The Realities of AI Adoption in Business with Patrick Shields – VistaTalks Ep 188
Wed Feb 04 2026
Patrick Shields, experienced executive and PhD researcher in Artificial Intelligence, joins host Simon Hodgkins for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on leadership, innovation, and the realities of AI adoption in business. Recorded for VistaTalks Episode 188, this discussion dives deep into how organizations, particularly SMEs, can navigate AI responsibly while empowering their people and protecting trust.
Patrick is currently completing his PhD at Munster Technological University, where his research focuses on how businesses actually adopt AI in practice, rather than how technology vendors say they should. The result is a grounded, experience-led discussion that blends academic insight with decades of executive leadership across hospitality and international business.
00:00 - Patrick Shields - VistaTalks Ep 188
01:00 - Why Patrick Is Researching AI Adoption
04:57 - The Real Reason Businesses Struggle with AI
06:09 - Shadow AI and Hidden Organizational Risks
14:14 - Leadership, Trust, and Communication in AI Change
19:03 - Practical Steps for Building AI-Ready Teams
30:32 - Responsible AI, Ethics, and Sustainability
39:12 - The Next Five Years of AI and Leadership
About VistaTalks:
VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com
Social Media:
X - https://x.com/vistatalks
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks
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Patrick Shields, experienced executive and PhD researcher in Artificial Intelligence, joins host Simon Hodgkins for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on leadership, innovation, and the realities of AI adoption in business. Recorded for VistaTalks Episode 188, this discussion dives deep into how organizations, particularly SMEs, can navigate AI responsibly while empowering their people and protecting trust. Patrick is currently completing his PhD at Munster Technological University, where his research focuses on how businesses actually adopt AI in practice, rather than how technology vendors say they should. The result is a grounded, experience-led discussion that blends academic insight with decades of executive leadership across hospitality and international business. 00:00 - Patrick Shields - VistaTalks Ep 188 01:00 - Why Patrick Is Researching AI Adoption 04:57 - The Real Reason Businesses Struggle with AI 06:09 - Shadow AI and Hidden Organizational Risks 14:14 - Leadership, Trust, and Communication in AI Change 19:03 - Practical Steps for Building AI-Ready Teams 30:32 - Responsible AI, Ethics, and Sustainability 39:12 - The Next Five Years of AI and Leadership About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks