Best MIT Technology Review Insights Podcasts (2025)

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Fighting forever chemicals and startup fatigue 18:05

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4M ago18:05

18:05

What if we could permanently remove the toxic “forever chemicals” contaminating our water? That’s the driving force behind Michigan-based startup Enspired Solutions, founded by environmental toxicologist Denise Kay and chemical engineer Meng Wang. The duo left corporate consulting in the rearview mirror to take on one of the most pervasive environm…

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Building community and clean air solutions 15:06

4M ago15:06

15:06

When Darren Riley moved to Detroit seven years ago, he didn’t expect the city’s air to change his life—literally. Developing asthma as an adult opened his eyes to a much larger problem: the invisible but pervasive impact of air pollution on the health of marginalized communities. “I was fascinated on why don't we have the data that we need,” Riley …

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Building an innovation ecosystem for the next century 26:29

5M ago26:29

26:29

Michigan may be best known as the birthplace of the American auto industry, but its innovation legacy runs far deeper, and its future is poised to be even broader. From creating the world’s largest airport factory during World War II at Willow Run to establishing the first successful polio vaccine trials in Ann Arbor to the invention of the snowboa…

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Building customer-centric convenience 27:35

6M ago27:35

27:35

In the U.S., two-thirds of the country’s 150,000 convenience stores are run by independent operators. Mom-and-pop shops, powered by personal relationships and local knowledge, are the backbone of the convenience sector. These neighborhood operators have long lacked the resources needed to compete with larger chains when it comes to technology, oper…

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Fueling the future of digital transformation 38:07

11M ago38:07

38:07

Our topic today is digital transformation, from back office operations to infrastructure in the field like oil rigs, companies continue to look for ways to increase profit, meet sustainability goals, and invest in the latest and greatest technology. Two words for you: enabling innovation. My guest is Luis Niño, who is the digital manager of technol…

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Cloud transformation clears businesses for digital takeoff 28:19

1y ago28:19

28:19

In an age where customer experience can make or break a business, Cathay Pacific is embracing cloud transformation to enhance service delivery and revolutionize operations from the inside out. It's not just technology companies that are facing pressure to deliver better customer service, do more with data, and improve agility. An almost 80-year-old…

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Transforming the energy industry through disruptive innovation 22:46

1+ y ago22:46

22:46

Our topic today is disruptive innovation in the energy industry and beyond. We use energy every day. It powers our homes, buildings, economies, and lifestyles, but where it came from or how our use affects the global energy ecosystem is changing, and our energy ecosystem needs to change with it. My guest is Nadège Petit, the chief innovation office…

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Purpose-built AI builds better customer experiences 24:27

1+ y ago24:27

24:27

Successfully improving customer satisfaction through AI means becoming data-driven, prioritizing employee feedback and resources, and letting business goals guide technology deployment, says senior product marketing manager at NICE, Michele Carlson.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Scaling customer experiences with data and AI 28:40

1+ y ago28:40

28:40

Integrating data and AI solutions throughout the customer experience journey can enable enterprises to become predictive and proactive, says vice president of product marketing at NICE, Andy Traba.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Conversational AI revolutionizes the customer experience landscape 23:10

2y ago23:10

23:10

AI can create seamless customer and employee experiences but it’s important to balance automation and human touch, says head of marketing, digital & AI at NICE, Elizabeth Tobey.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Data at the center of business 22:03

2y ago22:03

22:03

Operationalizing data allows enterprises to optimize decision-making, deliver growth, and improve customer experiences, according to Mark Birkhead, firmwide chief data officer at JPMorgan Chase.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Providing the right products at the right time with machine learning 29:01

2y ago29:01

29:01

Amid shifting customer needs, CPG enterprises look to machine learning to bolster their data strategy, says global head of MLOps and platforms at Kraft Heinz Company, Jorge Balestra.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Building innovation with blockchain 20:51

2y ago20:51

20:51

Deploying blockchain technology can bolster innovation and create a more secure way to bank, according to Suresh Shetty, the CTO at Onyx by JP Morgan at JPMorgan Chase.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Start with data to build a better supply chain 20:32

2y ago20:32

20:32

Successful digital transformation starts with the right team, an agile mentality, and a strong data foundation, says global digital solutions manager of procurement and supply chain at bp, Raimundo Martinez.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Deploying high-performance, energy-efficient AI 29:09

2y ago29:09

29:09

Investments into downsized infrastructure can help enterprises reap the benefits of AI while mitigating energy consumption, says corporate VP and GM of data center platform engineering and architecture at Intel, Zane Ball.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Developing climate solutions with green software 26:12

2y ago26:12

26:12

Deploying sustainable software practices can reduce emissions and infuse greater efficiency, resiliency, and cost-effectiveness.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Augmenting the realities of work 26:43

2y ago26:43

26:43

Immersive AR/VR technologies can add greater value across workplaces and customer interactions, according to global head of Immersive Technology Research at JPMorgan Chase, Blair MacIntyre.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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The power of green computing 31:55

2y ago31:55

31:55

Sustainable computing practices have the power to both infuse operational efficiencies and greatly reduce energy consumption, says Jen Huffstetler, chief product sustainability officer at Intel.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Enabling enterprise growth with data intelligence 24:00

2y ago24:00

24:00

Data — how it’s stored and managed — has become a key competitive differentiator. As global data continues to grow exponentially, organizations face many hurdles between piling up historical data, real-time data streams from IoT sensors, and building data-driven supply chains. Senior vice president of product engineering at Hitachi Vantara, Bharti …

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Decarbonizing your data strategy 30:00

2y ago30:00

30:00

The road to decarbonization is daunting, especially while trying to keep pace with innovation. According to the director of data platform product marketing at Hitachi Vantara, Ian Clatworthy, companies need to take their own initiative when it comes to sustainability measures and just start somewhere.…

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Using data, AI, and cloud to transform real estate 17:52

2y ago17:52

17:52

AI can enable business transformation to deliver positive outcomes and propel sustainability goals. Delivering the best outcomes means optimizing operations and forging clear digital strategies for business transformation that are focused on resolving client and business challenges.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Optimizing platforms offers customers and stakeholders a better way to bank 29:33

2y ago29:33

29:33

Implementing strong working methodologies, cost-efficient cloud migrations, and emerging AI and machine learning tools build better experiences at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Migrating to the cloud transforms business 29:08

2y ago29:08

29:08

In 2017, BP took on a cloud-first approach that committed to building any new hardware or system builds on the cloud. Just a year prior, only 2% of BP applications lived on the cloud. At the close of 2022, 90% of BP applications had migrated to cloud environments, changing product and service integration and BP’s overall digital operating model. Cl…

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Good governance essential for enterprises deploying AI 28:22

2+ y ago28:22

28:22

Building fair and transparent systems with artificial intelligence has become an imperative for enterprises. AI can help enterprises create personalized customer experiences, streamline back-office operations from onboarding documents to internal training, prevent fraud, and automate compliance processes. But deploying intricate AI ecosystems with …

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Transforming business begins with IT 36:07

2+ y ago36:07

36:07

From securing a hybrid workforce to building pipelines for ever-increasing data streams and keeping multiple mission-critical systems up and running, the modern IT department faces numerous pressures. As director of IT for the packaged food company Conagra, Amit Khot is optimistic about the ways modern technology solutions and infrastructure can en…

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A human-centric approach to adopting AI 43:20

2+ y ago43:20

43:20

From traditional manufacturing companies using AI in robots to build smart factories to tech startups developing automated customer service and chatbots, AI is becoming pervasive across industries. “AI is no longer just in assistant mode, but is now playing autonomous roles in robotics, driving, knowledge generation, simulating our hands, feet, and…

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The UAE’s transition to a net-zero future 29:27

2+ y ago29:27

29:27

As the impacts of climate change like desertification, biodiversity loss, pollution, and severe weather persist, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is approaching the green transition and decarbonization with a great sense of urgency. Between its ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement, its $160 billion investment in renewables over the next 30 years,…

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Seizing "a watershed moment" for enterprise sustainability efforts 27:05

2+ y ago27:05

27:05

Commitments toward sustainability have become a greater priority in recent years as enterprises look to comply with environmental, social, and governance standards. However, many enterprises are finding that meeting sustainability goals not only aligns with compliance but also offers opportunities to drive new value, growth, and revenue streams. “J…

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Enabling the next iteration of the internet: The metaverse 34:42

2+ y ago34:42

34:42

As real and virtual worlds continue to overlap, customers are drawn in by the metaverse and its potential of highly functional and immersive environments. Conceptions of the metaverse may seem fanciful, but the metaverse promises to be the next revolution of the internet, says Denise Zheng, managing director for the Metaverse Continuum Business Gro…

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Making the world a data-driven place with the cloud 26:29

2+ y ago26:29

26:29

As businesses look to get the greatest value from their data, investments in cloud infrastructure from customer relationship management (CRM) systems to email to points of sale can help make data more accessible and bolster innovation, says PwC principal in the analytics insights practice, Anil Nagaraj and Microsoft director of product management A…

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Digital simulations open up real-world possibilities 27:00

2+ y ago27:00

27:00

Building a better train doesn’t end with delivering the railcars. When Siemens was asked to improve train reliability, the company added sensors and built digital models that could predict the need for door maintenance 10 days before a door actually got stuck—allowing mechanics to prevent delays before they happened. Peter Koerte, chief technology …

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Technology and industry convergence: A historic opportunity 55:27

2+ y ago55:27

55:27

When seemingly disparate fields, industries, and ways of thinking merge, a convergence happens, which, has the power to build more intuitive and advanced futures for both organizations and the everyday consumer, says Accenture communications, media and technology industry group chair, Kathleen O’Reilly and Daniela Rus, Director of the MIT Computer …

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Fostering innovation through a culture of curiosity 34:39

2+ y ago34:39

34:39

Making the IT mindset shift from simply offering a technical service to offering an outcome can be a challenge. It’s the difference between offering a customer a laptop and offering them the tools to create a workplace environment that empowers productivity, says Art Hu, Lenovo’s senior vice president and global chief information officer. Once IT t…

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Building the future of banking 20:24

2+ y ago20:24

20:24

Across industries, technology transformation is a necessity for businesses looking to ensure longevity and remain competitive. But how can a global finance or health care company use technology to create value for its employees and customers at scale? For large-scale technology transformations, laying the right foundation is the key to ensuring suc…

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Entering the software economy 25:29

3y ago25:29

25:29

The acceleration of digital transformation and speed of customer demands is turning almost every business into a technology business. Creating, using, or selling technology is now a critical part of every enterprise. But how do companies add emerging technologies and innovations? Many companies looking to enter the software economy, the ecosystem o…

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Out with the old and in with the "new IT" 38:58

3y ago38:58

38:58

Episode notes and transcript can be found here.By MIT Technology Review Insights

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Modernizing IT Helps Enterprises Do More with Less 25:44

3y ago25:44

25:44

The World Bank Group has a massive mission to “help developing countries escape poverty and share prosperity,” says Vijay Yellai, program manager for enterprise resource planning transformation at the World Bank Group. For example, it provides an wide array of financial products and technical know-how in a complex and ever-changing global setting. …

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Feeding the World by AI, Machine Learning, and the Cloud 25:41

3y ago25:41

25:41

Although the world population has continued to steadily increase, farming practices have largely remained the same. Amid this growth, climate change poses great challenges to the agricultural industry and its capacity to feed the world sustainably. According to the World Bank, 70% of the world’s fresh water is used in agriculture and droughts and h…

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AI and Data Fuel Innovation in Clinical Trials and Beyond 28:06

3y ago28:06

28:06

The last five years have seen large innovations throughout drug development and clinical trial life cycles—from finding a target and designing the trial, to getting a drug approved and launching the drug itself. The recent use of mRNA vaccines to combat covid-19 is just one of many advances in biotech and drug development. Whether in preclinical st…

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Building a Culture of Innovation in Research and Development 42:05

3y ago42:05

42:05

Memory and storage solutions for technology are built into our everyday life, from mobile applications, cars, health-care systems, and more. To meet that need and help propel innovation, Micron Technology said it would invest $150 billion into research and development to build factories for its semiconductor memory chips. This investment looks to e…

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Maximize Data Outcomes by Investing in People and Systems 25:07

3y ago25:07

25:07

In any enterprise, digital transformation is not only a technology transformation but enables business transformation itself, driving new products, solutions and innovations. Having an efficient data strategy is critical to any successful digital transformation but requires careful investment into both people and systems. “To achieve that goal, ava…

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Building great digital customer experiences with agile infrastructure 22:10

3y ago22:10

22:10

As more business, shopping, and banking is done online and from, well, anywhere, customers increasingly expect high-quality digital-first services that remove the need to go into a physical store or bank. “People were working from home, shopping from home, banking from home, and are more tech and digital savvy than ever,” says Mike Dargan, group ch…

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Using Technology to Power the Future of Banking 31:35

3+ y ago31:35

31:35

A heritage financial services institution isn’t necessarily the first place a technologist looks to grow their career. But that hasn’t been a problem for JPMorgan Chase, which has made itself an appealing career destination for technologists. “Technology is not an afterthought,” says Gill Haus, chief information officer of consumer and community ba…

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Building Tomorrow’s Telecommunications Network Today 26:19

3+ y ago26:19

26:19

The current 5G evolution in network connectivity is expected to drive unprecedented demands for bandwidth, reliability, and security. However, a network of this magnitude and robustness doesn’t pop up overnight and enterprises and consumers are just beginning to realize the myriad use cases a 5G network can support. For example, consider the increa…

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Building the Necessary Skills for Digital Transformation 26:27

3+ y ago26:27

26:27

The skills and capabilities needed to undergo digital transformation are in high demand as every company jockeys to gain a competitive advantage. To address the skills gap, some companies are prioritizing upskilling and reskilling. But to be effective, learning and development itself must undergo a transformation. According to Daniela Proust, globa…

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Embracing Culture Change on the Path to Digital Transformation 22:04

3+ y ago22:04

22:04

Like many banks, National Australia Bank (NAB) decided to outsource a large part of its operations in the 1990s. “We pushed all our operations and a large part of our development capability out to third parties with the intent of lowering costs and making our operations far more process driven,” says Steve Day, the chief technology officer of enter…

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Mapping the Atmosphere on Mars Can Help Advance Science on Our Own Planet 17:21

3+ y ago17:21

17:21

With its Emirates Mars Mission, also known as the Hope Probe, the UAE has established itself as only the fifth country in history to reach Mars and the seventh in the world to reach the orbit of another planet. The UAE’s first mission to Mars, Hope’s goal is to provide the first, complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers to help sci…

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Technology and Innovation Transform Farming 26:13

3+ y ago26:13

26:13

In many areas of the world, environmental conditions are not conducive to traditional farming. As a result, these countries are food dependent. They rely on imported food, which is subject to supply chain issues and nutrient loss during transportation. A company in the United Arab Emirates called Smart Acres is looking to change all that through hy…

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Applying Laser Technology to Humanity’s Challenges 23:08

3+ y ago23:08

23:08

For many people, the concept of directed energy, or lasers, conjures images of lightsabers and bank vault security systems—the stuff of Hollywood movies. However, the fact is, lasers are commonly used in everyday life applications, from surgery to optical communications. At Technology Innovation Institute’s (TII) Directed Energy Research Center (DE…

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Scientists Advance Cloud Seeding Capabilities with Nanotechnology 18:35

3+ y ago18:35

18:35

Since the 1940s scientists have studied ways to increase rainfall with the goal of increasing precipitation in arid and semi-arid climates. Today, that endeavor is making incredible leaps and bounds as scientists and engineers apply nanotechnology to improve the effectiveness of cloud seeding. “The global water shortage has continuously intensified…