The AI Reality Check: Why Digital Foundations Still Matter

Are businesses really ready for AI, or just feeling the pressure to keep up?

In this episode, Nixon Hire CIO John Whitlow delivers a clear-eyed reality check. He explains why many organisations, especially SMEs, are still stuck in the foothills of digital transformation, struggling with basics like poor data quality (where up to 80% of data is useless).

We dig into:

• Why AI hype often outpaces digital readiness

• The soaring demand for AI skills vs. the lack of real training

• Why AI strategy must be organisation-wide, not just IT

• The role of leadership and DE&I in building high-performing teams

• Hybrid working’s rebound and the business case for sustainability

John draws on his experience moving from fractional to permanent CIO, showing how human decisions and trade-offs shape tech success far more than flashy tools.

Listen in for a grounded perspective on what it really takes to make AI work.

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