Tech Disruptors

AI adoption is moving from experimentation to execution, exposing gaps in data quality and governance. Qlik CEO Mike Capone joins Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Software Analyst Sunil Rajgopal to discuss why enterprises must build strong data foundations rather than rely on plug-and-play LLMs. “SaaS isn’t going away — it just has to be rewired,” Capone says, highlighting how AI is reshaping software architectures and limiting returns without strong data infrastructure. The discussion also covers Qlik’s positioning, competitive dynamics and how AI-driven productivity is influencing growth and product strategy.

The assumption that output grows linearly with headcount no longer holds. As AI tools drive a step-change in productivity, companies are rethinking their operating models. In this episode of the Tech Disruptors podcast, Owen Jennings, executive officer and business lead at Block, joins Bloomberg Intelligence Fintech and Payments Analyst Diksha Gera to discuss Block’s decision to reduce its workforce and how AI is reshaping both internal operations and the company’s products – from Cash App’s MoneyBot, which helps automate financial planning and budgeting, to Square’s upcoming ManagerBot, an AI-assistant designed to streamline SMB operations. Listen to hear more about how Block is deploying AI across its ecosystem — and how its approach differs from that of banks.

In banking, the AI question isn’t “Can you build it?” — it’s “Can you explain it, monitor it, and shut it off when required?” As the hype cycle moves past chatbots, a real competitive divide is emerging: institutions that can operationalize AI with auditability and control versus those layering copilots onto legacy workflows and hoping for the best. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Tech Disruptors podcast, Capital One’s Chief Scientist and Head of Enterprise AI Prem Natarajan joins BI fintech and payments analyst Diksha Gera to discuss why the bank is building — not just buying — its AI stack, and what gives Capital One a technology edge over competitors. Listen in to hear more about the bank’s expansive approach to AI as a capacity multiplier rather than a means to cut costs.

Lumentum CEO Michael Hurlston and VP of Investor Relations Kathy Ta join Bloomberg Intelligence’s Jake Silverman on this episode of the Tech Disruptors podcast to discuss how optics are playing an increasingly critical role in networking inside and across AI data centers. They explore how the company is becoming a key supplier of systems and lasers to hyperscalers. Hurlston unpacks his broad and lengthy tenure as an executive across semiconductors and hardware and how it’s helping him tackle new challenges as the data center evolves. The conversation also covers how Lumentum’s past as a sleepier supplier to telecom networks positions it well to address today’s AI networking needs.

Reddit’s Chief Operating Officer Jen Wong discusses the impact of gen AI models on its platform and how the company is positioning itself in the era of chatbots and LLMs. Wong sits down with Bloomberg Intelligence’s Global Head of Technology Research Mandeep Singh to discuss  the company’s ads business and how it plans to leverage LLM search to boost engagement. All the metrics referenced in the episode are as of December 2025.