Two brilliant conversations this week on Project Flux. We sat down with a founder using AI to decode the ocean, and a seasoned agile expert who has seen every tech hype cycle come and go — and has the perspective to prove it.
Jana Stella of NeuWave Technologies takes us into the world of AI-powered wave modelling and what it means for offshore infrastructure. Then Mike Palladino cuts through the noise on AI in project management, the hype, the reality, and why the human element still matters more than ever.
AI & Ocean Intelligence: How Wave Data is Transforming Offshore Infrastructure
Jana Stella, founder and CEO of NeuWave Technologies, joined us for a fascinating conversation about her journey from oceanography research to building AI that predicts wave energy patterns for offshore infrastructure. Jana has a PhD in Environmental Engineering and has spent years applying deep learning to one of the most complex and data-rich environments on the planet — the ocean.
She opens the conversation with a memorable analogy for deep learning: a maze of mirrors. It is a deceptively simple way to explain how neural networks learn to reflect and refine information, and it sets the tone for a discussion that is both technically rich and genuinely accessible. From there, we explore how NeuWave's AI models are being used to improve wave forecasting for offshore wind farms, reduce delays in project delivery, and ultimately make renewable energy infrastructure more reliable and cost-effective.
Jana also speaks candidly about the challenges of building an AI company in a field that is still finding its footing — from hiring the right talent to convincing established industries to trust a model over decades of engineering intuition. And she gives us a glimpse of where she sees this all heading, with quantum computing on the horizon as the next frontier for ocean science.
Links and Stuff
Listen on
AI Revolution: The Hidden Truths and Surprising Impacts on Our Future
Mike Palladino is a transformational leader and agile expert with decades of experience across corporate and non-profit sectors. He joined James and Yoshi for a wide-ranging conversation about what AI is actually doing to the world of project management — and what it is not doing, despite what the headlines might suggest.
Mike brings a grounded perspective to a topic that is often dominated by either breathless enthusiasm or existential dread. He talks about the hype cycle of AI with the authority of someone who has watched similar cycles play out before, and he is clear-eyed about the gap between what AI promises and what it currently delivers. That said, he is far from dismissive — he sees real value in AI's ability to handle repetitive, low-stakes tasks, freeing up human attention for the work that genuinely requires judgement, empathy, and experience.
The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of jobs, the limitations of AI in decision-making contexts where nuance matters, and why agile methodologies are more relevant than ever in a world that keeps changing faster than any plan can account for. Mike's take on the cultural impact of technology — and the echo chambers it creates — is one of the more thought-provoking moments in the episode, and one we deliberately leave for you to hear in full.
Links and Stuff
Listen on
Trust-First AI, Built Into Your Browser
Up to 50 words Agentic workflows are everywhere. Real trust is rare. Norton Neo brings AI directly into how you browse with zero-prompt productivity, intelligent tab organization, and privacy built into its DNA. AI that anticipates what you need next.
All content reflects our personal views and is not intended as professional advice or to represent any organisation.
