AI Deployments: A Practical Guide

Send us Fan MailIn case you missed it.....RAG didn't just survive the LLM boom — it became the backbone of how enterprises put AI to work. In this replay, we sit down with Douwe Kiela, the AI researcher who led the team that introduced Retrieval-Augmented Generation in 2020 and went on to co-found Contextual AI. Douwe unpacks whether RAG is here to stay, why most enterprise AI dies in the gap between a great demo and production, how to tame hallucinations, and what actually separates a real "agent" from the buzzword. A clear-eyed conversation on building AI that's grounded, useful, and safe to deploy.00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela 01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go? 06:59 LLMs with Context 08:20 Making AI Successful 10:34 Why Contextual AI? 17:18 LLM versus SLMs 20:28 Speed over Perfection 22:07 Hallucinations 26:02 Making AI Easy to Consume 28:50 Defining an Agent 32:53 Reaching Contextual AI 33:14 The Contrarian View 34:37 The Risks of AI 36:53 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/douwekiela Website: contextual.aiWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailIn case you missed it.... Ready to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker, to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential.From the Four Disciplines of Execution to Atomic Habits and the role of AI in coaching, Jacob shares practical, real-world insights you can put into action today. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking to get more out of your day, this conversation will give you the frameworks and mindset shifts you need.🕒 Episode Timestamps01:34 Meet Jacob Hicks 04:12 Mastering Time Management via WPRI 14:01 Four Disciplines of Execution 15:12 Time Management Misconceptions 21:30 What Stops People from Managing Time 23:32 Tools and Giving AI a Role 26:31 Atomic Habits 28:11 What to Stop 29:36 Coaching and AI 31:05 Jacob's Coaching Business🔗 Connect with Jacob HicksLinkedIn: Jacob HicksWebsite: jacobhickscoach.comPodcast: Purpose Driven ProgressWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailMost people building with AI are working from the same playbook. Dr. Sean Falconer isn't.As AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, Sean sits at the intersection of real-time data streaming and production AI — where the decisions get hard and the stakes are real. In this episode, he and Al get into what it actually looks like to run multiple LLMs simultaneously, what happened when Sean tested autonomous agents in real-world conditions, and why some of the loudest claims in AI deserve a second look.Sean also pulls back the curtain on Confluent's technology, explains why he chose the company, and shares his framework for thinking about where AI is actually headed — not where the headlines say it is.If you want a grounded, experienced perspective on building at the edge of AI innovation — from someone who is doing it — this one is worth a replay.Timestamps04:38  Meet Sean Falconer11:11  Lifelong Learning12:31  AI Entrepreneur in Residence16:28  Multiple LLMs in Action21:07  The Tech Behind Confluent25:51  Why Sean Chose Confluent28:40  Invest or Short?36:58  Testing Agents IRL40:51  The Contrarian AI Take42:27  Looking Ahead: The Future of AI Guest LinksLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/seanf/Substack: softwarehuddle.substack.com/Medium: seanfalconer.medium.com/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailYour Brain Generates Data. Are You Using It? Your brain is producing data every second. The question is whether anyone is actually reading it — and what happens when AI starts to.In this episode, Al sits down with Dr. Nicholas Dogris and Dr. Tiff Thompson, the founders behind the NeuroField ecosystem — a triad of companies applying advanced neuroscience data to brain health, diagnosis, and treatment. Together, they've built tools and methodologies that are changing how clinicians understand and measure what's actually happening inside the brain.The conversation covers how data is reshaping diagnostic accuracy, what AI is making possible in neurotherapy, and why defining a 'healthy brain' is more complex — and more important — than most people realize. Dr. Dogris and Dr. Thompson also walk through Independent Component Analysis and how the NeuroField approach brings together technology, clinical practice, and education under one roof.If you've ever wondered what's actually happening when brain data gets analyzed — or what the future of neuroscience-driven healthcare looks like — this episode will change the way you think about the most complex data source you own.Timestamps01:55  Meet Dr. Tiff Thompson04:04  Meet Dr. Nicholas Dogris11:38  Why Neuroscience?19:26  The Spectrum of Topics21:24  A Triad of Companies22:13  The Data Doesn't Lie30:28  Diagnosis Accuracy33:01  AI in Neurotherapy36:28  Independent Component Analysis38:43  Defining a Healthy Brain40:27  Finding Tiff and Nicholas40:59  Brain Answers, Rapid Fire Guest & Resource LinksDr. Nicholas Dogris — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicholas-dogris-ph-d-a4787113Dr. Tiff Thompson — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tiff-thompson-phd-2ab1525NeuroField: https://neurofield.com/NeuroField Neurotherapy: https://www.neurofieldneurotherapy.com/School of Neurotherapy: https://www.schoolofneurotherapy.com Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailThe database has always needed a human hand — someone to tune it, protect it, and keep it running. But what if AI could do most of that work autonomously? And if it can, what does that mean for the people who've built careers doing exactly that?In this episode, Al sits down with Satya Krishnaswamy, Director at IBM, to explore IBM's Db2 Genius Hub — a bold step toward autonomous database management powered by AI agents. Satya breaks down what it actually means for a database to run itself, how IBM is thinking about the levels of AI autonomy, and where the human still needs to stay in the loop.They get into the real questions: How many AI agents does it take to manage a modern database? When should you let the system decide — and when should you keep your hand on the wheel? And what happens to the DBA role as automation handles more of the heavy lifting?If you work in data, lead a data team, or just want to understand where enterprise database technology is actually headed — this one is worth your time.Timestamps02:14  Introducing Satya05:23  Db2 Genius Hub06:47  The State of the DB Industry07:34  The Fate of DBAs10:24  15 Agents12:47  AI DB Autonomy Levels15:52  When Should DBs be Autonomous23:42  Taking Advantage of Db2 AI27:32  Human in the Loop, or Not36:32  Db2 Advancements in Summary38:19  The Client Challenge41:04  For Fun Guest LinksLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/satya-krishnaswamy-b412265bProduct: https://www.ibm.com/products/db2-genius-hubWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailRaffi Khatchadourian, Account Technical Leader at IBM, shares his expertise - from AI deployments to infrastructure and more. Raffi dives into the latest trends and insights in the field of artificial intelligence and data science. Tune in for practical advice and real-world examples from a leading expert in the industry.01:37 Meet Raffi05:43 Success AI Deployments13:08 Replayability22:22 AI, A Services PoV25:52 Small Models vs Large Models29:04 Infrastructure's Impact on AI32:37 Mac Minis34:43 Guardrails36:58 Rapid Fire QuestionsLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raffi-khatchadourianWebsite: https://www.ibm.com/think/artificial-intelligenceWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailFrom Sovereign AI to Social Impact: The Big Shifts You Need to Watch with IBM VP and CTO of IBM Canada, Manav GuptaManav Gupta, Vice President & CTO at IBM Canada, returns to the podcast to unpack the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence. From keeping a technical edge to navigating the rise of sovereign AI, Manav shares insights on how emerging trends are shaping both industry and society.Timestamps 01:25 – Manav Gupta is back! 02:39 – Maintaining your technical edge 04:38 – Ship AI 05:58 – The state of AI 19:37 – Reason for concern? 30:35 – Does the U.S. lead the race? 41:30 – LLMs or SLMs? 44:22 – Sovereign AI 46:05 – The social impactPrevious episode: How to Choose, Use, and Trust AI Models with Manav GuptaConnect with Manav on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mgupta76#SovereignAI #AISocialImpact #AITrends #FutureOfAI #EthicalAI #AIPodcast #TechPodcast #SpotifyPodcast #ApplePodcasts #TechLeaders.Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailThe rapidly evolving world of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with Manav Gupta, VP & CTO of IBM Canada!  We’re tackling the big questions – is an ‘AGI clock’ ticking? – alongside critical discussions on risk, regulation, and the future of work.  Manav and I pull no punches as we explore the surprising realities of AI’s development and its potential impact on our lives.01:55 The ShipAI Podcast 04:42 AI Battlegrounds07:02 AGI Defined10:52 The 10-min Problem22:43 No Guardrails?!24:16 Risk & Regulation28:11 Something Positive36:36 What Companies Will Last?38:38 Three Possible Human Futures41:20 Advice to Children LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mgupta76Website: ShipAI PodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailIn case you missed it....🎧 Episode Description:This week on Making Data Simple, we welcome David Hirschfeld, Founder and CEO of Tekyz. With a background spanning major tech firms and startup trenches, David brings grounded, data-backed insight into what makes or breaks a startup. From tackling the #1 reason startups fail to exploring the value of validation and the real meaning of product-market fit, this episode is a no-fluff masterclass in entrepreneurial strategy. David’s message is clear: "Don’t focus on your product. Focus on the client’s problem."Whether you're a first-time founder or scaling your next venture, David offers hard-earned truths, including surprising takes on unicorns, VCs, and what really matters more — the founder or the technology?⏱ Time Markers:01:20 – Meet David Hirschfeld05:55 – THE Reason Startups Fail08:50 – Lifetime Value11:33 – The Value of Validation14:48 – What Do the VCs Say?16:20 – Startup Success Rate17:10 – Tekyz23:01 – Product Market Fit29:18 – Startup Ideation31:37 – Unicorns38:12 – Unexpected Truths42:45 – Founder or Technology?🔗 Connect with David:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhirschfeldWebsite: https://tekyz.com #MakingDataSimple #StartupAdvice #ProductMarketFit #TechLeadership #VCInsights #FoundersJourney #Entrepreneurship #DataDrivenDecisions #StartupFailure #Innovation #ClientCentric #PodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. 

Send us Fan MailEver wonder how your bank transaction really gets processed without a hitch? Barry Baker, Chief Operating Officer of IBM Infrastructure, oversees the world’s most critical systems – including the iconic IBM Z. Barry has spent over 25 years building mission critical technology. We’ll dive into everything from mainframe modernization and AI acceleration to the future of cloud and enterprise-grade solutions!01:35 Meet Barry Baker03:42 Biggest Infrastructure Challenge04:59 True Mainframe Modernization14:03 Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste18:33 The Move to Cloud22:43 AI in Infra25:40 IBM Spire28:05 Successful AI Clients33:53 Experimenting on the Mainframe36:45 Rapid Fire Questions39:06 Production-grade AILinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barrymbakerWebsite: https://www.ibm.com/solutions/it-infrastructureWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.