Data-powered Innovation Jam

Do we hear sleigh bells in that surf rock soundtrack? Well, anything can happen when you tune in to the Data-powered Innovation Jam podcast—especially in the very last episode of the year! Our hosts Weiwei Feng (winning top honours for her Christmas sweater), Robert Engels, and Ron Tolido gather with their producer Arne Rossmann by a cozy fireplace to reflect on an unforgettable 2024. From groundbreaking moments in data and AI to the soundtrack of the year, it’s a heartfelt and insightful rewind.

But wait, there's more! It wouldn’t be the Innovation Jam without a bold look ahead and discussion on some predictions for 2025. Any chance of being accurate amid such unpredictable times? Well, to paraphrase the contemporary poet Zack de la Rocha, “some of those that hype new courses, are the same that ignore real causes.” Of course, this doesn’t keep our hosts from forecasting. Drawing from the visions of 7 leading innovation movers and shakers, the team pieces together a picture of a new year that promises to be transformational, and of course packed with a whole lot of data-powered magic.

Will the future hold surprises? Undoubtedly. But if one thing’s certain, it’s that this extra special holiday episode delivers inspiration, insights, and plenty of holiday cheer. Join us by the fire for data, analytics, robotics, AI, and all that data jazz!

Timestamps:

00:40 – Ron and Robert reflect on some of the most memorable musical moments shared throughout the podcast series.

12:50 – As AI continues to evolve and its misuse in criminal activities rises, conversations are shifting from abstract ideals to pressing, real-world challenges.

23:58 – A clear trend for 2025 is emerging: a strategic blend of diverse cloud solutions will be critical for effective data management.

29:07 – Synthetic data is set to take center stage, offering realistic, pattern-rich data without exposing sensitive information.

48:05 – The hosts wrap up the year with a recap of 2024's highlights in data and AI, while offering a look ahead at 2025, all by the warmth of a fireplace and a glass of Glühwein.

Curious about the latest in data and AI? Explore our newly launched thought leadership magazine, Data-powered Innovation Review Wave 9.

Connect with our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng and our producer Arne Rossmann on LinkedIn.

What’s bigger news in 2025: The Gallagher brothers reuniting Oasis, or generative AI going enterprise scale? Tough call, but we’ll stick with AI for now. Just as Noel Gallagher’s grounded presence is complemented by his rebellious brother Liam, generative AI stands to benefit from Graph technology. Graphs bring context, semantics, and deeper understanding—all qualities urgently needed by the probabilistic nature of large language models.

Join hosts Weiwei Feng, Robert Engels, and Ron Tolido as they dive into this compelling topic with the one and only Jim Webber, Chief Scientist at Neo4J, who confesses he is happy to step out of the “basement” for the occasion, seeing some proper podcast daylight. He shares insights on how Graphs can boost AI’s confidence. With Robert as a fellow Graph enthusiast, the conversation dives deep into how natural language could be more suitable to query graph databases.

Curious about the Graph-tech connection with Sweden? Want to hear about Idiot Savant Chatbots? Tune in for all this and more—and as one famous R&B singer once said, "If you liked it, then you should’ve put a graph on it."

Timestamps:

00:22 – Ron and Robert dive into a fun chat about “Oasis.”
07:25 – Jim shares his unique journey into the world of Graph databases.
15:21 – Exploring how Graphs can enhance Large Language Models (LLMs).
20:30 – A look at Neo4j’s future roadmap and ambitious goals.
38:51 – Weiwei leads a myth busting session.

Connect with our guest Jim Webber and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Autonomous AI isn’t just a futuristic dream—it’s here, and robots are redefining industries. But who would have thought the human touch is so crucial to success? In this electrifying episode, hosts Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng, and Ron Tolido are joined by Kence Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Composabl and author of “Designing Autonomous AI: A Guide for Machine Teaching.”

Kence shares his expertise in designing autonomous robotic systems that seamlessly fuse human insight with machine intelligence—like crafting the perfect rock ballad with just the right balance of grit and melody. The conversation explores “data science colonialism”, the revolutionary potential of machine teaching, and why subject matter experts are the real stars of AI. And yes, there’s even a nod to Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder for good measure!

While the world rides the generative AI wave, Kence makes a compelling case for exploring diverse AI approaches and engineering systems that truly harmonize with human capabilities. This episode is your backstage pass to the future of AI. It’s a conversation that will leave you inspired and ready to embrace the autonomous AI revolution.

No November rain here—just insights that hit all the right notes. Join the autonomy, don't miss this episode!

Timestamps:

00:38 – Ron and Robert explore the fascinating history of the "Synthesizer."

15:38 – What’s the perfect music genre for Composabl platform? Plus, the magic of improvisation.

23:40 – Kence dives into his report, "Intelligent Autonomous Agents – The Missing Ingredient in the Autonomous Enterprise."

36:40 – Can we teach machines to create the ultimate soundtrack?

38:53 – Weiwei takes the stage for some myth busting brilliance.

Connect with our guest Kence Anderson and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Blue is the new green! Data is key to achieving sustainability goals and a greener planet, but what about a bluer planet? Our guest, Heidi Karlsson, Director of Open Footprint Forum at The Open Group, joins us to ‘dive deep’ into this topic. As a facilitator in creating open data standards for global carbon emission exchange, Heidi shares insights on how to bring hundreds of diverse members together to collaborate on impactful data models and standards. But that’s just the beginning.

As a maritime environmentalist, Heidi is also a passionate advocate for the Blue Economy — the sustainable use of ocean resources to support economies, livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health. Before you know it, our hosts Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng and Ron Tolido are surfing with Heidi on concepts such as sea agriculture, marine habitat mapping, and environmental conflict resolution. Of course, data and AI (‘deep sea learning,’ anyone?) are at the heart of making it all happen.

And if that’s not enough, get ready for a mini lecture on musical scales and some surprising vintage Blues song recommendations. Tune in and take the plunge!

Timestamps:

00:19 – Ron and Robert kick things off with a chat about Blues music.

11:00 – Heidi dives into the meaning of the "Blue Economy" and its importance.

15:12 – A deep dive into the data model and its synergy with AI.

19:14 – Discussion on the regulatory framework for leveraging data.

34:31 – Weiwei takes the lead in a myth-busting session.

Connect with our guest Heidi Karlsson and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Tune in to Data-powered Innovation Jam podcast and get insights on creating value from data for your business transformation. Let’s explore the fascinating intersection of data, technology, creativity, and change.