The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era

Lessons in Tech and the Two-Way Street of Mentorship with AWS’s Melissa Dougherty

As part of our Women Leaders in Technology (WLIT) series on The AI Forecast, we’re joined by Melissa Dougherty, Global Managing Director of Partner Sales, Financial Services at Amazon Web Services (AWS). 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. 
Melissa shares her unconventional journey in the tech industry, including how her biggest career opportunity taught her the greatest lesson. She also touches on the bi-directional nature of mentorship, the need for accountability, and the significance of stepping out of comfort zones. 
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 Melissa Dougherty, follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaadougherty/ 
+++
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.

AI’s Growing Appetite: Can Data Centers Keep Up feat. Scott Jarnagin

As AI booms and workloads skyrocket, data centers are being pushed to their physical and operational limits. Meanwhile, massive growth has sparked conversations about the environmental impacts of greater computing requirements. 
Data center electricity consumption will grow by an average of 23% annually between 2023 and 2028. Additionally, the same report forecasts that AI-specific data center energy usage will increase by an average of 43% annually during the same period. 
In this episode of The AI Forecast, Scott Jarnagin, CEO of Caddis Cloud Solutions, joins the podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of data centers in the age of AI. He touches on the significant increase in energy consumption associated with AI workloads, the historical shifts in data center strategies, and the challenges faced in designing and planning for future data center needs.
Stay in touch with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-jarnagin-24b6131/ 
+++
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 Path to Safe AI – Education with Peter Norvig

In a world where AI is rapidly reshaping everything from how we work to how we live, one truth stands out: education is the cornerstone of both innovation and safety. 
In this episode of The AI Forecast, host Paul Muller speaks with Peter Norvig, an education fellow at Stanford and the co-author of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, the leading textbook for AI education. Peter explores the critical role of accessible, up-to-date AI education in building skilled practitioners, guiding policy, and fostering public understanding.
Listen in as they explore concepts like "AI literacy" and unpack why continuous learning is essential to keep pace with technological change—and how it can help us build a more informed, ethical, and responsible AI future.
Stay in touch with Peter Norvig:
Peter on LinkedIn
Peter’s Website
+++
 
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.

Leading in the Age of AI with Dr. Maya Dillion

As AI becomes a regular topic in boardrooms, many executives face critical blind spots around strategy, governance, and implementation. Few are AI-native, and many struggle to connect high-level goals with practical, accountable systems. 
In this episode of The AI Forecast, host Paul Muller speaks with Dr. Maya Dillon, an astrophysicist turned AI thought leader and CEO of consultancy XSAIA. Maya emphasizes the need for human-centric leadership in AI and the importance of understanding the holistic impact of AI on businesses.
Listen in as they explore Maya's unique journey from the world of astrophysics to AI leadership, discussing the importance of co-creation in AI, the intersection of science and business, and the challenges organizations face in implementing AI effectively. 
Stay in touch with Dr. Maya Dillion on LinkedIn.
+++
 
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.
 

Boring AI is Safe AI with Cal Al-Dhubaib

In highly regulated industries like healthcare and energy, a lot is at stake if an AI system “fails” – therefore leading to a higher risk of unintended consequences that could mean life or death. These high-risk environments can teach us a lot about responsible AI, practical guardrails, and best practices overall. 
One of those lessons? Make AI “boring”. To dive into what that means for highly regulated industries and beyond, we’re joined by Cal Al-Dhubaib. Cal is the Head of AI and Data Science at Further and founder of Pandata (which was acquired by Further in 2024).
Cal is on a mission to make “boring” AI a mainstream trend. In this episode, Cal discusses the critical aspects of AI deployment, emphasizing the importance of decision-making endpoints and explainable AI. Cal frames governance as an enabler of innovation: “Cars can go faster with breaks.”
Stay in touch with Cal:
Cal on LinkedIn
 
+++
Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast, sponsored by Cloudera, to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast.

How to Win in the Data Economy with Jan-Willem Middleburg

Data is more complex than ever before, and the big data market is growing rapidly with advancements in digital technology such as AI and cloud computing. But with this growth also comes opportunity. 
The business leaders who can make sense of their data – and transform it into value – will be the winners in today’s data economy. To discuss this, we’re joined by Jan-Willem Middleburg. 
Jan-Willem is the managing director of Cybiant and the host of the Big Data Talks podcast.
Jan and host Paul Muller discuss the evolution of big data, the importance of data strategy, and the challenges organizations face in becoming data-driven. They explore the need for frameworks in data management, the significance of data governance, and the role of self-assessment in improving data practices. The conversation also touches on the future of big data and AI, emphasizing the necessity of articulating a clear data strategy to drive effective decision-making.
Stay in touch with Jan-Willem:
Jan-Willem on LinkedIn
Big Data Talks Podcast
+++
Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast, sponsored by Cloudera, to stay up to date on the latest episodes. You can watch the video version of this episode on The AI Forecast.

AI in America: The Regulation Debate with Patrick E. Murphy

There’s no question that AI is revolutionizing industries, but now, technology and policy experts worldwide are tackling how to ensure that the technology is used safely. 
This episode of The AI Forecast welcomes Patrick E. Murphy to discuss a two-fold conversation on AI in America. Patrick is the CEO and founder of Togal.AI, the founder of CodeComply.Ai, and a former U.S. Congressman representing Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast. 
The first part of Patrick’s episode touches on Patrick’s lifelong involvement in his family’s construction business based in Florida, which led to his “aha moment” of where AI can disrupt construction.
His years in the private sector and his time as a U.S. Congressman and member of President Biden’s export council honed Patrick’s perspective on the role of regulation in AI. Patrick shares why a public-private partnership in the U.S. can support safe AI development without hindering American businesses, advice for American citizens concerned about AI, and why he remains optimistic about the future of the technology.
Stay in touch with Patrick E. Murphy on LinkedIn.
 
+++
 
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.

Why Marketers Struggle with Data with Zontee Hou

Today’s digital environment is noisier than ever. For brands to stand out, they need to be hyper-relevant to their customers. That’s where the power of data comes in. 
In this episode of The AI Forecast, we’re joined by marketing expert Zontee Hou. Not only does Zontee have 20 years of experience in the marketing industry, she’s also the author of Data-Driven Personalization, the founder of Media Volery, the managing director of consultancy Convince & Convert, and the host of the Data-Driven Decisions podcast. To put it lightly, she is pretty busy! 
Zontee and our host Paul Muller dive into the challenges and opportunities in data-driven marketing - starting with the gap in data collection among marketers, the balance between precision marketing and consumer privacy, and the current state of AI in marketing. Zontee also highlights the necessity of building proprietary data to maintain a competitive edge in the market.
Stay in touch with Zontee:
Zontee Hou on LinkedIn
Convince & Convert
Data-Driven Decisions 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.

Technology Is Only As Good As the People Using It with Kamales Lardi

The emergence of AI has undeniably changed the business landscape, with leaders across the globe racing to implement the technology for fear of falling behind their peers.
But to orchestrate a successful digital transformation and harness the full power of AI, businesses must prioritize cognitive neuroscience and human behavior alongside the technological advancements of AI.
Kamales Lardi is our latest guest on The AI Forecast. Kamales is the CEO of Lardi & Partner Consulting, a consulting firm that helps companies drive digital transformation initiatives, from strategy to execution. She’s also the author of the best-selling book, The Human Side of Digital Transformation. Kamales explains how technology is only as good as the people using it and how organizations can turn to cognitive neuroscience to better understand how to nudge their people successfully towards technology - like 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.

What Ethical AI Really Means with Olivia Gambelin

As AI continues to advance, the ethical use of the tool has been widely (and hotly) debated. Often described as a double-edged sword, AI offers both transformative potential while also raising significant ethical questions. When and how should AI be used? Who is accountable if something goes wrong? Will AI actually take over the world?
On this episode of The AI Forecast, Olivia Gambelin, AI ethicist and author of Responsible AI: Implement an Ethical Approach in Your Organization, engages us in a transparent and candid conversation on the practical application of ethics to technological and AI innovation. Despite a 24/7 news cycle, she reminds us that there are many nuanced layers to implementing AI across businesses and industries. Like most tools, the question isn’t whether or not businesses should implement AI, but how they can do so ethically.
+++
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.