What's Next with Aki Anastasiou

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472

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Oct 2026

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About the show

What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou is South Africa’s most popular technology show. The who’s who of South Africa’s technology and business world are interviewed on the show.

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October 29, 202633 min

Hector Beyers on how AI is transforming software development

AI software development is accelerating rapidly, but businesses still need human expertise to turn faster coding into secure, reliable software. Hector Beyers, CEO and founder of Codehesion, explains how artificial intelligence is changing the software development lifecycle and why developers can no longer afford to ignore AI-assisted tools. Beyers discusses Codehesion’s AI-augmented Innovation Pod model, which combines specialist developers, UX, QA, DevOps, and planning expertise with AI to deliver projects faster. He also explains why code audits, security, scalability, and human accountability remain critical as AI generates more production code. The conversation explores AI-powered prototyping, modernising legacy systems, and why custom software is becoming easier and more cost-effective to build. Beyers also predicts how developer roles could evolve as autonomous AI agents take over more repetitive testing and development tasks. 0:00 Intro 2:30 AI hype vs real software value 6:20 Why human oversight still matters 7:52 Codehesion's Innovation Pod model 11:42 Balancing AI and human expertise 18:34 The limits of AI prototyping 22:29 Modernising legacy software Join Hector Beyers, CEO and Co-Founder of Codehesion, alongside our technical experts, for a practical discussion on what it really takes to use AI to build production-ready software. Learn more: https://codehesion.com/webinar/ Register: https://codehesion.com/webinar/register/ Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #ArtificialIntelligence #SoftwareDevelopment #Codehesion

October 27, 202618 min

What's Next presented by Old Mutual Corporate - Keri-Lee Edmond on retirement savings

Retirement savings remain a major challenge in South Africa, but new data shows signs that more people are beginning to preserve their money. Keri-Lee Edmond, Head of Business Intelligence at Old Mutual Corporate, explains the six factors that could materially improve retirement outcomes for South Africans. She discusses contribution rates, pensionable salaries, investment strategies, preservation, retirement age, and sustainable income after retirement. Edmond also explains how the two-pot retirement system is helping improve preservation when people change jobs, with Old Mutual’s data showing encouraging progress. The conversation also explores the link between retirement savings and South Africa’s economic growth, and why employers and trustees have a major role to play in improving member outcomes through better defaults and fund design. 0:00 Intro 1:28 Six levers for better retirement outcomes 3:34 Why there is no silver bullet 5:16 South Africa’s savings problem 7:48 Signs retirement outcomes are improving 9:54 Retirement savings and economic growth 13:42 The role of employers and trustees 16:00 Advice for younger workers Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #RetirementPlanning #RetirementSavings #OldMutual

October 19, 202628 min

Rajesh Ganesan on where AI delivers real value in enterprise IT

Enterprise AI is moving beyond experimentation, but businesses still need to prove where it delivers measurable value without creating new risks. Rajesh Ganesan, CEO of ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, explains where AI is delivering practical value in enterprise IT and why many organisations are still taking a cautious approach. Ganesan discusses AI-assisted software development, cybersecurity, and the shift from copilots to agentic AI that can execute IT tasks. He explains how ManageEngine’s Zia agents can analyse security data, prioritise threats, resolve support issues, and escalate decisions that still require human judgement. The conversation also explores AI governance, data privacy, infrastructure readiness, and why companies should understand where their data flows before adopting third-party models. Ganesan argues that businesses need clean data, integrated IT systems, and flexible infrastructure before AI can scale effectively. He also considers how IT architectures could increasingly be designed around AI agents first. 0:00 Intro 1:25 Where enterprise AI delivers value 4:28 Practical AI use cases for IT teams 8:51 From AI assistants to AI agents 13:09 What CIOs should automate 17:24 AI governance and data privacy 24:41 How AI will change IT teams ManageEngine Website Link: https://www.manageengine.com/ Social Handles: ManageEngine Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manageengine/ ManageEngine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manageengine/ ManageEngine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManageEngine/ ManageEngine Twitter: https://twitter.com/manageengine #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseIT #Cybersecurity

October 16, 202639 min

Jason Carlisle-Kitz on Cash Converters' fintech transformation

Second-hand retail is becoming more digital in South Africa, and Cash Converters is using technology to turn that shift into a major growth opportunity. Jason Carlisle-Kitz, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cash Converters Southern Africa, explains how the company is modernising its 32-year-old business while preserving the trust built through its physical store network. He discusses the growth of pre-owned retail, why affordability and sustainability are changing consumer behaviour, and how e-commerce is expanding every franchise’s reach nationwide. Carlisle-Kitz also explains the technology used to test second-hand electronics, analyse customer and pricing data, and support lending decisions. The conversation explores Cash Converters’ growing use of AI, its franchise expansion strategy, and why Carlisle-Kitz increasingly sees the company as a fintech operating within the second-hand economy. 0:00 Intro 5:38 The future of Cash Converters 6:51 Why second-hand retail is growing 10:08 Unlocking value from unused tech 13:28 Growing the franchise network 16:26 Cash Converters' technology stack 25:33 The e-commerce opportunity Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #Fintech #SecondHandRetail #CashConverters

October 8, 202632 min

Ajen Mothee on the risks of AI financial advice

AI financial advice is becoming easier to access, but trusting a chatbot with major money decisions can introduce serious risks. Ajen Mothee, Head of Innovation at Old Mutual Personal Finance, explains why more South Africans are turning to AI for financial guidance and where the technology can genuinely add value. Mothee discusses how AI can help users learn financial terminology, build basic budgets, explore future scenarios, and prepare better questions for advisers. However, he warns that AI can deliver incomplete answers with convincing confidence, particularly around tax, estate planning, marital regimes, and major life decisions where personal context matters. The conversation also explores Old Mutual’s approach to AI, including financial education, simulation, automation, and tools designed to augment human advisers rather than replace them. Mothee explains why experience, wisdom, regulation, privacy, and human oversight remain essential when financial decisions carry real consequences. 0:00 Intro 0:57 Why people use AI for financial advice 3:07 South Africa’s financial guidance gap 4:47 Where AI advice becomes risky 7:24 What AI cannot replace 13:16 Old Mutual’s approach to AI 22:48 How to use AI safely for money decisions Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #ArtificialIntelligence #PersonalFinance #FinancialAdvice

October 7, 202638 min

What's Next - Jolandé Duvenage on how South Africans are changing their money habits

Financial pressure is changing how South Africans save, spend, buy homes, and build additional income streams — but it has not killed their ambition. Jolandé Duvenage, Value Ecosystems and CX CEO at FNB, shares what a decade of customer behaviour on FNB nav» reveals about how people are adapting to rising living costs and greater financial uncertainty. She explains why customers increasingly want guidance rather than simply banking products, and how progress is shifting towards smaller, more deliberate financial decisions. The discussion covers savings goals, home ownership, side hustles, financial resilience, and how younger South Africans are navigating work and money differently. Duvenage also explains how nav» is evolving to connect money management, property, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and other life decisions. Looking ahead, she believes AI should reduce complexity and help customers make their own better-informed decisions rather than make those decisions for them. 0:00 Intro 2:03 How FNB nav» has evolved 5:13 Are South Africans coping financially? 9:03 How money habits have changed 13:12 Are people still planning for the future? 18:44 The future of home ownership 22:05 How young South Africans approach money 25:42 Side hustles and multiple income streams Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #PersonalFinance #DigitalBanking #FNB

October 6, 202624 min

Lee Lennox on how Xneelo is preparing its data centres for AI

AI infrastructure is set to reshape South Africa’s cloud and data centre market as demand grows for more compute power, GPU capacity, and efficient hosting. Lee Lennox, Product Manager for Xneelo's Cloud and Self-Managed Hosting portfolio, explains how the company is expanding its data centre infrastructure while preparing for the next generation of cloud and AI workloads. Lennox discusses the global hardware crunch, which has pushed some component costs sharply higher and extended server delivery times from weeks to several months. He also explains why customers are becoming more deliberate about workload placement, combining cloud, dedicated servers, and colocation to balance flexibility, cost, performance, privacy, and data sovereignty. The conversation explores growing demand for local GPU compute, Xneelo's upcoming dedicated GPU servers, and how agentic AI could fundamentally change data centre workloads. Lennox expects always-on AI agents to increase demand for compute, storage, networking, power, and potentially liquid cooling. 0:00 Intro 1:15 Xneelo's new data centre 5:13 The global hardware crunch 7:14 Changing cloud and hosting trends 10:09 How AI is changing infrastructure demand 14:13 The future of data centres 18:34 What's next for Xneelo 21:34 Dedicated GPU servers Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #CloudComputing #ArtificialIntelligence #DataCentres

October 5, 202628 min

Biscay Mulaudzi on building South Africa's own cloud

South African cloud services are gaining importance as businesses focus more closely on data sovereignty, cybersecurity, predictable costs, and local support. Biscay Mulaudzi, Chief Executive Officer at Gole Cloud and Bottomline IT, explains why he built a locally hosted cloud platform designed for South African businesses, SMMEs, and individual consumers. Mulaudzi discusses how Gole Cloud keeps customer data within South African data centres while offering predictable rand-based pricing and locally supported services. He also explains why smaller businesses need access to secure cloud infrastructure without the large capital investment required to build and maintain their own environments. Cybersecurity is another major focus. Mulaudzi outlines Gole Cloud's 24/7 security monitoring, information security controls, backup services, and ransomware recovery approach, while stressing the importance of protecting customer data and complying with POPIA. The conversation also explores Gole Cloud's AI ambitions, including automated cloud migrations and plans to expand local AI infrastructure. 0:00 Intro 3:07 Building a South African cloud platform 7:00 Cloud services for SMMEs 9:01 What makes Gole Cloud different 12:19 Why small businesses need the cloud 16:21 Protecting customer data 20:47 Gole Cloud's AI plans Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #CloudComputing #Cybersecurity #DataSovereignty

October 1, 202621 min

Gregory MacLennan on why AI still needs a human in the loop

AI can deliver real business value, but companies need more than licences and hype to turn the technology into measurable returns. Gregory MacLennan, CEO of Digicloud Africa, explains how South African businesses can adopt AI practically, using tools such as Gemini in Google Workspace without requiring large specialist teams. He discusses how Gemini can support everyday work across Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, including multilingual communication, research, and decision-making. MacLennan also explains why AI should augment employees rather than replace human judgement, particularly when information is being sent externally or important decisions are being made. The conversation also tackles cybersecurity and data governance. MacLennan warns that employees using unapproved public AI tools can expose sensitive corporate information, making standardisation, education, and responsible AI policies increasingly important. He also explains why effective change management is essential when rolling AI out across different departments, and why the next phase of AI adoption will depend heavily on how well people learn to use the technology. 0:00 Intro 1:12 Turning AI hype into business value 2:21 Gemini inside Google Workspace 4:13 Breaking down language barriers 6:36 Why humans must stay in the loop 8:39 AI security and data risks 13:01 Using AI for better decisions 15:42 Managing AI adoption Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #ArtificialIntelligence #GoogleWorkspace #DigitalTransformation

September 30, 202622 min

What's Next - Andrew Dawson on how technology can help small businesses grow

Small business growth increasingly depends on using connectivity, data, cloud services, and AI to work smarter and compete more effectively. Andrew Dawson, Managing Executive: Small, Medium and Diversified Business at Telkom Business, explains how technology can help South African SMEs become more efficient, resilient, and prepared for future opportunities. Dawson discusses why small business owners often struggle with limited resources and the need to manage everything from IT to HR themselves. He explains how reliable connectivity has evolved from a basic utility into the foundation for cloud applications, digital customer journeys, IoT, and data-driven decision-making. The conversation also explores where businesses should begin with AI. Dawson recommends starting with clearly defined problems, establishing governance and data safeguards, and introducing AI gradually rather than adopting technology simply because competitors are doing it. He also explains why technology itself will not determine which businesses succeed. Critical thinking, leadership, and the ability to apply technology to well-understood problems will remain key competitive advantages. 0:00 Intro 1:27 Telkom Business's new strategy 3:56 Challenges facing South African SMEs 5:59 Connectivity as a business advantage 8:33 Building a business for the future 11:58 Where businesses should start with AI 14:25 Technology solutions for small businesses 17:23 What will define successful businesses Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #SmallBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #TelkomBusiness