Getting real with AI - #26 with Kieran Gilmurray and Olivier Gomez

Episode #26 of The Only Constant is out now - and it is the first ever two guest episode with Kieran Gilmurray and Olivier Gomez (????) joining me for a talk on AI, technology, change, hype and more on the backdrop of their recent book launch "The A-Z of Generative AI". Having known both guys for a long time, and relishing the opportunity to get them both in a (podcast) room with me for a deep talk, this episode is filled with no-nonsense insights, a spririted discussion and lots of good humour.

Read more about Kieran and Olivier at the bottom of this newsletter.

As always, I am very happy that we once again managed to make an episode that explores more than it explains ??

Listen to the episode here:

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What made this episode special to me?:

Both Olivier and Kieran belong to a core group of the nicest people on LinkedIn. I have had numerous good chats with both over the years, and these are never just the single-sided whats-in-it-for-me chats, but genuine explorative and personal chats. And I cherish that a lot - to combine both the topical chat with a personal one makes any exchange human and that, after all, is what we are.

Our podcast episode is is thus a warm and deep discussion on the very real (and hyped up) change we are all experiencing at the moment. Filled with personal anecdotes, industry experience and insights and bullshit busting quotes.

The podcast episode also gains a lot of strenght from being recorded after their book launch. This means that not only can you listen to the two brilliant gentlemen on the podcast, but also continue exploring with them by grabbing a copy of their book. I am happy to support them and their book, and extremely grateful they both decided to join me for this episode of The Only Constant.

My key post-recording deliberations are:

• Olivier's final comment, that technology innovation needs us to re-baseline, reminds me of the episode with Yariv, where his final note resembled it - we are in a new game with new commoditized technology and we need to understand that. However, Olivier's note was different, pointing more toward a point made by Steven in episode 2: that we need new generations to embrace new technology right. Tech change really is happening faster than generational change can absorb, and this will likely only split us even more in different generational camps in the future. Feeling like a boomer at 40 will be feeling like a boomer at 30 soon...
• Novel technology will always be hyped, as Kieran mentions in the episode. How should it else gain traction and adoption? But as Olivier also points out, this is even more true for a "human" technology like generative AI - we can talk with it like we never could with a blockchain. Remember RPA? It boomed also because it could move the mouse - while we all knew that what it did was drive UI integrations that might not always be the best solution. We like human technology more than anything - and this should be comforting if it wasn't so uncanny as well.
• The more complex technology becomes, the more estranged we get. Both gentlemen opposed my views here, but I actually liked this perspective and still do because it brings me something else: Kant wrote "Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one’s own understanding without another’s guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one’s own mind without another’s guidance. Dare to know! (Sapere aude.) “Have the courage to use your own understanding,” is therefore the motto of the enlightenment." How does this quote reflect on a world where we cannot make decisions without a machine to guide us? And where that machine is too complex for us to understand.

This is a brilliant episode and a great first one with two guests. I hope you enjoy the exchange with these two gentlemen - please share your comments below.

About Kieran Gilmurray :

Kieran Gilmurray is an internationally renowned expert in AI, Automation, GenAI and Digital Transformation with 30 years of experience. His work has generated over $200 million in value for businesses, and he's known for providing actionable strategies to help organisations thrive in the digital world. Consistently ranked among top global experts in his field, Gilmurray delivers keynotes worldwide and advises some of the world's largest companies.

His expertise has earned him recognition in prestigious lists, including the Top 14 People to Follow in Data (2023) and the World's Top 200 Business and Technology Innovators. Gilmurray has held leadership roles in FTSE 100 companies, focusing on global AI and intelligent automation implementation.Academically accomplished, Gilmurray holds an MBA with distinction and multiple advanced degrees in computer science, business and related fields.

He's also the author of two practical books on AI and digital transformation: "The A-Z of GenAI" and "The A-Z of Digital Transformation," which break down complex technical concepts for business professionals.?

About Olivier Gomez (????) :?

Olivier Gomez is a recognised global authority and pioneer in the field of Automation and AI. He is an award-winning expert, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, influencer, author and thought leader. ?

As a senior executive with 25+ years of experience in that field, he is used to leading large scale digital transformations with strong ROI for fortune 2000. Overall, he has delivered an impressive +100 million dollars bottom line improvement for the last 10 years. ?

With his knowledge and understanding of the AI and Automation products and services market, Olivier has led the development of very large products and solutions.

Olivier scaled and ran one of the largest intelligent automation footprints in the world (6,000+ unique bots) which gives him a very good grasp of all operational aspects as well. ?

Furthermore, he is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, MIT Tech Review Global Panellist, Gartner Peer Community Ambassador, LinkedIn Top Voice.?With a network of more than 50,000 industry experts/execs, he is well connected to the latest evolution of that industry. ? ?