Last week I attended the Microsoft AI Tour in NYC with a clear goal: to better understand how AI is moving from concept to practical execution inside enterprises. What stood out most for me was not the demos. It was the hands-on experience. During a workshop, I was able to build an AI agent end to end. Once you understand the core building blocks, creating agents is becoming increasingly accessible and does not necessarily require deep technical expertise. That experience also reinforced an important reality: building is no longer the hardest part. What truly determines success is everything around it: · high-quality, well-governed data · rigorous testing to manage risk and hallucinations · clear guardrails for governance, security, and accountability In a controlled demo environment, with clean data, everything works beautifully. Translating that into real business value is where leadership judgment matters most - aligning technology capabilities with data foundations, operating models, and clear adoption pathways. For me, these moments are less about immediate answers and more about informed exploration. Understanding what is now possible, what is realistic today, and what needs to be sequenced carefully as technology roadmaps continue to evolve. Staying close to where the technology is going while keeping a clear business lens - is part of the responsibility of technology leadership today.
meanwhile everyone can enjoy a real AI breakthrough by Microsoft in Windows 11 ;)
Well done and well said about leadership responsibilities Margo !
Superb 👌
Love the recap and reading about your experience. A lot of big nuggets of insight … mic drop!