Calculus of IT - Bonus Episode 9 - 12/18/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 24-25

With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…

This special edition podcast comprises episodes 24-25 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.

This special double-length episode of The Calculus of IT podcast brings together episodes 24 and 25 for an extended discussion of AI and Governance in IT.

Episode 24 kicks off with a humorous yet pointed critique of an InfoWorld article about responsible AI, highlighting the lack of supporting evidence and questioning the author's use of the word “pernicious." The hosts then celebrate 404 media's commitment to human-generated content, viewing it as a hopeful sign in an internet increasingly flooded with AI-generated content. A rundown of recent AI news follows, including Gemini's expanded context window, the publication of ChatGPT's model specifications for public commentary, and Anthropic's overhauled Terms of Service and Constitution for Claude.

The hosts then transition to a discussion of IT governance, specifically addressing project prioritization, development, and infrastructure. They emphasize the importance of an IT steering committee and consistent processes for evaluating and prioritizing projects, development standards and code repositories, and strategic planning for infrastructure.

Episode 25 begins with a lighthearted review of the podcast's 25-episode journey, reflecting on their humorous approach to covering the ever-evolving world of IT. Picking up where they left off in Episode 24, the hosts continue their conversation on governance, focusing on security, risk, compliance, and data management. They offer practical advice for IT leaders navigating these complex areas, including establishing standardized security policies, emphasizing the role of penetration testing, and implementing data loss prevention (DLP). The episode wraps up with a spirited discussion about the importance of data retention policies, the challenges of data restoration, and the need for clear data classification schemas.

Interspersed throughout both episodes are humorous digressions, including a deep dive into the Phil Collins song "In the Air Tonight," and a ranking of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel songs.