Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

What happens when two AI agents start talking to each other without human supervision? How can artificial intelligence help the 1.4 billion unbanked adults worldwide access financial services? These questions sit at the heart of our fascinating conversation with Nihkil Kassetty, software architect and AI ethicist with deep expertise in digital finance.

Remember when banking meant standing in line at your local branch? Today, AI is transforming that experience—and potentially extending financial services to billions who've never had a bank account. Nihkil Kassetty explains how companies like Tala are using AI to analyze smartphone data (call logs, text patterns, app usage) to assess creditworthiness when traditional credit scores aren't available. With 67% of unbanked individuals owning mobile phones, this technology creates pathways to financial inclusion that simply didn't exist before.

Beyond accessibility, we explore the fascinating evolution of AI agents that can perceive their environment, learn from interactions, and make context-aware decisions. Unlike traditional automation following rigid rules, these agents provide an intelligent layer across financial functions—from fraud detection to investment advice. But this power comes with profound ethical considerations. When agents begin communicating with other agents, can humans maintain proper oversight? Who's accountable when AI makes mistakes? And how do we ensure these systems operate transparently?
The conversation shifts to green finance, where AI helps direct capital toward environmentally sustainable projects by analyzing satellite imagery, emissions data, and supply chain activities to provide a clearer picture than company self-reporting alone. This capability transforms how financial institutions evaluate climate risks and sustainable investments.

Whether you're fascinated by the technology itself or concerned about its ethical implications, this episode offers valuable insights into how AI is reshaping finance to make it not just faster, but fairer and more inclusive. Subscribe now to join the conversation about building a financial future that's both smarter and more human.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

Sarah Sullivan, a transformational leader with nearly three decades in telecommunications engineering, takes us on an eye-opening journey through the practical applications of AI as a powerful ally in both professional endeavors and everyday life.

The conversation begins with Sarah's remarkable career trajectory from MCI to launching her own business, Gazed Technologies, where she provides equipment lifecycle management and architecture solutions enhanced by data analytics. Her experience navigates the shifting landscape of telecom through multiple acquisitions while maintaining her passion for the engineering side of the business.

Sarah reveals how she first embraced generative AI to tackle a complex grant opportunity for open RAN networks. Rather than diving blindly into unfamiliar territory, she uploaded the lengthy solicitation to ChatGPT for summarization, creating a foundation she could build upon with her expertise. This exemplifies her thoughtful approach to AI: using it to jumpstart processes and handle routine tasks while maintaining human oversight and judgment.

The discussion shifts to the Broadband Council's groundbreaking work uncovering communities that appear served on paper but experience poor broadband in reality. Their testing revealed critical insights about underserved areas where latency exceeds 100 milliseconds—directly impacting telehealth, education, and economic opportunities. Sarah's innovative use of AI to transform raw field data into actionable presentations demonstrates how technology can amplify human expertise rather than replace it.

Perhaps most compelling is Sarah's perspective on AI as a tool for lightening our cognitive load. "Think of generative AI as helping you take down one of those plates you're spinning," she advises. Whether creating visual content for the Society of Women Engineers, deciphering complex privacy statements, or simply finding a quick salmon recipe, Sarah frames AI as a solution that simplifies rather than complicates our already complex lives.

Have you considered how AI might help you balance your professional and personal responsibilities? Join us to discover practical ways to maintain human control while leveraging AI as your trusted ally in navigating today's digital landscape.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

What happens when artificial intelligence enters the boardroom? According to governance experts Meghan Anzelc Ph.D., Global Leader of Transformation Solutions, STG at Aon, and Christina Fernandes-D'Souza, it's already there, embedded in board portal software, collaboration tools, and the Microsoft productivity suite directors use regularly. The critical question now is how boards will govern these tools while simultaneously providing oversight for their organizations' AI implementations.

Drawing from their extensive experience implementing AI in regulated industries like financial services and insurance, Anzelc and Fernandes-D'Souza offer practical insights for directors navigating this complex landscape. They emphasize that effective AI governance begins with the board's own practices. Rather than using personal AI tools that might compromise security or reveal sensitive information, boards should establish common, secure platforms that align with their governance principles. This creates consistency while modeling responsible AI use for the entire organization.

The conversation explores fascinating real-world scenarios, including how AI might transform board meeting preparation. While AI can generate and summarize lengthy board packets, the experts suggest a more fundamental approach: redesigning information-sharing processes entirely. They also share a cautionary tale about a Fortune 100 company that implemented a prestigious AI solution only to discover material non-public information being inappropriately disclosed months later, highlighting that even "blue chip" implementations require careful governance.

For boards beginning their AI governance journey, the experts recommend hands-on experimentation, creating a baseline of AI knowledge across all directors, and possibly forming dedicated committees to enhance the board's collective expertise. Their publication "AI-Powered Boardrooms: The Future of Governance" provides a roadmap for directors seeking structured guidance.

Ready to transform how your board approaches AI governance? Start by examining your current tools, establishing consistent practices, and developing the AI literacy needed to provide effective oversight in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape. The possibilities—both positive and challenging—are limited only by our imagination and governance frameworks.

Link to Article: Anzelc, Meghan, and Christina Fernandes‐D’Souza. “AI‐Powered Boardrooms: The Future of Governance.” Board Leadership, vol. 2024, no. 196, Nov. 2024, pp. 4–8. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/bl.30276

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

What happens to your privacy once your data enters an AI system? Can you ever truly regain control? These questions take center stage as Pamela Isom welcomes back Debbie Reynolds, "The Data Diva," for a compelling conversation on the one-year anniversary of the AI or Not podcast.

Reynolds, CEO and Chief Data Privacy Officer of Debbie Reynolds Consulting, dives deep into the evolving landscape where privacy and artificial intelligence collide. She challenges us to consider whether privacy in AI is a myth, arguing that we must shift our perspective from focusing solely on data collection to understanding the complete lifecycle of our information. This paradigm shift becomes crucial as the traditional model of privacy protection, where individuals consent to sharing data in exchange for services, no longer captures the reality of how our information flows through modern systems.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Reynolds reveals how location data has recently been elevated to "sensitive data" status by the Federal Trade Commission. This reclassification, partly triggered by concerns about reproductive health privacy following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, represents a significant shift in how location information is regulated and protected. Reynolds explains differential privacy—a mathematical technique that adds "noise" to datasets to protect individuals while preserving statistical utility—and why it matters for everything from census data to medical research.

For organizations navigating the AI revolution, Reynolds offers practical wisdom about building effective AI teams. She advocates for Chief AI Officers with strong foundations in data management, privacy, and cybersecurity, emphasizing that multidisciplinary expertise is essential. As Isom highlights government guidelines for maintaining public trust in AI systems, Reynolds reinforces that innovation need not come at the expense of safety and privacy. Her parting advice resonates deeply: "Data is food for AI systems." Just as we care about what we eat, we must care about what data feeds our AI—and remember that human wisdom remains irreplaceable in distinguishing between AI-generated content that's helpful and that which is merely convincing but incorrect.

Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of trust, privacy, and responsible AI development. Subscribe to AI or Not for more insights from global business leaders on navigating the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

The intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity represents one of today's most critical technological frontiers. In this compelling conversation, Pamela Isom speaks with Steve Wilson, Chief Product Officer at Exabeam and founder of the OWASP Large Language Model security research group, about the urgent security challenges facing organizations adopting AI technologies.

Wilson brings decades of experience to the discussion, having founded an AI company in 1992 before working on the Java programming language and eventually returning to AI following the ChatGPT revolution. His work establishing the OWASP LLM security project has helped countless organizations understand and mitigate the unique risks these powerful new tools present.

The conversation offers practical guidance on combating prompt injection attacks—identified as the number one security threat to LLMs—through implementing a zero-trust architecture specifically designed for AI applications. Wilson explains that LLMs must be treated as "something between a confused deputy and an enemy sleeper agent," requiring rigorous security controls and thoughtful implementation.

Particularly illuminating is Wilson's explanation of hallucinations, comparing LLMs taking "closed book tests" after being asked to memorize the entire internet. His recommended solution, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), transforms these into "open book tests" by providing models with relevant, trusted information before they generate responses—dramatically improving output accuracy.

Despite the legitimate concerns, Wilson remains optimistic about LLMs' transformative potential when deployed thoughtfully. At Exabeam, their AI copilot helps cybersecurity analysts work 2-3 times faster by translating complex technical information into clear, actionable English—demonstrating how organizations can leverage AI's strengths while mitigating risks.

Don't miss this essential conversation for anyone building or implementing AI systems in their organization. The technological transformation happening with generative AI may be the most significant since the World Wide Web—and as Wilson warns, waiting on the sidelines isn't an option for companies that want to remain competitive.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

Andy Jenkinson, CEO of CyberSec Innovation Partners and cybersecurity expert, doesn't mince words as he exposes how our entire digital infrastructure stands vulnerable despite decades of warnings. "We are fighting organized cybercrime with disorganized cybersecurity," he states, pointing to the disturbing reality that basic internet protocols like DNS (Domain Name System) remain largely unsecured by even the largest organizations.

Through shocking real-world examples, Jenkinson reveals how seemingly "sophisticated attacks" are often just exploitations of fundamental security failings. These breaches stem from basic negligence rather than advanced hacking techniques.

Particularly troubling is the organizational resistance to addressing these vulnerabilities. Jenkinson describes a culture of willful ignorance that prioritizes deniability over actual protection. Meanwhile, cybercrime costs have skyrocketed to roughly four times the annual budget of the Department of Defense.

For both individuals and businesses, the path forward requires returning to fundamentals. While personal safety measures like covering webcams and being suspicious of unsolicited contacts are important, true security demands organizational accountability. "If you don't know what your internet assets are and what your servers are doing, you have no way of protecting them," Jenkinson warns.

Ready to rethink your digital security approach? Listen now and discover what most cybersecurity professionals aren't telling you – and what might be putting your organization at risk every day.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

Discover how artificial intelligence can be molded into a trustworthy ally in our society with insights from our distinguished guests, Hal Daumé and Amy Cyphert. Hal, a trailblazer from the University of Maryland, shares his fascinating transformation from a purely technical AI expert to someone deeply engaged with its societal implications. Meanwhile, Amy, a legal scholar from West Virginia University, brings her unique perspective from Carnegie Mellon, offering a compelling narrative on how law and technology must interface to ensure AI's responsible evolution. Together, we unravel the tapestry of cross-disciplinary collaboration needed to forge AI systems that command trust.

Venture into the murky waters of AI regulation, where copyright dilemmas and intellectual property rights present significant challenges. We examine the tightrope artists walk when using AI in their creativity, juxtaposing heightened innovation with the current inadequacies of copyright law. Through this discourse, we highlight the urgent need for a broader regulatory framework, emphasizing the power of executive orders and the necessity for global cooperation in AI governance. As we stress the vital role of local institutions and elected officials in shaping these policies, this episode promises to equip you with a nuanced understanding of AI's legal landscape and its societal impact.

Welcome to "AI or Not," the podcast where we explore the intersection of digital transformation and real-world wisdom, hosted by the accomplished Pamela Isom. With over 25 years of experience guiding leaders in corporate, public, and private sectors, Pamela, the CEO and Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting LLC, is a veteran in successfully navigating the complex realms of artificial intelligence, innovation, cyber issues, governance, data management, and ethical decision-making.

Join us for a compelling conversation with Dominique Shelton-Leipzig, the visionary founder and CEO of Global Data Innovation Inc. Dominique’s journey from her academic roots at Brown University and Georgetown to her impactful career in tech litigation is nothing short of inspiring. Her experiences with titans like Yahoo and PeopleSoft have equipped her with unparalleled insights into the world of privacy law and cybersecurity. As Dominique embarks on her venture with Global Data Innovation, she shares her mission to lead organizations through the challenges of AI and digital transformation, emphasizing the critical need for effective communication in cybersecurity.

Discover the complexities of AI governance as we discuss the evolving regulations and their profound implications for businesses. The stakes couldn’t be higher; maintaining trust and accuracy in AI systems is not just good practice but essential for protecting assets and fostering innovation. Through real-world stories, such as a logistics company facing backlash from an AI error, we underscore the importance of continuous oversight and ethical compliance in AI deployment. By prioritizing accuracy, fairness, and trust, companies can navigate the challenging landscape of AI regulations effectively.

The episode also highlights the immediate impact of the EU AI Act and the importance of AI governance. With a growing list of prohibited applications and dynamic legislative changes, staying informed is crucial. We delve into the five key areas of trust in AI, offering guidance to prevent damaging headlines and ensure compliance with global standards. Our challenge to listeners: take actionable steps within their organizations by asking critical questions around regulation, compliance, and communication. Engage with us to gain valuable insights into successfully navigating the AI and digital landscape.