Alter Everything

In this episode of Alter Everything, we sit down with Fern Halper to discuss how most companies are now hitting a stage where productivity gains plateau because foundational elements like data, governance, and measurement are overlooked. Fern, a seasoned data and AI expert, reveals how organizations often chase quick wins with off-the-shelf tools, only to hit a wall when results stop improving or are unmeasurable.Panelists:Fern Halper, VP of Research @ TDWI -  LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx -  @JoshuaB , LinkedInResources and LinksData Makes the World Go RoundEU AI ActReady to get hands-on with Alteryx One? You can now dive into two brand-new learning paths—Workspace Administrator and Account Administrator—designed to help you build real expertise, fast. Even better, you’ll be able to validate your skills with official certifications launching May 1.Explore these new paths and unlock all of our free learning content today on Alteryx Academy.Start learning now: [Visit Alteryx Academy]Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything0:00 Opening Question2:01 Why 2026 Is a Building Year7:59 The Value Ceiling14:40 Measuring Real AI Progress17:56 Why AI Governance Is Different20:06 Governing Agentic Systems27:34 Original Thought as Competitive Edge32:09 Designing for Augmentation35:36 Predictive Analytics and Agentic AI38:54 Lightning Round42:08 Moving Beyond Productivity Theater44:17 Key Takeaways

Welcome back to Alter Everything! Explore the evolving landscape of AI and its increasing integration with human decision-making, collaboration, and societal impact. This episode features insights from Tiankai Feng, a thought leader in human-centered AI governance, discussing how organizations can responsibly deploy AI while maintaining accountability, authenticity, and social trust.Panelists:Tiankai Feng, Data & AI Strategy Director @ Thoughtworks - LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx - @JoshuaB, LinkedInResources and LinksHumanizing Data Strategy - by Tiankai FengHumanizing AI Strategy - by Tiankai FengThoughtWorks - Official websiteBooks on AI ethics and governanceYouTube - Data & AI Music ParodiesStart your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everythingEpisode Chapters0:00 Opening teaser2:09 Meet Tiankai Feng3:41 Why AI failures are really human failures8:55 Should humans adapt to AI or constrain it?13:19 Defining your relationship with AI16:02 Decision-making, prompting fatigue, and trust19:27 AI, teams, and collaboration27:37 The "they" layer and unseen stakeholders32:18 Deepfakes, disinformation, and critical thinking36:02 The environmental cost of AI39:48 Why AI governance must evolve42:14 A dual-track AI strategy for leaders45:54 Lightning round48:28 Where to find Tiankai Feng

In this episode of Alter Everything, we are joined by Dr. Ami Bhatt for a discussion around her multifaceted role in healthcare, emphasizing the integration of AI in clinical practice. She highlights the potential of AI to improve access to care, enhance clinical decision-making, and support drug development. Dr. Bhatt also addresses the challenges of implementing AI in healthcare and the importance of human expertise in leveraging technology effectively.Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything00:04 Opening: Why healthcare AI is different01:39 Dr. Ami Bhatt's role across care, innovation, and policy06:14 Three major areas where AI is shaping healthcare12:41 Why AI on EKGs is especially promising14:46 Collaborative intelligence vs. replacing humans21:16 Ambient documentation and the doctor-patient connection24:47 What "good enough" means when access is limited31:41 Prevention, digital health, and patient agency34:55 Self-diagnosis with AI and advice for clinicians41:42 Lightning round

We’re back! In this episode of Alter Everything, Josh Burkhow sits down with Ari Kaplan, Head of Evangelism at Databricks and a pioneer of AI in sports. From building operating systems as a kid and studying at Caltech to transforming baseball analytics and now shaping enterprise AI strategy, Ari shares how physics-inspired thinking, relentless curiosity, and better data have driven his career. They explore the evolution from databases to generative AI, common mistakes organizations make with GenAI, why data engineering matters more than prompt engineering, and how true evangelism is about planting seeds and not pushing hype.PanelistsAri Kaplan, Head of Evangelism @ Databricks – LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx – @JoshuaB, LinkedInTopicsDatabricksMajor League Baseball analytics & the Moneyball eraAI in sports, healthcare, and enterpriseGenerative AI & data engineering foundationsData + AI governanceRaoul Wallenberg humanitarian investigationAlter Everything podcast

We’re back! Explore the future of artificial intelligence in the year 2026 with Patrick McGarry, Federal Chief Data Officer at ServiceNow, and Dr. Jupiter Bakakeu, Lead Generative AI Technologist at Alteryx. This milestone 200th episode examines the critical shift from AI as an answer machine to AI as an autonomous work agent capable of executing tasks independently. Learn about the four characteristics of AI agents (perceive, reflect, act, learn), discover which tasks organizations should and shouldn't delegate to AI, and understand why modernization, trust, and governance matter more than model selection. Panelists:Patrick McGarry, Federal Chief Data Officer @ ServiceNow - LinkedInJupiter Bakakeu, Lead Generative AI Technologist @ Alteryx - LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx - @JoshuaB, LinkedInShow notes: ServiceNowAlteryxData.world"Beyond the Algorithm" by Patrick McGarry (upcoming publication) Interested in sharing your feedback with the Alter Everything team? Take our feedback survey here!This episode was produced by Cecilia Murray, Mike Cusic, and Matt Rotundo. Special thanks to Andy Uttley for the theme music.