Kristie Grinnell on AI investment
From Kristie Grinnell on Building an Agentic AI Factory at TD SYNNEX | CAIO Connect Podcast · · CAIO Connect Podcast
“We need to invest in an AI lab that's going to make sure we are testing and innovating in a secure way so we can prove business outcomes in the lab before going to production in the agentic AI factory — it might cost us this much, but we think it's going to prove this much in revenue or efficiency.”
On , Kristie Grinnell, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer at TD SYNNEX CORPORATION, spoke about AI investment during Kristie Grinnell on Building an Agentic AI Factory at TD SYNNEX | CAIO Connect Podcast on CAIO Connect Podcast.
About Kristie Grinnell
Kristie Grinnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at TD SYNNEX, has discussed the company’s development of an “agentic AI factory” and a “bot factory,” describing these as systems where AI agents can be created to communicate with one another and improve efficiency. In a podcast appearance, she said the company aims to help customers understand different types of AI technologies and their associated risks, adding that TD SYNNEX intends to use AI responsibly. She compared managing an AI agent to managing an employee, noting that agents require “cyber checks” and performance monitoring to ensure they are not hallucinating. Grinnell stated that the company’s CEO sees the future of distribution as digital and that the company is using automation, AI, and data to avoid scaling headcount at the same rate as the business. She advocated for investing in an AI lab to test innovations securely before moving to production. In earlier appearances, Grinnell discussed workplace technology and hybrid work. She said that during the pandemic, DXC Technologies (her former employer) rolled out a standard catalog for home-office equipment and noted that global laws in places like Europe require employers to provide ergonomic equipment for remote workers. She described the challenge of balancing employee requests for support with the need to run a business. Grinnell also spoke about shifting office spaces to “community centers” designed for collaboration, connection, coaching, and celebration, rather than rows of desks. She emphasized the importance of setting clear expectations for camera use in hybrid meetings and of educating employees and clients about hybrid etiquette.