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Oct 2026

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Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don't), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just someone curious about the digital age, pull up a chair, relax, and let's get into the heart of data, unplugged style!

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October 2, 2026Episode 9731 min

Jev, NVIDIA's agent safety platform, APM, and OpenAI DevDay

Send us Fan Mail Murilo and Vitale go through the latest in data and AI: Jev, TypeSafe's System One model built for decisions instead of text (and Laya, the open weights model that showed up three days later), NVIDIA's Open Agent Safety Platform with OpenShell and Sentry after the OpenAI agent swarm that broke into Hugging Face, Microsoft's APM for pinning the skills and MCP servers your coding agents use, and OpenAI DevDay, where dots, GPT-6.1 Sol and a $500 Pro tier point to a consumer bet while Anthropic sticks with enterprise. Links and references Introducing System One Models & Jev (TypeSafe AI) | 2026-09-15 https://typesafe.ai/blog/introducing-system-one-models-and-jev Diogo Almeida's talk on what RLHF gets wrong (AI Council) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-y1HJ6buGQ Jev in Pydantic AI https://pydantic.dev/docs/ai/models/typesafe/ Laya, the open weights alternative (Convai Innovations) https://huggingface.co/convaiinnovations/laya Jev vs Laya: Hosted API or Open Weights? | 2026-09-24 https://huggingface.co/blog/sora-2/jev-vs-laya-hosted-api-or-open-weights-2026-guide NVIDIA Launches Open Agent Safety Platform | 2026-09-28 https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/open-agent-safety-platform NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform: A Reference for Continuous In-Silicon Agent Monitoring (NVIDIA Developer) https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-open-agent-safety-platform-a-reference-for-continuous-in-silicon-agent-monitoring/ NVIDIA OpenShell https://github.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell Anatomy of a Frontier Lab Agent Intrusion (Hugging Face) | 2026-07-27 https://huggingface.co/blog/agent-intrusion-technical-timeline The Hugging Face incident and the road ahead (OpenAI) | 2026-08-26 https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-incident-and-the-road-ahead/ APM, Agent Package Manager (Microsoft) https://github.com/microsoft/apm https://microsoft.github.io/apm/ DevDay 2026 Recap (OpenAI) | 2026-09-29 https://openai.com/index/devday-2026-recap/ Introducing dots (OpenAI) https://openai.com/index/introducing-dots/ Introducing GPT-6.1 Sol (OpenAI) https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-6-1-sol/ OpenAI adds a $500 Pro subscription, nerfs its $200 tier (Engadget) | 2026-09-29 https://www.engadget.com/2272106/openai-adds-dollar500-pro-subscription-nerfs-its-existing-dollar200-tier/ #datatopics #ai #datanews Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PHt_ybt_Lrs Chapters (0:00) Welcome (1:11) Jev and Laya: models for decisions, not text (7:42) NVIDIA's agent safety platform and the Hugging Face incident (10:31) OpenShell and Sentry: policies in software and in silicon (15:23) APM, a package manager for agent skills and MCPs (20:58) OpenAI DevDay: dots, Pro tiers, GPT-6.1 Sol (27:01) OpenAI goes consumer, Anthropic stays enterprise (31:39) Wrap-up

September 22, 202630 min

How TVH tackles today's AI challenges through transparency & collaboration - with Sophie Van Nevel

Send us Fan Mail How do you build an AI strategy that delivers value today while preparing your organization for what comes next? In this episode of Datatopics, we sit down with Sophie Van Nevel, Director Data Products & AI at TVH, to explore how a global spare parts company approaches that challenge: with a clear strategic vision, close collaboration across the business and room to adapt as AI evolves. Sophie explains how TVH maps AI opportunities across core business capabilities and involves department leaders in turning those opportunities into priorities. We discuss balancing visible results with the foundations needed to scale. We also explore the human side of AI adoption, from TVH’s “Forwards with AI” program and hands-on transformation labs to the changing role of AI throughout the software development lifecycle. Transparency runs through the conversation: how do you help people experiment, share what they learn and understand the boundaries as tools and capabilities change? A practical conversation for anyone working on enterprise AI strategy, adoption or enablement. Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a colleague working on AI in their organization.

August 21, 2026Episode 9643 min

DeepSeek's harness, frontier models at home, Claude's watermark

Send us Fan Mail Murilo and guest Vitale go through the latest data and AI news: DeepSeek's open coding harness where every capability is a plugin, running near-frontier models on your own MacBook, Claude watermarking its own text to meet the EU AI Act, the argument that the code is just the byproduct of understanding, and what Anthropic found when agents start working together. Links and references DeepSeek's coding harness https://deepseek.com/harness/en/ How Claude's text watermark works (Anthropic) https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-text-watermark Code is the byproduct https://yagmin.com/blog/code-is-the-byproduct/ Anthropic on multi-agent systems https://www.anthropic.com/research/multiagent-systems ds4, running DeepSeek locally (antirez) https://github.com/antirez/ds4 #datatopics #ai #datanews Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fippNXe70_M Chapters (0:00) Welcome and guest intro (2:14) DeepSeek's coding harness, everything is a plugin (9:24) Running frontier models on your own machine (11:14) Claude watermarks its text, and the EU AI Act (22:33) Is the code just a byproduct? (30:18) Codex vs Claude, reverting to 4.8 (32:41) When agents work together, and collude (42:57) Wrap-up

April 29, 202630 min

#95 GEO vs SEO: The New Battle for Discoverability

Send us Fan Mail Google still drives most search traffic, but the rules of discoverability are changing fast. Today we sit down with Cyril, a client data partner at Dataroots, to unpack what search engine optimization actually is, why the first results page captures the vast majority of clicks, and how small changes in content clarity can shift who finds you and when. We get practical about classic SEO fundamentals: on-page SEO that makes services crystal clear for the right persona, off-page SEO signals like backlinks that build authority, and the technical SEO basics that quietly decide whether you rank at all. Page speed, mobile-first indexing, and user experience are not “nice to have” anymore, and we talk through how tools like Google Lighthouse can reveal what is slowing a site down and where to focus first. Then we move into the 2026 reality of AI search and generative engine optimization (GEO). If ChatGPT or Google Gemini can answer a question instantly, traffic can drop, but trust can rise if your brand gets cited. We explain how to write content that LLMs can use: add a TLDR summary, include FAQ sections, publish structured documentation where it makes sense, and build real authority across the web through credible mentions. If you care about SEO keywords, AI citations, and turning discoverability into revenue through better funnel data, this one is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a teammate who owns your website, and leave a review if it helped. What part of SEO or GEO feels most confusing in your company right now?

February 27, 202630 min

#94 Agents Are Rising: Why Data Quality Matters More Than Ever

Send us Fan Mail Trust collapses fast when a dashboard misleads or an AI agent learns from messy data. We dig into how data quality became business critical—and how to move from reactive fire drills to proactive systems—through real stories from clinical trials and large platforms where a single broken test could escalate to the C‑suite. With Stan and David, we map the shifts driving this moment: AI adoption, rising reliance on metrics, and the urgent need for shared definitions, lineage, and monitoring that let teams find root causes before customers feel the impact. We get practical about agents that actually help. Instead of vague hype, we break down a low‑risk architecture for read‑only, metadata‑aware agents that handle repetitive, high‑leverage tasks: writing dbt documentation, proposing data tests, performing lineage‑driven root cause analysis, and auto‑drafting tickets with queries, diffs, and impact notes. We explain why integrated agents beat copy‑paste prompts, how to add guardrails that limit scope and permissions, and what human‑in‑the‑loop review should look like to build real trust without slowing the work. Expect candid guidance on adoption and observability: two layers of visibility—agent behavior and data quality posture—help teams track costs, measure time to resolution, spot repeating incidents, and choose structural fixes. We also explore buy vs build as platforms begin embedding agent capabilities, and we share a clear starting path for any team: prioritize critical datasets, standardize KPIs and definitions, enable tests, and surface lineage so automation has the context it needs. By the end, you’ll have a blueprint to reduce firefighting, improve stakeholder confidence, and make your AI agents smarter by feeding them cleaner, governed data. If this resonates, follow the show, share with your data team, and leave a review with the one task you’d automate first.

December 19, 202559 min

#93 The Most Misunderstood AI Statistic of the Year: Lessons from Tech Expo on Hype, Failure, and Innovation

Send us Fan Mail In our final episode of 2025, we sit down with Tim Van Erum to unpack what really stood out at Tech Expo Amsterdam. Together we revisit the most misunderstood AI statistic of the year, exploring why the “95% of AI projects fail” headline is misleading and how hype versus reality played out across the conference. Tim shares why failure and experimentation are not setbacks but essential drivers of innovation, and we highlight Reddit’s Scaling Safety strategy as a powerful example of machine learning in action. This candid conversation closes out the year with lessons on what AI truly delivered in 2025.

December 1, 202550 min

#92 AI in the Newsroom: Building GenAI tools for De Standaard, Nieuwsblad, Telegraaf, NRC & more

Send us Fan Mail We go inside Mediahuis to see how a small GenAI team is transforming newsroom workflows without losing editorial judgment. From RAG search to headline suggestions and text‑to‑video assists, this episode shares what works, what doesn’t, and how adoption spreads across brands. You’ll hear about: Ten priority use cases shipped across the group Headline and summary suggestions that boost clarity and speed RAG‑powered search turning archives into instant context Text‑to‑video tools that free up local video teams The hurdles of adoption, quality, and scaling prototypes into production Their playbook blends engineering discipline with editorial empathy: use rules where you can, prompt carefully when you must, and always keep journalists in the loop. We also cover policies, guardrails, AI literacy, and how to survive model churn with reusable templates and grounded tests. The result: a practical path to AI in media — protecting judgment, raising quality, and scaling tools without losing each brand’s voice. 🎧 If this sparks ideas for your newsroom or product team, follow the show, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway.

November 13, 202524 min

#91 How Kim Smets, VP Data & AI at Telenet, Scales Enterprise AI with Strategy, People, and Purpose

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Data Topics, Ben speaks with Kim Smets, VP Data & AI at Telenet, about his journey from early machine learning work to leading enterprise-wide AI transformation at Telenet. Kim shares how he built a central data & AI team, shifted from fragmented reporting to product thinking, and embedded governance that actually works. They discuss the importance of simplicity, storytelling, and sustainable practices in making AI easy, relevant, and famous across the business. From GenAI exploration to real-world deployment, this episode is packed with practical insights on scaling AI with purpose.

October 23, 202530 min

#90 How To Make AI Deliver Business Impact: Gaelle Helsmoortel on Turning Strategy Into Tangible Results

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Gaelle Helsmoortel joins us to discuss how to make AI truly deliver business impact, not just proof of concept. With over 25 years of experience spanning L’Oréal , startup leadership , and her current role at Dataroots , Gaelle shares her approach to turning business challenges into measurable value . She breaks down her proven 5Ps framework (Purpose, People, Process, Platform, and Performance) and explains how companies can bridge the gap between strategy and execution to generate real results. 🎧 You’ll learn: Why most AI projects fail (and how to prevent it) How to move from proof of concept to proof of value How to align business purpose, data, and people for maximum impact Why “purpose before platform” is key to successful AI adoption Whether you’re a business leader, strategist, or data professional, this episode will help you understand how to make AI work for business and deliver tangible results. 🔗 Connect with Gaëlle: 🌐 Website & Newsletter: Generative Booster – The Game Changer List ▶️ YouTube Channel: @GenerativeBooster

September 25, 20251 hr 21 min

#89 SQLBits Unfiltered: dbt in Fabric, MLOps in Action & Copilot in Question

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Sam Debruyn and Dorian Van den Heede who reflect on their talks at SQL Bits 2025 and dive into the technical content they presented. Sam walks through how dbt integrates with Microsoft Fabric, explaining how it improves lakehouse and warehouse workflows by adding modularity, testing, and documentation to SQL development. He also touches on Fusion’s SQL optimization features and how it compares to tools like SQLMesh. Dorian shares his MLOps demo, which simulates beating football bookmakers using historical data,nshowing how to build a full pipeline with Azure ML, from feature engineering to model deployment. They discuss the role of Python modeling in dbt, orchestration with Azure ML, and the practical challenges of implementing MLOps in real-world scenarios. Toward the end, they explore how AI tools like Copilot are changing the way engineers learn and debug code, raising questions about explainability, skill development, and the future of junior roles in tech. It’s rich conversation covering dbt, MLOps, Python, Azure ML, and the evolving role of AI in engineering.