Ep 88 | AI Adoption vs. Adaptation: What Problem Are You Solving?

Cloudera, Inc.

Sep 2, 2026

Paul McDonough-Smith estimates that many business leaders would struggle to define their organization’s problem clearly in fewer than 25 words. With AI, that lack of clarity can quickly turn into fragmented solutions and misplaced expectations.

In this episode of The AI Forecast, Paul Muller sits down with Paul McDonough-Smith, a Visiting Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management and a Senior Advisor to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, to explore how organizations can approach AI with greater clarity and purpose.

Ideas shaping the discussion:*
Why problem framing can determine the outcome of an AI initiative
The difference between adopting AI and adapting with it
What the scientific method can teach organizations about AI
Why AI’s imperfections make human judgment even more important
How organizational mindsets influence technology outcomes
Why organizations should invest in capabilities that AI cannot replicate
The growing importance of trust in AI adoption

From healthcare to energy, Paul sees enormous potential for human imagination and machine intelligence to tackle problems once considered out of reach. The future, in his view, will reflect the choices we make today.

Want to hear more about the organizational side of AI? Check out Ep 78 | https://www.youtube.com/watch

Stay in touch with Paul:*
Paul McDonough-Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmcdonaghsmith/

🔔 Like and subscribe to The AI Forecast, sponsored by Cloudera, to stay up to date on the latest episodes. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXY5wm6HlBL_Y_8SDxJNR0g