From cave painters to digital creators, artists continually discover new ways to express themselves and connect. That connection is so important, because some people find art intimidating. And, let’s face it, a lot of people feel the same way about AI. In this episode, Alain Brusch, Global Head of Digital Platforms at Art Basel, shares how this premier international art fair is using cloud and AI technologies to create personalized and user-friendly experiences—like a companion that acts as a personal art concierge guiding people through the fair, and a computer vision feature that delivers detailed information about specific artworks, artists, and galleries in real time. Susan and Alain discuss how technology is making the art fair more accessible and fostering deeper connections between visitors and art, and Alain offers advice for getting started that applies to any industry.
Air Date: May 13, 2025
Chapters:
00:00 – 02:07 Introduction
02:07 – 06:35 Alain’s journey and Art Basel’s mission
06:35 – 13:42 AI Companion and Art Basel Lens
13:42 – 19:39 Challenges and insights in AI Adoption
19:39 – 24:29 Future of AI in Art Basel
24:29 – 27:38 Advice for leaders
27:38 – 29:32 Conclusion and key takeaways
Show notes:
Guest: Alain Brusch on LinkedIn: https://msft.it/6057SZ6kX
Host: Susan Etlinger on LinkedIn: https://msft.it/6058SZ6kk
Learn more about the Art Basel Companion: https://msft.it/6059SZ6kZ
Learn more about Art Basel: https://msft.it/6050SZ6kw
Learn more about Microsoft Azure: https://msft.it/6051SZ6kb
Executive insights on cloud and AI innovation: https://msft.it/6052SZ6kj
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The Leading the Shift podcast is a place for experts to share their insights and opinions. As students of the future of technology, Microsoft values inputs from a diverse set of voices. That said, the opinions and findings of our guests are their own and they may not necessarily reflect Microsoft’s own research or positions.
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About the Leading the Shift podcast:
The AI platform shift brings immense opportunity, but the road to success isn’t always clear. On Leading the Shift, we talk with leaders in organizations of all kinds about how they’re using data, AI, and cloud technologies to deliver meaningful, trustworthy innovation to their teams, customers, and communities. Guests share how the platform shift is affecting everything from data strategy and customer relationships to organizational structure and culture, to their own lives and career journeys. Join us for conversations about navigating the era of AI, tackling new challenges, and advice for getting started.
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