AI at Work cover art

AI at Work

AI at Work

By: Neil C. Hughes
Listen for free

About this listen

What does AI really mean for the modern workplace, and are we ready for what comes next?

AI at Work is a podcast from the Tech Talks Network, the home of conversations that showcase the voices at the heart of enterprise technology. You may know me from Tech Talks Daily, where we explore a different area of innovation in every episode. This show offers a focused look at one of the most significant shifts in business: how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work..

AI at Work is a podcast from the Tech Talks Network, the home of conversations that showcase the voices at the heart of enterprise technology. You may know me from Tech Talks Daily, where we explore a different area of innovation in every episode. This show takes a focused look at one of the biggest shifts in business: how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work.

From intelligent automation to agentic AI and from the promise of workplace efficiency to the risks of unintended consequences, we aim to provide a grounded and accessible perspective on how AI is shaping the future of work.

If you’re using AI in your business or thinking about how to get started, this podcast is your chance to learn from the people already doing it.

Tech Talks Network 2025
Economics
Episodes
  • Writer and the Real ROI of AI at Work, Beyond Productivity Metrics
    Dec 21 2025

    What does AI at work really look like once the conference buzz fades and teams have to turn ambition into execution?

    In this episode of the AI at Work Podcast, I sit down with Diego Lomanto, Chief Marketing Officer at Writer, to unpack how marketing teams are actually using AI and agents inside real enterprise workflows. Diego brings a grounded perspective shaped by more than two decades in enterprise software, spanning analytics, automation, and now AI, including his time leading product marketing at UiPath during its rapid growth years.

    We talk candidly about why AI adoption often stalls inside organizations, not because of the technology, but because leadership behavior, operating models, and incentives fail to evolve. Diego explains why C-level executives need to get hands-on first, why AI should be treated as a transformation of how work gets done rather than another IT rollout, and how marketing leaders need to rethink team structure, workflows, and success metrics in an agent-driven world.

    The conversation digs into what Diego calls an agentic marketing playbook, where AI handles speed and scale while humans remain firmly in charge of narrative, judgment, and creative direction. From automating repetitive content workflows to freeing up time for deeper customer relationships and high-touch engagement, Diego shares how Writer and its customers, including large consumer brands and regulated enterprises, are using agents to support people rather than sideline them.

    We also explore how Writer uses its own technology internally, what surprised Diego once AI agents were fully embedded into day-to-day marketing operations, and why change management and AI literacy matter just as much as model quality. As organizations look ahead to 2026, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of where AI-driven work is heading next, from departmental orchestration to deeper collaboration across marketing, sales, and product teams.

    If AI is quickly becoming table stakes, how will your organization use it to automate the repeatable while keeping humans as the real source of differentiation?

    Useful Links

    Connect with Diego Lomanto

    Learn More About Writer

    Denodo sponsors Tech Talks Network

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • How RingCentral Uses AI to Improve Conversations Without Losing the Human Touch
    Dec 15 2025

    As AI moves beyond hype and into everyday operations, many organizations are asking harder questions about impact, trust, and return on investment. Three years on from ChatGPT’s breakout moment, leaders are no longer experimenting for novelty’s sake. They want to know where AI genuinely improves outcomes for employees and customers, and where it risks getting in the way.

    In this episode of the AI at Work Podcast, I sit down with John Finch, Head of Product Marketing at RingCentral, to unpack how AI is changing customer interactions before, during, and after the call. We explore how tools like AI receptionists and real time agent assistance are helping businesses avoid missed calls, reduce friction, and support frontline teams without turning conversations into scripted or robotic exchanges.

    John shares RingCentral’s perspective on why voice remains one of the richest and most strategic data sources inside modern organizations. We discuss how insights drawn from real conversations are shaping smarter routing, coaching, and workforce planning, and why sectors like healthcare and financial services are leaning into AI faster than others. At the same time, we address the common mistakes companies make when they bolt AI onto fragmented systems rather than embedding it into a unified platform.

    Looking ahead to 2026, this conversation also reflects on what AI done well really looks like in the workplace. Not as a replacement for people, but as a way to remove pressure, improve performance, and create better experiences for everyone involved. As AI becomes more natural, conversational, and embedded into daily workflows, the line between digital and human support continues to blur.

    So as AI becomes part of the fabric of customer operations, how are you balancing automation with empathy, and what lessons from your own organization would you share with others navigating this shift?

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • What Designed AGI Means for Business Leaders
    Nov 20 2025

    What happens when a field races forward faster than society can understand it, let alone shape it? And how do we balance the promise of superintelligence with the responsibility to ensure it reflects the values of the people it will eventually serve? In this episode of AI at Work, I sit down with Dr Craig Kaplan, founder and CEO of iQ Company and SuperIntelligence. He's also a pioneer who has been building intelligent systems since the 1980s, and one of the few voices urging a deliberate, safer path toward AGI.

    Craig brings decades of perspective to a debate often dominated by short-term thinking, sharing why speed without design can become a trap and why the next breakthroughs must be grounded in intention rather than chance.

    Throughout our conversation, Craig explains why current alignment methods often rely on narrow viewpoints, which creates both ethical and technical blind spots. He shares his belief that the values guiding future intelligence should come from millions of people across cultures rather than a handful of researchers writing a constitution behind closed doors. Drawing on his work at Predict Wall Street, he illustrates how collective intelligence can outperform experts, why diverse viewpoints matter, and how these lessons shape the architecture he believes is needed for safe AGI and the superintelligent systems that follow. His clarity on the difference between tools and entities, and how quickly AI is shifting into the latter category, offers a grounding moment for anyone trying to navigate what comes next.

    This episode moves beyond fear and hype. Craig talks openly about risk, but he also brings optimism about the potential for systems that are safer, faster to build, less costly, and more reflective of humanity. For leaders wondering how to prepare their organisations, he shares what signals to watch, why transparency and design matter, and how a more democratic approach to intelligence could shift the odds of a better outcome. If you want a clear, thoughtful look at the road ahead for AGI, superintelligence, and the role humans still play in shaping both, you will find a lot to chew on here.

    Listeners wanting to learn more can explore superintelligence.com, where Craig and the iQ Company team share research, videos, papers, and ways to get involved. What part of this conversation sparks your own questions about the future we are building together?

    Sponsored by NordLayer:

    Get the exclusive Black Friday offer: 28% off NordLayer yearly plans with the coupon code: techdaily-28. Valid until December 10th, 2025. Try it risk-free with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.