From Automation to Automated Automation: The Next AI Revolution

In this episode of Cloud Computing Insider, Dave Linthicum talks with longtime technology analyst and broadcaster Eric Kavanagh about AI, agentic systems, automation, enterprise governance, and the realities behind today's technology hype. Eric shares his background in media, data, and technology analysis, including the evolution of DM Radio and Inside Analysis, and explains why independent, candid conversations are essential in an industry often dominated by vendor messaging.

The discussion centers on agentic AI: systems that can take action, pursue goals, and automate workflows. Dave and Eric explore the shift from manual work to automation, and now toward "automated automation," where AI agents may be delegated more responsibility. They stress that AI is not a sentient monster, but a powerful tool that can create serious risks when poorly implemented.

Using examples like the Hugging Face agent incident, enterprise security failures, workflow automation, and AI governance challenges, they argue that organizations must focus on guardrails, observability, control points, permissions, and responsible deployment. Eric also previews the Agentic Roadshow in Pittsburgh, focused on safe AI adoption. The episode closes with practical advice: identify friction points, understand business architecture, and deploy AI agents carefully, one workflow at a time.