The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era

Latest Episodes:

Bigger, Faster, Stronger: Data Architectures to Support Big Data with Imtiaz Ali Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Businesses must be prepared to transform their data architecture to keep up with the pace of the industry as long-standing ideas about operational efficiency and the customer experience have changed too. That’s especially true in the travel industry, an industry that generates and consumes tremendous amounts of data: think booking your flight, finding the best price of your hotel stay, etc.

To talk about data architecture as it relates to the never-ending quest for operational efficiencies in data systems, we’re joined by Imtiaz Ali, the Head of Big Data Delivery of Travelport. Imtiaz touches on the scenarios best suited for on-prem vs. cloud, the use of Apache Nifi and Apache Kafka, and the fight against latency without sacrificing speed.

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Data leakage: The missed opportunity of lost data with Simon Asplen-Taylor Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Data has so much promise, but organizations struggle to use it effectively, especially with the increasing complexity of managing large projects and the pressure of incorporating AI. On this episode of The AI Forecast, we’re joined by Simon Asplen-Taylor, the founder and CEO of DataTick and author of “Data and Analytics Strategy for Business”. Simon has spent years counseling organizations on getting their data right. In this episode, Simon shares the common missteps organizations experience with their data – with all roads leading back to data quality and a wild west of data collection across a business.

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Women Leaders in Technology: The Art of Getting Stuff Done with NVIDIA’s Kari Briski Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

For the inaugural episode of Women Leaders in Technology on The AI Forecast, we’re joined by one of the top female leaders in the technology industry, Kari Briski - Vice President AI Software Product Management at NVIDIA. Kari shares the stories and strategies that inform her leadership style–like GSD or “getting stuff done”–what it means to trust your instinct, and the advice she gives to young women embarking on a career in tech and to women further along who feel stuck where they are.

The tech industry continues to be one of the hottest markets, especially amidst the push for digital transformation. However, despite the vast opportunities, the gender gap remains prevalent, with women only making up 35% of the STEM workforce.

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. We’ll hear from powerful visionaries at the top of their fields as they share their journeys, the lessons they've learned, and the insights gleaned from their success.

To learn more about Cloudera’s Women Leaders in Technology, join the LinkedIn community and visit the home page.

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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 Success Starts With Modern Data Management Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

The AI explosion has led to non-stop hype cycles as the technology continues to develop. But AI is only as good as the data behind it. The threat of lousy data is bad AI.

Andrew Brust, Founder and CEO of Blue Badge Insights, joins The AI Forecast to discuss the AI hype–and how to prevent what he calls an “artificial Charlatan” of bad AI. He emphasizes the dependent relationship between data and AI and the former’s role in the success of the latter. Specifically, he addresses the data governance conundrum, and why in order for data technology to be successful, it has to be fun.

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.

Simplifying Enterprise Data Strategy for AI Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

More data exists than ever before – in fact, IDC predicts worldwide data will grow 61% by 2025. However, simply having data is not enough; business leaders must know how to effectively leverage it to make informed decisions. Conversely, data professionals also need strong business acumen to understand how their insights create value for the organization.

Jordan Morrow, known as “The Godfather of Data Literacy,” joins The AI Forecast to share why data has become so complicated and what leaders and data professionals can do to untangle a messy data web for real value. The secret? For both parties to understand the language of data and business.

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.

Bridging the Gap: Data Professionals, AI, and Real Business Outcomes with Jonas Christensen Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

Data professionals are at the forefront of today’s digital economy, driving organizational transformation through AI. Yet, despite the vast opportunities AI presents, many data professionals encounter challenges that hinder their ability to lead effectively in this space.

In this episode of The AI Forecast, Jonas Christensen, Head of AI Innovation at SkillsGPT and Host of the Leaders of Analytics podcast, explores how data professionals can unlock their full potential—and that of their organizations. He breaks down the enterprise AI value chain, highlights where data professionals fit within it, and demystifies AI for organizational success.

Jonas also shares the critical skills needed for AI projects to succeed, from embracing ‘sweaty palm’ moments to understanding why data science is truly a team sport.

Connect with Jonas on LinkedIn, and check out his Leaders of Analytics podcast.

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.

Data, AI, and the Hybrid Hustle: Connecting the Dots in a Fast-Paced World with Sanjeev Mohan Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Technology in the enterprise is evolving at a record pace, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with the latest "tech du jour." AI has only accelerated this evolution, bringing about a data reckoning—especially as more organizations adopt hybrid models to manage their data.

Both users and organizations are seeking data platforms that can connect the dots of their data today while adapting to tomorrow's demands. This shift underscores the growing demand for open standards. But what does that kind of platform experience look like today?

Sanjeev Mohan, Principal Analyst of SanjMo, joins The AI Forecast to discuss the state of modern data platforms in the AI era. He explores why AI is a business initiative first and foremost, why data governance cannot afford to be an afterthought, how hybrid models level the data playing field, and the untapped potential of unstructured data.

Keep up with Sanjeev on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Medium.

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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.

Just Data Alone Isn’t Enough: How Halifax International Airport Authority Rebuilt Data Systems Around Trust with Ryan Garnett Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Airports are an interconnected system where one unforeseen event can tip the scale into chaos. For a smaller airport in Canada, data has grown to be its North Star in an industry full of surprises. But in order for data to bring true value to operations–and ultimately customer experience–those data insights must be grounded in trust. Ryan Garnett, Senior Manager Business Solutions of Halifax International Airport Authority, joins The AI Forecast to share how the airport revamped its approach to data, creating a predictions engine that drives operational efficiency and improved customer experience.

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.

Why Enterprise Data Strategy Is Failing With Ray Wang Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Companies have access to more data than ever before – according to IDC, worldwide data will grow 61% by 2025. However, when it comes to adopting AI, there is a difference between companies who merely have internal data and those who have precise, accurate data. The first step to delivering trusted AI is having the right type of data. R "Ray" Wang, principal analyst, founder, and of Constellation Research, joins The AI Forecast to discuss the value of precision data as we enter what he calls “the dark ages of data”.

Follow Ray on Social Media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwang0/
X: @rwang0

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for a new episode every Wednesday.

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