Illuminator

In a world overflowing with AI hype, how do you cut through the noise and truly leverage Generative AI for your business? And what if you already tried implementing GenAI but it didn't yield the ROI you were looking for? On this episode of ILLUMINATOR, Joe sat down with Ian Jacobs, VP and Lead Analyst at Opus Research, to explore the essentials of getting started—or restarting—your GenAI journey. Ian shares actionable insights on d...

Sure, AI is everywhere... But how much of the hype translates into real value for industrial operations? In this episode of ILLUMINATOR, Josh sat down with Malavika Tohani and Joe Lamming of Verdantix to explore the evolving role of AI, digital twins, and IoT in manufacturing and industrial settings. They discuss how AI has been embedded in industrial workflows for years, powering predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and proc...

In this episode of ILLUMINATOR, Joe and Josh dive into analyst predictions for 2025, joined by our very special guest—Sarah Gish, Senior Director of Research & Intelligence at Spotlight! We explore what analysts are saying about the rise of agentic AI and how these autonomous digital agents could reshape commerce, enterprise operations, and consumer behavior. Sarah brings her expertise in analyzing market trends to break down k...

In this special year-end episode of ILLUMINATOR, we’re joined by the legendary John “Rocky” Rockhold, VP of Research & Intelligence at Spotlight. Rocky shares exclusive findings from Spotlight’s 2024 Analyst Survey, revealing what truly matters to industry analysts today and what vendors can do to make their relationships with analysts more impactful.

Discover three key themes reshaping Analyst Relations in 2024: the power of re...

Is the cloud really as limitless as it seems? In this episode of ILLUMINATOR, we sit down with Dave McCarthy, Research VP at IDC, to uncover the hidden layers of cloud computing that most of us take for granted. From the breakneck pace of cloud modernization to the complex dance between AI demands and skyrocketing resource costs, we explore the decisions shaping the future of our digital infrastructure. Are cloud providers becoming...

In this episode of ILLUMINATOR, Joe sat down with Jordan McKee, Research Director at 451 Research, to explore the hidden complexity of Payments. Together, they reveal the intricate processes behind every card swipe or online purchase you make, unraveling the web of technologies and key players that make payments seamless. Jordan also sheds light on how payments are evolving into a strategic differentiator for businesses, covering t...

In today's episode of ILLUMINATOR, Josh sits down with Chase Cunningham (VP of Security Market Research at G2) to delve into the escalating crisis of data breaches. Josh, Joe, and Chase explore why data breaches are becoming more frequent, the evolving tactics of cyber attackers, and the limitations of current cybersecurity measures. Chase shares his insights on the importance of adopting a Zero Trust strategy, the pitfalls of rely...

In this episode of ILLUMINATOR, we delve into the environmental and social impacts of Generative AI starting with the workforce of the future. Join co-hosts Josh and Joe as they explore how impact sourcing can help mitigate AI's looming energy crisis. Featuring a compelling interview with Rita Soni, a principal analyst at Everest Group, we discover why tech companies are hiring and training people from disadvantaged communities and...

Step into the mysterious realm of tech predictions with ILLUMINATOR's Joe Miller and Josh Carlton. Can industry experts truly predict the future? This riveting episode pulls back the curtain on the secretive world of annual tech predictions, featuring exclusive interviews with Sharyn Leaver, Chief Research Officer at Forrester, and Michael Rennet, Director of Analyst Relations at Dell Technologies. Discover the methods behind craft...

In the debut episode of ILLUMINATOR, hosts Josh Carlton and Joe Miller dive into the critical intersection of AI ethics and trust with Dr. Grace Trinidad, Director of IDC's Future of Trust program. Discover how building responsible and trustworthy AI systems is crucial to avoid potential pitfalls. Dr. Trinidad breaks down key issues such as bias, discrimination, privacy, and security, and shares promising use cases and strategic ad...