Convergence - The Signature Series

As 2026 unfolds, we’re stepping into the era of the Agentic Enterprise where autonomous AI systems are not just tools, but active participants in decision-making, creativity, and leadership. In this first episode of the 2026 Convergence season, Lauren Hawker Zafer and Faisal Hoque unpack the most pressing real-world questions shaping the AI transformation: from digital trust and corporate liability to the ethics of deepfakes, sustainability, and the future of human collaboration. Can enterprises truly trust AI to act responsibly? Who is accountable when intelligent agents go wrong? And what does leadership look like when machines begin to shape judgment itself? This episode explores how businesses, policymakers, and talent can navigate the rise of AI agents, balancing innovation with ethics, efficiency with empathy, and automation with accountability. Listen to discover: • The rise of the Agentic Enterprise and responsibility in the age of autonomous systems. • How deepfakes redefine authenticity, trust, and influence. • The hidden environmental cost of AI — and how enterprises can act responsibly. • Why human insight and authenticity remain the ultimate competitive advantage. • The evolving relationship between leaders, agents, and digital ethics. 00:00 — Intro: Entering the Age of the Agent Enterprise 01:25 — 2026 and the Shift from Tool to Partner 02:45 — Top 10 AI Questions: What We’ll Explore 03:25 — Question 1: Who’s Liable When an AI Agent Makes a Mistake? 06:15 — Enterprise Responsibility and Context Blindness 08:45 — Why Full AI Autonomy Is Still a Risky Bet 10:15 — Shared Liability: Human, Vendor, and System Errors 11:45 — Legal and Ethical Ecosystems Around AI Agents 12:15 — Question 2: How Much Energy and Water Does AI Consume? 13:45 — Environmental Impact and Data Center Footprints 15:15 — Sustainable AI: Smaller Models, Sharper Focus 16:10 — Carbon Footprints, AI Energy Taxes, and Future Regulation 16:35 — Question 3: If AI Is a Commodity, Where’s the Competitive Edge? 17:45 — Authenticity, Storytelling, and Brand Differentiation 19:15 — Information vs. Wisdom: The Value of Human Expertise 21:05 — Question 4: Can I Pay for AI Visibility (GEO & SEO in 2026)? 22:45 — Sponsored Responses and Bias in Generative Models 24:15 — Fairness, Transparency, and “Pay to Play” AI 25:15 — Question 5: Solving the Apprentice Gap in the AI Workforce 26:30 — The Importance of Entry-Level Roles in an AI-Driven Economy 27:45 — Middle Management as the Organizational Glue 28:35 — Human-AI Apprenticeship: Collaboration Over Replacement 30:00 — Closing Thoughts: Agents, Leadership, and the Year Ahead Convergence: The Signature Series  The lines between technology, business, and humanity are blurring. In a world of constant disruption, success is no longer about mastering one domain — it’s about navigating the pivotal intersections where they converge. Join Lauren Hawker Zafer and Faisal Hoque for Convergence, the series that deconstructs the complex forces shaping our future.  Based on hands-on experience, research, and publications, each episode provides actionable frameworks and candid insights on humanity, business, ethics, transformation, AI, modern leadership, governance, sustainable growth, and philosophy. #AgenticEnterprise #DigitalTrust #Deepfakes #AILeadership #ConvergencePodcast #AIEthics #FutureOfWork #2026 Predictions