In this episode of AI or Die, hosts Nick Woo and Brendan Kelly dive into the busy fall conference season and the AI patterns they’re seeing across enterprises.

What We Cover

• Conference Insights – Highlights from recent events like Ohio VC Fest and what’s ahead at Data Connect.
• Enterprise AI Trends – Common challenges organizations face in improving the throughput of AI solutions and reinventing governance.
• Case Study Spotlight – A look at AI Meets Gene Therapy, a feature collaboration with Andelyn Biosciences, exploring how AI is shaping the future of healthcare.
• Community & Connections – Why the fall season is packed with opportunities to meet partners, customers, and innovators across the AI ecosystem.

Why Listen

If you’re an AI leader, builder, or curious observer, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping enterprise adoption. Expect practical insights, emerging trends, and a touch of the personal that keeps the AI or Die community grounded and connected.

This week, our hosts welcome Ben Blanquera, VP of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology. Ben helps firms drive sustainable practices and accelerate their hybrid cloud and AI journey.

During this episode, we dive into Ben’s expertise as he shares valuable insights around agentic AI within the enterprise. We discuss recent trends, common blockers, and how to successfully drive adoption. We also highlight the guardrails needed for autonomous agents in high-stake environments, and how enterprise leaders can start their AI agent journey.

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Agentic AI Readiness Diagnostic

How 100 Enterprise CIOs Are Building and Buying Gen AI in 2025

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On this episode, our hosts Nick Woo, Rehgan Bleile, and Brendan Kelly return for another audience Q&A episode, providing insight into the ethical implementation of AI systems within the enterprise.

The team dives into how to responsibly enhance model performance and evaluate the ROI from generative AI. We also discuss and address questions around automation inside the enterprise. Additionally, we focus on recent AI developments and how these may shape current and future conversations between leaders and their teams.

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On this episode, we welcome Scott Brown, an architect at Andelyn Biosciences. Scott has a focus on data flow enablement, operational excellence and innovation to serve analytics and AI.

We discuss the critical importance of human-in-the-loop oversight, the evolving role of evaluation frameworks for AI outputs, and the broader shift toward hybrid AI systems that blend generative and traditional machine learning techniques. From building early, low-risk use cases to preparing for more advanced agentic AI applications, we highlight actionable strategies for responsibly scaling AI across industries.

Scott Brown

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On this episode, we welcome Nan Li, an experienced AI and machine learning leader at Nationwide. Nan shares her insights from years of enabling AI and machine learning adoption within large enterprises, with a focus on workforce readiness, human-AI interaction, and operating model design.

We explore how enterprises are evolving to support AI adoption beyond technical teams, highlighting the shift from centralized innovation to more distributed, domain-embedded use. Additionally, we examine the emerging personas within an AI-enabled workforce—builders, users, and protectors—and the cultural and structural changes required to empower each group. From democratizing low-risk use cases to managing risk in high-impact workflows, we offer a practical look at how organizations can build an AI-ready workforce in a responsible, scalable way.

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In this episode, we welcome Mike Alvarez, Chief Technology Officer at NeuZeit, a consulting firm specializing in value acceleration, particularly for AI initiatives. Mike shares insights on agentic architectures, their role in automating complex workflows, the evolving landscape of AI governance, and how businesses can balance innovation with structured AI adoption.

We explore the challenges and opportunities in AI value acceleration, discussing how enterprises can move beyond experimentation to real, operationalized impact. We also examine key trends shaping AI in 2025, from advancements in AI-driven automation to the growing need for human-centered governance frameworks.

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This week, our hosts Nick Woo, Rehgan Bleile, and Brendan Kelly celebrate their 20th episode with a reflection on AI advancements in 2024 and predictions for 2025.

In this episode, the team dives into the diverse maturity levels of enterprise AI adoption, from early experimentation to large-scale deployment, the role of executive buy-in, and collaboration between business and technical teams. They highlight the rise of AI agents, growing reliance on data quality, and the shift toward optimization and governance as enterprises consolidate tools and processes. Looking ahead, they predict faster deployment cycles, deeper integration of AI into workflows, and a focus on user-centered design.

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On this episode, we welcome Bhavna Mehta, Assistant Vice President of Data and Analytics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Bhavna leads initiatives in data governance, AI governance, analytics, and business intelligence, leveraging her technical expertise and strategic insight to bridge the gap between innovation and practical implementation in healthcare.

We explore the critical role of AI ethics and governance in healthcare, focusing on explainability, trustworthiness, and alignment with organizational values. Additionally, we discuss how fostering a culture of data-driven innovation empowers organizations to adopt AI responsibly and effectively. Finally, we examine the transformative potential of AI when strategically aligned with priorities like improving patient care, reducing clinician burnout, and accelerating research impact.

Bhavna Mehta

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