The AI Lab

The AI Lab
  • 5.0 (9)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Generative AI has taken the world by storm —leaving business leaders with a flood of unanswered questions and a burning curiosity to understand what it all means. Most importantly, “What does this mean for my business?”. This is a show about demystifying the world of generative AI for business leaders. No fluff. No jargon. Just real conversations with the innovative leaders who are not only embracing this technology but advancing it — discovering new use cases, building new categories, and solving some of the largest problems for their teams & customers.

  1. 9H AGO

    Why AI Isn’t Delivering (yet) in business | Jen Stave, HBS AI Institute

    AI is moving fast, but most companies are still figuring out what it actually means for how they work and grow. In this episode, Melissa Mahtani sits down with Jennifer Stave, Launch Director of Harvard Business School’s AI Institute, to unpack what companies are getting right – and wrong – about AI adoption. Jennifer shares lessons learned from her “clinical trials” model for testing AI in real business environments and explains why you can’t be an AI optimist or pessimist, only a human one.  We also dive into: The disconnect between AI’s promise and AI in practice How important humans are to technological change The role of tacit knowledge in AI adoption Why AI should lead to employee enhancement not replacement How Agentic AI is changing what it means to be a manager  Why “Tokenmaxxing” isn’t a good incentive for AI adoption Why traditional ROI metrics don’t work for AI About Jennifer Stave: Jennifer Stave is the Launch Director of the Harvard Business School AI Institute, where she leads efforts to study how generative AI is transforming firms, leadership, and strategy. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between rapid technological advancement and real-world business adoption, partnering directly with companies to develop practical frameworks for safe and effective AI deployment. Resources: → Learn more about The AI Lab: https://www.theailab.ai/ → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani/ → Connect with Jennifer Stave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-stave/ → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    24 min

  2. APR 21

    The unique and differentiated role women play in AI | Dr. Felicia Newhouse, Founder of the AI-powered Women Conference at MIT

    Dr. Felicia Newhouse—former tech executive turned founder of AI Powered Women—joins us to unpack why the biggest risk in AI today isn’t a gender gap, but a structural imbalance in who builds, governs, and bears the consequences of these systems. She explains why a diverse make-up of people (not just women) must play a central role in shaping its future. We also dive into:  How women leaders are approaching AI differently in the workplace The importance of diversity both in AI data and AI governance decisions Why AI doesn’t have a gender problem, but a structural one. The “triple threat” facing women: lower AI usage, higher automation risk, and invisible labor The hidden burden of emotional labor in AI transformation—and why it’s often overlooked Why human relationships are actually the key to AI success Why women leaders are acting as early warning systems for AI risk What to expect at the AI-powered women's conference Guest bio:Dr. Felicia Newhouse, founder of AI-Powered Women at MIT, leads one of the world’s largest movements in bridging women and AI, uniting global leaders at MIT and beyond to redefine the future of leadership. With a PhD in transformational learning, two decades as a tech product executive, and training in mindfulness, she uniquely bridges research, business, and human transformation to ensure the rise of AI elevates—not erases—what makes us most human. Resources:  → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai  → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani   → Connect with Felicia Newhouse: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicianewhouse/    → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    21 min

  3. APR 14

    Is AI turning us all into gig-workers? | Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela

    AI isn’t just transforming industries—it’s reshaping how the entire world works. In this episode, Melissa Mahtani sits down with Andela CEO Carrol Chang to unpack how AI is reshaping global opportunity, exposing deep inequalities, and forcing leaders to rethink talent, access, and economic systems at a global scale. We also dive into:  How AI is changing the gig-economy globally What Andela means by being the “human layer” in AI The impact of AI governance decisions being concentrated in Washington DC The infrastructure gap: compute, connectivity, and power as the real barriers to AI equity Job loss and the entry level jobs crisis The Citrini Report vs Open AI’s Blueprint for the future What the future of work and society could look like in a more equal world Guest bio:Carrol Chang is the CEO of Andela, a global tech talent marketplace connecting companies with highly skilled technologists while helping organizations build and scale AI-ready teams. Prior to Andela, she served as Global Head of Driver Operations at Uber, where she led initiatives at the forefront of the gig economy. With deep experience in global workforce systems, Carrol brings a unique perspective on how AI is transforming labor, opportunity, and economic structures worldwide. Resources:  → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai  → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani   → Connect with Carrol Chang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrolchang/ → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    30 min

  4. APR 7

    The Hidden Costs of AI Abundance | Ernest Ng, Senior Principal of AI Strategy at Workday

    Ernest Ng, Senior Principal of AI Strategy at Workday, joins The AI Lab CEO Ryan Kurt to explore what business leaders are missing in today’s AI conversation—from the true cost of innovation to the organizational design challenges that will define long-term winners. We also dive into: Why AI may be the cheapest it will ever be—and why that matters now The gap between AI capability and enterprise adoption How token economics could reshape budgets, performance, and headcount Why AI transformation is as much a people challenge as a technology challenge The risk of over-automating junior work and losing future expertise What resilience planning looks like in a business increasingly dependent on AI systems Ernest Ng is Senior Principal of AI Strategy at Workday, where he helps large organizations think through AI go-to-market, adoption, and transformation. Prior to Workday, he was part of HiredScore, an early AI company in HR that was later acquired by Workday. He also spent nearly 12 years at Salesforce leading HR strategy, people analytics, data science, data engineering, and workforce planning. Trained as an experimental psychologist with a background in I.O., developmental, and cognitive psychology, Ernest brings a rare perspective on the human, organizational, and economic forces shaping the future of AI. Resources: → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai → Connect with Ernest Ng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestngphd/ → Connect with Ryan Kurt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankurt/ → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    30 min

  5. MAR 31

    Parenting in the age of AI: Raising Kids in a World of Chatbots | Dr. Alex Sturm, Associate Professor of Psychology at LMU

    How do you raise children in a world where AI is not just a tool—but a companion, tutor, and influence? Melissa Mahtani sits down with Dr. Alex Sturm to explore how parents can navigate this new reality with clarity and confidence and use AI themselves, as a tool to make them “superhuman.”  We also dive into:  Why “authoritative parenting” (warm + firm boundaries) matters more than ever in an AI-driven world Why kids of all ages—from toddlers to teens–need to understand AI is a tool, not a human The risks of teens turning to AI for emotional support—and potential red flags to watch out for Alex’s message to tech companies developing AI for the future Resources for parents worried about the impact of AI Guest bio:Dr. Alex Sturm is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychological science at Loyola Marymount University, where she studies childhood development and neurodevelopmental conditions. As both a researcher and a parent, her work sits at the intersection of science and real life—helping families understand how children learn, grow, and navigate increasingly complex technological environments. Resources: → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai → Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-sturm-164974a1/  → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    25 min
  6. The truth about AI and job loss | Cynthia Gutierrez-White, Communications Strategist + Ryan Kurt, Founder of AI Lab

    MAR 24

    The truth about AI and job loss | Cynthia Gutierrez-White, Communications Strategist + Ryan Kurt, Founder of AI Lab

    AI isn’t just changing how we work—it’s reshaping who works, what work looks like, and how organizations prepare for what’s next. In this episode, Cynthia Gutierrez-White and Ryan Kurt share a deeply human perspective on workplace transformation, unpacking the realities of job loss, career reinvention, and what it truly takes to reskill in the age of AI. We also dive into:  What’s being replaced vs. what’s being created The emotional and professional impact of layoffs in an AI-driven economy Why reskilling is becoming a core business strategy—not just an HR initiative The hidden crisis in entry-level jobs and what it means for the next generation of talent How leaders can support their teams through disruption—without defaulting to cost-cutting The opportunity for organizations to grow through AI, not just automate with it Guest bio:Cynthia Gutierrez-White is a communications strategist and author of *Redefined*, focused on helping professionals navigate career transitions in the age of AI. With a background spanning media, healthcare, and disaster response, she brings a deeply human perspective to workforce transformation. Ryan Kurt is the Founder of AI Lab, a community and advisory platform built to help executives navigate generative AI. After experiencing layoffs firsthand, he built AI Lab to help leaders and teams reskill for the AI era—equipping organizations to grow through AI, not just cut costs. Resources: → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai  → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani  → Connect with Cynthia Gutierrez-White: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgutierrezwhite   → Connect with Ryan Kurt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankurt/ → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    32 min
  7. The trust gap: AI agents are reshaping business — but trust will determine who wins | Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2

    MAR 17

    The trust gap: AI agents are reshaping business — but trust will determine who wins | Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2

    AI agents are moving beyond chatbots and copilots to systems capable of completing entire business processes autonomously. In this episode, Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2 and AI researcher at Harvard, breaks down what agentic workflows really mean for organizations and why the biggest barrier to adopting agents isn’t the technology—it’s whether leaders can build trust in AI systems quickly enough to keep up with competitors. We also dive into: How AI agents are breaking the limits of traditional productivity How leading companies are deploying agents to drive measurable ROI What the use of autonomous agents means for job displacement Why companies like Amazon continue investing in AI agents despite occasional failures What the future workforce looks like when employees become “agent bosses” For leaders trying to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the message is clear: start experimenting now or risk falling behind. Guest Bio Tim Sanders is the Chief Innovation Officer at G2, the world’s largest software marketplace, where he leads AI research focused on enterprise adoption and emerging technologies. A Harvard Business School fellow and bestselling author of five books—including Love Is the Killer App—Tim studies how organizations integrate new technologies to drive growth. His research combines economic analysis, executive interviews, and large-scale enterprise surveys to understand how AI is reshaping business strategy. Resources → G2 AI Research: https://www.g2.com→ Tim Sanders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsanders→ Prediction Machines (Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, Avi Goldfarb)

    22 min
  8. Why high-stakes AI still needs a human in the loop | Ryan Kurt, Founder at The AI Lab

    MAR 5

    Why high-stakes AI still needs a human in the loop | Ryan Kurt, Founder at The AI Lab

    Ryan Kurt, Founder of The AI Lab, joins Melissa Mahtani, the show’s new co-host and Journalist-in-Residence, for a wide-ranging conversation on Job displacement vs. individual empowerment, AI governance, trust, and why outsourcing strategy to big consultancies is the wrong move.We also dive into: Why people, not tech, are the hardest part of transformationHow legacy org design slows AI adoption more than the tools doThe “Citrini Report” thought experiment, an AI tax, and who should benefit from AI’s upsideWhat responsible AI adoption looks like when the ground keeps shiftingWhether there should be more or less regulation around generative AIWhat keeps Ryan up at night when it comes to the future of AI Guest bio:Ryan Kurt is the Founder of The AI Lab, a community and advisory platform built to help executives navigate generative AI with no hype, no jargon—just practical strategy informed by real operators. Ryan’s work spans AI strategy, organizational design, and AI governance, with a focus on helping companies identify internal “change makers,” compress learning cycles, and build durable capabilities as the technology evolves.Resources: → Learn more about The AI Lab: theailab.ai → Connect with Melissa Mahtani: linkedin.com/in/melissa-mahtani → Connect with Ryan Kurt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankurt/ → Send listener questions: PodcastQuestions@theailab.ai

    51 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Generative AI has taken the world by storm —leaving business leaders with a flood of unanswered questions and a burning curiosity to understand what it all means. Most importantly, “What does this mean for my business?”. This is a show about demystifying the world of generative AI for business leaders. No fluff. No jargon. Just real conversations with the innovative leaders who are not only embracing this technology but advancing it — discovering new use cases, building new categories, and solving some of the largest problems for their teams & customers.

Information

  • Creator
    The AI Lab
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The AI Lab
  • Show Website
    The AI Lab

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