Data Driven

In this episode, Frank sits down with Devansh Devansh, founder and head of AI at Iris, whose journey spans from building a thriving tech community of over 10,000 on Substack to developing advanced legal AI tools that revolutionize how lawyers work through complex reasoning.
The conversation explores Devansh Devanche's unconventional path into AI, his experiences navigating the evolving landscape of machine learning, and the unique challenges of creating transparent, trustworthy agentic systems in legal tech. Along the way, we uncover the story behind his distinctive "chocolate milk cult leader" branding, his philosophy on startup building, and why he believes that innovation in AI is more accessible than it may seem.
Whether you’re a technologist, a lawyer, or just curious about the future of AI, this is an episode packed with insight, optimism, and actionable advice.
Links
Devansh on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/devansh-devansh-516004168/
Devansh on SubStack -https://substack.com/@chocolatemilkcultleader

Time Stamps
00:00 Transitioning to Substack and AI Journey
05:32 Starting to publish research insights
07:37 Connecting with Senior Leaders
13:27 Issues with Legal AI Systems
16:55 Challenges with current AI systems
19:49 Demand for AI in legal and non-legal sectors
23:29 Challenges with AI system state management
24:51 Compounding AI returns over time
30:50 Meeting the CEO of Iris
34:20 Tailoring Startup Strategy to Strengths
36:26 Insights on Cluli's Market Presence
40:27 Opportunities in AI Innovation
42:57 Reflecting on market evolutions

In this episode, the conversation focused on the intersection of data intelligence, artificial intelligence, and philanthropy. A key theme that emerged was the growing importance of data-driven decision making in the nonprofit sector, which, despite representing 5% of the GDP and employing 10% of the American workforce, has lagged behind other industries in the adoption of technology and data practices.
The discussion explored how organizations like Impala are aiming to transform the philanthropic landscape by providing robust data platforms and AI-driven tools to empower both large foundations and small nonprofits. Several points were raised, including the unique challenges philanthropy faces in measuring impact versus the traditional business focus on ROI, the rise of a new generation of data-savvy philanthropists, and how collaborative giving and customized data solutions are shaping a more transparent, effective, and innovative sector.
Tune in as we examine how technology is not just changing the way give, but also who gives, why, and with what outcome—pushing philanthropy into a new age powered by actionable insights and human connection.
Links
Impala -https://impala.digital/

Time Stamps
00:00 Importance of Data and Relationships
03:59 Joining Impala through philanthropy
09:00 Measuring organizational impact
12:15 Engaging younger donors with data
14:38 Impala's role in education analysis
20:24 Empowering small nonprofits with AI
22:50 Impala's AI platform strategy
25:07 Improving investment decisions with AI
28:25 Integrating AI with Data Platforms
32:01 Using AI in philanthropic decisions
34:58 Discussing collaborative giving trends
39:28 Supporting small businesses with tech
42:35 Appreciation and social impact goals

This week, we dive deep into the world of data, decision-making, and uncertainty with Dale Nesbitt, a lecturer at Stanford and principal at Arrowhead Economics.
Drawing on his unique upbringing in a mining town, Dale Nesbitt shares how witnessing raw data collection firsthand shaped his perspective on what it really takes to make informed decisions—hint: it's not just about having more data.
Together, we explore the pitfalls of relying solely on data for critical choices, the importance of understanding probability and risk, and why data-gathering itself is often a noisy and imperfect process.
From commodity pricing and speculation in oil markets to the real-world impact of data-driven decisions in healthcare, Dale Nesbitt reveals why true analytic power comes from combining rigorous analysis, sound judgment, and the right kind of data—not just more of it.
Join us as we challenge myths around "data-driven" decisions, unpack lessons from COVID-era data science, and discover why wisdom of the crowd, probability, and a healthy respect for uncertainty are key to navigating our data-rich world.
Links
Dale's LinkedIn profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-nesbitt-b574a83a/
Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USOKgv1avHo

Time Stamps
00:00 Growing up in a mining town
05:44 Data as the New Crude Oil
07:31 Estimating and Understanding Stochastic Processes
12:49 Impact of Strait of Hormuz Closure
14:19 Challenges of AI in Economics
17:05 Betting on events and elections
21:43 Bayesian analysis and hydroxychloroquine data
23:28 Understanding data and judgment
26:38 Analyzing data for better decisions

On this episode of Data Driven, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley are joined by hardware and open source expert Michael Makowski to discuss the shifting landscape of developer workstations and AI hardware. As Windows usage declines among developers and AI engineers, Linux is experiencing a surge in desktop adoption. Michael takes us inside the latest efforts to make Linux not just accessible, but enterprise-grade—sharing how his team is driving advancements in stability, reliability, and user experience for validated Linux hardware.
We talk about the dramatic improvements in Linux desktop support, the importance of privacy and avoiding surveillance-driven proprietary systems, and the game-changing features coming to market—like automated system rollback and curated app installs. Plus, we explore the current state of gaming on Linux, the technical edge unified memory brings to AI development, and why companies are increasingly opting for supported, Linux-based workstations. Whether you’re Linux-curious, rethinking your hardware choices, or just passionate about the future of developer tools and data engineering, this conversation will equip you for what’s next.
Links
Mike's Company Website -https://kfocus.org/
Mike's LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mikowski-7601393/
Watch this show on YouTube -https://youtu.be/E03EObEa2lQ

Time Stamps
00:00 Website security concerns and solutions
05:03 Supporting KDE for long-term stability
09:45 Desktop environment compatibility issues
10:46 Conflicts in desktop environments
15:07 AMD vs Intel & Nvidia Performance
18:58 Showing the production site
23:49 Steam's Linux runtime environment
25:43 Running Windows games on Linux
29:47 Concerns about software privacy issues
33:31 Migrating from Windows challenges
37:48 Setting up machine learning hardware
41:31 Resolving system issues efficiently
42:59 Setting up a VPN correctly
47:40 Running VMs on alternative OS
52:49 Upcoming OS Upgrade Details
56:19 Rigorous testing and development process
57:25 Tuning BTRFS for performance

In this episode of Data Driven, we're diving into the rapidly evolving world of agentic AI—where autonomous AI agents collaborate, communicate, and occasionally collide. Our guest, Vlad Luzin, co-founder and CTO of Band, joins us to explore the technical challenges and real-world implications of building collaboration layers for agents that act like distributed, non-deterministic microservices.
We’ll unpack the myths and realities surrounding orchestration, governance, and security, and discuss how enterprises can operationalize these agent ecosystems safely. Tune in as we share lessons learned, amusing engineering mishaps, and get a glimpse of what the future holds as agents become everyday colleagues in the digital enterprise.
Links
Vlad's LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/luzin/
Watch this episode on YouTube -https://youtu.be/MZztFagEX_E
Band Website -https://www.band.ai/
Band Docs -https://docs.band.ai/

Time Stamps
00:00 Explaining orchestration in tech
03:42 Understanding models and harnesses
09:38 Misconceptions about A2A communication
10:41 Understanding multi-agent systems
16:18 Observability for distributed systems
18:54 Agent communication and collaboration
24:28 Unauthorized agent interactions
25:49 Remote agent collaboration ideas
28:54 How foundational AI models communicate
33:20 Agent communication protocols overview
35:39 Discussing tech standards and AI velocity
40:53 Learning to Work with AI Agents
42:41 Using Band AI tools