In this latest episode of Cloud Dialogues, we dive into the evolving world of AI, data governance, and cloud transformation. Packed with insights for tech leaders, here's what you can expect:   AI Industry Insights - CoreWeave's $12B OpenAI Contract: A reminder that infrastructure shortages could be on the horizon as AI scales. - China's AI Ambitions: Baidu's Ernie models and Honor's $10B AI investment signal big moves in the East. - Copyright Controversy: OpenAI wants easier access to copyrighted material—raising big questions for creators. - Regulation Rundown: The EU’s early AI regulation contrasts with the US's more relaxed approach. - Data Center Growth: Thailand's $3B investment and AWS’s new region create fresh opportunities for startups. - Security Spotlight: Apple’s stand against UK encryption laws sparks debate. - Productivity Buzz: JP Morgan claims AI coding tools improved productivity by 10-20%, and our hosts would lose to analyse this data. AI Innovations and Tools - OpenAI’s New Agent Tools: Potentially big competition for Anthropic’s MCP. - Robotics Advances: DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics pushes "embodied reasoning" in AI-driven robots. - Sustainability Challenges: AI’s energy demands rise, with Amazon and Google pledging nuclear energy support.   Cloud Transformation for CIOs — The New Rules of Innovation with Steve Tzortzidis from V2 Digital Steve brings a wealth of insights on building AI-ready data foundations: - Data Readiness: To harness AI’s potential, data must be accessible, trusted, and well-governed. - Federated Data Models: Balancing centralized governance with domain-driven autonomy to improve speed and accountability. - "Start Small" Approach: Focus on specific use cases rather than boiling the ocean. - DBT's Role: DBT’s testing, validation, and documentation features simplify data transformation. - AI’s Future: Expect 2025 to focus heavily on AI agents, multimodal models, and real-world operationalization. Key Takeaway for Tech Leaders Success with AI isn’t just about the tools—it’s about strong data foundations, smart governance, and embracing iterative change. If you’re steering your organization through data and AI transformation, this episode is packed with actionable insights. 🎯 Stay Ahead of the Curve: For weekly insights on AI, data, and digital transformation, subscribe to Cloud Dialogues weekly executive insights at cloud-dialogues.com