126 - Harnessing AI in Business: An In-depth Discussion with Zoho's Gibu Mathew

In this episode of the Adrian Tan Show, we welcome Gibu Matthew [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gibumathew/], Vice President and GM of Asia Pacific for Zoho Corp [https://www.zoho.com/]. With his 23 years of experience with Zoho, Gibu shares his insights about the growth and evolution of AI. The discussion revolves around 'Zia', an AI agent integrated into Zoho products, the impact of AI on customer care and work efficiency, and Zoho's long-term strategies. The conversation also touches upon the influence of AI on job markets and how Zoho is embracing AI without laying off employees. Towards the end, they delve into Gibu's incredible long-term tenure at Zoho and share valuable advice for job seekers. Time Stamp 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:13 Introduction to Zia and AI in Zoho Products 03:21 Understanding the Breadth of Zoho's Coverage 05:03 Impact of AI on Businesses and Work Efficiency 09:12 Personal Experiences and Use Cases of AI 11:44 Addressing Skepticism and Resistance Towards AI 12:04 The Role of AI in Data Processing and Security 16:56 Advice for Smaller Companies Exploring AI 19:55 Long-Term Career at Zoho: A Personal Journey 21:39 Growth and Diversity of ZOA 21:57 Journey as a Software Developer 22:52 The Culture of Ownership at ZOA 23:20 Learning from Mistakes and Growth 23:54 Competing with the Largest Companies 24:27 The Evolution of the Company and Opportunities 25:14 ZOA as an Employer 25:43 Long-term Perspective and Decision Making at ZOA 27:40 Advice for Job Seekers 29:04 Choosing the Right Industry 33:05 The Impact of AI on Customer Service 37:19 The Future of AI and Work 38:24 Adopting AI in Organizations 41:43 The Overestimation of AI's Impact 43:00 Final Thoughts and Conclusion --- Sign up for Adrian's weekly newsletter: https://adriantan.com.sg/subscribe/ Visit Adrian Blog: https://adriantan.com.sg Follow Adrian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/ Follow Adrian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adriantan18 Like Adrian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adtan