The Conversational AI Podcast

In today's episode, we're meeting ⁠Darren Ford⁠, the Founder and Director of ⁠The CAI Company⁠. Darren and his team are amongst the most experienced Conversational AI experts around, having driven the strategies and implementations for some of the largest players around. Our discussion is wide-ranging. We start first with Darren's background and the origin story of ⁠The CAI Company⁠. Then we get into some key use cases, he talks about how consumer acceptance is really changing (for the positive) and he highlights some of the key requirements for any successful implementation -- namely, executive sponsorship and commitment, data-led decision making and the importance of talent development. Reach out to Darren ⁠at his company website⁠ or ⁠via his LinkedIn Profile⁠. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conversational AI and CAI Company02:47 Darren's Background and the Origin of CAI Company04:10 Use Cases and Growth of Conversational AI10:08 Consumer Acceptance and Chatbot Horror Stories12:30 Generative AI and Executive Awareness15:48 Talent Development in Conversational AI18:44 Ethics in Conversational AI20:59 Internal vs External Chatbots23:46 Key Considerations for Executives in Conversational AI Keywords Conversational AI, CAI Company, chatbot, generative AI, voice technology, user experience, ethics, talent development, executive awareness, use cases

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Ellen Keenan-O'Malley, a commercial IP lawyer at EIP, about the legal challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Conversational AI. We discuss the current state of AI law, the implications of GDPR on Conversational AI, and the importance of understanding liability in AI solutions. Ellen emphasizes the need for companies to consider legal aspects from the outset of AI development and highlights the evolving role of legal professionals in the tech landscape. If you've got any questions around the topic of intellectual property and AI, I would strongly recommend reaching out to Ellen for a conversation via her corporate profile on EIP.com or her LinkedIn profile. Takeaways AI law is currently ambiguous and evolving.Companies often approach lawyers at the last minute.Data protection is a significant concern in conversational AI.Existing laws like GDPR still apply to AI technologies.Indemnity provisions are crucial for AI vendors.Legal considerations should be integrated from the start of AI projects.Human intervention is necessary to mitigate AI risks.AI can enhance efficiency in the legal profession.The legal profession must adapt to the rise of AI.Engaging with legal experts early can save time and resources. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI Legal Issues03:38 Navigating AI Regulations and Compliance08:36 Understanding Liability in AI Implementations11:15 The Role of Legal Professionals in AI Development15:17 Future of AI in the Legal Profession

In this episode, I'm speaking with Neil Marley, CEO of Qualyfi, about askQ, the dedicated AI assistant built for technology delivery and consulting teams. AskQ is an LLM/RAG-enabled solution that provides 24/7 contextual answers for anyone working in your technology environment - so it's especially useful for consulting and tech delivery teams. We discuss the evolution of technology delivery, the role of AI in training and development, and the challenges faced by organisations in standardising processes. Neil shares insights on how Qualyfi aims to democratise knowledge and provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to excel in tech delivery. We also explore the future implications of AI on the tech industry and how organisations can leverage these advancements for competitive advantage. You contact Neil on LinkedIn or via the company's website at qualify.co.uk. Takeaways AI is at a similar maturity stage as the public cloud was in its early days.Qualyfi aims to open opportunities for individuals without traditional academic backgrounds.The AskQ service combines Qualyfi's IP with an LLM to provide relevant answers to users on demand.Training and mentoring are crucial for early career development in tech.AI can significantly reduce the time required for tasks like creating statements of work.Standardization in tech delivery is essential for efficiency and risk management.Qualyfi's approach focuses on empathy and determination in selecting candidates.The future of tech delivery will involve smaller teams using software agents.Organisations need to adapt their talent acquisition strategies to include AI tools. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background00:31 The Rise of Public Cloud and AI02:30 Qualify's Mission and Methodology05:26 The Role of Conversational AI in Training08:22 Humanising the Learning Journey10:47 Challenges in Tech Delivery13:49 Qualify's Service Offerings16:26 The Future of Tech Delivery with AI19:38 Implications of AI on Workforce Dynamics22:40 Navigating the Current AI Landscape25:28 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, I'm meeting Tom Sherwood, CEO of Koios to discuss the bleeding-edge field of emotionally intelligent AI. This is definitely worth a listen. Tom shares his unique background (the Army, Recruiter, Snap, Spotify!) and then goes on to explain the formation of Koios, and how their technology leverages voice analysis to understand personality traits. We explore some of the applications of the Koios technology in the recruitment and sales markets, we discuss the business model behind the Koios API, and I ask Tom about the future of human-machine interaction. Tom finishes by discussing the importance of human connection in AI systems and offers insights for those developing conversational AI interfaces. If you'd like to know more, I strongly recommend reaching out to Tom directly via his LinkedIn profile. Takeaways Emotionally intelligent AI can enhance human interactions.Voice analysis can reveal personality traits effectively.Recruitment processes can benefit from personality insights.Sales strategies can be tailored based on personality understanding.Koios uses acoustic and linguistic data for analysis.The business model is based on API calls for analysis.Human-machine interaction is evolving with AI advancements.Understanding the human element is crucial in AI development.AI can help scale coaching and training in organisations.Future applications may include personalised virtual coaching. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Emotionally Intelligent AI02:40 Tom's Unique Background and Journey05:52 The Birth of Koios and Its Mission08:43 Understanding Personality Through Voice11:30 Applications in Recruitment and Sales14:39 Business Model and API Functionality17:33 Ethical Considerations and Use Cases20:46 Future Roadmap and Human-Machine Interaction23:45 Enhancing Conversational AI with Emotional Intelligence26:16 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode, I sit down with Amelia Lowe⁠, VP Operations at SquareTrade Insurance. Amelia shares insights on the importance of customer centricity, and how the company is using AI, particularly conversational AI, to improve service delivery throughout their European operations. She discusses the challenges faced in adopting AI, the leadership perspective on technology implementation, and customer reactions. Takeaways SquareTrade protects a wide range of products, from phones to fridges.The company has expanded significantly in Europe over the last nine years.Customer expectations are evolving, requiring a more personalised approach.AI is critical for achieving customer centricity and enhancing experiences.Chatbots are being used to provide seamless customer service.Building confidence in AI requires rigorous testing and iteration.AI should be viewed as an extension of the team, not just technology.Balancing automation with a human touch is essential for customer trust.The buy versus build decision for AI solutions often requires a hybrid approach.Customer reactions to AI integration can vary based on effectiveness. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of SquareTrade01:32 The Role of AI in SquareTrade's Success03:14 Radical Customer Centricity and Personalisation05:01 The Importance of AI in Sustainable Growth06:08 Balancing Commercial Objectives and Customer Experience07:48 The Role of Chatbots in Enhancing Customer Service10:31 Building High-Performing Teams in AI Implementation13:35 Buy vs. Build Approach in AI Adoption15:36 Leveraging AI for Multilingual Customer Service16:34 Success Story: Using AI to Improve Customer Service16:34 Challenges in Adopting Conversational AI18:12 Client Response to Augmented Customer Service19:21 How to Connect with Amelia Lowe and SquareTrade Keywords SquareTrade, insurance, AI, customer experience, conversational AI, chatbots, B2B2C, customer centricity, technology, leadership

In this episode, I showcase the audio generation capabilities of NotebookLM, a note-taking research assistant powered by Google's Gemini. To give it a test run, I uploaded a recent article that the team at Nordic FinTech Magazine published for me on the topic of Conversational AI being 'the next interface' in Banking. Having uploaded the material, I had the option to generate an audio overview. I did this. Goodness me it's good. It's made a mini-podcast or NPR-style audio feature about my article. I have actually included the audio it generated. The quality is ridiculously good. Have a listen and let me know what you think. Nice work Google.

In today's episode, Luke Budka, AI Director of Definition, discusses the use of Conversational AI in public relations and communications. He explains how his agency has integrated AI into their services and the benefits it brings to clients. Luke emphasizes the importance of understanding use cases and leveraging conversational AI to enhance tone of voice and communication strategies. He also highlights the rapid advancements in AI technology and the potential for autonomous AI agents. Luke concludes by inviting brands to explore the possibilities of using conversational AI to differentiate their communication approach. Takeaways Conversational AI can be used to enhance public relations and communications strategies.Understanding use cases and leveraging AI to enhance tone of voice is crucial.Rapid advancements in AI technology are opening up new possibilities.The future may involve the use of autonomous AI agents in communication. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview01:31 The Impact of Generative AI on the Company04:35 Initial Use of AI and its Evolution06:17 The Excitement and Challenges of AI in the Industry08:59 The Future of AI in Agencies and Businesses11:35 The Human Dimension in AI Development14:14 The Need for More Resources in AI Development18:47 The Role of Humans in AI-Assisted Communication21:58 The Impact of AI on Society and Government23:59 The Future of Conversational AI in Communication24:57 Using Conversational AI to Improve Communication Strategies27:20 The Importance of Language and Tone of Voice in Conversational AI29:06 Contact Information and Conclusion

In this episode, I'm offering a quick overview of the upcoming Conversational AI Mini Summit taking place in London next week. It will feature a keynote speaker from a large bank discussing their journey with Conversational AI. Sponsors Koios and Qualyfi will also have presentations. Ed Hodges, the founder of HelloDone, will share his journey in conversational AI. The event will be small and intimate, allowing for meaningful conversations and networking opportunities. Takeaways The mini-summit is a great opportunity to learn about the experiences and journeys of industry leaders in conversational AI. Networking and connecting with like-minded professionals is a key aspect of the event. The event will feature a mix of presentations, interviews, and open conversations. The venue is small and intimate, allowing for meaningful interactions and discussions. Chapters 00:00 Overview of the Conversational AI Mini Summit00:57 Keynote Speaker: Journey of Implementing Conversational AI at a Large Bank01:25 Presentations and Discussions with Sponsors and Industry Experts03:42 Networking Opportunities at the Mini Summit06:22 Creating an Intimate and Valuable Experience for Attendees

I'm delighted to bring you our very first podcast interview with Sam Oliver, Founder of OpenFi, the team behind the fantastic Conversational AI product, SalesTalk AI. This episode builds on the interview I did with Sam a few weeks ago on Conversational AI News. I had such great feedback that I decided to ask him back for today's show. I ask Sam to give us an overview of OpenFi, tell us more about how SalesTalk AI works. I also asked him for his observations on what he's seeing in the marketplace, particularly from the point of view of the Financial Services sector clients they're working with right now. Finally I asked him who he admires in the market -- and his quick-as-a-flash answer: Chatbase. Check them out! You can find out more about OpenFi at www.openfi.tech. Takeaways Conversational AI can automate the process of qualifying leads and booking appointments, as well as reengaging with existing clients.SalesTalk AI is particularly beneficial for industries with high-value products or services and a large volume of leads, such as mortgages, insurance, healthcare, and car sales.Security and compliance considerations, such as GDPR compliance and hallucination risk, should be addressed when implementing AI in sales and marketing.Integrating conversational AI with existing CRM systems can enhance the customer experience and improve conversion rates.Chatbase is a third-party tool Sam highlighted for leveraging Conversational AI with your own data on your website. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sales Talk AI05:39 The Value of Outbound Conversational AI09:21 Addressing Security and Compliance14:56 Working with Customers and Integration Process18:10 Capabilities and Benefits of SalesTalk AI21:59 Real-Life Use Cases of SalesTalk AI25:07 Timeline and Business Model27:20 Observations on the Market and Competitors31:08 Ideal Customer Profile34:08 Impressive Vendors and Services that caught Sam's attention 36:14 Contacting Sam Oliver and OpenFi

Hello and welcome to the Conversational AI Podcast. This is episode zero where I'm introducing things. This is also a sister publication to Conversational AI News. You can also find me on LinkedIn. Summary This is the first episode of the Conversational AI Podcast, where the host, Ewan, introduces the purpose of the podcast and his background in the conversational AI marketplace. He discusses his experience as a buyer and champion of conversational AI tools in the financial services industry. The podcast aims to provide insights and interviews with executives and experts in the conversational AI space. Ewan also mentions that he offers consultancy services and plans to organize events related to conversational AI. Sound Bites "This is the first one.""I've been the one saying come on we should definitely do this.""Conversational AI News, what I'm doing there is documenting what I see happening in the marketplace for my colleagues." Takeaways The Conversational AI podcast is a platform to track the developments and maturity in the conversational AI marketplace.Ewan has practical experience as a buyer and champion of conversational AI tools in the financial services industry.The podcast will feature interviews and commentary from executives and experts in the conversational AI space.Ewan offers consultancy services to help with implementations and go-to-market strategies for both deployers and vendors of conversational AI.Ewan will also organize events related to conversational AI - standby for more details! Keywords Conversational AI, podcast, Ewan, marketplace, financial services, buyer, champion, tools, insights, interviews, executives, experts, consultancy, events