In this moderated discussion, Professor Haim Mendelson is joined by guest speaker Yoav Shoham, a renowned AI expert, co-founder of several successful AI companies (the most recent being AI21 Labs), and professor emeritus of computer science at Stanford University.
Together, they delve into the evolving landscape of AI in the enterprise, examining its current state and future trajectory. Shoham addresses key questions, such as why enterprise deployments often lag behind consumer adoption, the limitations of LLMs in enterprise applications, and whether AI agents represent meaningful progress or simply the latest hype. He also offers tips for successful AI implementations and shares his insights on what’s ahead for enterprise AI, including the expected shift from models to complete AI systems, the implications of AI on the workforce, and more.
This event is part of the Value Chain Innovation Speaker Series and is organized by the Value Chain Innovation Initiative. The series explores how emerging technologies are reshaping business models, value chains, and consumer preferences. Each one-hour webinar features a dynamic conversation led by Professor Haim Mendelson, faculty director of VCII, with one or more leading innovators in the field.
Visit the VCII Events page at goto.stanford.edu/vcii-events for a list of upcoming events and to access past event recordings.
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00:00 Introduction
02:50 Yoav’s entrepreneurship journey
05:33 About AI21 Labs
09:35 Evolution of AI in the enterprise
12:24 AI21’s Jamba model
16:17 Factors impacting enterprise adoption
18:14 The future of AI solutions
22:11 AI agents: promise and hype
24:52 Tips for AI implementation
30:42 AI systems as a product category
34:02 Q&A: Impact on workforce
38:32 Q&A: Additional hurdles to AI adoption
39:45 Q&A: Education’s role in maximizing AI value
41:50 Q&A: Buzz around DeepSeek
45:33 Q&A: Open vs. closed source
46:38 Q&A: Enterprise priorities for 2025
48:02 Q&A: Global perspective
51:56 Preview of next webinar
52:56 Closing remarks