DisrupTV

What does it actually take to win with AI at the enterprise level — and what does it mean for society as AI becomes inseparable from how we live, work, and relate to one another? In Episode 444 of DisrupTV, hosts R Ray Wang and Vala Afshar bring together two leaders at the front lines of those questions from very different vantage points. TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean — a vertical enterprise software company serving more than 10,000 customers — shares what AI adoption actually looks like at the front line of business. He explains why most organizations are caught in the action trap, burning tokens without creating outcomes, and why the shift from selling tools to selling results is fundamentally rewriting the enterprise software model. He introduces the 90/10 rule for competitive differentiation, makes the case for hiring AI-native engineers whose job is to feed agents work rather than do work themselves, and explains how ecosystems of agents — not single agents — are how you get from 60% accuracy to 99%. Lee Rainie, who spent nearly 25 years leading Pew Research’s internet and technology work and now directs the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University, brings a societal lens to the same transformation. His research asks how humans will cope with the disruptions AI brings — and his answer may surprise you: resilience must start with institutions, not individuals. He introduces the concept of existential literacy, explains why AI may consume our solitude, and makes the case that deliberate friction — pause points built into AI-augmented workflows — may be essential to preserving human judgment, creativity, and agency. Together, they trace a through-line from enterprise outcomes to civilizational resilience, and close with a line that reframes the entire conversation: we are the last generation that will know what human capability felt like before it became inseparable from AI.

Patricia Martin introduces the concept of persona fog — a civilizational malady born from a decade of curating ourselves for algorithms, where our online persona becomes load-bearing and our true self becomes hard to access. She explains why AI may become the most colossal persona fog machine we’ve ever encountered, capable of getting you, amplifying you, and optimizing you until it authors versions of you that you never intended. And she offers a counter-move: self-determination, integration, and becoming the editor-in-chief of your own identity. Tom Rath challenges the conventional wisdom of follow your passion, arguing it centers the self instead of contribution and relies on a tiny pinhole of life exposure. Drawing on his new book, he reframes purpose as something manufactured daily — in the lab of our daily choices — and shares a simple, practical heuristic, what’s the point?, that he uses multiple times a day to reorder his life around what matters. He also opens up about living with cancer for over 30 years, post-traumatic growth, and why you should never fully retire from contributing. Together, Martin and Rath offer a dual lens on the AI era: how we’re being fragmented and performed, and how we can rebuild our lives around contribution, daily choices, and the people who truly see us.

On DisrupTV Episode 428, co-hosts Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang are joined by Seth Ravin (Rimini Street), Elizabeth Weingarten (How to Fall in Love with Questions), and James Taylor (SuperCreativity) to explore how agentic AI is transforming enterprise strategy, leadership, and innovation. From layering AI on legacy ERP systems to offset labor shortages, to developing a leadership mindset rooted in better questions—not faster answers—this episode examines how organizations can modernize without disruptive migrations. The conversation also dives into how human-AI collaboration is unlocking scalable creativity across the enterprise. Tune in to learn why autonomy, curiosity, and composable architectures are becoming essential in the age of agentic AI.

This week on DisrupTV, we go beyond the AI hype and into the decisions shaping 2026. Peter Danenberg, Senior Software Engineer at Google DeepMind, joins us to unpack the rapid evolution of multimodal models like Gemini, the race toward AGI, and what he’s seeing from inside one of the world’s most influential AI labs. We’re also joined by David Bray, PhD, Distinguished Chair of the Accelerator at The Stimson Center & Principal/CEO, LDA Ventures Inc., to examine the dangerous assumptions executives are making post-Davos — from AI-driven workforce disruption and machine-speed cyber threats to hardware security risks and why geopolitics can no longer be ignored by business leaders. From meetups and models to geopolitics and governance, this episode is a must-watch for leaders navigating AI at scale.

Broadcast live from Davos, this special edition of DisrupTV features Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang in conversation with global leaders shaping the future of AI and enterprise transformation. Drawing from the spirit of dialogue at Davos 2026, the episode distills the most important AI insights, lessons learned, and signals executives need to understand what’s coming next. If you’re a senior executive navigating AI-driven disruption, this conversation is essential listening.

In this episode of DisrupTV, we tackle one of the most urgent leadership challenges of our time: navigating AI-driven cybersecurity threats, geopolitical uncertainty, and converging risk. Hosts Ray Wang and Vala Afshar are joined by: Andre Pienaar, CEO & Founder of C5 Capital Dr. David Bray, Distinguished Chair at the Stimson Center & CEO of LDA Ventures Ken Banta, leadership expert and advisor Together, they explore why AI and cybersecurity budgets must rise together, how human–AI collaboration is reshaping cyber defense, and what leaders must do now to prepare for quantum disruption, AI-enabled attacks, and regulatory fragmentation. The conversation also dives into the human side of leadership—from self-awareness and trust to the evolving role of General Counsel as the conscience of the organization. This is a must-listen for boards, CEOs, CISOs, General Counsel, and leaders navigating risk in the Age of Intelligence.

AI-powered ERP, continuous improvement, and human-centric leadership take center stage in this episode of DisrupTV. Unit4 CEO Simon Paris shares how his team is building intuitive, conversational enterprise systems that give time back to educators, civil servants, and service professionals. From self-driving ERP to the virtual assistant Ava, he reveals how AI can enhance productivity and decision-making. Author and strategist Geoff Tuff introduces “hone,” a new model for leading through exponential change—focused on small, continuous adjustments rather than traditional transformation. He explains why CEOs must think like system designers and stay close to the behaviors that drive success. In this episode: AI's role in shaping modern ERP and workforce productivity The rise of conversational enterprise systems Why human-centric design must anchor innovation How leaders can adapt using continuous improvement The power of well-designed management systems A must-listen for leaders navigating the next era of AI and enterprise transformation.