Data quality and AI reliability are two sides of the same coin in today's technology landscape. Organizations rushing to implement AI solutions often discover that their underlying data infrastructure isn't prepared for these new demands. But what specific data quality controls are needed to support successful AI implementations? How do you monitor unstructured data that feeds into your AI systems? When hallucinations occur, is it really the model at fault, or is your data the true culprit? Understanding the relationship between data quality and AI performance is becoming essential knowledge for professionals looking to build trustworthy AI systems. Shane Murray is a seasoned data and analytics executive with extensive experience leading digital transformation and data strategy across global media and technology organizations. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Digital Platform Analytics at Versant Media, where he oversees the development and optimization of analytics capabilities that drive audience engagement and business growth. In addition to his corporate leadership role, he is a founding member of InvestInData, an angel investor collective of data leaders supporting early-stage startups advancing innovation in data and AI. Prior to joining Versant Media, Shane spent over three years at Monte Carlo, where he helped shape AI product strategy and customer success initiatives as Field CTO. Earlier, he spent nearly a decade at The New York Times, culminating as SVP of Data & Insights, where he was instrumental in scaling the company’s data platforms and analytics functions during its digital transformation. His earlier career includes senior analytics roles at Accenture Interactive, Memetrics, and Woolcott Research. Based in New York, Shane continues to be an active voice in the data community, blending strategic vision with deep technical expertise to advance the role of data in modern business. In the episode, Richie and Shane explore AI disasters and success stories, the concept of being AI-ready, essential roles and skills for AI projects, data quality's impact on AI, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Versant MediaConnect with ShaneCourse: Responsible AI PracticesRelated Episode: Scaling Data Quality in the Age of Generative AI with Barr Moses, CEO of Monte Carlo Data, Prukalpa Sankar, Cofounder at Atlan, and George Fraser, CEO at FivetranRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The promise of AI in enterprise settings is enormous, but so are the privacy and security challenges. How do you harness AI's capabilities while keeping sensitive data protected within your organization's boundaries? Private AI—using your own models, data, and infrastructure—offers a solution, but implementation isn't straightforward. What governance frameworks need to be in place? How do you evaluate non-deterministic AI systems? When should you build in-house versus leveraging cloud services? As data and software teams evolve in this new landscape, understanding the technical requirements and workflow changes is essential for organizations looking to maintain control over their AI destiny. Manasi Vartak is Chief AI Architect and VP of Product Management (AI Platform) at Cloudera. She is a product and AI leader with more than a decade of experience at the intersection of AI infrastructure, enterprise software, and go-to-market strategy. At Cloudera, she leads product and engineering teams building low-code and high-code generative AI platforms, driving the company’s enterprise AI strategy and enabling trusted AI adoption across global organizations. Before joining Cloudera through its acquisition of Verta, Manasi was the founder and CEO of Verta, where she transformed her MIT research into enterprise-ready ML infrastructure. She scaled the company to multi-million ARR, serving Fortune 500 clients in finance, insurance, and capital markets, and led the launch of enterprise MLOps and GenAI products used in mission-critical workloads. Manasi earned her PhD in Computer Science from MIT, where she pioneered model management systems such as ModelDB — foundational work that influenced the development of tools like MLflow. Earlier in her career, she held research and engineering roles at Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. In the episode, Richie and Manasi explore AI's role in financial services, the challenges of AI adoption in enterprises, the importance of data governance, the evolving skills needed for AI development, the future of AI agents, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: ClouderaCloudera Evolve ConferenceCloudera Agent StudioConnect with ManasiCourse: Introduction to AI AgentsRelated Episode: RAG 2.0 and The New Era of RAG Agents with Douwe Kiela, CEO at Contextual AI & Adjunct Professor at Stanford UniversityRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The role of data analysts is evolving, not disappearing. With generative AI transforming the industry, many wonder if their analytical skills will soon become obsolete. But how is the relationship between human expertise and AI tools really changing? While AI excels at coding, debugging, and automating repetitive tasks, it struggles with understanding complex business problems and domain-specific challenges. What skills should today's data professionals focus on to remain relevant? How can you leverage AI as a partner rather than viewing it as a replacement? The balance between technical expertise and business acumen has never been more critical in navigating this changing landscape. Mo Chen is a Data & Analytics Manager with over seven years of experience in financial and banking data. Currently at NatWest Group, Mo leads initiatives that enhance data management, automate reporting, and improve decision-making across the organization. After earning an MSc in Finance & Economics from the University of St Andrews, Mo launched a career in risk and credit portfolio management before transitioning into analytics. Blending economics, finance, and data engineering, Mo is skilled at turning large-scale financial data into actionable insight that supports efficiency and strategic planning. Beyond corporate life, Mo has become a passionate educator and community-builder. On YouTube, Mo hosts a fast-growing channel (185K+ subscribers, with millions of views) where he breaks down complex analytics concepts into bite-sized, actionable lessons. In the episode, Richie and Mo explore the evolving role of data analysts, the impact of AI on coding and debugging, the importance of domain knowledge for career switchers, effective communication strategies in data analysis, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Mo’s Website - Build a Data Portfolio WebsiteMo’s YouTube ChannelConnect with MoGet Certified as a Data AnalystRelated Episode: Career Skills for Data Professionals with Wes Kao, Co-Founder of MavenRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Financial institutions are racing to harness the power of AI, but the path to implementation is filled with challenges. From feature engineering to model deployment, the technical complexities of AI adoption in finance require careful navigation of both technological and regulatory landscapes. How do you build AI systems that satisfy strict compliance requirements while still delivering business value? What skills should teams prioritize as AI tools become more accessible through natural language interfaces? With the pressure to reduce model development time from months to days, how can organizations maintain proper governance while still moving at the speed modern business demands? Vijay is a seasoned analytics, product, and technology executive. As EVP of Global Solutions & Analytics at Experian, he runs the department that creates Experian's Ascend financial AI platform. Promoted multiple times in eight years, Vijay now leads a team of more than 70 at Experian. He is one of the youngest execs at Experian, believing strongly in understanding and accepting risk. He has built and run data, engineering, and IT teams, and created market-leading products. In the episode, Richie and Vijay explore the impact of generative AI on the finance industry, the development of Experian's Ascend platform, the challenges of fraud prevention, education and compliance in AI deployment, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: ExperianExperian AscendConnect with VijayCourse: Implementing AI Solutions in BusinessRelated Episode: How Generative AI is Transforming Finance with Andrew Reiskind, CDO at MastercardRewatch RADAR AI 

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The manufacturing floor is undergoing a technological revolution with industrial AI at its center. From predictive maintenance to quality control, AI is transforming how products are designed, produced, and maintained. But implementing these technologies isn't just about installing sensors and software—it's about empowering your workforce to embrace new tools and processes. How do you overcome AI hesitancy among experienced workers? What skills should your team develop to make the most of these new capabilities? And with limited resources, how do you prioritize which AI applications will deliver the greatest impact for your specific manufacturing challenges? The answers might be simpler than you think. Barbara Humpton is President and CEO of Siemens Corporation, responsible for strategy and engagement in Siemens’ largest market. Under her leadership, Siemens USA operates across all 50 states and Puerto Rico with 45,000 employees and generated $21.1 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024. She champions the role of technology in expanding what’s humanly possible and is a strong advocate for workforce development, mentorship, and building sustainable work-life integration. Previously, she was President and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, leading delivery of Siemens’ products and services to U.S. federal agencies. Before joining Siemens in 2011, she held senior roles at Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin, where she oversaw programs in national security, biometrics, border protection, and critical infrastructure, including the FBI’s Next Generation Identification and TSA’s Transportation Workers’ Identification Credential. Olympia Brikis is a seasoned technology and business leader with over a decade of experience in AI research. As the Technology and Engineering Director for Siemens' Industrial AI Research in the U.S., she leads AI strategy, technology roadmapping, and R&D for next-gen AI products. Olympia has a strong track record in developing Generative AI products that integrate industrial and digital ecosystems, driving real-world business impact. She is a recognized thought leader with numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications in AI for manufacturing, predictive analytics, and digital twins. Olympia actively engages with executives, policymakers, and AI practitioners on AI's role in enterprise strategy and workforce transformation. With a background in Computer Science from LMU Munich and an MBA from Wharton, she bridges AI research, product strategy, and enterprise adoption, mentoring the next generation of AI leaders. In the episode, Richie, Barbara, and Olympia explore the transformative power of AI in manufacturing, from predictive maintenance to digital twins, the role of industrial AI in enhancing productivity, the importance of empowering workers with new technology, real-world applications, overcoming AI hesitancy, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Siemens Industrial AI SuiteConnect with Barbara and OlympiaCourse: Implementing AI Solutions in BusinessRelated Episode: Master Your Inner Game to Avoid Burnout with Klaus Kleinfeld, Former CEO at Alcoa and SiemensRewatch RADAR AI where...

The line between human work and AI capabilities is blurring in today's business environment. AI agents are now handling autonomous tasks across customer support, data management, and sales prospecting with increasing sophistication. But how do you effectively integrate these agents into your existing workflows? What's the right approach to training and evaluating AI team members? With data quality being the foundation of successful AI implementation, how can you ensure your systems have the unified context they need while maintaining proper governance and privacy controls? Karen Ng is the Head of Product at HubSpot, where she leads product strategy, design, and partnerships with the mission of helping millions of organizations grow better. Since joining in 2022, she has driven innovation across Smart CRM, Operations Hub, Breeze Intelligence, and the developer ecosystem, with a focus on unifying structured and unstructured data to make AI truly useful for businesses. Known for leading with clarity and “AI speed,” she pushes HubSpot to stay ahead of disruption and empower customers to thrive. Previously, Karen held senior product leadership roles at Common Room, Google, and Microsoft. At Common Room, she built the product and data science teams from the ground up, while at Google she directed Android’s product frameworks like Jetpack and Jetpack Compose. During more than a decade at Microsoft, she helped shape the company’s .NET strategy and launched the Roslyn compiler platform. Recognized as a Product 50 Winner and recipient of the PM Award for Technical Strategist, she also advises and invests in high-growth technology companies. In the episode, Richie and Karen explore the evolving role of AI agents in sales, marketing, and support, the distinction between chatbots, co-pilots, and autonomous agents, the importance of data quality and context, the concept of hybrid teams, the future of AI-driven business processes, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Hubspot Breeze AgentsConnect with KarenWebinar: Pricing & Monetizing Your AI Products with Sam Lee, VP of Pricing Strategy & Product Operations at HubSpotRelated Episode: Enterprise AI Agents with Jun Qian, VP of Generative AI Services at OracleRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Combining LLMs with enterprise knowledge bases is creating powerful new agents that can transform business operations. These systems are dramatically improving on traditional chatbots by understanding context, following conversations naturally, and accessing up-to-date information. But how do you effectively manage the knowledge that powers these agents? What governance structures need to be in place before deployment? And as we look toward a future with physical AI and robotics, what fundamental computing challenges must we solve to ensure these technologies enhance rather than complicate our lives? Jun Qian is an accomplished technology leader with extensive experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Currently serving as Vice President of Generative AI Services at Oracle since May 2020, Jun founded and leads the Engineering and Science group, focusing on the creation and enhancement of Generative AI services and AI Agents. Previously held roles include Vice President of AI Science and Development at Oracle, Head of AI and Machine Learning at Sift, and Principal Group Engineering Manager at Microsoft, where Jun co-founded Microsoft Power Virtual Agents. Jun's career also includes significant contributions as the Founding Manager of Amazon Machine Learning at AWS and as a Principal Investigator at Verizon. In the episode, Richie and Jun explore the evolution of AI agents, the unique features of ChatGPT, the challenges and advancements in chatbot technology, the importance of data management and security in AI, and the future of AI in computing and robotics, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: OracleConnect with JunCourse: Introduction to AI AgentsJun at DataCamp RADARRelated Episode: A Framework for GenAI App and Agent Development with Jerry Liu, CEO at LlamaIndexRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Data science continues to evolve in the age of AI, but is it still the 'sexiest job of the 21st century'? While generative AI has transformed the landscape, it hasn't replaced data scientists—instead, it's created more demand for their skills. Data professionals now incorporate AI into their workflows to boost efficiency, analyze data faster, and communicate insights more effectively. But with these technological advances come questions: How should you adapt your skills to stay relevant? What's the right balance between traditional data science techniques and new AI capabilities? And as roles like analytics engineer and machine learning engineer emerge, how do you position yourself for success in this rapidly changing field? Dawn Choo is the Co-Founder of Interview Master, a platform designed to streamline technical interview preparation. With a foundation in data science, financial analysis, and product strategy, she brings a cross-disciplinary lens to building data-driven tools that improve hiring outcomes. Her career spans roles at leading tech firms, including ClassDojo, Patreon, and Instagram, where she delivered insights to support product development and user engagement. Earlier, Dawn held analytical and engineering positions at Amazon and Bank of America, focusing on business intelligence, financial modeling, and risk analysis. She began her career at Facebook as a marketing analyst and continues to be a visible figure in the data science community—offering practical guidance to job seekers navigating technical interviews and career transitions. In the episode, Richie and Dawn explore the evolving role of data scientists in the age of AI, the impact of generative AI on workflows, the importance of foundational skills, and the nuances of the hiring process in data science. They also discuss the integration of AI in products and the future of personalized AI models, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Interview MasterConnect with DawnDawn’s Newsletter: Ask Data DawnGet Certified: AI Engineer for Data Scientists Associate CertificationRelated Episode: How To Get Hired As A Data Or AI Engineer with Deepak Goyal, CEO & Founder at Azurelib AcademyRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The structured data that powers business decisions is more complex than the sequences processed by traditional AI models. Enterprise databases with their interconnected tables of customers, products, and transactions form intricate graphs that contain valuable predictive signals. But how can we effectively extract insights from these complex relationships without extensive manual feature engineering? Graph transformers are revolutionizing this space by treating databases as networks and learning directly from raw data. What if you could build models in hours instead of months while achieving better accuracy? How might this technology change the role of data scientists, allowing them to focus on business impact rather than data preparation? Could this be the missing piece that brings the AI revolution to predictive modeling? Jure Leskovec is a Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, where he is affiliated with the Stanford AI Lab, the Machine Learning Group, and the Center for Research on Foundation Models. Previously, he served as Chief Scientist at Pinterest and held a research role at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. He is also a co-founder of Kumo.AI, a machine learning startup. Leskovec has contributed significantly to the development of Graph Neural Networks and co-authored PyG, a widely-used library in the field. Research from his lab has supported public health efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and informed product development at companies including Facebook, Pinterest, Uber, YouTube, and Amazon. His work has received several recognitions, including the Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship (2011), the Okawa Research Award (2012), the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2012), the Lagrange Prize (2015), and the ICDM Research Contributions Award (2019). His research spans social networks, machine learning, data mining, and computational biomedicine, with a focus on drug discovery. He has received 12 best paper awards and five 10-year Test of Time awards at leading academic conferences. In the episode, Richie and Jure explore the need for a foundation model for enterprise data, the limitations of current AI models in predictive tasks, the potential of graph transformers for business data, and the transformative impact of relational foundation models on machine learning workflows, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Jure’s PublicationsKumo AIConnect with JureCourse - Transformer Models with PyTorchRelated Episode: High Performance Generative AI Applications with Ram Sriharsha, CTO at PineconeRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Business intelligence has been transforming organizations for decades, yet many companies still struggle with widespread adoption. With less than 40% of employees in most organizations having access to BI tools, there's a significant 'information underclass' making decisions without data-driven insights. How can businesses bridge this gap and achieve true information democracy? While new technologies like generative AI and semantic layers offer promising solutions, the fundamentals of data quality and governance remain critical. What balance should organizations strike between investing in innovative tools and strengthening their data infrastructure? How can you ensure your business becomes a 'data athlete' capable of making hyper-decisive moves in an uncertain economic landscape? Howard Dresner is founder and Chief Research Officer at Dresner Advisory Services and a leading voice in Business Intelligence (BI), credited with coining the term “Business Intelligence” in 1989. He spent 13 years at Gartner as lead BI analyst, shaping its research agenda and earning recognition as Analyst of the Year, Distinguished Analyst, and Gartner Fellow. He also led Gartner’s BI conferences in Europe and North America. Before founding Dresner Advisory in 2007, Howard was Chief Strategy Officer at Hyperion Solutions, where he drove strategy and thought leadership, helping position Hyperion as a leader in performance management prior to its acquisition by Oracle.  Howard has written two books, The Performance Management Revolution – Business Results through Insight and Action, and Profiles in Performance – Business Intelligence Journeys and the Roadmap for Change - both published by John Wiley & Sons. In the episode, Richie and Howard explore the surprising low penetration of business intelligence in organizations, the importance of data governance and infrastructure, the evolving role of AI in BI, and the strategic initiatives driving BI usage, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Dresner Advisory ServicesHoward’s Book - Profiles in Performance: Business Intelligence Journeys and the Roadmap for ChangeConnect with HowardSkill Track: Power BI FundamentalsRelated Episode: The Next Generation of Business Intelligence with Colin Zima, CEO at OmniRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The enterprise adoption of AI agents is accelerating, but significant challenges remain in making them truly reliable and effective. While coding assistants and customer service agents are already delivering value, more complex document-based workflows require sophisticated architectures and data processing capabilities. How do you design agent systems that can handle the complexity of enterprise documents with their tables, charts, and unstructured information? What's the right balance between general reasoning capabilities and constrained architectures for specific business tasks? Should you centralize your agent infrastructure or purchase vertical solutions for each department? The answers lie in understanding the fundamental trade-offs between flexibility, reliability, and the specific needs of your organization. Jerry Liu is the CEO and Co-founder at LlamaIndex, the AI agents platform for automating document workflows. Previously, he led the ML monitoring team at Robust Intelligence, did self-driving AI research at Uber ATG, and worked on recommendation systems at Quora. In the episode, Richie and Jerry explore the readiness of AI agents for enterprise use, the challenges developers face in building these agents, the importance of document processing and data structuring, the evolving landscape of AI agent frameworks like LlamaIndex, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: LlamaIndexLlamaIndex Production Ready Framework For LLM AgentsTutorial: Model Context Protocol (MCP)Connect with JerryCourse: Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) with LangChainRelated Episode: RAG 2.0 and The New Era of RAG Agents with Douwe Kiela, CEO at Contextual AI & Adjunct Professor at Stanford UniversityRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The line between generic AI capabilities and truly transformative business applications often comes down to one thing: your data. While foundation models provide impressive general intelligence, they lack the specialized knowledge needed for domain-specific tasks that drive real business value. But how do you effectively bridge this gap? What's the difference between simply fine-tuning models versus using techniques like retrieval-augmented generation? And with constantly evolving models and technologies, how do you build systems that remain adaptable while still delivering consistent results? Whether you're in retail, healthcare, or transportation, understanding how to properly enrich, annotate, and leverage your proprietary data could be the difference between an AI project that fails and one that fundamentally transforms your business. Wendy Gonzalez is the CEO — and former COO — of Sama, a company leading the way in ethical AI by delivering accurate, human-annotated data while advancing economic opportunity in underserved communities. She joined Sama in 2015 and has been central to scaling both its global operations and its mission-driven business model, which has helped over 65,000 people lift themselves out of poverty through dignified digital work. With over 20 years of experience in the tech and data space, Wendy’s held leadership roles at EY, Capgemini, and Cycle30, where she built and managed high-performing teams across complex, global environments. Her leadership style blends operational excellence with deep purpose — ensuring that innovation doesn’t come at the expense of integrity. Wendy is also a vocal advocate for inclusive AI and sustainable impact, regularly speaking on how companies can balance cutting-edge technology with real-world responsibility. Duncan Curtis is the Senior Vice President of Generative AI at Sama, where he leads the development of AI-powered tools that are shaping the future of data annotation. With a background in product leadership and machine learning, Duncan has spent his career building scalable systems that bridge cutting-edge technology with real-world impact. Before joining Sama, he led teams at companies like Google, where he worked on large-scale personalization systems, and contributed to AI product strategy across multiple sectors. At Sama, he's focused on harnessing the power of generative AI to improve quality, speed, and efficiency — all while keeping human oversight and ethical practices at the core. Duncan brings a unique perspective to the AI space: one that’s grounded in technical expertise, but always oriented toward practical solutions and responsible innovation. In the episode, Richie, Wendy, and Duncan explore the importance of using specialized data with large language models, the role of data enrichment in improving AI accuracy, the balance between automation and human oversight, the significance of responsible AI practices, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: SamaConnect with WendyConnect with DuncanCourse: Generative AI ConceptsRelated Episode: Creating High Quality AI Applications with Theresa Parker & Sudhi Balan, Rocket SoftwareRegister for RADAR AI New to DataCamp? Learn on the go...

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) continues to be a foundational approach in AI despite claims of its demise. While some marketing narratives suggest RAG is being replaced by fine-tuning or long context windows, these technologies are actually complementary rather than competitive. But how do you build a truly effective RAG system that delivers accurate results in high-stakes environments? What separates a basic RAG implementation from an enterprise-grade solution that can handle complex queries across disparate data sources? And with the rise of AI agents, how will RAG evolve to support more dynamic reasoning capabilities? Douwe Kiela is the CEO and co-founder of Contextual AI, a company at the forefront of next-generation language model development. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in Symbolic Systems at Stanford University, where he contributes to advancing the theoretical and practical understanding of AI systems. Before founding Contextual AI, Douwe was the Head of Research at Hugging Face, where he led groundbreaking efforts in natural language processing and machine learning. Prior to that, he was a Research Scientist and Research Lead at Meta’s FAIR (Fundamental AI Research) team, where he played a pivotal role in developing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)—a paradigm-shifting innovation in AI that combines retrieval systems with generative models for more grounded and contextually aware responses. In the episode, Richie and Douwe explore the misconceptions around the death of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), the evolution to RAG 2.0, its applications in high-stakes industries, the importance of metadata and entitlements in data governance, the potential of agentic systems in enterprise settings, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Contextual AIConnect with DouweCourse: Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) with LangChainRelated Episode: High Performance Generative AI Applications with Ram Sriharsha, CTO at PineconeRegister for RADAR AI - June 26 New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The roles within AI engineering are as diverse as the challenges they tackle. From integrating models into larger systems to ensuring data quality, the day-to-day work of AI professionals is anything but routine. How do you navigate the complexities of deploying AI applications? What are the key steps from prototype to production? For those looking to refine their processes, understanding the full lifecycle of AI development is essential. Let's delve into the intricacies of AI engineering and the strategies that lead to successful implementation. Maxime Labonne is a Senior Staff Machine Learning Scientist at Liquid AI, serving as the head of post-training. He holds a Ph.D. in Machine Learning from the Polytechnic Institute of Paris and is recognized as a Google Developer Expert in AI/ML. An active blogger, he has made significant contributions to the open-source community, including the LLM Course on GitHub, tools such as LLM AutoEval, and several state-of-the-art models like NeuralBeagle and Phixtral. He is the author of the best-selling book “Hands-On Graph Neural Networks Using Python,” published by Packt. Paul-Emil Iusztin designs and implements modular, scalable, and production-ready ML systems for startups worldwide. He has extensive experience putting AI and generative AI into production. Previously, Paul was a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Metaphysic.ai and a Machine Learning Lead at Core.ai. He is a co-author of The LLM Engineer's Handbook, a best seller in the GenAI space. In the episode, Richie, Maxime, and Paul explore misconceptions in AI application development, the intricacies of fine-tuning versus few-shot prompting, the limitations of current frameworks, the roles of AI engineers, the importance of planning and evaluation, the challenges of deployment, and the future of AI integration, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Maxime’s LLM Course on HuggingFaceMaxime and Paul’s Code Alongs on DataCampDecoding ML on SubstackConnect with Maxime and PaulSkill Track: AI FundamentalsRelated Episode: Building Multi-Modal AI Applications with Russ d'Sa, CEO & Co-founder of LiveKitRewatch sessions from RADAR: Skills Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The role of data and AI engineers is more critical than ever. With organizations collecting massive amounts of data, the challenge lies in building efficient data infrastructures that can support AI systems and deliver actionable insights. But what does it take to become a successful data or AI engineer? How do you navigate the complex landscape of data tools and technologies? And what are the key skills and strategies needed to excel in this field?  Deepak Goyal is a globally recognized authority in Cloud Data Engineering and AI. As the Founder & CEO of Azurelib Academy, he has built a trusted platform for advanced cloud education, empowering over 100,000 professionals and influencing data strategies across Fortune 500 companies. With over 17 years of leadership experience, Deepak has been at the forefront of designing and implementing scalable, real-world data solutions using cutting-edge technologies like Microsoft Azure, Databricks, and Generative AI. In the episode, Richie and Deepak explore the fundamentals of data engineering, the critical skills needed, the intersection with AI roles, career paths, and essential soft skills. They also discuss the hiring process, interview tips, and the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: AzureLibAzureLib Academy Connect with DeepakGet Certified! Azure FundamentalsRelated Episode: Effective Data Engineering with Liya Aizenberg, Director of Data Engineering at AwaySign up to attend RADAR: Skills Edition  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

As businesses collect more data than ever, the question arises: is bigger always better? Companies are beginning to question whether massive datasets and complex infrastructures are truly delivering results or just adding unnecessary costs. How can you align your data strategy with your actual needs? Could focusing on smaller, more manageable datasets improve efficiency and save resources while still delivering valuable insights? Dr. Madelaine Daianu is the Head of Data & AI at Credit Karma, Inc. Before joining the company in June 2023, she served as Head of Data and Pricing at Belong Home, Inc. Earlier in her career, Daianu has held numerous senior roles in data science and machine learning at The RealReal, Facebook, and Intuit. Daianu earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Bioengineering and Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. In the episode, Richie and Madelaine explore generative AI applications at Credit Karma, the importance of data infrastructure, the role of explainability in fintech, strategies for scaling AI processes, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Credit KarmaConnect with MaddieSkill Track: AI Business FundamentalsRelated Episode: Effective Product Management for AI with Marily Nika, Gen AI Product Lead at Google AssistantSign up to attend RADAR: Skills Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Thought leadership is more than just a buzzword—it's a strategic tool that can significantly influence business decisions and relationships. But what makes thought leadership effective? How do you ensure your insights are not only heard but also trusted and acted upon? What role does generative AI play in enhancing the storytelling process, and how can it be leveraged to create compelling narratives that resonate with your audience? Cindy Anderson is the Chief Marketing Officer/Global Lead for Engagement & Eminence at the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV).  She has co-authored research reports, published numerous articles, and delivered presentations on thought leadership, diversity, strategy implementation, project management, and technology to global audiences. She oversees a team of 30 editors, designers, and social media/email marketers. She is a founding board member of the Global Thought Leadership Institute at APQC, a new association that advances the practice of thought leadership. Anthony Marshall is the Chair of the Board of Advisors for The Global Thought Leadership Institute at APQC and the Senior Research Director of thought leadership at the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV), leading the top-rated thought leadership and analysis program. He oversees a global team of 60 technology and industry experts, statisticians, economists, and analysts. Anthony conducts original thought leadership and has authored dozens of refereed articles and studies on topics including generative AI, innovation, digital and business transformation and ecosystems, open collaboration and skills. In the episode, Richie, Cindy, and Anthony explore the framework for thought leadership storytelling, the role of generative AI in thought leadership, the ROI of thought leadership, building trust and quality in research, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: The ROI of Thought Leadership book by Cindy and AnthonyAPQCConnect with Cindy and AnthonySkill Track: Artificial Intelligence (AI) LeadershipRelated Episode: How Generative AI is Changing Leadership with Christie Smith, Founder of the Humanity Institute and Kelly Monahan, Managing Director, Research InstituteSign up to RADAR: Skills Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The rise of AI agents in the workplace is transforming how businesses operate, tackling repetitive tasks and freeing up human employees for more creative endeavors. But what does this mean for the future of work, and how can professionals leverage these tools effectively? As AI agents become more sophisticated, capable of reasoning and decision-making, how do you ensure they align with your business goals? What are the implications for data privacy and security, and how do you manage the transition to a more automated workforce while maintaining human oversight? Surojit Chatterjee is the founder and CEO of Ema. Previously, he guided Coinbase through a successful 2021 IPO as its Chief Product Officer and scaled Google Mobile Ads and Google Shopping into multi-billion dollar businesses as the VP and Head of Product. Surojit holds 40 US patents and has an MBA from MIT, MS in Computer Science from SUNY at Buffalo, and B. Tech from IIT Kharagpur. In the episode, Richie and Surojit explore the transformative role of AI agents in automating repetitive business tasks, enhancing creativity and innovation, improving customer support, and redefining workplace efficiency. They discuss the potential of AI employees, data privacy concerns, and the future of AI-driven business processes, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: EmaConnect with SurojitSkill Track: Artificial Intelligence (AI) LeadershipRelated Episode: How Generative AI is Changing Leadership with Christie Smith, Founder of the Humanity Institute and Kelly Monahan, Managing Director, Research InstituteAttend RADAR Skills Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

As AI continues to advance, natural language processing (NLP) is at the forefront, transforming how businesses interact with data. From chatbots to document analysis, NLP offers numerous applications. But with the advent of generative AI, professionals face new challenges: When is it appropriate to use traditional NLP techniques versus more advanced models? How do you balance the costs and benefits of these technologies? Explore the strategic decisions and practical applications of NLP in the modern business world. Meri Nova is the founder of Break Into Data, a data careers company. Her work focuses on helping people switch to a career in data, and using machine learning to improve community engagement. Previously, she was a data scientist and machine learning engineer at Hyloc. Meri is the instructor of DataCamp's 'Retrieval Augmented Generation with LangChain' course. In the episode, Richie and Meri explore the evolution of natural language processing, the impact of generative AI on business applications, the balance between traditional NLP techniques and modern LLMs, the role of vector stores and knowledge graphs, and the exciting potential of AI in automating tasks and decision-making, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Meri’s Breaking Into Data Handbook on GitHubBreak Into Data Discord GroupConnect with MeriSkill Track: Artificial Intelligence (AI) LeadershipRelated Episode: Industry Roundup #2: AI Agents for Data Work, The Return of the Full-Stack Data Scientist and Old languages Make a ComebackRewatch sessions from RADAR: Forward Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

2025 promises to be another transformative year for data and AI. From groundbreaking advancements in reasoning models to the rise of new challengers in generative AI, the field shows no signs of slowing down. Last week Jonathan and Martijn scored their 2024 predictions, and scored highly, but what's in store for 2025?  Building on the insights from their 2024 predictions, we'll assess the future of generative AI, the evolving role of AI in education, the growing importance of synthetic data, and much more. In the episode, Richie, Jo, and Martijn discuss whether OpenAI and Google will maintain their dominance or face disruption from new players like Meta’s Llama and XAI’s Grok, the implications of recent breakthroughs in AI reasoning, the rise of short-form video generation AI in social media and advertising, the challenges Europe faces in keeping pace with the US and China in AI innovation and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Data & AI Trends & Predictions 2025Skill Track: AI Business FundamentalsRelated Episode: Reviewing Our Data Trends & Predictions of 2024 with DataCamp's CEO & COO, Jonathan Cornelissen & Martijn TheuwissenRewatch sessions from RADAR: Forward Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business