AI Agents Are Changing Software Forever—Are You Ready?
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/704 What happens when enterprise tech projects go off course—and how do you fix them? In this episode, Gary Blunden shares hard-earned insights from years of rescuing failed digital transformations. From diagnosing platform misalignment to exploring the future of AI-driven development, Gary offers a grounded yet forward-looking perspective on what it takes to build resilient, scalable solutions in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape.🔑KEY TAKEAWAYSRecovery projects reveal deep tech-business disconnects: Success hinges on understanding user pain points, not just deploying shiny tools. AI is reshaping software engineering: Tools like GitHub Copilot and agent-based systems are accelerating development—but human oversight remains critical. Low-code is evolving into “vibe code”: Expect a shift from manual UI building to orchestrating intelligent, autonomous agents. Documentation is becoming executable: Emerging tools may soon turn solution design docs into deployable systems. Mentorship and legacy knowledge matter: As AI abstracts complexity, retaining foundational engineering wisdom is more important than ever.🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED👉 Power Platform – Microsoft’s low-code development suite https://powerplatform.microsoft.com 👉 Power Automate – Workflow automation tool https://powerautomate.microsoft.com 👉 GitHub Copilot – AI pair programmer for developers https://github.com/features/copilot 👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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AI That Knows Your Code Better Than You Do
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/703 What happens when AI becomes your most insightful team member? In this episode, the team dives into a real-world case where a custom-built AI copilot transformed 7,000+ DevOps work items into a 120-page strategic report—without a single meeting. From surfacing hidden productivity patterns to reshaping how teams collaborate, this conversation explores how AI is no longer just a tool—it’s a force multiplier. Whether you're an AI optimist, skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge how you think about intelligence, creativity, and the future of work. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS AI as a Knowledge Synthesizer: Learn how a custom copilot built on DevOps data enabled full project, code, and tech reviews—without needing every stakeholder on a call. The 80/20 Insight: Discover how AI surfaced that 20% of a team was doing 80% of the work, revealing critical knowledge silos and opportunities for upskilling. From Fear to Fluency: Understand the psychology behind AI resistance—fear, change aversion, and the myth of being “too special to be replaced.” AI for Accessibility: Hear how AI empowers professionals with dyslexia and other challenges to communicate more clearly and confidently. The New Baseline: Why using AI isn’t cheating—it’s the new standard for productivity, clarity, and competitive edge. 🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Microsoft 365 Copilot – AI assistant integrated into Microsoft tools https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot 👉 Azure DevOps – Project management and code repository platform https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/devops 👉 Microsoft Fabric – Unified data analytics platform https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-fabric 👉 Gallup AI Adoption Report – Referenced for workplace AI usage trends https://www.gallup.com This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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Why Small Language Models Are the Future of AI
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/702 What if the future of AI isn’t bigger—but smaller, smarter, and more specialized? In this episode, Microsoft’s Ilya Venger pulls back the curtain on the rise of small language models (SLMs), the evolution of intelligent agents, and why clean, governed data is the real fuel behind AI success. From industry-specific copilots to the power of Microsoft Fabric, this conversation is packed with practical insights for business and tech leaders navigating the AI revolution. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS SLMs vs. LLMs: Small language models are leaner, more efficient, and better suited for domain-specific tasks—offering lower hallucination rates and higher cost-performance ratios. Data Quality Matters: AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. Microsoft Fabric and Purview help unify, clean, and govern enterprise data for more reliable AI outcomes. Industry Agents Are Coming: Microsoft is enabling partners to build industry-specific agents—like healthcare assistants or retail copilots—using modular skills and tools. Copilot Studio’s Role: This low-code platform empowers teams to build, test, and deploy AI agents across Teams, Slack, and custom environments. The Future of AI Interfaces: Expect dynamic, on-the-fly UI generation tailored to user intent—blending visual and conversational interfaces for seamless interaction. 🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉Microsoft Fabric – Unified data platform for analytics and governance https://www.microsoft.com/fabric\ 👉 Microsoft Purview – Data governance and cataloguing solution https://www.microsoft.com/purview 👉Azure Marketplace – Access to industry-specific AI skills like financial document analysis https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com 👉 Copilot Studio – Low-code platform for building and deploying AI agents https://aka.ms/CopilotStudio This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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Why AI Needs Knowledge Management to Succeed
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/701What happens when AI meets the messy, human world of organizational knowledge? In this episode, Rebecka Isaksson—Microsoft MVP and knowledge management strategist—unpacks how AI can finally unlock the elusive value of tacit knowledge. From SharePoint sprawl to the power of communities of practice, Rebecka shares hard-won insights on transforming content chaos into enterprise intelligence. Whether you're navigating Microsoft 365 or scaling AI in your organization, this conversation will change how you think about knowledge, governance, and impact. 🔑KEY TAKEAWAYS AI needs knowledge management: Without governance and lifecycle thinking, AI can’t deliver sustainable value in enterprise environments. Tacit knowledge is the real gold: AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can now surface insights from informal conversations, chats, and communities—not just documents. SharePoint’s hidden risks: Without role-based access control (RBAC), SharePoint can become a security and governance liability in AI-driven organizations. Communities of practice scale expertise: Platforms like Microsoft Engage (not just Yammer) are critical for capturing and sharing real-time, experience-based knowledge. Governance must evolve: Organizations need to move from content management to true knowledge management—governing not just files, but conversations, videos, and more. 🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Microsoft 365 Copilot – AI-powered productivity assistant: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/microsoft-365/copilot 👉 Knowledge Fika - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X7STHKKiIEEj1nrd9hvQa?si=d6fd17b395f749ec👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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The 3 AI Mindsets Disrupting Tech Today
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 🎙️FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/700In this episode, Mark and Andrew dive deep into the shifting mindsets shaping the future of AI in business and tech. From building a personal AI-powered second brain to exploring the rise of “vibe coding,” they unpack the tools, tensions, and transformations redefining how professionals engage with technology. Whether you're an AI optimist, skeptic, or somewhere in between, this conversation challenges assumptions and offers a grounded look at where innovation is headed—and how to stay ahead of it.🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS The 3 AI Mindsets: Explore the “Optimists,” “Deniers,” and the “Angry Camp”—and how each group is reacting to the rapid evolution of AI. Vibe Coding Explained: Why AI-assisted development is the new normal, and how tools like GitHub Copilot are changing the way we build software. Building a Second Brain with AI: Mark shares a thought experiment on creating a multi-agent AI system to manage personal knowledge, security, and optimization. The FrontPage to Squarespace Analogy: A compelling comparison of early web development tools to today’s AI-assisted platforms—and what it means for modern developers. Why Familiarity Beats Flash: A case for investing time in mastering tools like Microsoft Copilot, even if they seem underwhelming at first. 🧰RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 GitHub Copilot – AI pair programming tool: https://github.com/features/copilot 👉 Microsoft 365 Copilot – Enterprise AI assistant: https://microsoft.cloud 👉 VS Code – Visual Studio Code editor: https://code.visualstudio.com This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
If you want to get your ideas or questions featured on an episode, please leave us a voicemail: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/voicemail/Dive into the future of work with the "Microsoft Innovation Podcast," exploring the intersection of People, Business, Technology, and AI. Engage with expert guests—including thought leaders from Microsoft, industry innovators, and community specialists—who are redefining the world with advancements in AI, Cloud technologies, the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and beyond.Every episode delivers a blend of in-depth discussions, practical insights, and actionable strategies tailored for professionals driving enablement and innovation. Join us across our five shows:The Power Platform ShowThe MVP ShowThe Copilot ShowThe Ecosystems ShowThe AI Advantage (coming soon)
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