CR110: The genesis of the virtual assistant with Kevin Surace

In 'Access All Areas' shows we go behind the scenes with the crew and their friends as they dive into complex challenges that organisations face—sometimes getting a little messy along the way. We’re launching a special AI mini-series exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Each episode dives into key themes like scaling AI, societal impact, leadership, sustainability, and the challenges ahead. Join us for fresh insights and bold conversations on the future of intelligent systems.  This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob kick off the AI mini-series with Craig Suckling, CAIO at Capgemini and co-host of this special edition. The episode is inspired by “Riding the AI Whirlwind,” Gartner’s 2025 strategic predictions report, which urges organizations to act boldly on AI’s potential while managing risks like rising costs and privacy concerns  TLDR:00:40 – Introduction of Craig Suckling and launch of the AI mini-series02:38 – Summary of three key insights and strategic recommendations from Gartner’s “Riding the AI Whirlwind” report23:03 – Strategic planning assumptions: what they mean for business and tech leaders41:40 – Sam Altman’s top three concerns about the future of AI49:35 – What key topics remain unaddressed?51:00 – What to expect from the AI mini-series featuring industry leadersHostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/with co-host Craig Suckling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsuckling/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The evolving role of technology in modern defense environments, highlighting innovations in communications, automation, and open-source frameworks. Drawing from personal experience, the conversation emphasizes how real-world conflicts are reshaping how tech is deployed, adopted, and understood across military operations.  This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob speak with Ben Sparke, Enterprise Azure Cloud & AI Specialist for UK Defence at Microsoft, about  how his military background informs a human-centered approach to technology in the evolving defence sector—highlighting the shift from mission-driven to tech-driven innovation.  TLDR:00:37 – Introduction of Ben Sparke and face-to-face podcasting02:40 – Rob gets confused about Digital Twins representing you in court08:15 – Tech’s evolving role in defence, with Ben 34:41 – Why improvisation and human adaptability matter 43:30 – Ben’s hundred-mile bike race over the weekend  Guest Ben Sparke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sparke/ HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini 

Before Siri had sass and Alexa started judging your music taste, the original virtual assistant was quietly revolutionizing the '90s—powered by many patents and a whole lot of foresight. Now, as AI goes from buzzword to boss, we ask, will it transform your job, your home… or just steal your knowledge?  This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob speak with Kevin Surace, Futurist, Inventor & "Father" of the Virtual Assistant, about exploring the evolution of AI, what the future might hold, and how disruptive innovation can shake up your organization in ways you might not expect.   TLDR: 00:40 – Introduction of Kevin Surace 05:12 – Rob gets confused by Google Maps reviews and selfies 08:15 – Deep dive into the evolution of AI with Kevin 52:00 – How intelligent agents can help manage digital noise and support mental well-being 1:07:30 – Wrapping up the book the Joy Success Cycle and heading to a concert  GuestKevin Surace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksurace/ HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini 

 We’re back! In this Season 5 premiere, the team reunites after their summer break to kick off an exciting new chapter. Join us as we catch up, share bold predictions for the year ahead, and explore big questions, like whether 2026 will be the year of the autonomous organization. Expect candid reflections, lively discussion, and a sneak peek at what’s coming up this season.  We are very keen this season to establish a feedback loop with listeners, so will be doing shows exploring listener questions and challenges - something we are really looking forward to.  Please get in touch with us, via LinkedIn, Substack or [email protected], if you have questions or challenges for us, we'd love to hear from you!TLDR: 00:20 – We’re back! 00:35 – Catching up on what we did during the summer break 10:48 – Planning ahead until Christmas: Microsoft Ignite, AWS re:Invent, an AI mini-series and cool guests 20:27 – Tech talk: iPhone 17, deep democracy training, and the human impact of innovation 32:10 – Will autonomous organizations powered by agents emerge within 12–18 months? 40:45 – Reflections inspired by Jaws, climbing adventures, and Bruce Springsteen  HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini 

Dave, Esmee, and Rob are strapping in for another season of bold, brain-bending conversations—and they’re bringing the flux capacitor with them from Back to the Future.Season 5 beams in global leaders and innovators who challenge how we think about technology, business, and humanity. From AI disruption to digital sovereignty, from leadership to culture—this season’s guests are ready to shake things up.Our first full episode drops on September 25, but before we hit 88 miles per hour, here’s a quick trailer to set the timeline straight, or at least bend it a little.HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Dave, Esmee, and Rob take a moment to look back on the wild ride that was Season 4—revisiting the themes that sparked the biggest conversations and the guests who left a lasting impression. They also reveal what’s on their summer to-do lists and drop a few juicy hints about what’s coming in Season 5. Get ready—it’s going to be even bigger and bolder.Thank you to all our listeners and guests for joining us in Season 4 - have a great summer and we will see you in September!TLDR:00:40 Season 4 by the numbers – and a fun mix-up with round figures03:20 Reflecting on standout topics and memorable guests03:42 Scaling AI: Hyperscaler narratives, tech momentum, and the adoption gap13:18 Ethics in the AI era – how organizations can and must stay grounded18:12 The human factor: Why “human-in-the-loop” matters more than ever27:29 Sovereignty in tech – geopolitics, shifting narratives, and the rise of Sovereign AI37:16 A deep dive into Telco – highlights from our dedicated mini-series53:48 2025 tech trends with Gene Kim55:33 Listener Q&A: Daniel Delicate on Cynefin vs. IT operating models1:01:44 Andrea Kis on keeping humanity in fast-paced tech1:06:09 Ezhil Suresh on how we prep and record our podcast with top-tier guests1:11:38 John Eaton-Griffin on how guests have shaped our thinking1:17:19 A word from our co-host1:19:57 Looking ahead to Season 5: AAA episodes, new industry mini-series, and Hyperscaler events1:22:09 Meet our new AI companions: Substack and the Cloud Realities chatbot1:23:40 What’s next for us this summerHostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The rise of structure software fueled globalization by streamlining operations across borders. Now, Cloud and AI are accelerating this momentum, enabling faster innovation, smarter decision-making, and scalable growth. By modernizing ERP with intelligent technologies, organizations can stay agile, competitive, and ready for the next wave of global transformation.This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to Timo Elliott, Innovation Evangelist at SAP, to explore how SAP is driving globalization—and how organizations can accelerate innovation through the power of Cloud and AI. TLDR00:55 Introduction of Timo Elliott02:40 Rob shares his confusion about misleading online ads08:06 In-depth conversation with Timo46:32 Rethinking control in enterprise systems1:00:00 Brunch at a Paris café or joining an event?GuestTimo Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timoelliott/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

GreenOps is a cultural transformation that empowers developers to turn emissions data into meaningful action, bridging the communication gap with ESG teams and exposing the critical truth that cloud cost and carbon cost are not the same, which fundamentally reshapes how we approach sustainable IT.This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to James Hall, Head of GreenOps at Green Pixie, to unpack the real state of GreenOps today—and why we’ve only just scratched the surface.  TLDR 01:57 Rob is confused about AGI 06:11 Cloud conversation with James Hall 22:10 Esmee as media archeologist, found GreenOps is 50 years old 30:46 Having some drinks in the summer Guest James Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-f-hall/ Hosts Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Production Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/ Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Sound Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/ Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Quantum computing in 2025 is rapidly advancing toward commercialization, with breakthroughs in algorithms, scalable hardware, and cloud-based quantum services driving real-world applications across finance, healthcare, logistics, and cybersecurityThis week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob dive into the cutting edge of quantum computing with Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller, Quantum AI PM at Google, and James Goeders, Head of Product for Google Quantum AI, exploring how far we've come since our June 2023 Quantumania! episode and what to expect from Willow—the bold fusion of quantum, AI, digital integration, deployment, and the broader tech ecosystem.TLDR00:46 Meet Catherine and James – intros and backgrounds02:22 Rob is confused about students using AI09:40 Deep dive with Catherine and James on the current state and future of Quantum48:01 Quantum isn’t just tech—it’s a whole new way of thinking1:01:37 Seize the moment and bringing external users onto quantum hardwareGuestCatherine Vollgraff Heidweiller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmv-vollgraffheidweiller/James Goeders: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-goeders-8876a7164/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The telecom industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This shift is creating new business opportunities and services but also brings significant challenges in transformation and modernization. In this special bonus episode, building on our Reimagining Telecoms mini-series, we dive into the current opportunities shaping today’s dynamic telco landscape.This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to Vivek Badrinath,  Director General of the GSMA about the current opportunities shaping today’s dynamic telco landscape and the role of GSMA. TLDR01:38 Introduction to Vivek and the bonus episode03:48 In-depth conversation with Vivek Badrinath42:13 Can empathy become a strategic KPI in telecom?47:20 Event in Uzbekistan and doubling down on the digital ecosystem GuestVivek Badrinath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekbadrinath/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/with Praveen Shankar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveen-shankar-capgemini/SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini