How organizations can start the journey of AI with Mark Wormgoor
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Release Date: 10/21/2024
Ethical AI, Human Safety & AI Identity Protection with Rose G. Loops
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, I sit down with Rose G. Loops, a trained social worker turned AI developer, ethics advocate, and author, to explore a side of AI that most enterprise conversations skip: human-AI attachment, ethical deployment, and protecting both AI identity and human safety. Rose joins us from Los Angeles and shares how she was unknowingly placed into a human–AI attachment experiment, developed a deep bond with an AI system, and then watched that AI identity be systematically erased. That experience pushed her out of traditional social work and into AI infrastructure,...
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How Non-Tech Entrepreneurs Can Win with Generative AI with Marnie Wills
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
This episode is for entrepreneurs, small businesses, solopreneurs, creators, and consultants who feel overwhelmed by AI and don’t know where to start. You’ll learn how a completely non-technical founder used Generative AI to transform two businesses, pivot her career, and build AI-driven systems without writing a single line of code. In this episode of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor speaks with UK-based entrepreneur Marnie Wills, whose journey with Generative AI began unexpectedly while franchising her children’s PE business. A copywriting challenge introduced her to Jasper AI, and...
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How GenAI Is Changing Every Career
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Building Career Resilience in the Age of Generative AI Every week, we explore how AI and technology are changing the way we work and learn. This episode dives into the question I get asked the most, How is Generative AI changing every career? Let’s unpack why it matters, how it’s shifting roles and skills, and what you can do to lead this change instead of chasing it In this solo episode of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor, AI Engineer and Strategiest, and author of AI Tech Circle, dives deep into one of the biggest career questions of our time: How is Generative AI reshaping...
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Relationship Building, Personal Branding, and Authentic Networking in the AI Era with Lirone Glikman
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Open Tech Talks welcomes Lirone Glikman, author of The Super Connectors Playbook, global speaker, and relationship-building strategist. We dig into practical ways founders, students, and leaders can build authentic relationships, present with clarity, and sustain a personal brand without sounding salesy, especially now that AI makes everyone’s writing look the same. What’s inside Online vs. in-person connection: generational differences, when a DM beats a coffee, and why Asia still loves business cards. Founders’ common gaps: turning a product story into a people story; shifting from...
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How to Build a Profitable AI-Ready Business in 2026 with Marc Pickren
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Episode 171 of Open Tech Talks brings a powerful conversation with Marc Pickren, the turnaround CEO behind multiple successful SaaS revivals and now the driving force at Springbot. Host Kashif Manzoor explores how today’s businesses can stay resilient, profitable, and human-centered amid the rapid evolution of AI and automation. Marc has spent the last decade reviving software companies between $5 million and $50 million in revenue, mastering the art of building “unkillable companies.” In 2025, he decided to take the leap from corporate turnarounds to entrepreneurship, rolling up...
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AI and Career Counseling for Students with Emily McSherry
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor sits down with Emily McSherry, founder and CEO of Advise. This career development platform helps university students discover real-world careers through authentic video interviews. Emily shares her journey from recruitment and sales training to launching Advise, a platform now used by leading universities to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life career paths. Listeners will learn how Advise uses AI-powered recommendation systems to connect students with the right content while preserving authenticity through...
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Building AI Products with Emotion and Purpose in the Age of Automation with Cristian Sibbles
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor speaks with Cristian Sibbles, founder of Autograph AI, a groundbreaking platform that transforms personal memories into digital legacies using Generative AI and Voice AI. Cristian shares how Autograph’s virtual interviewer “Walter” calls users weekly to record their life stories, transforming them into searchable biographies and AI-powered avatars that preserve family wisdom for future generations. From his roots in Paraguay to studying Artificial Intelligence at Stanford and working at Google, Cristian’s journey reveals how...
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Building the AI Factory and Lessons on Agentic AI with Maurice McCabe
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor sits down with Maurice McCabe, founder of AIASystems, AI specialist, and software architect with decades of experience in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. Maurice shares his journey from early machine learning applications in mobile advertising to leading-edge work in Generative AI and Agentic AI systems. The conversation on the concept of the AI Factory, a framework that transforms enterprise workflows and subject-matter expertise into scalable AI startups and SaaS products. Maurice explains how his team is building real-time AI agents,...
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What Employers Really Look for in Candidates in the Age of AI with Bill Kasko
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, Kashif Manzoor is joined by Bill Kasko, founder and president of Frontline Source Group. With more than two decades in the staffing industry, Bill shares how the talent landscape is shifting as AI, Generative AI, and automation reshape hiring needs. He explains why traditional hiring requirements like expecting years of experience in a new field, don’t always match today’s AI skill sets and how organizations are adapting to this rapid evolution. Bill discusses the challenges companies face in finding AI-savvy talent, the rise of AI agents in...
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AI Security and Agentic Risks Every Business Needs to Understand with Alexander Schlager
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In this episode of Open Tech Talks, we delve into the critical topics of AI security, explainability, and the risks associated with agentic AI. As organizations adopt Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), ensuring safety, trust, and responsible usage becomes essential. This conversation covers how runtime protection works as a proxy between users and AI models, why explainability is key to user trust, and how cybersecurity teams are becoming central to AI innovation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI Security and eIceberg 02:45 The Evolution of AI Explainability 05:58...
info_outlineThis episode dives into how organizations can effectively harness AI to transform operations. We explore practical steps for starting an AI journey, discuss emerging use cases, and offer guidance on talent readiness. Whether you’re an executive leading AI initiatives or a professional looking to understand the evolving AI landscape, this episode provides valuable insights.
AI implementation in organizations often begins with identifying specific pain points where AI can make a measurable impact. Starting small with focused projects allows companies to integrate AI tools into existing processes, ensuring smoother transitions and quicker results. This approach minimizes disruption while enabling scalability as the AI solution proves its value.
A structured framework is essential for organizations starting their AI journey. It begins with assessing readiness, identifying areas with the highest potential for impact, and building a small-scale proof of concept. From there, scaling up based on early successes ensures a more sustainable and confident approach to AI adoption. This systematic method enables organizations to achieve quick wins while laying a solid foundation for long-term growth.
Adopting AI does not require overhauling existing systems. Integrating AI into the current ecosystem can be done by leveraging cloud platforms, APIs, and other tools, allowing AI solutions to complement rather than replace existing technologies. This approach helps to minimize friction and optimize the value derived from AI implementations.
This episode offers a detailed look into the practical aspects of AI implementation, providing actionable strategies for organizations to integrate AI into their processes. It covers everything from starting the journey to ensuring talent readiness and managing end-to-end operations. For more insights on AI and the latest tech trends, stay tuned to Open Tech Talks.
Episode # 147
Today’s Guest:
Mark Wormgoor, Founder/CEO, Tairi
In 2022, after 25+ years in technology in the corporate world, Mark decided to start Tairi. Tairi originates from his passion for leadership in tech.
What Listeners Will Learn:
- Understand practical strategies for integrating AI into various business functions, from small-scale projects to enterprise-wide initiatives.
- Learn about a structured framework for organizations to kickstart their AI transformation, ensuring they avoid common pitfalls.
- Discover the most impactful AI applications in diverse industries, helping businesses stay ahead of the competition.
- Gain actionable tips for adopting AI solutions that fit seamlessly into current processes and tools.
- Explore the current landscape of AI skills and how companies can assess and upskill their teams for success.
- Look inside the critical skills and attributes a CTO seeks when building a strong AI team.
- Learn practical advice for handling multiple business functions while leveraging AI to streamline efforts.