Episode 18: Streaming Smarter: How AI is Transforming Media at EchoStar with Al Shanmugam

AI Realized

In this episode of AI Realized, hosted by Christina Ellwood, guest Al Shanmugam, Head of Product at EchoStar, discusses the impact of AI on enterprise executives, focusing on AI deployment in streaming services like Dish Network and Sling TV. Shanmugam elaborates on AI's role in personalization, automation, and agent AI, describing how EchoStar uses AI for streaming challenges, customer recommendations, and ad placements. He also touches on the importance of having a strong, centralized AI committee within the enterprise to manage AI strategies and the significance of setting KPIs to measure AI’s effectiveness. Further, Shanmugam explains the benefits of using large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) for tailored customer experiences, emphasizing a future where AI-driven goals will be pivotal in business strategies. The discussion wraps up with advice for other product and marketing executives to embrace AI for enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.