The AI Adoption Podcast

As 2025 ends, thanks to everyone who joined The AI Adoption Podcast. A recurring message is: AI adoption isn't a technology issue alone; it is a strategic transformation, leadership, and human challenge. Regulation & Trust • Regulation isn't the enemy of innovation Lord Tim Clement-Jones • AI adoption only works at scale when regulation is coherent, trusted, and designed to enable innovation,...

AI adoption often looks rational on paper while feeling human in practice. That insight sat at the centre of my conversation with Ian Smith from Baseline, and it informed the tone of our discussion. Ian spoke about reaching a point in his career where technology no longer carried the whole story. Lived experience moved to the forefront. People bring anticipation, uncertainty, curiosity and concern...

In this episode I speak with Paul O’Sullivan, SVP of Solution Engineering for the UKI and Chief Technology Officer for the UK, from Salesforce. Paul traces 75 years of AI development, from early machine intelligence ideas to the breakthroughs that brought us to today’s agentic AI era. Paul explains the shift from traditional workflows to digital workers operating alongside people. AI-enabled reaso...

In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I speak with Heather Black, CEO of Supermums. Heather created Supermums after realising that a flexible, well-paid career in tech was something many mothers could thrive in. Heather explains why she focuses on this demographic. Women remain under-represented in tech, many struggle to return to work after raising children and the gender pay gap persists....

In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I speak with Neha Kabra from McKinsey about how AI is reshaping leadership, customer service, employees’ roles and the expectations placed on boards. Neha explains why legacy leadership approaches are struggling. Many leadership skills remain the same, but the speed of decision making has changed. Early movers are already seeing returns, while others rem...

I recorded this episode with Andrew McNally, who has spent 35 years working across fund management, investment banking and advising family offices. Andrew has witnessed several major technological shifts, including the dot-com boom and bust, and I wanted to hear his view on how today’s AI wave compares. Andrew spoke openly about the financial implications of foundational technologies. He explained...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, I interviewed Marco Forgione, Director General of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. Marco’s extensive experience and knowledge provides deep insights into the strategic use of AI in international trade. He argues that AI is fundamentally changing international trade and provides examples such as companies like Maersk that are u...

In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I speak with Kate Jones, CEO of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), which brings together four regulators: Ofcom, the ICO, the CMA and the FCA to work together on regulating online and digital services. We discuss the work does with the Regulatory Innovation Office, which is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. DRCF...

🎧 In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I speak with Yves Bollinger, General Manager at Plan. Net Studios, part of the Serviceplan Group. We explore the fascinating intersection of AI and blockchain and how decentralised technologies such as the Masumi Protocol built on the Cardano blockchain can establish trust, identity and accountability between millions of AI agents. We explore examples...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, Alex Dalman from VCCP’s Faith and I discuss the transformative role of combining human ingenuity with AI in the advertising and marketing industry. We explore how AI tools enhance creativity, the ethical implications of AI usage, and innovative campaigns like O2’s 'Daisy vs. Scammers'. Alex explains Generative Engine Optimization, which is the ne...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, Jenna Shanks from NICE and I talk about the transformative impact of AI on customer experience and operational efficiency. She shares insights on how AI is being integrated across various industries, the cultural shifts required for successful adoption, and the importance of knowledge management. Jenna emphasises the need for organisations to embrace AI...

AI adoption isn’t just for big companies. For the millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, AI could be a lifeline or a threat. In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, Baroness Martha Lane Fox and I discuss the impact of AI on SMEs. Martha is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords, President of the British Chamber of Commerce, is on the boards of various companies an...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, I am delighted to speak with Raghava Krishna, Technology Director for Digital and AI at the AA. This conversation brings together two key themes: the promise of AI in services organisations and the practical challenges of AI adoption in a complex, distributed organisation. The AA is one of the UK’s most trusted brands and integrity is critically importan...

In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Houlihan, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Cisco Europe. Matt brings a wealth of experience from both government and the private sector, and together we explored what it truly means for organisations to be AI ready. Cisco’s AI Readiness Index provides fascinating, and at times sobering, insights: while 98% o...

Sue Daley OBE, Director of Technology and Innovation at Tech UK is my guest for this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast. We discuss the current state of the UK tech sector, particularly focusing on AI adoption and its implications for businesses and the economy. The conversation covers the role of AI in the UK’s Industrial Strategy, the challenges faced by SMEs in adopting AI, and the importance o...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, Sean Betts, Chief AI and Innovation Officer at Omnicom Media Group, and I discuss the transformative impact of generative AI on marketing and advertising. Sean shares how generative and agentic AI are reshaping the industry, from producing campaign content to designing synthetic research panels that simulate consumer behaviour. He highlights the rapid ad...

Join me, Professor Ashley Braganza, and AI expert Dr Nikolay Burlutskiy as we explore the rise of AI agents, the power of synthetic data and what organisations must do to adopt AI responsibly. According to Nikolay, “Synthetic data proved better than real-world datasets in our trials at Astra Zeneca.” What you’ll learn: • Why 2024 was GenAI and 2025 is firmly the year of AI agents • How to set inte...

When machines are learning, evolving, making and enacting decisions on their own, what should you do? In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I speak with Maggie Sarfo, CEO of Meres Consult, about why human emotional intelligence (EI) is the essential counterweight to machine artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s workplaces. Maggie says that leaders can navigate this shift with clarity, empa...

💡 In this wide-ranging conversation, Lord Kulveer Ranger draws on decades of experience across technology, transport, and policy to unpack how AI must be embedded into business thinking and strategic action. He says AI is more than standalone tech tools, it is a catalyst for transformation. 🚀 Topics explored in this episode: • Why change management is central to AI success • UK start ups are bei...

In this episode, I am joined by Dr Alexandra Dobra-Kiel , Innovation and Strategy Director at Serviceplan Group and member of the Advertising Association’s AI Task Force. Together, we explore why AI adoption must go far beyond implementation and why organisational culture, leadership vulnerability and strategic clarity are essential to making AI work for people, not just systems. Alexandra offers...

In this episode of the AI Adoption Podcast, I discuss the transformative role of AI in healthcare medical devices with Dr Alex Cole, Director of Market Strategy at CPI.  We explore various applications of AI, from administrative support to high-risk clinical decision-making.  This discussion highlights the challenges of integrating AI into medical devices, particularly within the NHS. The conversa...

In this insightful episode, I speak with Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South and an expert in AI regulation. We explore the UK Government’s AI Action Plan, the development of AI growth zones, and the critical role of governance and regulation in public services. Allison brings her expertise in health, AI policy, and data ethics to this engaging conversation, covering: ✅ The Government’s...

Ben Johnson, co-founder and CTO of Uptitude and adviser to UK Parliament, joins me to explore what it really takes for enterprise organisations to adopt AI meaningfully. 🎯 Highlights: • Why AI starts with data and ends with culture • The hidden risks of bad data and siloed ownership • What leadership teams must do to embed AI across functions • A bold call for Chief AI Officers at board level 📢...

In this episode of The AI Adoption Podcast, I am joined by Janine McKelvey, General Counsel for Data, AI and Security at BT Group, to discuss the critical aspects of AI adoption, focusing on governance, compliance, and the strategic implementation of AI within organisations. Janine shares insights on the essential elements of an AI strategy, understanding the AI supply chain, conducting impact ass...

In this episode, I’m joined by the Right Reverend Steven Croft, the Lord Bishop of Oxford. Our conversation explores the philosophical and ethical questions that arise as generative and agentic AI becomes more deeply embeddedin our lives. Together, we ask: ·      How is AI reshaping the meaning of being human? ·     Can faith traditions offer wisdom for this newtechnological era? ·      What does...