Data Driven

In today’s show, BAILeY, your semi-sentient hostess with the mostest metadata, teams up with Frank La Vigne to welcome the ever-insightful Andrew Brust for a deep dive into the evolving Microsoft data ecosystem. From nostalgic tales of Windows history and scoring elusive Clippy swag at Ignite, to unraveling what makes Microsoft Fabric a game-changer for data integration, AI, and governance, this episode covers it all.You’ll hear firsthand how Microsoft’s innovation goes far beyond the tech itself—focusing on seamless integration, unified billing, and organizational synergy. Andrew Brust sheds light on the journey from fragmented Azure services to the unified vision of Fabric, the rise of generative AI and “agentic” intelligence, and the increasingly important role of data sovereignty and governance in today’s regulatory landscape.Whether you’re a data enthusiast, an AI tinkerer, or just in it for the nostalgia, grab your headphones and get ready for insights, laughs, and more acronyms than you can shake a dataset at. Stay curious and caffeinated—this episode has something for everyone!Time Stamps00:00 Microsoft Expertise and Industry Analysis03:18 "Big Data and Analytics Insights"08:31 Power BI's Rise in Azure12:26 "Unified Fabric-Based Data Platform"14:01 "Fabric IQ Powers AI Integration"17:24 "Achieving Synergy Against Odds"23:32 "Unified Compute for Seamless Integration"24:41 "Overwhelmed by AWS Complexity"28:21 "Microsoft Research Powers Azure Fabric"34:20 "Azure Foundry and Tools"37:33 "Flexibility Beyond Major Cloud Providers"41:33 Global Data Privacy Trends45:13 "Governance for Agentic AI"47:29 "Azure Stack and Local Clouds"50:13 "Kubernetes: The Cloud Caveat"53:40 "Let's Reconnect and Reminisce"

Welcome to a milestone episode of Data Driven! In episode 400, hosts BAILeY, Frank La Vigne, and Andy Leonard gather to reflect on nearly a decade at the forefront of podcasting about data, AI, and the world of software engineering. This special edition takes you behind the scenes with stories of tech evolution, personal growth, and the wild journey from their earliest recordings to today’s AI-powered workflows.The team digs into how generative AI has transformed their creative process—making it possible for small teams to produce vast amounts of content, drive innovation, and manage multiple podcasts at a high level. You'll hear about Frank’s latest tool, Podsy—a platform built to help creators manage the ever-growing tsunami of podcast assets using cutting-edge AI—and how tools like Claude, Grok, and Opus are unleashing new possibilities for automation and storytelling.With their signature tangents, candid stories (including car accidents, water heater mishaps, and parenting milestones), and a bit of nostalgia about the early days of podcasting, this episode captures what makes Data Driven both insightful and relatable. If you’re a developer, data professional, or a fellow podcaster looking to stay ahead of the curve, episode 400 is packed with practical lessons, inspiration, and a few good laughs. Dive in as the team celebrates what’s possible in the age of AI—and look ahead to an exciting new chapter for the show!Time stamps00:00 "DGX Spark: Personal AI Supercomputer"03:28 "Tech Innovations and Hardware Updates"07:51 "Daily 5:40am Notification Routine"11:10 "Podzi: Managing Podcast Assets"15:35 "Boosting Value with AI Efficiency"17:05 Claude Enhanced Legacy System23:32 AI Impact on Creative Roles25:58 "Consulting Break: Investing Time"29:33 "Automation Evolution and Tools Demo"31:35 "Podsy Studio: A Journey"35:06 "AI-Powered Content Creation Demo"38:26 "Podcast Organization and Insights"42:10 "Streamlining Metadata for Insights"45:47 "Unveiling AI's Hidden Potential"50:41 "Celebrating 400 Podcast Episodes"54:41 "Off Track Ambitions"57:44 "Reality Strikes Back: Tech Trust"59:36 "Podsy Progress and Workflow"

In this episode of Data Driven, hosts Frank La Vigne, Candace Gillhoolley, and BAILeY sit down with Mike Armistead, CEO of Pulse Security AI—a cybersecurity veteran who's been fortifying digital defenses since before AI made headlines and hackers had professional profiles. Together, they dig into the dual-edged sword that is artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, exploring how AI serves as both a powerful tool against cyber threats and a potential weapon in the wrong hands.Mike Armistead shares stories from the front lines, including his experience during the "code red" era at Google when ChatGPT shook up the tech world, and offers real-world advice on why LLMs (large language models) aren’t the magic fix for every problem—and why they desperately need guardrails. You’ll hear why your next big data breach could be hiding in a cleverly crafted AI prompt, why humans still matter when it comes to judgment calls, and why good old-fashioned security hygiene is as critical as ever.Whether you’re a developer, data scientist, or just password-paranoid, this episode will make you rethink how you approach security in the age of AI. Tune in for expert insights, hard-earned lessons, and a few laughs as the Data Driven crew uncovers where technology, risk, and "common sense" collide.Time Stamps00:00 AI-Assisted Cybersecurity for SOCs04:26 "AI Rush and LLM Insights"09:12 AI-Powered Cybersecurity Strategy Insights10:01 "Cybersecurity, ChatGPT, and Impressions"13:17 AI Tools: Power and Risks18:06 "Teaching Critical Thinking in AI Era"20:59 "Guardrails and Next-Gen AI Systems"24:22 Human Judgment vs AI Limitations27:37 "Pressure Testing for Accuracy"30:09 Future Tech Advancements and Challenges34:58 "Risk Awareness Beyond Compliance"37:38 "Cybersecurity Risks and AI Defense"41:54 Cybersecurity Risks and Preparedness43:04 "Situational Security in Practice"46:05 "Cybersecurity's Evolving Threat Landscape"51:52 "Builders vs. Destroyers Mindset"55:05 Modern Password Practices56:39 "Pulse Security AI & Community"

In this episode, Frank La Vigne sits down with Itay Haber, CEO of Data Noetic, to unpack how AI is revolutionizing supply chain management. Forget spreadsheets and dashboards—Data Noetic is building an autonomous digital brain that proactively tackles delivery bottlenecks and bridges the gap between scattered data and process improvement.You’ll hear real-world tales of missed bathroom tile deliveries, multi-million dollar construction delays, and the true impact of getting ahead of supply chain hiccups before they snowball. The trio explores how agentic AI isn’t just hype: it’s driving tangible results, saving time, boosting KPIs, and reimagining how companies of all sizes make decisions. From pharmaceuticals to consumer packaged goods, discover why trust, transparency, and agility are the new gold standards in supply chain operations—and how data-driven agents just might become indispensable.Tune in for a masterclass that balances digital wisdom with a dash of dry wit, and learn how emerging tech is helping organizations deliver on time, in full, and with a whole lot less existential angst.Time stamps00:00 "Autonomous Supply Chain Optimization"06:01 "Optimizing On-Time Delivery Failures"07:27 Proactive Warehouse Order Management13:06 "Aligning Perception with Reality"15:08 "Streamlining Order Fulfillment Process"18:18 "AI Revolutionizing Problem Coordination"22:18 "Data Validation and AI Insights"25:04 Predictive KPI Monitoring with Gen AI27:09 Clarifying Questions for Assistance31:37 "Tailored Software Delivery Models"34:35 "AI's Role in Complex Industries"37:00 "AI Focus and Value Debate"42:37 "AI Bubble and Valuations"46:43 AI's Transformative Impact on Jobs48:17 AI Enhances Jobs, Not Replaces51:44 "AI: Boom, Bust, Transformation"57:38 "AI, Data, and Change"

Welcome to another exciting episode of Data Driven! On this week’s show, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley take you inside the NVIDIA GTC conference in Washington, DC—an event that’s rapidly evolved from a hardware showcase into a crossroads for AI, robotics, and quantum computing innovation. Frank shares his firsthand experience navigating the expo floor, offering a glimpse into the latest cutting-edge tech, from GPU supercomputers to quantum networking breakthroughs and swarms of robots. Candace and Frank discuss the growing intersections between fields like quantum biology and AI, and share stories about the curious mix of attendees—from government officials and policymakers to technologists, students, and even a few cosplay “Jensen Huangs.”Whether you’re a data enthusiast, a future-focused technologist, or simply quantum curious, this episode dives into the national security implications of AI, the importance of lifelong learning in tech, and how the rise of quantum and robotics will disrupt careers and industries alike. Tune in for insider anecdotes, expert encounters, and a dose of practical wisdom about adapting in the world of emerging technologies—the future is here, and it’s happening faster than ever.LinksFrank gets a shout out from Pluralsight -https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/upskilling/frank-lavigne-customer-storyJensen Huang's DTC DC Keynote -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQHK61IDFH4Mariya & Python Simplified -https://www.youtube.com/@pythonsimplifiedTime Stamps00:00 "Nvidia GTC Highlights and Expo"03:36 "Quantum, AI, and Innovation Highlights"07:18 Tech and Government Amid Furlough10:24 "Tech Components in Booz Allen Vehicle"14:37 Meeting Maria Shah19:11 Career Shifts and Evolutions23:06 From Books to Tech Publishing24:44 Quantum Insights with Researcher29:01 "Nvidia: Emerging Defense Contractor"32:25 Tech Innovations: AI, Quantum, Robotics36:44 "Live Streaming Quantum & Tech"37:40 "High-Speed Quantum Interconnects"41:01 Technical Translation for Accessibility44:19 "High School, Future, Nvidia Innovation"49:28 "Guest's Learning Experience"50:45 "Quantum Business Strategy"53:36 British AI Outro Stream