<p>Patrick Shields, experienced executive and PhD researcher in Artificial Intelligence, joins host Simon Hodgkins for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on leadership, innovation, and the realities of AI adoption in business. Recorded for VistaTalks Episode 188, this discussion dives deep into how organizations, particularly SMEs, can navigate AI responsibly while empowering their people and protecting trust.</p><p><br></p><p>Patrick is currently completing his PhD at Munster Technological University, where his research focuses on how businesses actually adopt AI in practice, rather than how technology vendors say they should. The result is a grounded, experience-led discussion that blends academic insight with decades of executive leadership across hospitality and international business.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 - Patrick Shields - VistaTalks Ep 188</p><p>01:00 - Why Patrick Is Researching AI Adoption</p><p>04:57 - The Real Reason Businesses Struggle with AI</p><p>06:09 - Shadow AI and Hidden Organizational Risks</p><p>14:14 - Leadership, Trust, and Communication in AI Change</p><p>19:03 - Practical Steps for Building AI-Ready Teams</p><p>30:32 - Responsible AI, Ethics, and Sustainability</p><p>39:12 - The Next Five Years of AI and Leadership</p><p><br></p><p>About VistaTalks: </p><p>VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com </p><p><br></p><p>Social Media: </p><p>X - https://x.com/vistatalks </p><p>Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks </p><p>Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks </p><p>LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks</p>