GenAIoT Panel – Generative AI Meets Connected Infrastructure
Session Abstract:
This panel will examine how generative AI capabilities are beginning to intersect with connected infrastructure and operational systems. Discussion will focus on where these technologies can add value, how they may augment decision-making and automation, and what organizations need to consider when applying GenAI in real-world connected environments.
Topics:
- From Data Platforms to Intelligent Systems
- Agentic Systems for Real-World Operations
- Edge AI + Generative AI
- Industrial Applications of GenAIoT
- Digital Twins + Generative AI
- Security, Trust, and Governance
- From Dashboards to Autonomous Operations
Speakers:
Brian is a seasoned business and organization leader with expertise in leading multiple, complex programs across Verizon designed to deliver customer-centric experiences underpinned by profitable revenue growth. Brian currently leads Strategic Business Operations for Verizon’s Industrial IoT and Automotive organization – establishing and maturing the connective fabric among critical front-and back-office functions across the practice. Prior to this assignment, Brian served as Senior Director of Business Process Management for the Verizon Business Group, he and his team set the end-to-end process governance strategy, ensuring alignment with the customer-desired experience through strategic process maturity efforts and by partnering with business unit process teams at the operational level. In former roles, Brian led global Business Unit Strategy and Business Intelligence organizations including: inventive product ideation, strategic analysis, business intelligence, and data management teams for Verizon Enterprise Solutions and Business Markets. His past experience as a public sector customer, his leadership building and running Managed Services operations centers and global delivery project management teams, and his driving margin through strategic initiatives all make him an ideal part of our team. Brian has been with Verizon for 29 years, and in all his roles, he maintains an acute focus on providing actionable direction and predictive models to improve performance, to enhance the timely availability and accuracy of customer-centric intelligence. In addition to being a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and holding a Project Management Professional (PMP), ITILv3 and Certified Work Out Facilitator certifications, Brian holds a Bachelors of Science in Communication and Business from Ohio University’s J. Warren McClure School of Communications Systems Management. With a passion for community service, Brian spends his personal time volunteering as a decorated and formally trained adult leader and committee member in the Scouting America (Boy Scouts of America) mentoring youth in STEM fields and developing the overall Scouting program. He and his family reside in the Cary, North Carolina area.
Guy Merritt is an experienced C-suite executive, Guy has 35 years engineering leadership advising and developing IoT solutions, native cloud-based systems, products and engineering & manufacturing test solutions for a wide variety of industries. He is an author of the award-winning book “Proactive Risk Management: Controlling Uncertainty in Product Development.” • Spearhead technology strategy and thought leadership across multiple industry verticals, enhancing client engagement and satisfaction. • Collaborate with KMS senior leaders and delivery teams to align strategic direction with tactical actions in technology practice areas and solutions. • Drive innovation initiatives to improve service offerings for client revenue growth and retention.
Dr. Tom Bradicich, Chairman of the IoT Community Board of Advisors, is currently Chief Product Officer and CTO at Arete, where he leads teams in the US and India, heading AI and software development for forensics, response, and ransomware management products. Tom is creating another new product category in cyber risk, ransomware negotiation and compliance workflow platforms. He incepted and leads Arete’s Business Case Process, IP Program, and corporate AI adoption. Tom is on the Board of Directors of Sify Technologies (SIFY) and Sify Infinite Spaces, public NW and AI cloud service providers, and served on the Board of Aspen Technology (AZPN), a public industrial AI software company. And, served on the Advisory Boards of Avathon (formerly SparkCognition), an AI SW company start-up, and NetZen, a NW silicon start-up. Tom began his career at IBM, where he was an IBM Fellow, VP, Distinguish Engineer, and Server CTO. At National Instruments, an operational technologies (OT) and controls company, he served as an NI Fellow, pioneering Big Analog Data™ solutions. While at HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Tom held various roles including VP, HPE Fellow, Global Head of Edge & IoT Software Labs, and General Manager. As GM, he led the global business unit, Servers and Edge Systems and Software, with P&L, worldwide sales, R&D, and customer experience ownership. Opening three global HPE Innovation Labs (Texas, Singapore, and Geneva), and exceeding sales quotes by achieving revenue growth of over $250M. Tom’s business unit was the fastest growing and highest quality in HPE. Tom and his team developed and launched dozens of systems and software products, such as first-of-a-kind as-a-Service (aaS) software for cloud managed remote infrastructure, edge-as-a-service, and converged IT/Operational Technologies (OT). He led teams in the creation of several new product categories such as notebook computers, smartphones (IBM Simon™), Hyperconverged Infrastructure, HCI (IBM BladeCenter™), Converged Edge Systems & Sofware (HPE Edgeline™), and OT and edge management software and platforms (HPE OTLink). Tom’s teams designed and launched the first 64 bit enterprise ARM server, the first x86 server with on-chip graphics, and IBM’s first prototype laptop computer. He incepted and directed the HPE Channel-to-Edge Institute partner program, and led company-wide strategies, venture/M&A assessments, and led HPE’s first corporate IoT & edge strategy. Tom holds several US patents, writing the book “The 1st Mover”, and founded the charity, sockrelief.com, serving the homeless and children in need. See full bio/CV at Linkedin/in/TomBradicichPhD.
Rao is a co-founder of Aizen and leads enterprise customer engagements, bringing 30+ years of experience as a technologist and entrepreneur designing mission-critical AI, BI, and transaction systems for global enterprises. He previously co-founded Esgyn, an enterprise big data platform, where he led product architecture and strategy as a key executive helping scale the company while serving Fortune 100 customers. Earlier, Rao was a Senior Data Management Architect at Hewlett-Packard, leading workload management architecture for a Massively Parallel Enterprise Data Warehouse platform. His engineering career also includes foundational roles at Compaq and Tandem Computers, pioneers in fault-tolerant and parallel computing. Rao holds an M.S. in Computer Science.