Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy explores how AI (artificial intelligence)-powered robotics could reshape the future of skilled work by looking at a new AI welding agent. Peggy uses this example to examine a broader shift in automation: robots are no longer simply performing repetitive physical tasks—they are beginning to interpret instructions, assist with programming and planning, and carry out increasingly complex work....

Peggy concludes her five-part series of predictions for 2027 by looking at how wisdom and human judgment will become increasingly valuable as AI makes information, analysis, and answers easier to generate. For her fifth and final prediction, Peggy says 2027 could be a turning point as organizations move beyond simply using AI to generate answers and focus more on knowing which answers matter, ques...

Peggy continues her five-part series of predictions for 2027 by looking at how AI governance, security, and accountability will become increasingly important as businesses integrate AI into their operations. For her fourth prediction, Peggy says 2027 could be a turning point as companies move beyond simply adopting AI and begin establishing clear rules around who can use it, what data it can acces...

Peggy continues her five-part series of predictions for 2027 by looking at how construction companies could begin treating historical data as a valuable business asset. For her third prediction, Peggy says 2027 could be a turning point as construction companies move beyond simply storing years of project information and begin using that data to inform better decisions, transfer knowledge, and impr...

Peggy continues her five-part series of predictions for 2027 by looking at how AI will move from experimentation to real-world scale in manufacturing. For her second prediction, Peggy says 2027 could be a turning point as manufacturers move beyond pilots and proof of concepts and begin making AI a more integral part of how their operations run. She also encourages listeners to: · Focus on business...

Does the future of infrastructure engineering need to be open? Peggy Smedley sits down with Greg Demchak, vice president of emerging technologies at Bentley Systems, to unpack why open standards, open-source technology, and APIs (application programming interfaces) are essential for the next generation of infrastructure. He says openness is about agreeing to a standard that enables interoperabilit...

Peggy kicks off her five-part series of predictions for 2027 by looking at how businesses will use technology to make better decisions. For her first prediction, Peggy says digital twins will move beyond visualization and become increasingly important tools for understanding what could happen next. She also encourages listeners to: · See digital twins as decision tools and to use data to look forw...

Peggy Smedley looks ahead to 2027 and explores what businesses must do to move beyond AI experimentation to real, scaled implementation. From building a people-centric AI strategy to retaining top talent, modernizing legacy infrastructure, and adopting agentic AI in business workflows, this episode breaks down the hard decisions leaders face. Topics include IDC's forecast of $22 trillion in cumula...

I is reshaping every industry, but the real question isn't whether technology will change — it's whether your skills are evolving fast enough to keep up. In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley breaks down what it really means to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy. We cover: Why the future of work is about humans with AI, not humans vs. AI The human skills AI can'...

Everyone is racing to adopt AI, automate processes, and keep up with the latest technology breakthroughs. But is moving faster always the right strategy? In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show , Peggy explores why businesses need their own version of "recess" to step back, think clearly, and innovate with purpose. She discusses the difference between activity and innovation, why leaders must ma...

Every August, students go back to school — and business leaders should take note. In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley uses the back-to-school season as a lens to examine one of the most critical questions facing organizations today: As we race to adopt AI, automation, and digital transformation, are we actually solving the right problems? Peggy revisits the foundational p...

Peggy talks about one of the biggest business challenges today: turning data into insights, and ultimately better business decisions. She says we have more information available than ever before, but that doesn't automatically mean creating better insights. She also discusses: · How too much information can sometimes make decisions harder. · The next phase of digital transformation. · Four big tre...

AI is changing everything in the AEC industry — but not in the way most people fear. In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley sits down with Claire Rutkowski, Executive Director of AI Productivity and Enablement at WSP, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the engineering workforce. They dig into how AI is catching recurring clash patterns, flagging spec drift b...

What is your sleep really telling you about your long-term health? In this episode, Peggy Smedley sits down with Dr. Pierre Escourrou, Senior Medical Advisor at Withings and practicing cardiologist, to unpack groundbreaking research linking nighttime breathing patterns to arterial aging — and what that means for your cardiovascular health. They explore: How sleep apnea and snoring accelerate arter...

The way we work is changing fast — and the 2030 workforce won't look like anything we've seen before. In this episode, Peggy Smedley explores the forces reshaping work: the rise of fractional leadership, AI augmentation (not replacement), portfolio careers, and the urgent need for continuous learning. Peggy breaks down what individuals and organizations need to do now to stay ahead — from skills-b...

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, joins the Peggy Smedley Show at Think 2026 to share his candid take on AI and the future of music. From how producers are already using AI as a creative collaborator in the studio, to the 75,000 AI-generated songs hitting streaming platforms every day — Harvey breaks down why AI is a powerful tool, not a replacement for human creativity, and why legi...

Freight rail moves 40% of long-distance goods in the U.S., but the industry's biggest challenge isn't infrastructure, it's intelligence. In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley sits down with V. Krishnan, industry advisor for Microsoft manufacturing & mobility, to explore how AI agents and realtime decision tools are reshaping the future of rail. They discuss: Why railroads a...

What does it take to make AI reliable enough to design a bridge? Peggy Smedley sits down with Francois Valois, senior vice president of Bentley Open Applications at Bentley Systems, to unpack the MCP (model context protocol — an open, agnostic standard that connects AI agents to deterministic engineering tools like STAAD and MicroStation ensuring trust, validation, and accountability in engineerin...

Peggy shares the 7 lies she has been hearing about AI, challenging some common assumptions. She says these narratives have become so common that many of us have stopped questioning them. She also discusses: · A pattern that emerges surrounding the 7 lies. · Where the real opportunity lies and what the biggest threat is. · What you should do next inside of your own organization. https://peggysmedle...

Peggy Smedley and Sebastian Wernicke, author, talk about moving from being data driven to data inspired. He says most data projects don't fail, they do something much worse, they make you very good at staying the same. They also discuss: · Your data framework—how to organize it—and the decision framework in your organization. · How to keep up with the pace of change and look at all of this in rela...

Peggy Smedley and Jeff Ton, author of Uncharted Moments, talk about his leadership background and how he learned to navigate without a map. He says he is a career technologist and most of that was in leadership positions, and the story in the book is about tracing the Lewis and Clark trail. They also discuss: · Leadership lessons from the Lewis and Clark expedition. · How leaders can navigate unce...

Peggy talks about how manufacturers have production systems, improvement programs, and even data, but fail to implement consistently across their organizations. She says we need to move beyond reactive data and to better connections between data, people, learning, and action. She also discusses: · How many have a global production system—and how many report that it is fully implemented across all...

Peggy Smedley and Angie Wordell, executive vice president and chief operations and supply chain officer, Graco, talk about the company reaching 100 years and how it achieved the longevity. She says it is about staying close to customers and solving real-world problems. They also discuss: · The two founders who solved an industry problem and the pivotal inflection points. · The technology transform...

Peggy Smedley and Dave Moelker, CEO, Twisthink, talk about why connected products, data, and AI matter today more than ever before. He says customers' expectations continue to move forward and too often there is a gap between insight and action. They also discuss: · Why so many connected product efforts stall at the pilot stage. · A good place to start with these efforts today. · Advice for the ne...

Peggy gives her thoughts about why humanity stands at a crossroads with AI (artificial intelligence). She says we need to have a conversation about what kind of future we want to build. She also discusses: · What the Pope has to say about AI. · What happens when AI becomes increasingly autonomous. · The steps to take to develop successful technology ecosystems. https://peggysmedleyshow.com