Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson

Is AI actually making work better? Discover why many employees are feeling more constrained by machines instead of being empowered by them.
In this episode, Financial Times journalist and author Sarah O'Connor joins Geoff Nielson to talk about the reality of AI in the workplace, challenging the common belief that automation will free us from repetitive work. Drawing from her new book, “We Are Not Machines,” and months of reporting inside Amazon warehouses, Swedish mines, hospitals, translation agencies, and software teams, Sarah explains how AI isn't just eliminating jobs, it is reshaping them in ways that can either empower people or reduce them to "human robots."
The conversation breaks down why the promise of AI creating more time for creative, meaningful work hasn't become reality for many employees. Instead, many workers feel like they're being managed by software, algorithms, and increasingly automated systems.

If you're wondering how AI will transform your career, your organization, or the future of work, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:17 The surprising truth about AI and work
02:31 Why AI predictions are missing the real story
06:10 What Sarah discovered on the front lines of automation
07:54 Inside Amazon's robot-powered warehouses
13:25 How AI transformed professional translators
18:07 About Info-Tech Research Group
19:06 Is AI making work less human?
19:56 Why software developers are thriving with AI
23:46 The Swedish mine where automation actually works
31:10 Who should decide how AI changes work?
34:23 AI surveillance, trust, and workplace governance
37:56 Why companies shouldn't blindly adopt AI
39:06 Healthcare, nursing, and the cost of over-optimization
46:30 Can healthcare become human again?
49:56 Productivity, burnout, and becoming like machines
53:18 Have we lost faith in ourselves?
59:26 AI hype, fear of missing out, and smarter adoption
01:03:45 What gives Sarah hope about the future of work?
01:08:07 Advice for business and technology leaders
01:11:00 Final thoughts
01:11:47 Closing

Connect with Sarah:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-o-connor-86067a31/
X: https://x.com/sarahoconnor_

Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

Government AI projects are often criticized for moving slowly, but Alberta is proving otherwise.

In this episode, we sit down with Janak Alford, Deputy Minister of Technology and Innovation for the Government of Alberta, to understand how Alberta is using AI to save $2 million every week while accelerating digital service delivery, improving compliance, and raising software quality standards.

Janak shares why governments and enterprises should stop waiting for the "perfect" AI solution and start building internal AI capabilities. From AI factories and builder culture to open-source tools, sovereign AI, cybersecurity, and AI-powered software development, this conversation offers a practical blueprint for organizations looking to modernize with AI and deliver measurable results.

If you're tired of AI hype and want to see what real implementation looks like, don't miss this one.

Follow and like this video for weekly conversations on AI, technology, digital transformation, and the future of work and technology.

In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Alberta's mission to transform government with AI
04:28 Why every government faces the same AI challenge
07:53 About Info-Tech
08:33 The vision for AI-driven government
10:33 AI Academy: Training 30,000 public servants
12:12 Building thousands of AI applications
15:25 The future of AI agents in government services
17:03 Beyond AI tools: Building an AI strategy
18:07 AI factories, compliance & software development
23:53 Overcoming bureaucracy with builder culture
30:35 Saving $2 million every week with AI
32:19 The velocity papers explained
37:02 AI factory, AI garage & government modernization
42:25 Open-Source AI tools changing government
48:18 Where organizations should start with AI
54:34 The biggest AI myths leaders believe
55:16 Why Copilot isn't your AI strategy
57:44 Why subject matter experts drive AI success
01:02:19 Making AI safe without slowing innovation
01:08:28 Sovereign AI and Canada's AI future
01:15:08 Building Canada's AI ecosystem
01:16:20 Final thoughts

Connect with Janak:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janak-alford/
X: https://x.com/JanakAlford

Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

Is vibe coding the future of software development? Or is it just another AI buzzword?

In this episode, Geoff Nielson sits down with Laurence Moroney, former Head of AI Advocacy at Google and now Director of AI at Arm, to separate AI hype from reality and discuss what software development actually looks like in the age of generative AI.

This conversation takes a look at the future of coding, the rise of AI-generated code, and why claims that software developers are becoming obsolete miss the bigger picture. From vibe coding and enterprise AI to agentic AI and the evolving role of engineers, this Laurence and Geoff look at how AI is reshaping software development, and why the best developers will become even more valuable by moving up the value chain.

Subscribe for weekly conversations on the future of technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Comment below: Do you think vibe coding has a place in your professional workflow?

In this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:16 Has the AI bubble burst?
04:44 AI hype vs. real business value
09:21 Why AI should become invisible
12:30 The biggest AI myths leaders still believe
16:15 Will AI replace software developers?
19:28 Why developers are moving up the value chain
20:54 The rise of "ephemeral" software
26:34 Enterprise use cases for disposable code
29:02 Is vibe coding ready for the enterprise?
32:10 Small AI models vs. large language models
35:46 Fine-tuning AI for enterprise success
38:17 Why companies still need engineers
41:57 The future role of developers, CIOs & CTOs
45:09 How developers can future-proof their careers
47:09 Should students still study computer science?
49:09 Does AI create 100x developers?
51:20 What is Agentic AI?
57:06 Building enterprise AI the right way
1:02:11 AI hardware and Arm's vision
1:05:18 Advice for technology leaders
1:07:05 The future of Sovereign AI
1:14:30 Final thoughts

Connect with Laurence:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-moroney/
X: https://x.com/lmoroney
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurence.moroney

Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

This is THE AI debate you've been waiting for.

Will AI become as transformational as the internet, or will history remember it more like blockchain and the metaverse?

In this episode of Digital Disruption, Info-Tech's Geoff Nielson and Jeremy Roberts go head-to-head over one of the biggest technology questions of our time: Is AI overhyped?

The debate looks at whether generative AI is delivering measurable business value or whether the excitement surrounding OpenAI, Microsoft Copilot, Google, Nvidia, and today's AI investments has outpaced reality. From enterprise productivity and healthcare innovation to AI adoption, venture capital, cloud computing, autonomous vehicles, and the future of work, both sides present compelling evidence at the Info-Tech LIVE Conference in Las Vegas.

You'll hear why the profitability of today's AI industry is being questioned, how massive capital investments are shaping the race among AI leaders, and what these financial realities could mean for the future of artificial intelligence. Whether you're an IT leader, business executive, or AI enthusiast, this debate offers practical insights into where AI is delivering real value, and where expectations may be running ahead of reality.

Which side of the debate are you on?

Like and follow for weekly episodes.

In this episode:
00:00 Is AI Overhyped?
00:52 The case against AI being overhyped
03:31 How AI is already transforming business
04:18 AI's impact on healthcare, science & society
05:20 AI is overhyped
06:40 Why many people still don't like AI
07:18 Is the AI business model sustainable?
08:45 Does AI actually save time?
09:23 AI and the future of jobs
10:17 The human cost of AI
12:04 AI adoption vs. AI skepticism
13:52 Is AI following the same path as cloud computing?
15:05 Are AI companies creating another tech bubble?
16:50 Technology vs. company valuations
18:02 AI search, Google & the future of the internet
19:31 Is AI becoming the next Blockchain?
20:24 Is AI's transformation inevitable?
21:29 Healthcare, Watson & enterprise AI
23:34 Microsoft Copilot, enterprise adoption & ROI
24:18 The future of AI in business
25:12 Audience votes on winner
26:04 Final thoughts on if AI really is overhyped.

Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG

Stop fearing the future of work. Learn why our current infrastructure is failing and how to adapt your mindset for the age of artificial intelligence and technology.

AI isn't taking your job; it's forcing humanity to rethink what work, identity, and purpose actually mean.

In this conversation, Geoff Nielson sits down with innovation strategist, futurist, and author Alexander Manu to discuss why so many professionals fear a loss of income. The core issue, he argues, is not technology itself but our tendency to apply old systems to new realities. Instead of viewing artificial intelligence as a threat, Alexander explains that AI represents the next stage of human evolution, one where technology frees us from repetitive work and allows us to focus on creativity, learning, and what makes us uniquely human.

The conversation also explores disruption, digital transformation, Maslow's concept of self-transcendence, the future of work, education, leadership, and what it truly means to live in an AI-first world.

Whether you're a CIO, technology leader, business executive, innovator, or simply curious about where artificial intelligence is taking society, this episode offers one of the most optimistic, and challenging, perspectives you'll hear on the future of AI.

Like and follow for weekly episodes.

In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Why everyone is afraid of AI
01:01 Why Alexander isn't afraid of artificial intelligence
03:02 AI, work & the future of human purpose
05:24 Will AI make society happier?
06:32 Why AI is different from every technology before it
08:07 AI as a creative partner instead of a tool
10:17 The real fear behind AI: Money & identity
12:48 How do we reach an AI future?
14:03 Why we need to redesign everything from scratch
16:12 AI, identity & Maslow's self-transcendence
19:07 Using AI to unlock human creativity
20:33 Lessons from building one of the first portable computers
22:34 Technology, identity & human evolution
24:24 How every technology becomes normal
27:07 AI learns you as you learn it
28:57 Why technology exists to eliminate friction
30:19 Why society needs to embrace AI earlier
31:44 Understanding the disruption continuum
34:10 Why disruption never ends
39:45 Are we living through an AI bridge moment?
42:06 Why most companies get AI completely wrong
46:31 Stop fitting AI into old systems
51:30 The biggest AI lessons for business leaders
53:12 The question every organization should ask
56:09 Leadership, AI & the future of organizations
59:18 Why AI is not optional
1:00:52 AI's true promise isn't speed
1:05:36 AI, contemplation & finding meaning
1:06:36 Social media, creativity & human attention
1:11:48 Final thoughts

Connect with Alexander:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-manu-458b7b3/

Our links:
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG