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Arun Shastri      

Global AI Leader at ZS Associates & Thought Leader

Arun Shastri is a thought leader who writes about how AI is making an impact on the world of business. His articles have appeared in in Harvard Business Review, Information Week, Forbes and other publications. Shastri is also one of the hosts of the "Reinventing Customer Experience" podcast, where guests from companies such as Walmart, United Airlines, Panera and Goldman Sachs discuss strategies for delivering personalized experiences and engage customers through the use of technology.

At ZS, Shastri is a leader of the firm’s AI practice who has led AI implementations throughout his career. His vision guides the development of AI-powered products that deliver value to B2B and B2C clients across industries. He has helped companies build lasting competitive advantages at some of the world's leading businesses operating in the high-tech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services and travel and transportation spaces. Shastri also teaches at Northwestern’s Kellogg, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in decision sciences.

Shastri is a co-author of an upcoming Harvard Business Review book on sales team management, focused on digital competencies and how to implement AI in the sales ecosystem.

Speech Topics

Scaling value in the new age of AI

Executives across industries are weighing business cases for generative AI. Free from the burden of custom labeled data and training, these generative AI models allow for a phenomenal number of applications that will democratize AI and, ultimately, change the way all industries work. While AI for all is becoming a reality, this new age does not mean a free-for-all approach for enterprise IT leaders. Those who have a clear picture for how to adapt their existing tech and data strategies quickly are in the best position to drive business value. Topics addressed:

  • How the approach for using Gen AI is different from Classical AI.
  • How the mindset on risk changes when introducing Gen AI into your organization’s AI ecosystem.
  • A practical view on what Gen AI can and can’t do well including how to evaluate use cases aligned to drive business value.
  • How to educate privacy, compliance and business leaders from the lens of enterprise IT.
  • Clear actions you can take for early stage planning, governance and risk.

The C-Suite View on The Power of Generative AI

Generative AI sits at the top of the agenda for leaders across industries, even if the industry lacks consensus on how to maximize the upside of its potential for innovation while minimizing its risks. Yet the risk of moving too slowly dwarfs that of moving too swiftly. How are leaders embedding trusted and responsible AI into their company’s DNA? What changes to data, people, process and technology are required for success? Topics addressed:

  • How companies are planning to use generative AI as a sustainable competitive advantage.
  • Who within the organization should lead these initiatives—from the top down or the bottom up.
  • What to do now, in the near term and in the long term to integrate AI into your business strategies.

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