Enterprise leaders are entering a new phase of the AI journey. After two years of inflated expectations, the 2026 AI agenda is shifting from experimentation to credibility and execution. While nearly half of CIOs now prioritise AI, fewer than one in twenty believe their underlying systems, data pipelines and platforms are truly ready. Mixed cloud, hybrid and legacy environments continue to slow progress, with visibility gaps, integration challenges and fragmented data foundations holding back AI at scale.

In this episode of The Common Factor Series, global industry leaders Andy Canning, CTO - Equal Experts, Dr Kim Oosthuizen, Head of AI APAC - Bupa, and Jaya Singhal, Director of Engineering, discuss AI optimisation at scale and best practices in the delivery of real AI outcomes inside complex organisations.

Together, they unpack what AI transformation looks like beyond pilots and proofs of concept. Drawing on lived experience, the panel explores how modern engineering practices, resilient data foundations and simplified hybrid architectures are enabling secure, cost-effective and production-ready AI systems.  

The discussion also examines how AI adoption is reshaping operating models; from new roles and multidisciplinary teams to the platform engineering uplift required to sustain continuous delivery.

Sponsored by Equal Experts, this episode is designed for C-suite and senior technology leaders, including CIOs, CTOs, Chief Data & Analytics Officers, Chief Digital Officers, and Heads of Engineering responsible for scaling AI across complex enterprise environments.