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I've had many conversations about artificial intelligence over the last few years – some insightful, some over the top, and some that made me question whether we're even talking about the same technology. But every now and then I have the opportunity to talk to someone who not only understands this technology, but also sees its broader implications with clarity and honesty. This episode of the TechSpective podcast is one of those moments.
Jeetu Patelpresident and chief product officer of the company Ciscojoins me in an unscripted, unfiltered conversation that covers more topics than I could outline in a set of pre-written questions. I actually prepared a set of pre-written questions. We just didn't follow them or use them at all. Jeetu and I have known each other for some time, and this episode reflects the kind of conversation you only have with someone who is deeply immersed in both the strategic and human sides of technology. It's thoughtful. It's philosophical. And it doesn't pull any punches.
At the heart of our discussion is the concept of “agent-based AI” – a term used more and more often, sometimes without much clarity. We unpack what it actually means, what it can realistically do, and how it differs from the wave of chatbots and content generators that have come before it. More importantly, we talk about how AI agents can change not only the tasks we automate, but also the way we think about work itself.
Of course, any conversation about AI and the future of work comes with an inevitable tension: what is lost, what is reinvented, and what still requires distinctly human judgment. Jeetu brings a differentiated approach, rooted in his experience leading product innovation at one of the largest technology companies in the world. This is not a conversation filled with predictions, but a reframing of the questions we should be asking ourselves.
I was struck by how quickly we normalize the extraordinary. Technology that seemed magical two years ago is now embedded in our everyday work. This speed of adoption changes the stakes. This means we need to be more thoughtful – not only about what AI can do, but also about what we expect it to do and what we risk overloading too quickly.
We also touch on philosophical implications. If AI agents are truly capable of handling larger cognitive tasks, what is our role in the loop? Will we become editors? Overseers? Explorers of new frontiers? How can we prepare for jobs that don't exist yet, using tools that are evolving faster than we can document them?
I think this episode will be of interest to anyone trying to navigate this moment – whether you're in product development, politics, marketing, or just someone who likes to think a few moves ahead. It's more than artificial intelligence. It's about how we adapt, how we define value, and what we hold on to as the landscape changes.
Listen. And as always, I'd love to hear your opinion.
