Tech Tomorrow

AI adoption is moving so quickly that, for many organisations, governance is struggling to keep pace. So how can leaders begin thinking more strategically about how, when, and even if they use AI?In this episode of Tech Tomorrow, David Elliman speaks with responsible AI expert Zahra Shah about what it takes to adopt AI safely and responsibly, and to deliver real business value.Zahra explains that rapid AI development is making it harder for businesses to keep up with evolving risks, regulations, and operational demands. At the same time, ‘shadow AI’ is on the rise, as employees use generative AI tools without oversight, increasing the risk of exposing sensitive company or customer data.Zahra stresses that successful AI adoption starts with the basics: clear use cases, proper due diligence, and strong governance from the outset. She also recommends starting with a requirements analysis, establishing responsible AI principles such as transparency and explainability, and implementing safeguards against bias, hallucinations, and compliance risks before scaling.Rather than launching sweeping transformation programmes, she encourages businesses to begin with smaller, lower-risk pilots that deliver measurable outcomes. Internal HR policy assistants, for example, can help teams test workflows in a safe environment while also teaching employees not to treat AI like ‘Google 2.0.’Another major theme in this episode, and throughout Season 3, is avoiding vendor lock-in. Zahra recommends using abstraction layers so organisations can switch providers as the market evolves while retaining control over prompts, evaluations, and proprietary data. She argues that accountability should remain with business owners, supported by cross-functional governance groups spanning technical, legal, compliance, and operational teams.Finally, the conversation explores the UK context and how it could build confidence in AI through trust marks, certification, and regional workforce development. Zahra points to Singapore as a strong example of practical, agile AI governance in action.Episode Highlights01:18 – The staggering speed of AI deployment.04:07 – Small pilots are a good policy.06:40 – Data hygiene and AI governance.08:39 – David’s Thoughts: The problem of vendor lock-in.10:03 – Not every company needs a large language model.11:27 – AI ethics and the fear of accountability.14:27 – The global picture of AI regulation.18:07 – David’s Thoughts: Regional employment inequality in the UK.19:02 – The global erosion of trust in AI.20:31 – Are leaders deploying AI faster than they can effectively govern it?About Zühlke:Zühlke is a global transformation partner, with engineering and innovation at its core. We help clients envision and build their businesses for the future – running smarter today while adapting for tomorrow’s markets, customers, and communities.Our multidisciplinary teams specialise in technology strategy and business innovation, digital solutions and applications, and device and systems engineering. We thrive in complex, regulated sectors such as healthcare and finance, connecting strategy, implementation, and operations to help clients build more effective and resilient businesses.Links:Zühlke WebsiteZühlke on LinkedInDavid Elliman on LinkedInZahra Shah on LinkedIn

Tech Tomorrow is your front-row seat to the conversations redefining the future.Each episode explores a big, thought-provoking question, from how we collaborate with machines to the possibilities intelligent systems could unlock in the future. Created for leaders steering innovation through complexity, the show cuts through the noise, connecting cross-disciplinary trends so you can make confident decisions in a rapidly changing world.Your host, David Elliman, Chief of Software Engineering at Zühlke, draws on four decades of global experience in technology and innovation. An expert in enterprise-scale solutions and emerging technologies, including AI, IoT, blockchain, and cloud computing, David brings clarity and insight to even the most complex topics.Tech Tomorrow, from Zühlke – coming soon, wherever you get your podcasts.About Zühlke:Zühlke is a global transformation partner, with engineering and innovation in our DNA. We're trusted to help clients envision and build their businesses for the future – to run smarter today while adapting for tomorrow’s markets, customers, and communities.Our multidisciplinary teams specialise in tech strategy and business innovation, digital solutions and applications, and device and systems engineering. We excel in complex, regulated spaces, including health and finance, connecting strategy, tech implementation, and operational services to help clients become more effective, resilient businesses.Links:Zühlke WebsiteZühlke on LinkedInDavid Elliman on LinkedIn

According to Alzheimer's Disease International, the number of people around the world with the condition will reach 78 million in 2030, and 139 million in 2050. As of 2024, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's, dementia, or similar degenerative brain conditions. So, how are those testing for these diseases using data and technology to help improve health outcomes?Today’s guest is Rhoda Au, Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Neurology, and Epidemiology at Boston University, and Director of Neuropsychology at the Framingham Heart Study. She’s also the Director of Global Cohort Development at the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative.We discuss Rhoda’s experience of paper-and-pen Alzheimer's testing in the early 90s, her switch to voice capture in 2005, and her thoughts about how medical data should be shared. 00:00 - Intro02:02 - The pen-and-paper days of Altizmer’s testing12:34 - The ethics of voice capture20:20 - Why we need to open up health data to the community26:07 - Dan's final thoughtsLINKS:Rhoda Au: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoda-au-1687277/Boston University School of Medicine & Public Health: https://www.bu.edu/sph/Framingham Heart Study: https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/Alzheimer's Disease International: https://www.alzint.org/Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative: https://www.alzheimersdata.org/Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplkleinZühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/enWelcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

Public services and higher education facilities are under enormous pressure to keep track of their funds. But what if they were able to utilise some of that money, and put it back into the hands of the communities they serve?Today’s guest is Peter Forsgren, co-founder and COO of three+one, an organisation that assists clients across the United States in identifying opportunities to increase their revenue.Peter has worked in public sector finance for a long time but also serves on his local school board. We discuss Peter’s first role out of college with the Oneida Indian Nation, break down just how much financial data is required to optimise funds and examine a few case studies that show the power of money saved.00:00 - Intro02:30 - Peter’s experience with the Oneida Indian Nation10:53 - What does scalability look like for three+one?18:33 - The plan for national domination27:34 - Dan's final thoughtsLINKS:Peter Forsgren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterdforsgren/three+one: https://threeplusone.us/Oneida Indian Nation: https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplkleinZühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/enWelcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

It's been just over two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. How has disinformation played a part in the conflict, and what has been done to help combat it?Today's guest is Olga Tokariuk, a Chatham House Fellow and journalist who specialises in research around disinformation. She has spoken widely about Russia's use of disinformation in the war and what it means for the public's wider trust in the media.We discuss the four ways that technology and AI are being used in Ukraine, how to debunk and tackle disinformation in wartime, and how the public has been galvanised to think critically about the media they're consuming.00:00 - Intro01:54 - The four ways technology and AI are used on the battlefield08:19 - What does disinformation look like in this conflict?16:44 - The global decline of trust in the media21:55 - How did the evolution of the DIA app help galvanise the public in Ukraine?19:18 - Dan's final thoughtsLINKS:Olga Tokariuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-tokariuk/Chatham House: https://www.chathamhouse.org/Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplkleinZühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/enWelcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke. We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate. We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we're taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

Nuclear weapons still loom large on the world stage. So why has the number of nuclear tests dropped so dramatically?Today’s guest is Megan Slinkard, Chief of the Software Applications Section in the International Data Centre at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Based in Vienna, Megan has worked in nuclear explosion monitoring for more than 10 years and is really at the coal face of the monitoring work that the organisation does.We discuss Megan’s path to nuclear testing, how the CBTO has helped to create a culture where nuclear testing is rare, and how monitoring nuclear tests has helped bolster the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty).00:00 - Intro02:41 - Megan’s origin story13:05 - What does CTBTO do when they detect an unusual event?23:00 - How monitoring and testing can add robustness to a treaty30:01 - Dan's final thoughtsLINKS:Megan Slinkard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-slinkard-4905b2167/CTBTO: https://www.ctbto.org/Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplkleinZühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/enWelcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realize them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

When moving and transforming data, how do you make sure it retains its accuracy?That's the question that drives today’s guest, Heather Savory. Heather has 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She currently holds Non-Executive Director roles in the UK Parliament and Ministry of Justice and was previously the Director General for Data Capability at the Office of National Statistics (ONS).We discuss connecting siloed data sources, how to communicate the importance of data with the public, and the benefits of sharing data.00:00 - Intro01:52 - How did Heather experience data and information handling in Parliament? 07:13 - Heather’s journey from VLSI chips to government10:59 - There's no digital without the data - what does this mean to Heather?23:57 - Dan's final thoughtsLINKS:Heather Savory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-savory-63055b/?originalSubdomain=ukDan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplkleinZühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/enWelcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.