NOW Ep118: AI | From hype cycle to hard choices

Loading player...
AI has moved beyond experimentation. It now sits at the centre of decision-making. At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, the conversation is clear - how can leaders use AI to drive growth, manage risk and reshape work.

In episode 2 of our Davos Debrief series, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Lyndon Subroyen, Investec’s Global Head of Digital & Technology, on why AI is a platform shift, not a passing trend, and what that means for strategy, talent and long-term competitiveness.

Key podcast moments:
00:00: Introduction
01:30: Inside Davos: the spirit of dialogue
02:10: AI’s economic promise and the platform shift
03:05: Balancing AI opportunity and disruption
04:22: Innovating fast without crashing: managing AI risk
05:12: From builders to users: how AI diffuses into society
06:06: Investing in people for an AI-augmented economy
07:16: The skills that matter most in an AI world
08:17: Keeping humans in step with rapid technological change
09:23: Rethinking operating models for the future of work
11:44: Cybersecurity, geopolitics and the dark side of innovation
12:58: Governance, ethics and guardrails for AI at scale
14:01: AI as a growth engine for the global economy
15:11: Sector winners and the universal impact of AI
15:36: Emerging markets and the opportunity to leapfrog
17:04: The one question leaders must ask after Davos

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business, and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:30 Inside Davos: the spirit of dialogue
  • 02:10 AI’s economic promise and the platform shift
  • 03:05 Balancing AI opportunity and disruption
  • 04:22 Innovating fast without crashing: managing AI risk
  • 05:12 From builders to users: how AI diffuses into society
  • 06:06 Investing in people for an AI-augmented economy
  • 07:16 The skills that matter most in an AI world
  • 08:17 Keeping humans in step with rapid technological change
  • 09:23 Rethinking operating models for the future of work
  • 11:44 Cybersecurity, geopolitics and the dark side of innovation
  • 12:58 Governance, ethics and guardrails for AI at scale
  • 14:01 AI as a growth engine for the global economy
  • 15:11 Sector winners and the universal impact of AI
  • 15:36 Emerging markets and the opportunity to leapfrog
  • 17:04 The one question leaders must ask after Davos
20 Jan English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep129: Warsh’s hawkish speech

New Fed chief Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish speech at the Jackson Hole symposium of central bankers on Friday, leading to a stronger US dollar and increased expectations of rate hikes this year and next year. Investec Investment Management’s Investment Strategist Osagyefo Mazwai examines what this means for the US…
31 Aug 9 min

No Ordinary Wednesday | The economics of tourism in SA

South Africa’s growth challenge is shifting from reform to delivery. Tourism is part of that test. International arrivals rose 12.3% in the first half of 2026. And phase III of the government-business Partnership now puts the sector firmly on the growth agenda, with a focus on air access, visas, safety…
25 Aug 12 min

Everything Counts | Episode 54: Protecting property wealth

Property is often seen as one of the more reliable ways to build long-term wealth. It’s tangible, familiar and, for many South Africans, an important part of their financial plan. But investing in property comes with risks that can be easy to overlook, from hidden costs and changing rental yields…
25 Aug 28 min

Macro Monday Ep128: US bond market intervention fails to bring down yields

Moves by the US Treasury to intervene in the bond market failed to bring down yields meaningfully, and the continuing worsening of the US’s fiscal position may explain why. According to Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, the US’s debt-to-GDP ratio is above 100% and seems set…
24 Aug 4 min

Macro Monday Ep127: The Fed’s difficult position

The US Federal Reserve finds itself in a difficult position. The US economy has been shedding jobs, and wage growth is soft. At the same time, says Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, government debt continues to grind higher while inflation remains elevated, mainly the result of…
17 Aug 7 min