Best Dave Sobel Podcasts (2025)

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AI Use Surges Beyond Guardrails: IT Leaders Face Challenges Amid Shadow AI and New Models 18:08

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16h ago18:08

18:08

New research indicates that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding beyond established guidelines, with significant implications for IT leadership and security. A study from UpGuard reveals that over 80% of employees in sectors like finance and healthcare are utilizing unauthorized AI tools, often referred to as shadow AI. This trend r…

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Episode 214 - Bitcoin's Relevance, Cybersecurity's Future in Private Sector, and Innovation Outpacing Adoption 30:51

1d ago30:51

30:51

Topic 1: Is there a valid reason for Bitcoin to exist? You can now use Venmo (a subsidiary of PayPal) to pay for your tacos at Taco Bell. This is just the latest addition (see Apple Pay and Google Pay). Cash App is available indirectly as a card through Apple Pay and Google Pay. E-payments are expanding all the time. We can move money to relatives …

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U.S. Cyber Defense Weakens as CISA Faces Cuts; EU Eases GDPR for AI; UK Tightens Cybersecurity Laws 15:15

1d ago15:15

15:15

The expiration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) on September 30, 2025, has resulted in a notable decline in U.S. cyber defense capabilities, with a reported drop of over 70% in the sharing of threat indicators. This lapse has created a legal and operational vacuum, leading to increased delays in alert dissemination and a rise in …

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AI Adoption Soars: ChatGPT & CoPilot Lead, Trust Issues Persist, and China's KimiK2 Emerges 16:00

3d ago16:00

16:00

ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot are leading the enterprise AI adoption race, with 67% and 58% of businesses utilizing these tools, respectively, according to a study by the Wharton Human AI Research Program. This trend highlights a significant gap between these dominant players and competitors like Claude, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, which have much lo…

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Job Market Slows Amid Layoffs; Trust in AI Grows Despite Governance Gaps and SMBs Seek Performance 17:31

4d ago17:31

17:31

The U.S. job market is experiencing a gradual slowdown, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.36% in October 2025, according to estimates from the Chicago Federal Reserve. Despite an increase in layoff announcements, initial unemployment claims remain low at 229,000, indicating some stability. Major companies like Amazon, UPS, and Target have anno…

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Navigating MSP Growth: Compliance, Workflow Automation, and Co-Managed IT Insights with Brentley Pearce 22:06

5d ago22:06

22:06

Brantley Pearce, Chief Technology Officer at RJ Young, discussed the integration of IT services, workflow automation, and workplace technology within the managed services sector. RJ Young, a 70-year-old organization with approximately 700 employees, has been providing managed services since 2012 and has seen significant growth, now generating $12 b…

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AI Adoption Grows, But SMBs Struggle with Readiness and ROI Amid Platform Inshittification 43:36

6d ago43:36

43:36

AI adoption is accelerating among small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), with 87% of executives believing it will transform their operations within a year. However, only 29% feel their teams are prepared to implement AI effectively. This gap highlights a significant challenge for organizations that have invested in AI without seeing tangible return…

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ConnectWise Enhances ASIO, ESET Integrates AI, OpenAI Hits 1M Customers, Trust as a KPI? 16:15

7d ago16:15

16:15

ConnectWise has announced enhancements to its Ozzio platform, which now includes expanded third-party patching for over 7,000 applications, improvements to the professional services automation (PSA) user experience, and advanced robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities. These updates aim to address security vulnerabilities in widely exploited …

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Amazon's Legal Battle with Perplexity AI, Microsoft’s AI Agent Flaws, and Netrix's Ricoh Acquisition 15:19

8d ago15:19

15:19

Amazon has initiated legal action against Perplexity AI, alleging that the startup's AI browser improperly accesses Amazon customer accounts by mimicking human browsing behavior. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, raises concerns about security risks associated with Perplexity's Comet browser. Ama…

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AI Hype vs. Reality: Cybersecurity Threats Rise, MIT Study Withdrawn, and CMMC Compliance Looms 15:16

9d ago15:16

15:16

The Pentagon is preparing to enforce the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements for small businesses, with compliance becoming mandatory in contracts starting November 10, 2025. Nearly 500 organizations have already achieved Level 2 certification, and the Defense Department is actively surveying small businesses to assess th…

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MSP Market Surges to $300B, AI Struggles to Scale, and New Tools Transform Business Operations 14:34

10d ago14:34

14:34

The managed service provider (MSP) market has surpassed $305 billion and is projected to reach $571 billion by 2033, indicating a strong trend toward consolidation within the sector. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, there were 92 announced mergers and acquisitions, as companies aim to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities and automate operat…

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AI Spending Surges to $300B; Small Business Sales Rise 8% Amid Inflation and Tariff Pressures 14:35

11d ago14:35

14:35

AI infrastructure spending is rapidly increasing, with major technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon projected to invest over $300 billion by the end of 2025. This surge is primarily driven by the demand for data centers and GPU capacity to support artificial intelligence initiatives. While the Federal Reserve indicates that curr…

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Tax Code Changes: How MSPs Can Benefit from Bonus Depreciation and R&D Credits with Andrew Jordan 17:30

12d ago17:30

17:30

Andrew Jordan, a CPA specializing in IT services and managed service providers (MSPs), discusses the implications of recent tax code changes for MSPs. The new legislation, referred to as the "big, beautiful bill," has introduced significant modifications, including the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation. This allows MSPs to write off the full…

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How Agentic AI is Revolutionizing Managed Services: Insights from Industry Experts 39:25

13d ago39:25

39:25

Agentic AI is emerging as a significant force in the managed services sector, with the potential to automate up to 80% of routine tasks. Howard M. Cohen and Karl Palachuk, both seasoned experts in the IT partner ecosystem, discussed the current confusion among Managed Service Providers (MSPs) regarding the application and benefits of agentic AI. Th…

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MSP Industry Shifts: AI Investments Rise, Flamingo Challenges RMM Costs, and Accountability Looms 13:23

14d ago13:23

13:23

The 2025 State of the MSP Report from TechPartners reveals a rapidly evolving managed service provider (MSP) industry, with nearly half of surveyed MSPs reporting revenues below $5 million. This indicates a market ripe for consolidation, as 60% of MSPs express interest in acquiring other firms while 28% are open to being acquired. The report highli…

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From Theory to Practice: Quantum Computing's Impact on Security and Business by 2035 14:12

15d ago14:12

14:12

Recent advancements in quantum computing are pushing the technology closer to practical application, with companies like Google, IBM, and ICONIC making significant strides in stabilizing quantum systems. This progress poses risks to current encryption methods, as traditional security measures may become obsolete due to quantum capabilities. The Nat…

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OpenAI Goes For-Profit, New AI Security Threats Emerge, and Microsoft 365 Copilot Expands Features 13:10

16d ago13:10

13:10

OpenAI has officially transitioned to a for-profit corporation, a move approved by Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings. This restructuring allows OpenAI to raise capital more effectively while maintaining oversight from its original non-profit entity. Microsoft now holds a 27% stake in the new structure, valued at over $100 billion, and OpenAI…

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AI Assistants Mislead Users, Wikipedia Traffic Drops, and New Co-Pilots Enhance Collaboration 16:07

17d ago16:07

16:07

AI assistants are currently misrepresenting news content 45% of the time, according to a study by the European Broadcasting Union. This research, which evaluated 3,000 responses from popular AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Google Gemini, revealed that 31% of responses had serious sourcing issues, while 30% contained inaccuracies. Notably, Google…

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Small Business Confidence Dips Amid Inflation; IT Spending to Exceed $6 Trillion by 2026 12:59

18d ago12:59

12:59

Small business confidence has declined as inflation concerns rise, with 71% of owners expressing worries about ongoing price increases, according to the latest CNBC SurveyMonkey Small Business Index. This marks an increase from 66% in the previous quarter, indicating a cautious approach to spending among small business owners. The report highlights…

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Transforming Small Business Marketing: Thrive's AI-Driven SaaS Strategy for Growth 20:33

19d ago20:33

20:33

In this episode of The Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel engages in a conversation with Tammy Cannizzaro, the Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive, a company with over a century of experience that has transitioned from selling Yellow Pages ads to providing a comprehensive SaaS-enabled marketing solution for small businesses. Tammy outlines Thrive's mi…

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AI's Role in Empowering Skilled Workers, Cybersecurity as Core for MSPs, and SMBs' Readiness 41:39

20d ago41:39

41:39

The podcast episode explores three significant shifts impacting the managed service provider (MSP) and technology landscape. The first topic centers on the ongoing debate regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in empowering non-skilled workers versus enhancing the capabilities of skilled professionals. The discussion highlights the cur…

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AI Readiness Gap: Executives Confident, Workers Struggling Amid Federal Shutdown and Scope Creep 15:53

21d ago15:53

15:53

Executives are increasingly optimistic about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform their organizations, with 87% believing it will fundamentally change their business within a year. However, a significant gap exists between this optimism and the readiness of their workforce, as only 29% of executives feel their teams possess th…

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U.S. Cybersecurity Cuts, AI Breach Surge, and Small Business Optimism Plummets Amid Automation 14:20

22d ago14:20

14:20

U.S. federal cybersecurity policy has regressed by approximately 13%, according to a report from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission 2.0. This decline is attributed to budget cuts and workforce reductions at key agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the State Department's Cyber Diplomacy Staff. The repor…

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OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas Launches, TeamViewer Integrates with Salesforce, and Serval Raises $47M 13:58

23d ago13:58

13:58

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser designed to compete with Google in the realm of online information searches. Initially available on macOS, the browser will soon expand to Windows, iOS, and Android, offering free access to all users at launch. The integration of core ChatGPT functionalities allows users to interact directly …

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SMBs Boost Cybersecurity Spending but Lack Readiness; AWS Outage Highlights Knowledge Loss 14:20

24d ago14:20

14:20

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are significantly increasing their spending on cybersecurity solutions, with managed detection and response (MDR) and network detection and response (NDR) expected to grow by 107% and 118%, respectively. However, despite this financial commitment, a recent study reveals that 83% of SMBs do not conduct formal…

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Windows 11's AI Features, Salesforce's New IT Service, and Office 2016/2019 Sunset 16:07

25d ago16:07

16:07

Microsoft is significantly enhancing Windows 11 by integrating artificial intelligence capabilities, transforming the PC experience into what the company calls the "AI PC." This new initiative allows users to interact with their computers using voice commands through a feature called CoPilot. With functionalities like CoPilot Actions, users can del…

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AI's Impact on Human Agency: Navigating Governance, Ethics, and Productivity in Tech with Jacob Ward 26:45

26d ago26:45

26:45

Jacob Ward, a technology journalist and author, delves into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), human behavior, and social change. He shares insights from his extensive experience in technology journalism, including his time as editor-in-chief of Popular Science and a correspondent for NBC News. Ward emphasizes the concer…

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AI Adoption Stalls: MSPs Shift to Workflow Solutions Amid Vendor Consolidation and New Funding Models 41:37

27d ago41:37

41:37

The podcast discusses the current state of AI adoption among Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and the challenges they face in delivering measurable results to clients. Despite significant investments in AI, many enterprises report no new revenue from these technologies, leading to a growing skepticism about their practical value. MSPs are now under…

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Hybrid Work Evolves: AI Boosts Productivity, But Young Workers Face Job Declines 15:43

28d ago15:43

15:43

Hybrid work is evolving into a strategic approach for organizations, rather than disappearing. Recent data indicates that 43% of small and mid-sized businesses offered hybrid work options in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting a slight decrease but still underscoring its significance in the modern workplace. Companies are focusing on enhancing th…

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F5 Security Breach Prompts CISA Action, NIST AI Risks, SMBs Must Adapt, Apple Boosts Bug Bounty 14:24

29d ago14:24

14:24

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an emergency directive for federal agencies to update their F5 products following a significant breach where hackers accessed source code and undisclosed vulnerabilities. This incident, discovered in August, poses a serious risk to federal networks, as the threat actor could exp…

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AI Hype Peaks: Forrester's Predictions, G2's Success, and New Chip Wars with Apple & Intel 16:35

30d ago16:35

16:35

Forrester's latest report indicates that the AI hype wave is reaching its peak, with many enterprises expected to delay a significant portion of their AI spending until 2027 due to challenges in proving return on investment (ROI). As a response to increasing regulatory complexities, 60% of Fortune 100 companies are anticipated to appoint heads of A…

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AI Revolutionizes IT Management, California Regulates Chatbots, and Windows 10 Hits End of Life 14:41

1M ago14:41

14:41

AI is revolutionizing IT service management, significantly enhancing productivity and operational efficiency. A recent report indicates that AI has reduced ticket resolution times by an impressive 76%, allowing IT teams to focus on more complex issues. However, the rapid adoption of generative AI, particularly in high-stakes areas like mergers and …

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Defending Against AI-Driven Email Threats: Insights from MSP Experts on Modern Security Challenges 56:19

1M ago56:19

56:19

The Business of Tech Lounge features a discussion on the evolving landscape of email security, focusing on the modern threats that organizations face today. With email remaining the primary entry point for hackers, the conversation highlights how threats have shifted from simple spam to sophisticated attacks involving AI impersonation and social en…

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AI's Memory Crisis: Hardware Costs Surge, Tech Hiring Booms, and Amazon Faces Inshittification 16:54

1M ago16:54

16:54

AI's increasing demand for memory and storage is leading to a significant pricing crisis in the hardware market, with projections indicating that this situation could persist for the next decade. Analysts and manufacturers are warning of impending shortages of NAND and DRAM, essential components for solid-state drives and memory. The price of NAND …

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AI Cyberattacks Surge as Gartner Predicts 50% Security Budget Shift to Prevention by 2030 14:11

1M ago14:11

14:11

AI-powered cyberattacks are rapidly evolving, prompting a significant shift in cybersecurity strategies. According to a recent Gartner report, IT leaders are expected to allocate over half of their cybersecurity budgets to preemptive defense measures by 2030. This change is driven by the inadequacy of traditional detection and response tools in the…

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Kaseya’s AI claims , OpenAI’s trillion-dollar risk , The rise of AI infrastructure 14:49

1M ago14:49

14:49

Kaseya made headlines at DattoCon by announcing its shift to becoming an “AI-first” company, highlighted by its acquisition of INKY, a generative AI email security provider. Alongside this, the company unveiled new Datto products and teased its upcoming Cyber Resiliency Platform for 2026. While Kaseya’s vision of unified, intelligent automation sou…

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OpenAI's AI Revolution: New Models, AMD Deal, and Deloitte's AI Accountability Crisis" 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

OpenAI has made significant strides in the AI landscape with a series of announcements that position it as a leading platform in the industry. The introduction of new models, including the GPT-5 Pro and Sora 2, alongside app integrations like Slack and a new Apps SDK, marks a pivotal moment for the company. These developments aim to enhance user in…

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AI Governance Spending Soars as Cloud Costs Rise; Huntress Partners with SureWeb in Channel Shift 17:41

1M ago17:41

17:41

Enterprises are significantly increasing their investments in AI governance as the risks associated with artificial intelligence become more apparent. A recent report indicates that 98% of organizations plan to boost their governance budgets in the coming financial year, with an average expected increase of 24%. This shift highlights the realizatio…

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Datto Sues Slide: A Deep Dive into Trade Secrets and MSP Market Implications 30:02

1M ago30:02

30:02

Full transcript and links to extended interviews is at https://businessof.tech/podcast/datto-sues-slide-2025/ What happens when a founder returns to disrupt the company he built, and that company sues him for stealing its secrets? This is the central conflict in the case of Datto v. Slide, a legal battle unfolding in Delaware. Datto, now owned by K…

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AI-First Strategies: Transforming Businesses with Customized Solutions and Measurable Outcomes with Mal Vivek 19:44

1M ago19:44

19:44

Mal Vivek, founder and CEO of Zeb, discusses the rapid growth of her firm, which has become a leader in digital and AI transformation. Zeb has established itself as one of the fastest-growing AWS Premier Tier and Databricks partners, primarily by addressing the challenges small and medium businesses face in implementing AI solutions. Vivek emphasiz…

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AI and Cloud Marketplaces: $430B Partner Opportunities by 2030 Amid Industry Shifts 36:08

1M ago36:08

36:08

Diving into the evolving landscape of the partner ecosystem, the discussion centers around three major forces shaping the industry by 2030. First, cloud marketplaces are projected to reach $163 billion in transactions, with nearly 60% of that being partner-led. This shift signifies a redefinition of partner value in the marketplace era, moving beyo…

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AI Browser War: Perplexity Goes Free, U.S. Cybersecurity Law Expires, Apple Eyes Intel Investment 16:06

1M ago16:06

16:06

Perplexity has made a significant move by dropping the price of its AI browser, Comet, from $200 a month to free, igniting what could be an AI browser war. This decision aims to help users navigate the overwhelming amount of low-quality online content by providing tools to summarize web pages and extract key information. A $5 monthly subscription w…

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Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Windows 10 Updates as AI Tools Reshape Business Strategies" 16:17

1M ago16:17

16:17

Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are significantly increasing their technology budgets, focusing on strategic investments that support long-term growth. According to a study by Forrester Consulting, 88% of SMBs plan to enhance their cloud strategies and cybersecurity through increased spending on third-party services. The study also highligh…

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AI Sprawl, Workslop Risks, Translation Disruption, and Vendors Creeping into MSP Services 17:35

1M ago17:35

17:35

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the technology services landscape, with leading reports from IDC, Gartner, and new offerings from ServiceNow pointing to a future where managing AI sprawl becomes as critical as delivering AI capabilities themselves. High-performing channel partners are leaning into AI specialization, driving measurable outcomes…

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California's AI Law, Malicious MCP Server, Microsoft Marketplace Overhaul & VMware Migration 16:11

1M ago16:11

16:11

The episode starts with the passage of California's groundbreaking AI transparency law, marking the first legislation in the United States that mandates large AI companies to disclose their safety protocols and provide whistleblower protections. This law applies to major AI labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, requiring them to report …

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IT Services Near $3 Trillion Growth: AI, Cloud, and Legacy Systems Drive Change 14:26

2M ago14:26

14:26

The global IT services market is projected to grow significantly, reaching nearly $3 trillion by 2033, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud services, digital transformation, and a rising demand for automation and cybersecurity solutions. Proactive IT services currently dominate the market, accounting for over half of the share, particularly i…

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Aiceberg's Approach: Using Machine Learning to Protect Generative AI from Cyber Threats 19:48

2M ago19:48

19:48

Alexander Schlager, CEO of Aiceberg.ai, discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of securing AI-powered workflows. Aiceberg employs traditional machine learning techniques to safeguard generative AI systems, providing a deterministic and explainable approach to security. This method al…

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AI Growth for MSPs Stalls as 95% of Projects Fail; Microsoft & Apple Face EU Regulatory Changes 14:44

2M ago14:44

14:44

Managed service providers (MSPs) are experiencing significant growth driven by interest in artificial intelligence (AI), with 92% reporting an uptick in business. However, a concerning trend has emerged: only about half of these providers feel equipped to assist small and mid-sized businesses in adopting AI tools, a sharp decline from 90% the previ…

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Navigating AI Governance: Trust, Accountability, and the Future of Responsible Tech 45:54

2M ago45:54

45:54

Art Kleiner, co-author of "The AI Dilemma" and Principal at Kleiner Powell International, discusses the complexities of AI governance, trust, and accountability in the context of modern technology. He emphasizes the importance of being intentional about risk when deploying AI products, particularly large language models, which can inadvertently per…