From IT to OT: How Agentic AI turns industrial data into action

What happens when Agentic AI moves beyond the enterprise and onto the factory floor?

In this episode of Futurise, I’m joined by Elan Greenberg, CEO of Augury, to explore the convergence of IT, OT and Agentic AI — and what it means for the future of manufacturing.

We talk about the enormous amount of data already being generated by machines and industrial systems, why so much of that data remains underused, and how Agentic AI could turn it into real-time insight and action.

We also explore what happens when AI agents can understand both the operational environment and the business context — moving from simply analysing data to helping people make better decisions and act on them.

A conversation about the shift from data to intelligence, and intelligence to action — and why the factory could become one of the most important proving grounds for Agentic AI.

At a London panel I moderated with Simplito’s Kasia and Mirek, we explored the growing challenge of building AI that is sovereign, private and properly controlled.

For this episode of Futurise, I continued that conversation with Błażej, CTO of Simplito, going deeper into one of the biggest questions facing enterprise AI:

How much autonomy should we actually give an AI agent?

As agents gain access to enterprise data, systems and processes, privacy and security become fundamentally different problems. It is no longer enough to control the model or protect the data — organisations need to control what the agent can access, what it can do and what happens when it acts.

Błażej takes a deliberately challenging position: he doesn't believe fully autonomous agents have a place inside highly secure enterprise environments.

That opens up a fascinating discussion about the AI harness, privacy-by-design, sovereign infrastructure, permissions, governance and risk management — and whether the future of enterprise agentic AI is actually about controlled agency rather than autonomy.

For European organisations, the EU AI Act adds another layer of complexity, requiring careful consideration of risk, human oversight, monitoring and accountability for relevant high-risk systems.

But there is an interesting twist: the very controls that can make European AI adoption more considered are attracting interest from US organisations too. Rather than seeing European privacy and governance requirements simply as constraints, some US organisations are looking to the European approach as a way of building AI that is safer, more controlled and more trustworthy.

A conversation about privacy, sovereignty and where we draw the line between AI that can assist, AI that can act, and AI that should never be allowed to act alone.

Quantum Computing Meets Agentic AI: Opportunity, Hype and “Woo Woo Quantum Consciousness”

What happens when quantum computing meets agentic AI? Could autonomous AI agents help accelerate quantum research and unlock the potential of quantum technology? And is quantum computing about to transform the future of artificial intelligence?

In this episode of Futurise, Rob is joined by Lori, co-founder of The Quantum Links Group, based out of Seattle, USA, to explore the emerging relationship between quantum computing, agentic AI, autonomous agents and quantum consciousness. From serious scientific and commercial possibilities to the more speculative world of “woo woo quantum consciousness”, the conversation examines where genuine opportunity ends and hype begins.

Quantum computing promises extraordinary processing power for highly complex problems, but practical, scalable applications remain limited. Agentic AI, meanwhile, is already moving from experimentation into real-world deployment — with autonomous AI agents capable of reasoning, planning, collaborating and completing complex tasks.

The discussion explores an important asymmetry: agentic AI may be able to help quantum computing progress more quickly, make quantum systems easier to use and accelerate the path towards practical applications. But quantum computing is unlikely to add significant value to mainstream agentic AI in the near future.

So, is the future quantum-powered AI — or will AI agents be the technology that helps quantum finally deliver on its promise?

A thought-provoking conversation about quantum technology, agentic AI, autonomous systems, emerging technology, scientific innovation and the reality behind the hype.

AI is creating new opportunities for estate agencies—but knowing where to start is often the hardest part.

In this episode of Futurise – AI for Business, Rob Price sits down with one of the early team behind Zoopla, Mal McCallion, who is now travelling the UK speaking with estate agencies about practical AI adoption.

The conversation goes beyond the hype to explore how AI is changing the day-to-day reality of running an estate agency. From generating property listings and managing enquiries to streamlining operations, improving customer experience and supporting negotiators, this episode focuses on the opportunities available today—not in five years' time.

They discuss why many SME businesses are still struggling to move beyond experimentation, what skills leaders need to develop, and how estate agencies can build confidence in adopting AI while preserving the trusted relationships that remain at the heart of the industry.

Whether you're an estate agency owner, branch manager, property professional or SME leader looking for practical lessons on AI adoption, this episode offers real-world insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Where AI is delivering practical value in estate agencies today
• Why many SMEs remain stuck at the experimentation stage
• How AI is augmenting the work of estate agents, not simply replacing it
• The skills businesses need to make AI adoption successful
• Practical ways to improve productivity and customer experience
• What the next generation of AI-enabled estate agencies could look like

If you're responsible for leading an SME through AI adoption, this episode provides practical insights from someone working directly with estate agencies across the UK.

Subscribe to Futurise for conversations with founders, CEOs and technology leaders shaping the future of AI in business.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #EstateAgency #PropTech #SME #BusinessTransformation #BusinessAI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #Leadership #Productivity #CustomerExperience #FuturisePodcast

As organisations move beyond AI experimentation and towards enterprise-wide adoption, one question has become increasingly important: what is the role of the board?

In this episode of Futurise – The AI for Business Podcast, Rob Price is joined by Karen Silverman, CEO of a leading West Coast board advisory firm, to explore how boards and executive teams should approach the rise of Agentic AI. Drawing on her experience advising organisations around the world, Karen shares practical insights into how directors can balance innovation with governance, manage risk without stifling progress, and make confident strategic decisions in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The conversation explores the biggest decisions facing today's leadership teams, including whether to build or buy AI capabilities, how to navigate an increasingly crowded ecosystem of foundation models and AI platforms, the growing importance of sovereign AI and data residency, and how boards should think about measuring return on investment beyond traditional financial metrics.

One of the standout discussions focuses on the often-overlooked gap between board strategy and operational execution. While boards define ambition, it is middle management that must redesign work, lead organisational change and deliver outcomes. Karen discusses how successful organisations bridge this divide and why leadership alignment is becoming a critical differentiator.

Whether you're a board director, CEO, CIO, transformation leader or AI practitioner, this episode offers practical guidance on leading AI adoption with confidence, responsibility and long-term business value.

In this episode:

• The first conversations every board should have about Agentic AI
• Balancing experimentation with governance
• Bridging the gap between board strategy and operational execution
• Build, buy or partner? Making the right AI investment decisions
• AI models, platforms and what boards really need to understand
• Sovereign AI, regulation and global boardroom perspectives
• Measuring ROI and defining success for enterprise AI
• What separates organisations that will thrive from those that fall behind

If you're responsible for shaping your organisation's AI strategy, this episode provides an executive-level perspective on one of the most important business transformations of the decade.

Subscribe to Futurise for conversations with global AI leaders, founders, CEOs and innovators exploring how Agentic AI is reshaping business, leadership and the future of work.

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Yemm MP to explore what AI — and particularly the rise of more agentic systems — could mean for regions like the East Midlands in the UK.

Coming from shared roots in the same Nottinghamshire town and school system, this becomes a conversation not just about technology, but about opportunity, ambition, skills, and the future of communities outside the traditional centres of power and investment.

We discuss:

• Whether AI risks creating a new regional divide

• How places like Mansfield and the East Midlands can genuinely benefit from the AI economy

• The challenge governments face in buying and regulating technology they barely understand

• Why adoption and trust matter as much as innovation itself

• The impact AI could have on jobs, businesses, and public services

• And how AI may become essential in supporting an ageing population and stretched services.

This is a conversation about more than technology. It’s about who benefits, who gets left behind, and what responsible AI leadership should look like in the real world.

A thoughtful discussion on regional regeneration, digital responsibility, and the future of AI in society.

Find out more at https://steveyemm.com

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Most organisations say they’re “doing AI.” Very few are actually seeing results.

In this episode, I sit down with Martin Neale, founder and CEO of ICS.AI, to unpack why so many AI initiatives stall — and what it really takes to deliver impact at scale.

Both recognised in the Computing 2026 AI Leadership Index, we explore the shift from experimentation to real-world impact — and what separates organisations that are delivering from those still stuck in pilot mode.

Martin’s story is one of conviction. At 55, he cashed in his pension to build a company focused not on pilots, but on outcomes. Today, ICS.AI powers AI engagement across a significant proportion of UK councils, transforming how public services operate.

We cover:

• Why most AI programmes get stuck in “pilot mode”
• What an AI operating model actually looks like in practice
• The shift from tools to more agentic AI systems in live services
• Lessons from transforming Derby City Council into one of the UK’s first AI-native councils
• The real barriers to adoption — and how to overcome them
• Why trust, governance, and design are critical to scaling AI responsibly

This is a conversation about moving beyond hype — and building AI that actually works in the real world.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ics-ai-ltd

https://www.ics.ai/customers/derby-city-council-case-study