Hastimal Jangid

expert panel

Supply chains have historically been designed around a simple premise: Build the best possible plan, then execute it as efficiently as possible. Artificial intelligence has made those plans smarter, helping companies forecast demand more accurately, optimize transportation routes and reduce inventory costs. But those improvements, while significant, still operate within the same playbook.The next chapter looks fundamentally different.Rather than simply making existing processes faster or cheaper, AI is beginning to reshape how supply chains are designed, managed and even governed. Emerging technologies such as agentic AI, digital twins and real-time decision engines can continuously evaluate changing market conditions, simulate alternative scenarios and recommend—or in some cases execute—responses before disruptions ripple across the business. In this model, supply chains become adaptive systems rather than static networks.The business case for that evolution is growing stronger. Gartner predicts that by 2030, half of supply chain management solutions will incorporate agentic AI capable of making autonomous cross-functional decisions, reflecting a broader shift from automation to intelligent orchestration. At the same time, geopolitical instability, changing trade policies and increasingly unpredictable customer demand are forcing organizations to rethink resilience as a competitive advantage—not just an operational objective.Against this backdrop, members of the Senior Executive AI Think Tank, a curated community of leaders specializing in machine learning, generative AI and enterprise AI applications, see a common theme emerging. The greatest transformation will not come from AI replacing planners or optimizing another workflow. Instead, they argue, AI is becoming the connective tissue that links procurement, manufacturing, logistics, finance and leadership into continuously learning decision systems. That shift promises to redefine not only how supply chains operate but also how organizations make decisions, assign accountability and create value in an increasingly uncertain world.

expert panel

For many customers, the first question they have about an AI-powered product is no longer “What can it do?” It’s “What happens to my data when I use it?”That question is becoming harder for organizations to answer as AI moves deeper into everyday business processes. A customer using an AI assistant, a patient interacting with a healthcare platform or an employee relying on an AI-powered workflow may not know what systems are operating behind the scenes—but they increasingly want to understand how their information is being handled.Where is the data processed? Who has access to it? Is it being used to improve a model? What control does the customer have if they want to change their preferences? These questions are forcing executives to rethink what transparency means in the AI era. A privacy policy alone is no longer enough. Customers want clear explanations, practical choices and confidence that organizations are applying the same principles internally that they communicate externally.Members of the Senior Executive AI Think Tank—a curated group of experts specializing in machine learning, generative AI and enterprise AI applications—say trust will depend on more than meeting regulatory requirements. From stronger governance processes to clearer communication about data use, these leaders share how organizations can build trust while continuing to innovate.

expert panel

Artificial intelligence may be transforming the enterprise, but behind every successful AI initiative is something far less glamorous: disciplined data engineering.As organizations race to deploy generative AI, agentic systems and increasingly sophisticated analytics, many are pouring resources into new models, cloud platforms and AI applications. Yet time and again, ambitious projects fail to deliver meaningful business value—not because the technology falls short, but because the underlying data is inconsistent, poorly governed or difficult to trust.According to McKinsey's latest State of AI research, organizations seeing the strongest returns from AI distinguish themselves not by the models they choose, but by the maturity of the data, governance and operating foundations supporting those models. In other words, AI success begins long before a prompt is entered or an algorithm is deployed.Members of the Senior Executive AI Think Tank, a curated community of executives specializing in machine learning, generative AI and enterprise AI applications, have witnessed this firsthand across industries ranging from healthcare and financial services to manufacturing, retail and cloud computing. Below, they outline the foundational data engineering capabilities they believe consistently deliver the greatest business value and why leaders should take more notice.