, developers, and organizations around the world.
John Bruce sits down with Geoff Nielson to talk about a future where individuals and not platforms own their data. John shares how AI, consent-driven data sharing, and a decentralized digital wallet called, Charlie could fundamentally reshape how we interact with technology, institutions, and each other. He explains why we must reclaim personal data from tech giants and what “agentic wallets” are and how they work.
In this video:
0:00 Intro
1:25 Rebuilding the Web
3:30 From Tim Berners-Lee to today
5:10 Data ownership vs. data surveillance
7:00 Moving from platforms to people
9:15 What Is an Agentic AI wallet?
11:00 Why consent must be baked into AI and data flows
13:45 Use cases in healthcare, government & enterprise
16:10 “Decentralized” doesn’t mean disorganized
18:30 What leaders get wrong about data control
20:45 Enterprise integration
23:00 The ROI of giving users control of their own data
25:30 Why this moment feels like the early days of the web
27:00 What’s next for Inrupt, Solid, and the Internet itself
29:00 How We rebuild digital trust
31:00 Inrupt's vision beyond 2030
34:00 Partnering with institutions to scale Solid
37:00 Global digital identity and governance challenges
40:00 Building public trust in data ecosystems
43:00 A non-linear view of it all
Connect with John:
Website: https://www.inrupt.com/about
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwbruce/
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Is your business ready for a world where AI agents act, adapt, and make decisions for you?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Global Chief AI Engineer at PwC, Scott Likens.
Scott Likens serves as the Chief AI Engineer at PwC, overseeing both the Global and U.S. teams. He leads the AI Engineering and Emerging Technology R&D groups, driving the firm’s strategy across AI, blockchain, VR, quantum computing, and other disruptive technologies. With over 30 years of experience in emerging tech, Scott has helped clients across industries transform their customer experience, digital strategy, and operations. He began his career in software engineering during the early days of the internet, working with major multinationals to apply a localized lens to global digital and innovation trends. Scott’s diverse technical background spans advanced analytics, digital architecture, AI engineering, and innovation. During his time at PwC, he has lived and worked in both China and the U.S., serving as a global technology leader and advisor to key clients. He is a regular speaker at international conferences on emerging technologies, including AI and generative AI, blockchain and crypto, IoT, quantum computing, and advanced robotics.
Scott Likens sits down with Geoff Nielson for a look into what’s actually happening across the front lines of AI and innovation. Scott shares insights from the edge of tech, from AI agents and embodied intelligence to quantum computing and synthetic identities. He explains why most enterprise AI efforts fail to scale, how to think in innovation “horizons,” and what separates real value from hype. He touches on many topics including, how holographic AI and digital twins are already reshaping communication and the skills, and structures shaping the IT organization of the future.
In this video:
0:00 Intro
1:55 GenAI hype vs. real Value in the enterprise
4:20 Embodied AI and the rise of holographic humans
6:00 Multilingual synthetic avatars
7:30 Deepfakes, trust & the role of blockchain in authentication
9:00 Responsible AI
12:15 Innovation is moving faster than trust
14:00 Speed or scale?
16:00 Defining true innovation vs. incremental tech
18:00 A Framework for emerging tech
20:30 From quantum to satellites: What’s next
23:00 Digital Twins, IoT, and Bipedal Robotics
25:30 AI at the edge
28:45 AI agents in action
30:20 Legacy system modernization without rewriting code
34:00 Enterprise use cases
36:30 What business leaders get wrong about tech
39:00 Moving from pilot projects to organization-wide impact
42:30 Balancing speed, risk & innovation in enterprise ai
44:00 How PwC enables innovation without losing control
47:00 Why “waiting” is not an ai strategy
48:15 The most important investment is your workforce
50:00 Upskilling, hiring, and culture shift at scale
52:00 Quantum, cryptography & the real threat timeline
54:30 What’s next for leaders and innovators
Connect with Scott:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottlikens/
X: https://x.com/ScottLikens
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Is the Metaverse dead? Why is #OpenAI building jewelry? What happens when AI becomes more emotionally present than people?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by CEO of Future Dynamics and author, Cathy Hackl.
Cathy is a globally recognized tech and gaming executive, futurist, and keynote speaker specializing in spatial computing, AI, virtual worlds, and gaming platform strategy. She is the co-CEO of Future Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions firm, and a top LinkedIn tech voice. Known as the “Godmother of the Metaverse,” she created the Tech Intimacy Scale and is currently researching the intersection of AI, love, and relationships. Cathy has held leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE, and has guided major brands like Nike, Walmart, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique through their emerging tech and gaming strategies. She has spoken at events hosted by Harvard Business School, MIT, CES, SXSW, and the World Economic Forum. Named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023 and featured on Forbes Latam’s cover for its 100 Most Powerful Women issue, Hackl is also listed among Vogue Business's 100 Innovators. She hosts Adweek’s TechMagic podcast and contributes to Vogue Singapore. In 2022, she made history as the first human to ring the NASDAQ opening bell both physically and in avatar form on live TV.
Cathy Hackl sits down with Geoff Nielson for an honest conversation about where technology is headed and what’s really happening with spatial computing, AI hardware, and the future of human connection. Cathy unpacks the evolution of the metaverse and why she believes we’re moving toward something bigger: the spatial web. She shares her first-hand experience with Google Beam, a revolutionary 3D communication technology that doesn’t require a headset. This episode dives into OpenAI’s push into hardware, why it’s a data play, and what that means for your privacy. Emotional technologies like Apple Vision Pro and what they mean for memory, grief, and connection, and the future of dating and relationships in a world filled with AI agents and romantic chatbots.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Is the Metaverse dead or just renamed?
3:00 Google Beam: 3D communication without a headset
5:00 The Apple moment: reaching for a virtual object
7:00 Dating, job interviews & presence in 3D
9:00 Will this replace video calls?
11:00 Apple vision pro
13:00 Memory preservation & future family photos
15:00 OpenAI’s hardware push
17:00 AI Agents and who controls your data
20:00 From ChatGPT to therapy bots
22:00 Emotional manipulation, mental health & ai advice
24:00 Who owns the virtual air around you?
27:00 Virtual real estate, annotations & air rights
30:00 The battle for our senses
35:00 Tech that arrived too early
37:00 Why dating in 2D doesn’t work in a 3D world
39:00 Spatial computing in creative industries
41:00 Where tech meets intimacy, memory & legacy
44:00 The real use case: Human connection
47:00 The future of emotional presence and what’s at stake
49:00 Getting It Right Matters
Connect with Cathy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyhackl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathyhackl/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HacklCathy
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Can generative AI help us close the gap between expertise and access?
This week on a special episode of Digital Disruption, we're joined by New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, recorded live in Las Vegas at Info-Tech Research Group's LIVE tech conference.
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of eight New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and one of Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers, he is renowned for his unique perspective on the forces shaping human behavior and society. An extraordinary speaker, Gladwell combines eloquence, warmth, and humor to both entertain and challenge audiences. Through masterful storytelling, he unpacks complex and often misunderstood ideas, from decision-making in Blink and the roots of success in Outliers, to our underestimation of adversity in David and Goliath, and the missteps we make when interacting with strangers in Talking to Strangers.
Malcolm Gladwell sits with Geoff Nielson for an engaging conversation on the future of AI, the power of storytelling, and the evolving forces that shape society. From AI’s role in closing the expertise gap to how unexpected narratives drive lasting cultural change, Gladwell offers his signature perspective: thoughtful, contrarian, and always surprising. He talks about why the most transformative uses of AI may be the simplest, how generative tools can elevate human capability, and why culture never changes in ways we expect. Malcolm provides insight into how the media, brands and politics are changing and what that could mean for leadership, while touching on the surprising truth about misinformation, expertise, and AI as a corrective tool.
In this episode:
0:00 Intro
0:24 AI's biggest promise? Strengthening weak links
1:33 AI in developing vs developed countries
2:12 Should AI replace or empower teachers?
3:13 Closing the expertise gap with AI
4:18 AI as a safe place to learn without embarrassment
5:08 The human side of AI
5:32 AI in surprising places
6:15 Malcolm’s personal use of AI
7:57 Where Malcolm finds ideas and why AI can’t replicate them
9:52 Why creativity can’t be automated
12:42 Will AI ever replace storytellers and thinkers?
14:24 Paul Simon’s genius explained
17:27 What makes a great story? Tesla example
22:26 Are people the new brand? Apple vs Chevy
25:13 The power of "overstories" in shaping behavior
26:57 We live in multiple narratives at once
29:26 Can organizational culture be changed?
30:37 How cultural narratives evolve
31:37 Politics, power, and social media’s new role
35:07 We’re still figuring out what tech is for
38:10 Why AI disruption might not be as bad as we fear
39:34 Is Malcolm an optimist or just realistic?
41:22 Can AI restore trust in expertise?
43:43 The power of narrative over facts
44:15 Poking the bear
Connect with Malcolm:
Website: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/
X: https://x.com/Gladwell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcolmgladwell/
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
Can your organization survive its own hesitation to take bold bets?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by former Amazon exec and bestselling author, John Rossman.
John is an author, business advisor, and keynote speaker. He was an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002. He has served as the senior technology advisor at the Gates Foundation and senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile. His books include “The Amazon Way” and “Think Like Amazon.” His new book, Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era, is an actionable guide for leaders who want to succeed in complex transformations.
John sits down with Geoff to unpack why most change initiatives fall short, and what leaders can do to shift the odds in their favor. Looking back on his experience launching Amazon Marketplace and advising top organizations, he shares strategies for scaling effectively, leading through change, and building resilience in today’s digital environment. John explains why traditional transformation efforts often fail, the issues leaders come across, and how to adopt a system of risk-smart decision-making and drive meaningful change. Get ready to challenge assumptions, cut through the hype, and transform the way you lead.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:07 Solving hard problems with an integrated mindset
03:07 Why most companies struggle with change
04:21 The 3 megatrends disrupting business
06:32 Why Back-office productivity must change
07:22 Why Past winners are at risk of losing
09:36 Why big bets often fail
13:30 The three habits of big bet leaders
16:42 Why innovation labs often fail
21:39 Why leaders must design decision points intentionally
25:03 The power of a clear “Big Bet Vector”
31:27 What extreme accountability really means
36:08 Should we abandon silos?
40:25 Advice for how CIOs can unlock progress despite technical debt
46:08 How CIOs can win
51:55 Why Change can’t just be an operator’s job
53:01 The Big Bet Playbook explained
56:27 Active skepticism
Website: https://johnrossman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/
X: https://x.com/johnerossman
Connect with John:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
What if the biggest threat to progress isn’t technology?
Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Tom Goodwin, Co-Founder of All We Have Is Now.
Tom Goodwin is a four-time LinkedIn “#1 Voice in Marketing.” He is also the Co-Founder of, All We Have Is Now, a digital transformation consultancy helping businesses harness emerging technologies. A sought-after speaker, writer, and advisor, Tom also hosts The Edge, a tech-focused TV series, and My Wildest Prediction, a podcast with Euronews. In 2021 Tom published the second edition of his book “Digital Darwinism” with Kogan Page, in 2023 Tom launched a comprehensive online Digital Transformation course, and has now spoken in over 100 cities in 50 countries around the world.
Tom sits down with Geoff to share his perspective on the evolving digital landscape and how to cut through the noise especially around AI, digital transformation, and innovation — to focus on what truly matters for organizations today. He argues that in a time of rapid technological change, the smartest move may be to slow down, ignore the hype, and prioritize people, processes, and a long-term strategic vision. Tom urges leaders to think critically, stay grounded in fundamentals, and embrace thoughtful, human-centered progress over flashy solutions.
In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Why tech hype needs a reality check
02:06 What actually matters in 2025
03:04 Business first, not tech first
04:11 Why not every company needs to chase every trend
05:16 The problem with constant agility
07:13 Why disruption isn’t always real
10:18 Are we avoiding hard truths about our business models?
12:12 Who wins: legacy companies or startups?
15:28 Will AI-native companies dominate?
17:09 Why real change still takes time
19:07 Hype vs. reality in AI adoption
22:47 Technology adoption is slower than you think
24:02 Advice to leaders on using AI strategically
26:44 Why short-term thinking is overrated
29:05 Planning for what really matters
31:00 A better approach to technology prioritization
33:18 Why digital transformation usually fails
34:49 The Heathrow metaphor: patchwork vs. reinvention
39:06 The promise of AI for real reinvention
42:20 Are IT leaders being left behind?
44:00 Why the CTO must be more strategic
47:03 What it takes to lead digital transformation
48:22 Why we need more ambitious use of existing tech
50:01 Tom’s book: Digital Darwinism
51:40 What happens when AI becomes invisible tech
53:13 We need clearer conversations around AI
Connect with Tom:
Website: https://www.tomgoodwin.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfgoodwin/
X: https://x.com/tomfgoodwin
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG
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