Turning AI into business impact through data and strategy

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This is a podcast episode titled, Turning AI into business impact through data and strategy. The summary for this episode is: In the latest episode of AI in Action, Bernard Marr shares his perspective on how AI is changing the way we work and why AI literacy is becoming essential for every organization. He explains that real AI-driven business growth starts with a clear strategy. To make AI work at scale, companies need strong data foundations, modern data architecture and solid data management practices. Many organizations still struggle with siloed systems, weak governance and low data literacy, which hurts their competitive edge. Bernard encourages leaders to connect business intelligence with AI goals, rethink existing processes and give teams space to experiment. From agentic AI to quantum computing, he reminds us that change is happening fast and that a thoughtful, strategic approach to AI is key to building future-ready organizations. 0:00 Intro03:47 What AI really means for companies in 202606:47 Scaling AI starts with strategy10:42 Leading the cultural shift to AI13:17 Competitive advantage starts with AI awareness18:14 The real barriers to scaling AI28:33 What enterprises can learn from AI startups30:58 Top trends for data and AI leaders34:24 Overcoming data and governance challenges The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives → https://ibm.biz/BdpEkq

DESCRIPTION

In the latest episode of AI in Action, Bernard Marr shares his perspective on how AI is changing the way we work and why AI literacy is becoming essential for every organization. He explains that real AI-driven business growth starts with a clear strategy. To make AI work at scale, companies need strong data foundations, modern data architecture and solid data management practices.

Many organizations still struggle with siloed systems, weak governance and low data literacy, which hurts their competitive edge. Bernard encourages leaders to connect business intelligence with AI goals, rethink existing processes and give teams space to experiment. From agentic AI to quantum computing, he reminds us that change is happening fast and that a thoughtful, strategic approach to AI is key to building future-ready organizations.

0:00 Intro

03:47 What AI really means for companies in 2026

06:47 Scaling AI starts with strategy

10:42 Leading the cultural shift to AI

13:17 Competitive advantage starts with AI awareness

18:14 The real barriers to scaling AI

28:33 What enterprises can learn from AI startups

30:58 Top trends for data and AI leaders

34:24 Overcoming data and governance challenges

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives → https://ibm.biz/BdpEkq

Today's Host

David Levy

|Host

Today's Guests

Bernard Marr

Bernard Marr was born near Hamburg in Germany, where he grew up. He then moved to Cambridge, England to complete his degrees in business, engineering and information technology. He then joined the Cambridge Judge Business School as a research fellow and later Cranfield School of Management. In 2006, Bernard left the business school world to focus on his own company Bernard Marr & Co. Today, Bernard Marr is one of the world’s most highly respected experts when it comes to future trends, strategy, business performance, digital transformation and the intelligent use of data and AI in business. In that capacity he has worked with and advised many of the world’s best-known organisations including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Astra Zeneca, The Bank of England, BP, NVIDIA, Cisco, DHL, IBM, HPE, Ericsson, Jaguar Land Rover, Mars, The Ministry of Defence, NATO, The Home Office, NHS, Oracle, T-Mobile, Toyota, The Royal Air Force, Shell, The United Nations, Walgreens Alliance Boots, Walmart, among many others. He is the author of over 20 books and hundreds of high profile reports and articles, including the international best-sellers ‘Business Trends in Practice’, ’Tech Trends in Practice’, ‘Future Skills’, ‘The Intelligence Revolution’, ‘Artificial Intelligence in Practice’, ‘Data Strategy’, ‘The Future Internet’, ‘Extended Reality in Practice‘, ‘Big Data in Practice’, ‘Big Data‘, ‘Key Business Analytics‘, ‘Key Performance Indicators’, ‘The Intelligent Company’, ‘Managing and Delivering Performance’ and ‘Strategic Performance Management’. His books have been translated into over 20 languages and have earned numerous Amazon No 1 bestselling positions, won the 2022 Business Book of the Year award, the CMI Management Book of the Year award, the Axiom book award and the WHSmith best business book award. Bernard is a major social media influencer with a combined following of 4 million people across his social media channels, newsletters, his popular content website, podcast, and regular Forbes column. LinkedIn ranked him as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world and number one in the UK. Beyond that, he has been featured on TV and radio as well as in high-profile publications such as The Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, the CFO Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. Bernard’s latest book is ‘Generative AI in Practice’. Away from his professional life, Bernard has a passion for wine, and prioritises being a good husband to his wife Claire and father to his three children Sophia, James, and Oliver. Together with them and their dog Millie, he lives in Milton Keynes, just north of London, England.

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