AI is more than a tool. It’s a catalyst for what humans can achieve.

In this episode of the AI First Podcast, Jon Herstein, Chief Customer Officer at Box, sits down with Jake McCoy, Chief Operating Officer at RWS Global, to discuss how leveraging AI with purpose can unlock new efficiencies, boost creativity, and elevate human performance across enterprises. From streamlining operations to enhancing creative processes, Jake shares the lessons and principles that guide RWS in turning AI into a true business enabler.

Key moments:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:22) Jake McCoy's background and role at RWS Global

(04:43) The potential of AI in improving operations and enabling creativity at RWS

(05:46) The necessity of AI in large-scale operations to ensure consistency and mitigate risk

(07:11) Starting with AI in operations to eliminate friction before tackling creativity

(08:22) Addressing challenges in managing decades unstructured content

(09:44) How AI can assist with compliance checks in the cruise industry

(12:08) The importance of maintaining human oversight in AI-assisted processes

(16:25) Why clear communication and developing policies around AI usage is vital

(21:40) How business teams contribute to improving operational workflows through AI

(23:53) "AI for everyone" approach and how to foster broader adoption within the company

(26:13) Leadership responsibility in driving AI integration and maintaining trust

(28:24) Governance around AI tools: shared access and authority to ensure proper use

(30:15) Importance of incorporating guardrails into AI workflows to avoid mistakes

(34:37) Data readiness and the importance of getting the content structure and hygiene right before applying AI

(35:52) Lessons learned about AI implementation and the need to earn the right to automate

(39:44) The future of AI in content management and the implications for industries

(47:34) The role of experiences in evaluating AI impact on both employees and clients

(48:44) Change management tips: building a safe environment for AI adoption across the business

The future of AI is about autonomous agents taking charge.

In this episode of the AI First Podcast, Box Chief Customer Officer Jon Herstein sits down with Beena Ammanath, Executive Director at the Deloitte AI Institute, to explore the shift from AI systems that assist us to AI agents that act on our behalf. They discuss how AI agents are reshaping industries, the vital role of governance in ensuring trust and transparency, and why it’s essential for leaders to prepare for the coming wave of AI-driven autonomy.

Deloitte’s Deloitte's 2026 AI report tracking adoption and impact
https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/what-we-do/capabilities/applied-artificial-intelligence/content/state-of-ai-in-the-enterprise.html

Key moments:

(00:00) Introduction to AI Reliability

(02:12) Beena’s career background and experience in AI

(03:37) Challenges of applying AI in different industries

(04:55) Beena discusses her books and their focus on AI

(05:43) Trustworthy AI: Emphasis on reliability and transparency

(07:17) Zero Latency Leadership and its relevance

(07:49) Deloitte's AI institute and annual AI reports

(08:52) The slow pace of applied AI adoption vs. technology development

(10:03) Failed AI projects and the importance of user adoption

(11:11) Importance of proactive planning for AI adoption

(11:47) Human-led AI: The need for human involvement in AI decision-making

(12:45) AI in healthcare and the importance of trust

(14:16) Building AI that operates beyond human reliability

(15:45) AI’s mistakes and the potential scale of errors

(16:05) The rise of physical AI and humanoid robots

(19:04) Day one approach: Rethinking business processes from scratch

(22:14) Driving AI fluency and literacy within organizations

(25:41) Incentivizing AI adoption among employees

(27:03) Real-world example of AI tool adoption failure and solution

(29:51) Comfort with AI and its non-replacement of jobs

(30:30) AI enabling tasks previously too cost-prohibitive

(31:43) The importance of both top-down and bottom-up AI efforts

(33:06) Internal hackathons and AI engagement at Deloitte

(35:44) AI governance: How to handle model changes and accountability

(37:10) Importance of company-wide governance for AI

(47:04) Setting a north star for AI value metrics

(50:45) Prediction on AI being seamless without explicit labeling

(51:02) Closing thoughts on AI's future in the enterprise

AI is scaling human expertise like never before.

In this episode of the AI First Podcast, Box Chief Customer Officer Jon Herstein sits down with E.A. Rockett, Adobe's Vice President and Legal CTO, to explore how AI is empowering experts across industries by providing the structure and tools to scale their knowledge. They discuss Adobe's unique approach to AI innovation, including the powerful "A-through-F" framework for evaluating AI use cases and the vital role of ethics in creating a trusted AI foundation.

Key moments:

(00:00) The best prompter for AI is AI itself

(00:34) Introduction to the AI First Podcast with Jon Herstein and E.A. Rockett

(02:14) E.A. Rockett explains his role and the concept of being a legal CTO

(03:23) Motivation behind blending legal expertise with AI innovation at Adobe

(04:23) Accelerating iteration and scaling AI to personalize solutions

(05:32) Adobe’s posture on AI innovation and balancing risks

(06:23) The journey with Firefly and creating safe, licensed models for customers

(07:15) Introduction of the A through F framework for AI governance

(09:01) Internal process for submitting AI use cases for evaluation

(10:09) Creating an enabling, not restrictive, environment for AI use

(11:33) Balancing creativity during hackathons with governance in AI use

(11:56) The role of ethics in Adobe's AI framework

(13:06) Ethics being integrated throughout AI projects, not just at the end

(14:20) Discussing where Adobe draws the line on AI use cases

(16:24) AI’s role in retaining talent and keeping employees engaged

(18:18) Attracting A players by providing access to cutting-edge AI technology

(21:06) The GIFTS framework: scaling expert knowledge through AI

(23:23) Using AI to create expert-level solutions even for non-experts

(29:36) Emerging hybrid roles due to AI, especially in legal and compliance fields

(32:33) Challenges in training junior employees while using AI

(34:06) Overcoming resistance in launching AI projects at Adobe

(42:39) AI unlocking scale in legal and compliance fields

(44:22) Filtering through AI to focus on relevant information

(46:47) Addressing AI risk and AI’s role in supporting human creativity

(50:14) Advice for CIOs and legal leaders behind on AI readiness

(53:30) Closing thoughts on the future of AI and its intersection with legal and tech

(59:04) How Adobe measures success of AI initiatives based on user engagement