The AI Table

The AI Table

Join former White House AI Strategist, best-selling author, and Fortune 500 advisor Dia Adams for candid, no-hype conversations with the executives, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and everyday citizens who are actually building, scaling, and governing AI. The AI Table is a D.C.-based executive think tank and strategy network dedicated to real-world AI deployment and responsible governance. www.theaitable.org Become a member of The AI Table

Episodes

  1. Oct 14

    How Comcast Solved the AI Productivity Paradox

    Why are companies seeing massive productivity gains on paper, yet failing to see it hit the bottom line? In this episode of The AI Table, we sit down with David Krauza to unpack the AI Productivity Paradox—the glaring gap between perceived AI output and actual financial returns. If your board is asking for hard proof of AI ROI, this conversation is your blueprint. We cut through the hype to explore why traditional metrics are breaking down, how to draw a hard line between human and machine output, and why proper governance and clear ownership are the ultimate differentiators between AI success and expensive shelfware. Key Takeaways: The Earnings Gap: Why standard productivity metrics fail to capture true AI profitability.Accountability Frameworks: Defining who actually owns model performance and risk inside the enterprise.Governance at Scale: How to manage vendor models and structure AI steering committees that drive action, not bureaucracy.The Human Element: Why expert judgment and rigorous change management are more critical than ever in the agentic era.Chapters: 00:00 — The AI Productivity Paradox03:45 — Measuring True AI Impact05:17 — Distinguishing Human vs. AI Actions10:40 — Ownership and Accountability in AI14:01 — Governance of Vendor Models16:54 — The Role of AI Steering Committees22:44 — Critical Evaluation in the AI Era28:12 — The Importance of Expert Judgment30:15 — Defining Business Metrics That Matter34:01 — Change Management in Metrics36:44 — Debunking Common AI Myths#TheAITable #EnterpriseAI #AIReturns #AIGovernance #DavidKrauza #AILeadership #AIROI #AIstrategy

  2. Oct 8

    Franklin Templeton Exec Shares Lessons From Scaling AI at an $2T Asset Manager

    Dia Adams sits down with Wall Street AI Guru Max Gokhman (Head of AI at Franklin Templeton) to break down the hard truths of enterprise AI implementation. Moving beyond the hype, they explore why corporate culture is the ultimate bottleneck to AI adoption, how organizations are actually measuring AI ROI, what AI job loss could look like in the future, and the critical need for model explainability and governance in automated decision-making. Discover what it takes to transition from experimental AI chat interfaces to secure, autonomous enterprise workflows without falling into common productivity and security traps. Key Takeaways: Why cultural adaptation is a prerequisite for successful enterprise AI deploymentHow to measure real AI success and corporate productivity beyond vanity metricsThe vital role of model explainability and zero-trust governance in AI decision-makingNavigating the build vs. buy dilemma for scalable enterprise AI infrastructureChapters:  00:00 Merging AI with Human Expertise 08:11 Measuring AI Success in Enterprises 11:05 The Future of AI and Productivity 14:57 Understanding AI's Limitations 18:25 Navigating AI Risks and Governance 22:18 Ethics and Morality in AI Decisions 26:31 Model Explainability and Trust 29:31 Building vs. Buying AI Solutions 32:47 Transitioning to Autonomous AI Systems 35:43 AI Pet Peeves and Concerns #EnterpriseAI #AIGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #DataStrategy #AIAdoption #TechLeadership #MaxGokhman #DiaAdams #TheAITable

  3. Oct 1

    Why Legacy Data Stacks Fail AI Agents (And How Modern Teams Are Fixing It)

    In this episode of The AI Table, Dia Adams sits down with Jena Zhang, the first University Chief Data & AI Officer in the midwest, to unpack the shift transforming education: the jump from legacy data stacks to real-time, agentic AI. They break down why traditional data governance fails in autonomous environments, how to bridge the communication gap between data leaders and the C-suite, and where the biggest innovation opportunities lie for modern enterprise leaders. Unlock Enterprise AI Authority To lead in the agentic era, you need strategy over hype: Subscribe to The AI Table Newsletter: Receive executive-level breakdowns on AI governance, agentic workflows, and data strategy delivered straight to your inbox at theaitable.org/newsletter.Join The AI Table Membership: Gain exclusive access to peer networks, strategic briefings, and enterprise frameworks designed for senior data and AI leaders. Apply for Pro Membership at theaitable.org.#aistrategy #AgenticAI #DataGovernance #EnterpriseAI #EdTech #TheAITable #aigovernance Takeaways Shift from data for humans to machinesImportance of data governance in AI Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Data Management02:02 Understanding Agentic AI03:33 Defining True Data Products05:45 Persuading Leaders on Data Value08:02 Navigating AI Pressure as a Leader09:43 Transforming Raw Data into Value12:28 Universal Standards for Data Integration14:00 Real-Time Data Pipelines in AI16:21 Investing in Agent-Ready Data Products21:03 Accountability in Data Ownership23:37 Encouragement for Future Builders

  4. Sep 24

    Harvard Business School Professor Explains The Real Reason Your Team Is Resisting AI

    Harvard Busines School Professor David Almog sits down at The AI Table. The conversation explores the intersection of human behavior and AI, addressing the fear of over-reliance on AI, cognitive and social frictions in AI adoption, human oversight of AI systems, incentive structures and AI adoption, the impact of AI on skill tiers, experience levels and AI reaction, and incentive schemes for AI productivity. Takeaways Understanding human behavior is crucial for successful AI adoption.Incentive structures and human oversight play a significant role in AI adoption and productivity. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Human Behavior and AI02:32 Fear of Over-Reliance on AI08:03 Cognitive and Social Frictions in AI Adoption12:09 Human Oversight of AI Systems15:16 Incentive Structures and AI Adoption17:07 Impact of AI on Skill Tiers18:43 Experience Levels and AI Reaction22:09 Incentive Schemes for AI ProductivityIf you enjoyed our podcast please leave a review and subscribe. To become a memeber of The AI Table visit: https://www.theaitable.org/membership

  5. Sep 18

    Leveraging AI at $300B Scale: Lessons from McKesson’s Head of Enterpise AI Lab

    The conversation with Zachary Elewitz covers a range of topics related to AI governance, risk management, and the future of AI-enabled workforce. Zachary shares insights on balancing AI experimentation with risk governance, collaborative governance, centralized vs. decentralized AI labs, translating soft efficiency metrics into hard financial value, AI governance frameworks, building vs. buying AI solutions, professional support and skill sets for AI enablement, and the future of workforce enabled by AI. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background01:23 Balancing AI Experimentation and Risk Governance03:50 Collaborative Governance and Legal Compliance08:15 Centralized vs. Decentralized AI Lab11:31 Translating Soft Efficiency Metrics into Hard Financial Value15:00 AI Governance Frameworks for Speeding Up Innovation17:37 Building vs. Buying AI Solutions22:29 Professional Support and Skill Sets for AI Enablement33:17 Future of Workforce Enabled by AI36:07 AI Pet Peeves and Key Messages

  6. Sep 10

    How Walmart Scales Agentic AI: Data Products, Governance & ROI

    How does a Fortune 1 company build a data foundation built for autonomous AI agents? In this episode of The AI Table, host Dia Adams sits down with Amit Shivpuja, Walmart AI Executive, to break down the real-world operational strategy behind enterprise AI at massive scale. From solving the data-to-business misalignment gap to transforming compliance-heavy governance into value-generating data products, Amit shares the frameworks every CDO, CIO, and enterprise AI leader needs to navigate the shift to Agentic AI. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction & Walmart's AI Strategy 01:40 - Solving Data & Business Team Misalignment 04:09 - The 3-Layer Approach to Data Products for AI Agents 07:25 - Hurdles to Becoming AI-Ready at Scale 10:30 - Early Signals Your Data Foundation is Ready 12:07 - High-Value Use Cases vs. Speculative AI Pilots 13:57 - Rethinking Data Governance for Value Generation 16:25 - Immediate Operational Shifts from Agentic AI 18:10 - Translating Technical Agentic Concepts for the C-Suite 20:36 - Global AI Ethics & Policy Adoption 24:14 - The Evolving Role of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) 27:28 - Capital Allocation & The Future of Data Professionals 💡 SUBSCRIBE TO THE AI TABLE: Join 800+ Fortune 500 CIOs, CDOs, CAIOs, and Federal AI leaders receiving our executive intelligence newsletter: https://shorturl.at/AabH3 CONNECT WITH US: Website: https://www.theaitable.org #AgenticAI #DataStrategy #AILeadership #EnterpriseAI #WalmartTech #DataProducts #ChiefDataOfficer

  7. Sep 3

    Human-Centered AI: Why Corporate AI Needs a Heartbeat

    Tiankai Feng discusses the importance of humanizing AI and data strategy, emphasizing the need for a human-centric approach to technology. He shares his passion for making data and AI more accessible and approachable, and highlights the significance of considering human needs and opinions in technological choices. Takeaways Humanizing AI and data strategyImportance of human-centric design #HumanizingAI #CorporateAI #FutureOfWork #DataStrategy #TechLeadership Book: https://a.af/6mmum www.theaitable.org

  8. Jul 3

    The Context Layer for Enterprise AI: Ontologies, Knowledge Graphs & Meaning

    Why are billion-dollar enterprise AI initiatives stalling out in production? In this episode of The AI Table, former Adobe Senior Information Architect and taxonomy veteran Jessica Talismanbreaks down why raw LLMs fail inside large enterprises—and why the secret to reliable, non-hallucinating agentic AI isn’t bigger models, but the Context Layer. Most enterprise AI pipelines fail because they treat data as a technical storage problem rather than a knowledge management challenge. Without a formal ontology pipeline, enterprise knowledge graphs, and semantic data models, AI agents lack the business logic, data provenance, and procedural context required to deliver accurate outcomes. Jessica walks us through how Fortune 500 leaders can leverage library science principles to turn messy unstructured data into deterministic, decision-ready intelligence. Key Takeaways AI bias stems from flawed training data, so businesses must prioritize context and knowledge management to address it. Responsible AI demands a human-centered approach, investment in knowledge systems, and a focus on augmenting—not replacing—human capabilities. Key Executive TakeawaysThe Context Gap: AI bias and hallucinations stem from unvetted, context-free data pipelines. Fixing AI output requires fixing the semantic architecture underlying your models.Ontologies as Defensive Assets: A formal ontology model provides the rules, relationships, and lineage necessary for autonomous agents to execute complex workflows safely.Human-Centered Augmentation: Responsible enterprise AI execution focuses on structuring tacit human knowledge to augment—not replace—high-value workforce decisions.🔗 Connect & Learn MoreSubscribe to The AI Table for weekly executive briefings on AI strategy, enterprise architecture, and data governance.

  9. Jun 19

    Preparing CEOs and Corporate Boards for Successful AI Implementation

    Most organizations are still unprepared for the real challenges AI brings. This episode with Chief Data Officer Elena Alikhachkina cuts through the noise to tackle what actually matters: governance, accountability, and leadership in the age of intelligent systems. We explore why AI initiatives fail more often than they succeed—and how “shadow AI” is quietly introducing risk into even the most sophisticated organizations. More importantly, we break down what executives must understand now to stay competitive: from building formal AI education pathways to redefining decision-making frameworks at the highest levels of leadership. If you’re a CEO, Chief Data Officer, CIO, CTO, Chief Compliance Officer, or board-level executive, this conversation is essential. The future of your organization depends not just on adopting AI—but on governing it effectively, measuring its value, and ensuring your leadership team is truly AI-literate. Topics covered: Why most AI projects fail—and how to fix itThe hidden risks of shadow AI inside your organizationHow to quantify the ROI of AI governanceWhy AI literacy is now a board-level priorityThe evolving role of executives in an AI-driven enterprise Subscribe for more insights at the intersection of AI, leadership, policy, and enterprise strategy. Contact: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourcompany Website: www.theaitable.org #AILeadership #AIGovernance #AITransformation #AIliteracy #CDO #corporateboard #EnterpriseAI #AICompliance Chapters 00:00 The Role of Accountability in AI Governance05:36 The Need for Formal Curriculum in AI Education13:06 Preventing Cross-Functional Gridlock in AI Deployments18:52 Challenges in AI Project Success and Quality of Decisions35:07 Workforce Development and AI Literacy40:25 Demystifying AI for Non-Technical Executives Visit Us: www.theaitable.org Listen to more talks: https://www.theaitable.org/podcast

  10. Jun 12

    Is AI Making us Stupid?: Thinking in the Age of AI

    Sune Selsbæk-Reitz AI strategist and tech philosopher discusses the concept of promptism (outlined in his new book) and its impact on decision-making and critical thinking. He emphasizes the importance of using AI as a sparing partner rather than a substitute for human judgment in appropriate instances. The conversation delves into the dangers of AI fluency and the fight for meaning in the age of AI, highlighting the need for thoughtful engagement with AI-generated content. Takeaways Promptism: The habit of treating AI generated text as if it were already understanding and factual, leading to a lack of questioning.AI and Critical Thinking: Using AI as a sparing partner in the thinking process, allowing it to enhance human thinking without substituting for it.The Fight for Meaning: The importance of cultivating doubt and thoughtful engagement with AI-generated content to protect competitive advantage and the meaningful aspects of decision-making. Visit us: www.theaitable.org Purchase Promptism: https://lnk.ink/wbPWb Listen to more talks on our site: https://www.theaitable.org/podcast #promptism #ailiteracy #aistrategy #AIPartnership #responsibleai #humanaicollaboration #humanfirstai

  11. Jun 7

    AI and Kids: The Conversation Parents and Policymakers Can't Afford to Skip

    The conversation with Amber Ivey, author of "AI meets AI" covers the importance of AI literacy for kids and the need for AI guardrails for kids. It delves into the impact of AI on children's interactions, social media addiction, parental role in AI literacy, kids' perspectives on AI, policy at federal and state levels, AI literacy resources for parents, and the under-discussed risks of improper AI use for kids. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background06:07 Practical Engagement with AI11:59 Social Media and AI Addiction18:02 Parental Role in AI Literacy24:04 Considerations at Federal and State Level29:49 Under-discussed Risks of AI for Kids Visit us: www.theaitable.org Listen to more talks: https://www.theaitable.org/podcast

  12. Jun 5

    The AI Trust Crisis: Fabricated Reports and Biased Hiring, How to Fix Broken AI Systems

    Reid Blackman dives into the urgent dilemmas of AI—from HR tools facing lawsuits for scraping social media data and discriminating against older job applicants, to big consulting firms publishing AI-generated reports with fabricated citations. He explores how these issues are reshaping trust, accountability, and even mental health. Blackman shares why he wrote The Ethical Nightmare Challenge, exposing the gaps in standard AI governance and introducing his Ethical Nightmare Challenge (ENC) framework—a practical approach to identify and mitigate AI risks before they escalate. He makes the case that responsible AI is a business imperative, with clear ROI for companies that get it right. Whether you’re a CEO navigating regulatory landmines, a tech leader building responsible systems, or a parent concerned about AI’s impact on society, this conversation will push you to ask: What’s the worst that could happen—and how do we stop it? Takeaways Evolution of AI has led to a complex risk landscapeStandard AI governance is inadequate for the evolving technologyThe Ethical Nightmare Challenge framework offers a scalable and outcome-oriented approach to AI governance Visit us: www.theaitable.org Listen to more talks: https://www.theaitable.org/podcast

  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Join former White House AI Strategist, best-selling author, and Fortune 500 advisor Dia Adams for candid, no-hype conversations with the executives, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and everyday citizens who are actually building, scaling, and governing AI. The AI Table is a D.C.-based executive think tank and strategy network dedicated to real-world AI deployment and responsible governance. www.theaitable.org Become a member of The AI Table

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  • Creator
    The AI Table
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2026 The AI Table
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    The AI Table