MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Online Series

Agentic Commerce: Who Controls Revenue in a Machine-to-Machine Economy? | Ep. 14

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:10:22 -0400

As AI agents begin to search, negotiate, and transact on behalf of users, commerce is shifting from human-initiated clicks to machine-mediated coordination. In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger speak with Barnard Crespi about the emerging architecture of agentic commerce and what it means for enterprise leaders.
The conversation explores how AI agents alter traditional assumptions about identity, delegated authority, liability, and trust. Rather than focusing narrowly on technical standards, the discussion examines deeper structural questions: Who controls discovery when agents mediate transactions? How should enterprises think about “Know Your Agent” alongside Know Your Customer? And what new risks emerge when optimization systems begin negotiating with other optimization systems?

For CIOs, the implications extend beyond payments and procurement. Agentic commerce challenges existing governance frameworks, incentive structures, and security models, and may reshape where power and revenue concentrate in digital ecosystems. Watch this session to understand the strategic, architectural, and governance questions enterprises must address before machine-to-machine commerce becomes operational reality.

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How Future Historians Might View AI’s Place in Our Time | Ep. 13

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 07:26:03 -0400

How will future historians understand AI’s place in our time? In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger step back from hype and predictions to explore how major technological eras are recognized only in hindsight. Through historical analogies, the idea of a “rational bubble,” and a provocative discussion of AI as a possible cognitive technology, they examine three competing narratives, as well as implications for CIOs: AI as a new technological revolution akin to electricity, an evolution of the ICT era, or the first cognitive technology reshaping human intelligence. The conversation models disciplined inquiry, helping leaders think more clearly about AI, uncertainty, and the choices that must be made now.

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Agentic AI: Revolutionizing Work or a Path to Dystopia? | Ep. 12

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:51:37 -0300

MIT Sloan CIO Symposium – Online Series
Episode #12
Recording Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

🎙️ Title: Agentic AI: Revolutionizing Work or a Path to Dystopia?

In this episode, hosts Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger sit down with Tom Davenport, President’s Distinguished Professor at Babson College and co-author of Agentic Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing AI Agents to Reinvent Business, Work and Life. Together, they explore the rise of agentic AI—autonomous systems designed to perform digital tasks—and their potential to reshape the workplace.

Davenport shares insights from real-world deployments, such as AI-driven compliance in banking and automated warranty claims in automotive, while weighing the promises and perils of AI-human collaboration. The discussion ranges from productivity gains and job augmentation to the risks of over-reliance on flawed AI models, hallucinations in critical fields like medicine, and even the societal implications of AI companionship.

The conversation challenges CIOs and executives to move beyond fear and hype—focusing instead on augmentation, re-engineering, and human-centric design to ensure that AI agents become trusted partners rather than dystopian replacements.

🔗 References & Further Reading:

Join us in the online community to keep the discussion going ➡️ Online Community

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Beyond Automation: Human Strengths in the Age of AI | Ep. 11

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:05:00 -0300

Episode 11: Beyond Automation: Human Strengths in the Age of AI

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger are joined by Isabella Loaiza, postdoctoral associate at MIT Sloan, to discuss her EPOCH framework and the enduring human capabilities that remain vital in an AI-powered world. Isabella unpacks the roles of empathy, presence, originality, creativity, and hope in the evolving workplace and challenges the idea of AI as a mere cost-cutting tool. Instead, she offers a vision where technology amplifies human potential. This conversation is packed with insights for technology leaders seeking to redesign work and leadership strategies that prioritize and preserve what makes us uniquely human.

Join Us in the Online Community: https://mitcio.info/welcome

📄 Related reading:

The EPOCH of AI: Human-Machine Complementarities at Work
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5028371
How Humans and AI Can Complement Each Other in the Workplace
https://mitcio.com/posts/79784742
The Impact of AI on Jobs and Skills
https://mitcio.com/posts/86701768

Philosophy Eats AI: Exploring the Role of Critical Thinking in AI Adoption | Ep. 10

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0300

In Episode 10 of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium’s Online Series, hosts Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger talk with Michael Schrage, Fellow at MIT Sloan School’s Initiative on the Digital Economy.

The conversation explores the critical role of philosophy in shaping AI adoption, challenging the overemphasis on ethical and responsible AI by examining teleological, ontological, and epistemological dimensions.

Schrage argues that AI built on large language models (LLMs) is not just a statistical tool but a medium shaped by philosophical principles. The discussion also tackles whether AI is a "normal" technology, comparing its cognitive augmentation to historical tools like telescopes and calculators, and debates its potential to redefine human intelligence and critical thinking.

We invite you to join in on the conversation in our online community. Visit here: https://mitcio.info/welcome

Save the Date: 2026 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, May 19th

MIT Sloan CIO Symposium – Online Series, Episode 10

Philosophy Eats AI: Exploring the Role of Critical Thinking in AI Adoption

Agentic AI: The Next Frontier in Enterprise Innovation | Ep. 9

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:41:23 -0300

In this engaging episode, Allan Tate moderates a lively discussion with Irving Wladawsky-Berger and Michael Grandinetti, exploring the transformative potential of Agentic AI. Michael Grandinetti, fresh from both MIT’s NANDA (Network of Agents and Decentralized AI Conference and the Imaginaton in Action AI Conference , distinguishes Agentic AI from generative AI, highlighting its autonomy, persistent memory, and ability to execute complex workflows with minimal human input. He shares real-world examples, such as Klarna’s customer support automation and John Hancock’s 40 production use cases, illustrating Agentic AI’s early enterprise impact. Irving Wladawsky-Berger frames Agentic AI as the “action phase” of AI, emphasizing its role in building sophisticated applications through human-agent collaboration, likening it to assembling teams of specialized “servlets” for tasks like travel planning. The trio debates the technology’s maturity, with Irving advocating for cautious, incremental adoption in low-stakes workflows, while Michael predicts rapid scaling, citing AI native startups in the Link Ventures venture studio generating millions of code lines dailymand a “livig lab:” where an ever increasing number of startups are reaching $100M in ARR (annual recurring) at unprecedented speed with hyper-lean teams. They address challenges like testing, transparency, and cultural change management, underscoring the need for human oversight and robust engineering. The conversation also touches on preparing future leaders for an AI-driven world, with Michael noting curriculum shifts at Harvard and Wharton. This episode offers a balanced, insightful look at Agentic AI’s promise and pitfalls for CIOs and enterprises.

Save the Date:
The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World.

The Impact of AI on Work and Innovation: Machines are from Mars, Humans are from Venus | Ep. 8

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:31:40 -0300

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger discuss AI’s evolving role in workplaces and innovation, drawing on research by Isabella Loaiza and Aidan Toner-Rogers. Wladawsky-Berger highlights how AI augments human capabilities rather than replacing jobs, transforming tasks by automating data-driven predictions while leaving judgment and creativity to humans. Loaiza’s work identifies AI’s limitations—such as handling small data, extrapolation, and emotional intelligence—emphasizing the need for human-AI collaboration. Toner-Rogers’ research shows AI shifting scientists’ focus from ideation to evaluating AI-generated ideas, raising concerns about diminished human creativity, though Wladawsky-Berger argues judgment remains a creative act. They explore infrastructure needs, like accessible healthcare data, to maximize AI’s potential, and stress education and trial-and-error to adapt to AI’s integration. Looking to 2050, they envision a refined human-AI partnership shaped by empirical progress, with Wladawsky-Berger advising young professionals to prioritize education and market experimentation.

Want to join the conversation with Allan & Irving? Their next exclusive Innovator Only: Open Q&A is happening on Tuesday, March 18th 2025. https://mitcio.info/exclusiveevents

Save the Date:

The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World. https://mitcio.info/register

The Longer-Term Evolution of AI and Robotics Technologies | Ep. 7

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:07:26 -0400

In this episode, Irving Wladawsky-Berger joins Allan Tate to explore the long-term trajectory of AI and robotics. They revisit Rodney Brooks’ Seven Deadly Sins of AI Predictions, highlighting why AI forecasts often overestimate short-term progress but underestimate long-term transformation.

The discussion turns to self-driving cars, where Irving explains how the definition of "autonomy" has shifted—most deployed systems still require remote human oversight. He argues that smart infrastructure could have accelerated progress, but Allan counters with failed government projects like EV charging networks and high-speed rail, questioning whether government-led smart roads would have succeeded.

They also examine AI’s persistent challenges, including data quality, governance, computing power, and scaling AI beyond pilots. The conversation then shifts to AI’s future, referencing James Manyika’s 2050 Thought Experiment and key milestones for AI to become safe, beneficial, and trusted.

Irving emphasizes that while AI is advancing, governance, trust, and human-AI collaboration remain unresolved. The episode closes with reflections on AI’s economic impact on jobs, wages, and productivity.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work | Ep. 6

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:02:10 -0400

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work. They discuss how AI is reshaping jobs through automation, augmenting human capabilities, and driving the need for re-skilling and hybrid skills. The conversation covers real-world applications across industries, ethical challenges, and the evolving role of leaders in navigating AI's opportunities and risks. Tune in for insights on how organizations can embrace AI thoughtfully while fostering innovation and maintaining a human-centric focus.

How is AI Likely to Evolve in the Future, and Why is it so Difficult to Predict? | Ep. 5

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:06:18 -0400

Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger discuss the evolution of AI and its unpredictable future. They reflect on AI's roots with pioneers like Turing and Minsky, the shift from rule-based programming to machine learning, and the societal and ethical dilemmas AI poses today. Key topics include why AI breakthroughs often surprise even experts, how historical biases shaped its development, and the balance between embracing innovation and managing risks. This episode offers rich insights into the forces shaping AI and the challenges of predicting its impact.

Reference Post(s):

From Public Square:

AI Advances Aren’t Likely to Occur Nearly as Quickly as Many Believe

https://mitcio.com/posts/69786931?utm_source=manual

Who Will Be Proved Right? The Bullish or the Skeptic AI Camp?

https://mitcio.com/posts/71533799?utm_source=manual

Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance

https://mitcio.com/posts/60832964?utm_source=manual

Machine Learning Has an AI Problem

https://mitcio.com/posts/60832812?utm_source=manual

From Irving’s Blog:

Data-Centric AI: the Systematic Engineering of Data to Build AI Systems

https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2023/07/the-emerging-concept-of-data-centric-ai.html

The Puzzling Economic Impact of Transformative Technologies

https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2019/12/the-economic-impact-of-historically-transformative-technologies.html

The Future of AI: a Ubiquitous, Invisible, Smart Utility

https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2014/11/ai-an-invisible-ubiquitous-industrial-grade-digital-smartness.html

Who Will Be Proved Right? The Bullish vs. The Skeptic AI Camp | Ep. 4

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:50:00 -0400

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger tackle the critical question: "Who will be proved right—the bullish or the skeptical AI camp?" The conversation navigates the polarized perspectives on AI's transformative potential, contrasting the optimistic view that AI will revolutionize industries with the cautious skepticism about its limitations and risks.

The discussion delves into historical parallels, drawing lessons from past technological revolutions to evaluate whether the current trajectory of AI innovation aligns with long-term transformative trends or overhyped expectations. Key topics include balancing AI-driven innovation with ethical considerations, managing the societal impact of automation, and ensuring sustainable adoption in business and technology ecosystems.

Allan and Irving explore the roles of leadership and critical thinking in navigating this debate, providing actionable insights for CIOs and other leaders preparing for an AI-driven future. The episode offers a nuanced perspective on one of the most pressing debates in technology today, challenging listeners to reflect on where they stand in the AI conversation.

Limitations of Large Language Models | Ep. 3

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:37:58 -0400

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger explore the evolving implications and limitations of large language models (LLMs) in AI. Irving highlights that, while LLMs show remarkable capabilities, they also face significant limitations, particularly in understanding context, reasoning, and maintaining accuracy in complex applications. The discussion addresses the need for business leaders to recognize both the opportunities and constraints of LLMs, as well as the importance of integrating these insights to leverage AI responsibly within organizations.

Save the Date:
The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19.

AI Advances Aren’t Likely to Occur Nearly as Quickly as Many Believe | Ep. 2

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:27:27 -0400

In the second episode of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's online series, Executive Chair Allan Tate and renowned technology strategist Irving Wladawsky-Berger discuss MIT’s exciting recent honor: Professors Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson were awarded the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences along with James Robinson for their groundbreaking research on how institutions influence economic growth and prosperity.

Building on these insights, they explore the debate surrounding AI's near-term potential, drawing from Acemoglu’s perspective that AI's productivity gains will likely be incremental in the next decade. The conversation highlights why transformative technologies, like AI, require time and investment to deliver on their promises, with comparisons to historical innovations like electricity.

This episode is essential for CIOs, IT leaders, and AI enthusiasts seeking to balance ambition with realistic expectations in their AI strategies.

Save the Date:
The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19.

Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance | Ep. 1

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:07:29 -0400

In this first episode of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's new online series, Executive Chair Allan Tate is joined by Irving Wladawsky-Berger, renowned technology strategist and content advisor for the symposium. They dive into Irving’s blog post, Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance, exploring AI’s long-standing promises and current realities.

This episode unpacks the "7 Deadly Sins of AI," offering insights into the common pitfalls surrounding AI adoption and deployment. From overestimating AI's abilities to understanding the gap between Hollywood scenarios and real-world applications, Allan and Irving engage in an in-depth discussion aimed at setting realistic expectations.

The conversation extends to practical AI applications, such as AI-assisted content creation and virtual customer support, while highlighting areas like medical diagnosis and autonomous systems that remain in the demo stage.

This episode is essential for IT practitioners, AI enthusiasts, and decision-makers looking to understand AI’s impact on the future of technology. Tune in to learn how to navigate AI’s potential without falling for the hype.

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