The CAIO Connect Podcast (Chief AI Officer Connect Podcast)

Sanjay Puri
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The CAIO Connect Podcast with Sanjay Puri Join tech entrepreneur, AI expert, and mentor Sanjay Puri as he delves into the world of AI leadership. Each episode unravels the challenges and triumphs faced by Chief AI Officers and dynamic founders, sharing insightful stories and experiences. Discover how these leaders attract top talent and drive innovation in AI and emerging technologies. Tune in for vibrant conversations that explore the future of AI, showcase exciting company endeavors, and inspire potential hires. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a tech professional, or someone curious about the future, this podcast is your gateway to the forefront of AI leadership.

  1. #47 Dr. Amarda Shehu: Humanity First — How AI is Transforming Higher Education | CAIO Connect Podcast

    3D AGO

    #47 Dr. Amarda Shehu: Humanity First — How AI is Transforming Higher Education | CAIO Connect Podcast

    In this episode of CAIO Connect, host Sanjay Puri speaks with Dr. Amarda Shehu, the inaugural Vice President and Chief AI Officer at George Mason University. Dr. Shehu’s story is one of resilience, intellect, and vision — from studying geometry by candlelight in Albania to leading one of America’s most comprehensive university-wide AI transformation strategies. She discusses the democratization of knowledge, AI literacy, and why "Humanity First" should be the guiding principle for AI leadership.  5 Key Takeaways  🔹 AI for All: How George Mason University is redefining AI education through accessible, non-technical courses that empower students from all disciplines.  🔹 Democratizing Knowledge: Why access and inclusivity in AI learning matter more than ever.  🔹 The Role of a Chief AI Officer: How academic institutions are shaping the blueprint for AI leadership across sectors.  🔹 Critical Thinking in the Age of AI: Why educators must design thoughtful integration of AI to enhance, not replace, human reasoning.  🔹 Building “Patriot AI”: How a secure, university-wide AI platform fosters safe experimentation and literacy among students, staff, and faculty.  If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from leaders redefining the role of AI in enterprise, government, and education.  🎧 Stay curious. Stay human.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amarda-shehu-167a569/

    36 min
  2. From ZotGPT to Agentic AI: Tom Andriola’s Blueprint for Enterprise AI Leadership | CAIO Connect Podcast

    NOV 4

    From ZotGPT to Agentic AI: Tom Andriola’s Blueprint for Enterprise AI Leadership | CAIO Connect Podcast

    In this episode of CAIO Connect, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Tom Andriola, former Vice Chancellor and Chief Digital Officer at UC Irvine and now at Dynatrace, to explore how universities and enterprises can scale AI responsibly. Tom—who led UC Irvine’s pioneering ZotGPT initiative—shares how he built one of the first university AI platforms in the U.S., branded business transformation, and prepared students for careers in the Age of AI. From agentic AI to the evolving role of the Chief AI Officer, this is a must-listen masterclass for leaders driving enterprise AI strategy.    5 Key Takeaways:  · Branding Transformation: Why business transformation initiatives should be branded like products to drive engagement and adoption.  · AI as a Coworker: How to build accountability and governance models for “silicon-based workers.”  · ROI & Outcomes: How to measure AI success through organizational outcomes—not just technical metrics.  · Edge, Leverage, and Trust: A framework for balancing central innovation with decentralized experimentation.  · The CAIO Mindset: Why Chief AI Officers must be bridge builders, translators, and transformation leaders—not just technologists.    If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to CAIO Connect for more insights from the world’s leading AI and digital transformation pioneers.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomandriola/

    44 min
  3. Abhishek Mittal: How Agentic AI Fights Financial Crime — Even with Imperfect Data

    OCT 28

    Abhishek Mittal: How Agentic AI Fights Financial Crime — Even with Imperfect Data

    In this episode of CAIO Connect, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Abhishek Mittal, EVP and Chief Product & AI Officer at AML RightSource, for a deep and engaging conversation on how AI is transforming the fight against financial crime.  From building AI systems that thrive on imperfect data to pioneering “digital FTEs,” Abhishek shares a pragmatic view of what it takes to make AI work in the real world — where innovation, governance, and human expertise come together to drive meaningful, enterprise-scale change.  💡 5 Key Takeaways:  🔹 AI with Imperfect Data: Why waiting for “perfect data” is a trap — and how to iterate your way to AI success.  🔹 Synthetic Data Evolution: How synthetic data is training smarter models and preparing them for unseen scenarios.  🔹 Financial Crime as a Global Issue: If financial crime were a country, it’d have the world’s 7th largest GDP — and AI could be its toughest opponent.  🔹 Digital FTEs & Agentic AI: How AI agents and human experts are working side by side to redefine efficiency and decision-making.  🔹 Innovation at Scale: Abhishek’s 5-step framework for turning bold ideas into commercial AI success.  If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights from global AI leaders shaping the future of enterprise transformation.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishek-mittal-7115348/

    36 min
  4. From Pilots to Platforms: Scaling AI Safely with Madalina Tanasie | CAIO Connect Podcast

    OCT 14

    From Pilots to Platforms: Scaling AI Safely with Madalina Tanasie | CAIO Connect Podcast

    In this episode of the CAIO Connect Podcast, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Madalina Tanasie, CTO of Collibra, to discuss the evolving role of data governance in the age of enterprise AI. From aligning C-level strategy to measuring ROI, exploring internal vs. external AI use cases, and diving deep into the rise of agentic AI, Madalina shares her unique perspective on building trustworthy and scalable AI solutions.  5 Key Takeaways  ⚖️ Balancing Speed and Safety: AI leaders must balance rapid innovation with responsible governance to win trust and scale effectively. 🏗️ Starting Small with AI: Early AI adoption should focus on low-risk internal use cases like code generation, operations automation, and knowledge management. 📊 Measuring ROI Realistically: Boards and executives should distinguish between AI prototypes and production-ready solutions when evaluating ROI. 🔒 Governance Is Essential: Frameworks like the EU AI Act and ISO standards are critical in moving from pilots to durable, governed AI products. 🤖 Agentic AI Opportunities & Risks: Agents can revolutionize workflows but raise new governance and compliance challenges that enterprises must manage carefully.   If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the CAIO Connect Podcast for more insights from AI leaders shaping the future.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/madalina-tanasie/

    35 min
  5. Is AI ROI a Myth or Reality? | Insights from Steve Wilson, Chief AI & Product Officer, Exabeam

    OCT 7

    Is AI ROI a Myth or Reality? | Insights from Steve Wilson, Chief AI & Product Officer, Exabeam

    In this episode of the CAIO Connect Podcast, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Steve Wilson, Chief AI & Product Officer at Exabeam — a tech leader whose career spans from helping shape Java in its early days to driving AI-powered innovation in cybersecurity today.  Steve shares his incredible journey at the intersection of AI, security, and leadership, and breaks down what it really takes to build secure, responsible, and ROI-driven AI systems in the enterprise.  💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:  1️⃣ Why most AI projects fail — and how to avoid the “AI theatre trap.”  2️⃣ How to balance horizontal AI use cases (for everyone) vs vertical AI applications (for real business impact).  3️⃣ The right way to govern AI — shifting from “human-in-the-loop” to “human-on-the-loop.”  4️⃣ Why AI agents should be managed like junior engineers (and even treated as potential insider threats!).  5️⃣ The future of enterprise AI — from replacing old interfaces to integrating deeply with tools like Salesforce, SharePoint, and beyond.  If you’re an AI leader, C-suite executive, or tech innovator looking to make AI work safely and strategically inside your organization, this episode is a must-watch.  👇 Don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to the CAIO Connect Podcast for more conversations with the visionaries shaping the future of AI.  #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIPodcast   Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsonsd/

    45 min
  6. Scaling AI in Health Systems: Lessons from Mount Sinai with Dr. Girish Nadkarni | CAIO Connect Podcast

    SEP 30

    Scaling AI in Health Systems: Lessons from Mount Sinai with Dr. Girish Nadkarni | CAIO Connect Podcast

    On this episode of the CIO Podcast, Sanjay Puri interviews Dr. Girish Nadkarni, Chief AI Officer at Mount Sinai Health System, to explore the blueprint for enterprise AI in healthcare.  Highlights include:  From serendipity to leadership: Dr. Nadkarni’s journey from India to Mount Sinai What a “learning health system” really means—and why it matters The ROI challenge in healthcare AI (beyond dollars) Balancing innovation and risk in AI governance Why end-user inclusion is the secret to scaling AI adoption Future tech: graph learning, agentic AI, and small language models 🎯 A must-watch for AI leaders, healthcare executives, and enterprise innovators.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/girish-nadkarni-653b0564

    49 min
  7. How California's Chief Digital Transformation Officer Ajay Gupta Built the World's Most Advanced Mobile Driver's License Program Using AI

    SEP 12

    How California's Chief Digital Transformation Officer Ajay Gupta Built the World's Most Advanced Mobile Driver's License Program Using AI

    Join host Sanjay Puri in this groundbreaking episode of the CAIO Connect Podcast as he sits down with Ajay Gupta, Chief Digital Transformation Officer for the State of California. Discover how one visionary leader is revolutionizing government services for 40 million Californians through cutting-edge AI implementation.  Key Highlights:  How California built the nation's most advanced mobile driver's license program with cryptographic security AI-powered fraud detection systems that process millions of identity verifications Real-world implementation of agentic AI in government customer service Reducing specialized license plate approval backlogs from 8 months to zero using LLMs Balancing innovation with equity, accessibility, and responsible AI governance Public-private partnerships that attract top AI talent to government work Explainable AI solutions that provide legal defensibility for government decisions The economics of government AI: measuring ROI across different service channels.   Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gajay    ⏱️ Timestamps:  0:00 Podcast Highlights & Introduction  5:00 Ajay's transition from the private sector to government   11:33 Ajay's "aha moment" with GenAI and his balanced approach   15:36 The California Mobile Driver's License (mDL) Program   21:41 Stress testing AI models for a diverse population   25:42 Using AI for specialized license plate approvals   33:41 Identifying the right AI use cases in government   36:11 Measuring success and ROI of AI initiatives   40:25 Defining and implementing agentic AI   46:23 The role of agentic AI in government services   50:13 Implementing guardrails and governance for AI   55:01 Evaluating new AI models and benchmarks   57:09 Attracting and retaining AI talent in the public sector   1:03:02 The key to California's innovation and what sets it apart   1:06:39 Lightning Round of Questions   1:08:30 Conclusion and farewell

    1h 6m
  8. Dr. Bijoy Sagar on Leading Bayer’s Global AI-First Transformation in Pharma & Agriculture | CAIO Connect Podcast

    SEP 8

    Dr. Bijoy Sagar on Leading Bayer’s Global AI-First Transformation in Pharma & Agriculture | CAIO Connect Podcast

    In this episode of the CAIO Connect Podcast, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Dr. Bijoy Sagar, Chief Information & Digital Transformation Officer at Bayer, to explore how one of the world’s most iconic life sciences companies is reimagining itself with AI.  What you’ll learn:  How Bayer launched MyGenAssist, a secure GenAI platform for 50,000+ employees. Why pharma & agriculture are ideal testbeds for AI innovation. The rise of agentic AI – shifting from tools to enterprise-wide decision velocity. Balancing compliance, governance, and innovation in highly regulated industries. The future of synthetic data, quantum compute, and digital twins in life sciences. 👉 Watch now to hear how Bayer is driving “Health for All, Hunger for None” with AI-first strategies.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijoysagar/    ⏱️ Timestamps:  0:00 Podcast Highlights & Introduction   1:36 Why pharma and agriculture are ideal for AI   4:34 Bijoy’s "aha moment" with Gen AI   6:49 AI as a driver of decision velocity   10:03 Convincing the board and the bottom-up approach to Gen AI adoption  13:20 Differentiating between Gen AI and agentic AI use cases   17:43 The role of AI agents in life sciences and the concept of "transition points"   21:45 Defining AI agents: autonomous decisions and outcome-driven goals   26:13 Model selection and the importance of compute and token optimization   28:57 Rethinking the intranet as a living AI interface   33:56 Balancing AI innovation with regulatory compliance   37:16 Protecting data and the ethical use of black-box models   40:17 The future of synthetic data, digital twins, and a hybrid approach   47:50 The role of TPU accelerated compute in scientific innovation   50:25 The war for AI talent and attracting mission-driven employees   53:46 The importance of diversity in AI development and addressing the digital divide   59:18 AI's role in sustainability and food security   1:01:55 The importance of C-suite and board support for AI transformation   1:04:18 Lightning Round of Questions   1:06:09 Key advice for peers: be prepared to be wrong   1:07:16 Conclusion and farewell

    1h 10m
See All (47)

Ratings & Reviews

About

The CAIO Connect Podcast with Sanjay Puri Join tech entrepreneur, AI expert, and mentor Sanjay Puri as he delves into the world of AI leadership. Each episode unravels the challenges and triumphs faced by Chief AI Officers and dynamic founders, sharing insightful stories and experiences. Discover how these leaders attract top talent and drive innovation in AI and emerging technologies. Tune in for vibrant conversations that explore the future of AI, showcase exciting company endeavors, and inspire potential hires. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a tech professional, or someone curious about the future, this podcast is your gateway to the forefront of AI leadership.

Information