Work Musings...

This is the AI panel discussion content post. The panel was sponsored by RSM. George Casey  - Panel Moderator, Principal at RSM Larry Fulton  - Professor of Data Science at Texas State University Dale Sayers  - Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft The discussion centered around the current use and best practices of ML/AI in industry. Here are some of the key takeaways and my thoughts from the panel discussion. This is also based on follow-up conversations with various members of the audience. 1. AI/ML application, implementation is still low and unclear to most organizations Based on my interaction with people at this conference, the companies present were closer to the beginning of the AI/ML journey. To be honest, there were not a lot of pointed questions from the audience. The discussions were more around specific software tools - ML/AI is not a piece of software or a toolset. The application of AI/ML has to align with the strategies of each organization and ...

Public speaking has been an aspirational goal. I've not had too much opportunity before nor have I actively sought it out. It was this 'thing' that looked sooooo cool and people doing it were really cool! However, there was a fear of failure that was overwhelming enough for me to not make that leap - public failure, nonetheless :) In the last year or so, I have applied to speak at a few conferences on the topic of Analytics/Artificial Intelligence(AI)/Machine Learning(ML) applied in the space of Supply Chain Management. What I have learned in many cases is that the conference organizers are engaged in a 'Pay for Play' scheme. A speaking slot is up for sale with the purchase of a display booth or being a sponsor of the whole conference. I am not judging the conference organizers - I fully realize, agree and support the commercial realities of putting on a show. The shock was the pervasiveness of this model and that clash against my naivety.  An opportunity poppe...