Ctrl Alt Lead

Tom Allen
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Computing's Tom Allen and Penny Horwood talk to tech execs about their challenges, their passions and, of course, their technology - from AI to zero-days, and everything in between.

  1. 6d ago

    Chris Carreiro, Park Place Technologies: Bridging the AI readiness gap

    Many organisations have ambitious AI strategies, but far fewer have successfully moved projects into production. In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Penny Horwood speaks to Chris Carreiro, CTO at Park Place Technologies, about the obstacles holding enterprises back and what IT leaders can do about them. Chris explains why data readiness remains the biggest barrier to AI success, how unclear ownership and governance stall progress, and why organisations should focus on smaller, more targeted use cases rather than broad board-level mandates.  The discussion also explores a sometimes overlooked aspect of AI infrastructure: power and cooling. As AI workloads drive unprecedented server densities, cooling has become a strategic concern for CIOs, with implications for sustainability, edge computing, data sovereignty and future infrastructure planning. Key topics: Why AI pilots fail to reach productionThe importance of data readiness and accountabilityGovernance challenges in a fast-moving AI landscapePower, cooling and the infrastructure demands of AIWhat CIOs should ask when assessing AI readinessThe future of AI infrastructure and edge deployments Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Oct 5

    The Spending Priorities Shaping IT

    In this special Ctrl Alt Lead episode, Computing Research Director John Leonard explains why AI, despite attracting enormous attention, still represents a relatively small proportion of overall IT spend, while cloud remains the largest and most challenging budget category. The conversation also explores the practical realities behind cloud sovereignty, the difficulties of moving away from incumbent hyperscalers, and how UK organisations compare with their US counterparts in areas including AI adoption, cybersecurity investment and sustainability. The result is an evidence-based look at where IT leaders are investing today and what may shape spending decisions in the years ahead. Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. Sep 28

    David Davies, Arup: Can today's datacentres survive tomorrow's climate?

    The datacentre industry has spent decades preparing for equipment failure. But what happens when the greatest risks are completely unpredictable - extreme weather, water shortages, energy constraints and geopolitical instability? In this episode, Arup's David Davies argues that resilience must be redefined for a more uncertain future. David discusses the growing impact of climate change on datacentre design, including the prospect of UK summer temperatures exceeding 45°C, the pressure that AI growth is placing on energy infrastructure, and the need to prepare for multiple disruptions occurring at the same time. He also explains why future-ready datacentres must be adaptable, integrated into broader energy systems and designed for continuous change rather than static operating conditions. We also explore public attitudes to datacentres, community engagement, microgrids and the key questions IT leaders should ask providers about resilience. Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Sep 21

    Greg Holmes, Apptio: AI needs a new financial playbook

    AI's pricing model has changed, and many IT leaders - and business executives - have been caught flatfooted. In this episode Greg Holmes, field CTO at Apptio, an IBM company, discusses the changing economics of enterprise technology. From AI spending and consumption-based pricing to FinOps and value measurement, he explains why CIOs can no longer treat ROI as a one-time exercise. Instead, they need continuous visibility into both costs and outcomes. As well as costs, governance and sovereignty, Greg also discusses the growing importance of Chief AI Officers and the skills technology leaders will need to develop as AI becomes embedded across the enterprise. Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. Sep 14

    Jill Luber, Elsevier: AI’s Future Depends on Showing its Working

    Generative AI is transforming research, but its use in academia raises very different questions from mainstream business applications. In this episode, Elsevier CTO Jill Luber discusses the opportunities AI creates for literature discovery and analysis, as well as the risks of hallucinations, bias and a lack of source transparency. We explore Elsevier’s research-focused LeapSpace AI platform and consider the future role of AI agents in research workflows. Jill argues that, while AI will continue to accelerate discovery and publication, researchers will continue to rely on human judgement, supported by systems that prioritise trust and verifiable evidence. Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Sep 7

    Who Owns AI's Kill Switch? - Inside the News

    This week we - along with the US and UK governments, as well as OpenAI itself - are tackling the controversial topic of AI kill switches. Tom and Penny discuss the proposals on the table, as well as the practical challenges of defining what a kill switch actually is, who would control it and what circumstances would justify its use. We also examines the wider implications of AI's transition from software tool to business infrastructure. From reports of rogue agents to the challenge of incorporating AI outages into resilience planning, we ask whether organisations are becoming dependent on systems whose governance remains unresolved. Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Sep 1

    RSPCA: Doing Digital via Donations

    The RSPCA may be 200 years old, but a sophisticated digital operation sits behind its animal welfare mission, serving millions of users every year. In this episode, RSPCA COO Emily Tierney and Head of DX Jake Brown discuss the organisation's tech strategy, including platform consolidation, API-first architecture, user-centred digital services and the challenge of delivering transformation under the charity sectr's financial constraints. We explore how the RSPCA is introducing AI tools, measuring digital impact beyond traditional web metrics, improving incident reporting journeys and strengthening data governance. The pair also share lessons from reducing technical debt, building internal capability and aligning teams around a common mission: creating better outcomes for animals through technology Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Jul 27

    Prashanth Chandrasekar, Stack Overflow: What Comes After Coding?

    Stack Overflow quickly realised generative AI represented more than a new technology trend. In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, CEO Prashanth Chandrasekar reflects on how generative AI disrupted the developer ecosystem, forced Stack Overflow to reinvent itself, and changed the way organisations create, share and consume knowledge. We explore the trust gap holding back enterprise AI, which Prashanth argues is the key to successful AI adoption. He also predicts that software developers will increasingly orchestrate teams of digital workers rather than write code themselves, saying, “Everybody now becomes a manager of digital agents.” Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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About

Computing's Tom Allen and Penny Horwood talk to tech execs about their challenges, their passions and, of course, their technology - from AI to zero-days, and everything in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Allen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The Channel Company
  • Show Website
    Ctrl Alt Lead

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