The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era

Cloudera
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  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The introduction of the first computer. The boom of the dotcom renaissance. Now, the dawn of AI. The throughline across each of these momentous inflections in our digital lives has been data. But the presence of data doesn’t mean immediate insights and results. It’s the architectures and systems in place that determine the true value—and trust—of data. In this podcast by Cloudera, The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era explores the past, present, and future of enterprise AI with today’s leading companies and industry experts. You don’t want to miss this.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Vibecoding Liability: How Unchecked AI Can Kill Cloud ROI

    Cloud computing promised efficiency, scalability, and reliability. But as AI workloads grow more complex, many enterprises are learning the hard way that these promises don’t come automatically.   In this episode of The AI Forecast, Paul Muller sits down with Linthicum Research founder David Linthicum to talk through the real state of hybrid cloud strategy and enterprise architecture in the age of cloud computing and AI. Together, Paul and David delve into:  Why cloud governance and resilience are now board-level concerns The hidden costs of hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments Why workload repatriation is accelerating How vibe coding can generate inefficient, high-cost AI applications The difference between reliability and true operational resilience Why enterprises need a common operational control plane If you’re a technology leader scaling AI systems, this episode offers practical guidance on building governed, cost-efficient cloud architectures that won’t fail as complexity rises.  To go deeper on cloud resilience, hybrid cloud strategy, and AI workloads, listen to Ep 59 | The Secret to Creating the Cloud-Like Experience Anywhere with Adam Skotnicky.   Stay in touch with David: David Linthicum on LinkedIn: https://davidlinthicum.com/about-david-linthicum  David’s website: https://davidlinthicum.com/about-david-linthicum    +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.   Links & Resources Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe-h9HrA9qfAmGHgsmXUZgLL-T4Xjhlq8  Learn more about The AI Forecast: https://www.cloudera.com/resources/podcast/the-ai-forecast.html    Connect with Cloudera: Website | LinkedIn | YouTube

    49 min

  2. MAR 10

    AI Managed Services: A Smarter Path for SMEs

    AI adoption is accelerating across small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but many businesses lack the in-house expertise to build and manage AI infrastructure effectively.  In this episode of The AI Forecast, Paul Muller speaks with Hyve’s Marketing and Operations Director, Charlotte Webb, about how managed service providers (MSPs) are reshaping AI adoption for SMEs. They explore the build vs. buy debate in AI solutions and why cloud computing alone doesn’t guarantee lower costs, better performance, or compliance.  Charlotte explains how Hive takes a consultative approach to AI managed services—helping businesses align AI initiatives with long-term business strategy, digital transformation goals, and operational efficiency.  Charlotte and Paul dive headfirst into:   The risks of unmanaged AI workloads in the cloud  The role of managed services in reducing complexity and cost  Data sovereignty and regulatory compliance in AI deployments  Misconceptions about cloud computing and AI performance  Hybrid cloud and GPU infrastructure for scalable AI workloads  Real-world AI success stories, including e-commerce growth and operational gains  For those navigating AI adoption, evaluating cloud strategy, or exploring managed AI services, this episode provides actionable insights into building sustainable AI capabilities without overextending internal resources.    Stay in touch with Charlotte:  Charlotte on LinkedIn  Want to hear more about the build vs buy debate and lessons from the cloud computing era? Check out Ep 28 | Engineering for GenAI: Lessons from Past Hype Cycles with Ryan Ries of Mission Cloud    +++  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.    Links & Resources Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe-h9HrA9qfAmGHgsmXUZgLL-T4Xjhlq8  Learn more about The AI Forecast: https://www.cloudera.com/resources/podcast/the-ai-forecast.html    Connect with Cloudera: Website | LinkedIn | YouTube

    30 min

  3. MAR 4

    Open Lakehouse Architecture: How to Scale AI to Production

    Open lakehouse architecture is becoming the foundation for production AI and enterprise AI at scale.  In this episode of The AI Forecast, Dipankar Mazumdar, Director of Developer Relations at Cloudera and co-author of the book “Engineering Lakehouse with Open Table Formats,” joins Paul Muller to explain why open lakehouse architecture is critical for moving from AI pilot to production AI.  They break down:  How Apache Iceberg and open table formats decouple storage from compute How schema evolution enables change without costly data rewrites How multiple engines can securely access the same data without duplication How to prevent small-file performance bottlenecks How to control AI compute costs at scale How to embed governance, metadata, and data lineage into AI workloads  Production-ready AI requires scalable data architecture and governance built in from day one. AI and GenAI pilots may be everywhere, but your architecture is what truly decides what survives.   Stay in touch with Dipankar:   Dipankar Mazumdar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipankar-mazumdar/  Dipankar’s website: https://dipankarmazumdar.github.io/  Dipankar’s book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Lakehouses-Open-Table-Formats-ebook/dp/B0DKJD39X8    +++  Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    53 min

  4. FEB 25

    How Billy Beane Changed Baseball Forever with Data Analytics

    For decades, success in baseball was built on instinct. Scouts trusted their guts and managers leaned on tradition, meaning experience and unwritten rules shaped decisions that often went unquestioned. Then Billy Beane changed the game. The former Executive VP of Baseball Operations for the Oakland Athletics and pioneer of the Moneyball philosophy joins host Paul Muller on this special episode of The AI Forecast. Together, they explore how evidence-based decision-making disrupted one of the most tradition-bound industries in the world. Billy shares how shifting from intuition to analytics made data the ultimate competitive advantage in baseball. Drawing on hard-won lessons from the front office, he explains how constraints can fuel innovation, why challenging assumptions is essential to performance, and how organizations can use data to redefine the way decisions are made. From talent evaluation to resource allocation, Billy makes the case that optimizing for success means building systems that reward evidence over ego.   Want to hear more about data-driven strategy and transformation? Check out Episode 17: How to Win in the Data Economy with Jan-Willem Middleburg. +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    32 min

  5. FEB 18

    The AI Shake-Up Telecom Can’t Ignore with Mike O’Sullivan

    As telecom operators invest billions in next-generation networks, many are racing to deploy AI to cut costs and unlock new revenue. But beneath the push for automation and smarter infrastructure lies the deeper challenge of rethinking how connectivity itself should be trusted. In this episode of The AI Forecast, Mike O’Sullivan, Head of Member Solutions at TM Forum, joins host Paul Muller to explore how autonomous networks could reshape customer experience and retention. Mike breaks down the financial pressure facing the industry from soaring network build costs, costly legacy systems, and flat revenues, and why cost reduction is only the first step in telecom’s AI journey. Drawing on decades in the industry, Mike paints a clear picture: reactive telecom is out and self-optimizing, AI-powered networks are in. The future of telecom is adaptive and intelligent, and it depends on turning vast amounts of data into immediate, informed action. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out Episode 56: When AI Moves Fast, Security Can’t Lag Behind with Jessica Hammond for more on real-time decisioning and regulated industry AI. Stay in touch with Mike: Mike O’Sullivan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-o-sullivan-35845b/   +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    21 min

  6. FEB 11

    How AI FOMO and Lost Focus on Culture Harm ROI with Jen Stirrup

    As AI and BI projects race to deliver quick wins, many organizations overlook what truly determines long-term success: the people behind the data. In this episode of The AI Forecast, Jen Stirrup, author, speaker, and founder of Data Relish, joins host Paul Muller to dissect the difference between data literacy (reading the numbers) and data fluency (speaking the language of business). Jen challenges the industry’s obsession with AI FOMO, warning that rushing to deploy models on shaky cultural foundations is the fastest way to derail ROI. Drawing on real-world data horror stories, she explains why tools alone cannot fix a broken culture and how mentorship, collaboration, and practical skills can empower teams to work independently and intelligently with data. Listen in to discover: Why poor data culture is the silent killer of AI ROI. How to move your team from passive observation to active questioning. Practical steps to build an environment where it is safe to challenge the data. Did you enjoy this deep dive on data culture? Check out Episode 5: Data Doesn’t Have To Be So Complicated with Jordan Morrow for another perspective on the literacy debate. Stay in touch with Jen: Jen Stirrup on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/jenstirrup Jen Stirrup’s AI and data books: https://jenstirrup.com/books/  +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    29 min

  7. FEB 4

    The Secret to Creating the Cloud-Like Experience Anywhere with Adam Skotnicky

    Data complexity is the enemy of innovation. Adam Skotnicky, VP of Engineering at Cloudera and founder of Taikun (acquired by Cloudera), joins host Paul Muller to explain how engineering teams can reclaim simplicity without sacrificing flexibility or control. Together they unpack why most teams are overwhelmed by tooling and operational overhead, how platform engineering can abstract complexity away from users, and what it really means to deliver “cloud-like” agility across hybrid environments. For those dealing with hybrid cloud sprawl, or simply wanting your data platform to do more for you, this episode is a must listen. Stay in touch with Adam:  Adam Skotnicky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skotnicky/  +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    24 min

  8. JAN 28

    Mobilize AI or Lose: Why the Salesperson with the Most Information Always Wins with Frank O’Dowd

    AI is reshaping how sales teams find prospects, build relationships, and close deals. Frank O’Dowd, Cloudera’s Chief Revenue Officer, joins to discuss Cloudera’s approach to AI in the sales function.  Frank details his philosophy, which is that rather than replacing the human touch, AI is helping sales professionals work smarter, offering insights, personalization, and efficiency at scale. It’s a complementary tool that can help sales teams make themselves relevant to their target audience.  As Frank says in the episode, “The person with the most information always wins.”  Stay in touch with Frank:  Frank O’Dowd on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frank-o-dowd-262508  +++ Follow and subscribe to The AI Forecast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of enterprise AI.

    12 min
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About

The introduction of the first computer. The boom of the dotcom renaissance. Now, the dawn of AI. The throughline across each of these momentous inflections in our digital lives has been data. But the presence of data doesn’t mean immediate insights and results. It’s the architectures and systems in place that determine the true value—and trust—of data. In this podcast by Cloudera, The AI Forecast: Data and AI in the Cloud Era explores the past, present, and future of enterprise AI with today’s leading companies and industry experts. You don’t want to miss this.

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