The AI in Business Podcast

Regulatory volatility, scientific‑grade context requirements, and entrenched legacy processes are creating a level of operational complexity in pharma that makes even high‑value AI initiatives difficult to move from concept to production. In this episode, Art Shectman, CEO at Elephant Ventures, examines with host Marilie Fouché how leaders can cut through that complexity by isolating a single, clearly defined workflow slice and rebuilding it for near‑term, dependable deployment rather than long‑range architectural perfection. The discussion highlights how removing outdated process assumptions, selecting an atomic workflow with organizational alignment, and aiming for a contained operational win enable pharma teams to build momentum and scale AI responsibly in highly regulated environments. Learn how consultants are winning business with evidence-based AI ROI and building long-term capabilities instead of chasing short-term gains. Download our free PDF report, "3 Keys to Thriving in the Coming Era of Automation," at emerj.com/cok1

Individual AI productivity gains are already here, but they are uneven, and they are not the main event. In this episode, Tim Sears, Chief AI Officer at HTEC, argues that the real transformation in software development will arrive when AI becomes a catalyst for teamwork rather than an enhancer of individual performance. The conversation examines why software development is the clearest available model for how AI will eventually reshape every business function, how the developer role is being elevated from syntax and grunt work toward architecture, security, and client judgment, why the traditional build-versus-buy decision is being replaced by a build-versus-build reality, and what it will mean when perfection in enterprise software becomes the expected standard rather than the exception. For senior leaders trying to move from supporting AI in principle to actually delivering change, Sears offers a direct and practitioner-grounded view of what needs to change in teams, in expectations, and in the way business processes are understood and redesigned. AI is moving fast — new tools, new research, new use cases every week. Emerj synthesizes what matters most, so senior leaders and practitioners can stay ahead without getting buried. Join 85,000+ subscribers and get the most useful AI business insights delivered to your inbox. Visit: http://emerj.com/ad1

The skilled labor crisis in industrial equipment service is not a future problem; it is eroding operational performance now, as retiring engineers take decades of institutional knowledge with them and incoming technicians cannot fill the gap at speed. In this episode, Mike Hughes, Group Service Director at Peak International Group, outlines how service organizations can close the expertise gap through smarter knowledge capture, targeted AI deployment, and a frontline-first approach to modernization. The conversation covers remote diagnostics, first-time fix performance, the realities of working with imperfect data, and the two or three use cases leaders should prioritize before attempting a broader transformation. This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at go.emerj.com/partner

A widening gap has emerged between the speed of AI innovation and the ability of large enterprises to deploy it responsibly, leading many organizations to repeat avoidable mistakes in scaling. In this episode, Shaje Ganny, Author, Guest Lecturer, TEDx Speaker, and Digital Transformation Director at Procter & Gamble, joins Matthew DeMello to examine how leaders can ground AI adoption in clear business value and human-centered operational design. The discussion highlights practical considerations for evaluating AI through its impact on the company, the consumer, and the surrounding workforce community, and the executive education and policy foundations required to move from pilots to reliable enterprise deployment. Emerj works with a select group of AI vendors to reach Fortune 500 decision makers through research, media, and direct access.  If you want to be considered, download our media kit at http://emerj.com/AD1

The rapid shift from seat‑based licensing to hybrid and consumption‑based AI pricing has made technology spend significantly harder for enterprises to predict and control. In this episode, Adam Mansfield, Practice Leader at UpperEdge, examines how these new pricing models create financial exposure for buyers and why clear forecasting, transparency, and leverage are increasingly difficult to secure in negotiations with major vendors, in conversation with host Marilie Fouché. He highlights the practical steps leaders must take now — from auditing current usage and identifying under‑leveraged spend to engaging vendors early and using the broader. This episode is sponsored by UpperEdge. To go deeper into vendor negotiations and learn how to assess AI providers by leadership credibility and funding signals, download our free report, "5 Ways to Select the Right AI Vendor," at emerj.com/aiv3