Podcast
Imagine This...
Hosted by Boston Consulting Group BCG · EN
Take a trip into the future that will challenge the way you think and act today. In each episode, BCG's Patricia Sabga and her AI co-host GENE delve into disruptive scenarios that could define the coming decades. BCG experts join the conversation, probing the possibilities and implications for leaders. Human and machine work together to explore the very real actions CEOs could take today to prepare.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
13episodes
Episodes
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BONUS: Explore More About AI
Jan 2100:04:30Tap to summarizeEven though Imagine This... has come to an end, you can still join BCG as we explore AI on our sister podcast, The So What from BCG. https://lnk.to/so-what-general-show10Here we share an excerpt from a recent episode, "How BCG Is Rewriting Its Talent Playbook in the Age of AI,"which you can view on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR_UziEKJco, OR listen at https://lnk.to/so-what-Pittman-AI10.About the Excerpt Georgie Frost sat down with BCG's global people chair Alicia Pittman. They took a deep dive into how BCG is using AI and talent and performance management, what's worked and what hasn't, and how to integrate AI into critical people processes like hiring and training. Learn MoreAlicia Pittman: https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/alicia-pittmanA Promise That Brings AI to Life Responsibly: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/a-promise-that-brings-ai-to-life-responsiblyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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BONUS EPISODE: Working with AI Agents
Jan 700:12:17Tap to summarizeWe just closed the books on Imagine This season two and the series. But we aren’t done quite yet! In this bonus episode, we're going to peel back the curtain and speak with Bill Moore and GENE about working with agents, what we've learned, and where all of this is heading.Learn More: Are AI Agents the Future? https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/artificial-intelligence/ai-agentsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
Transcribe →If AGI’s a No-Show, What Comes Next? (First Aired: May 28, 2025)
Dec 2400:31:34Tap to summarizeThe most enthusiastic AI evangelists say that in the not-too-distant future bots with artificial general intelligence (AGI) will match—or even exceed—the cognitive abilities of humans on pretty much any task. But what if we don’t reach that elusive goal? BCG’s Noah Broestl imagines how AI will nonetheless continue to evolve in amazing ways, yielding a proliferation of specialized models each with its own specific advantages. These models will be much more accurate, and they will feature advances in safety, transparency, and efficiency.Learn More:Noah Broestl: https://on.bcg.com/4mtes1NBCG’s Latest Thinking on AI: https://on.bcg.com/4jnOLNzYou Won’t Get GenAI Right If You Get Human Oversight Wrong: https://on.bcg.com/45rTvyjGenAI Will Fail. Prepare for It: https://on.bcg.com/4kx8ECPThe AI Instant Skills Boost: What CEOs Need to Know: https://on.bcg.com/4jnE8dJThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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Will Free Trade Unleash Africa’s Full Potential?
Dec 1000:28:14Tap to summarizeFor decades, Africa has exported critical raw materials to the rest of the world. But the African Continental Free Trade Agreement promises to help the continent capture more value from its natural resources. The AfCFTA will create a single market where goods and services flow freely between commodity-rich African nations and more industrialized ones. At the same time, Africa is poised to finally achieve universal access to reliable power. BCG’s Tolu Oyekan looks at what these developments mean for Africa—and for the rest of the world. Learn More: Tolu Oyekan: https://on.bcg.com/3KLu56U Africa Unleashed: Powering Prosperity Through Energy Access: https://on.bcg.com/4pjj0ZK Africa Unleashed: Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Execution Gap: https://on.bcg.com/4rKhQbe Chapters 00:00-02:10 The scenario: The value of Pan-African trade has exploded 02:11-03:01 Where does intra-African trade stand today? 03:02-03:50 How will Africa plug into future global supply chains? 03:51-05:10 What is the current impact of AfCFTA? 05:11-05:42 How to address skepticism 05:43-07:40 What could an African renaissance look like? 07:41-10:21 How will AI’s power be harnessed across Africa? 10:22-11:03 Bill and GENE Teaser 11:04-14:20 The future of Africa’s energy infrastructure 14:21-15:40 Where will investments come from? 15:41-17:11 Will red tape hold back advancing electricity in Africa? 17:12-19:20 What role will sustainable energy play? 19:21-20:34 How to innovate around existing infrastructure challenges? 20:35-22:07 Curveball: What could prevent this future? 22:08-23:19 What is one no-regret move CEOs can make now? 23:20-27:29 Bill and GENE: Creating a Pan-African battery company. 27:30-28:14 OutroThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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K-Pop Is Just the Start: How Asia Will Reshape Global Culture
Nov 2600:28:37Tap to summarizeFor more than a century, Western technology, media, and cultural exports have wielded outsized influence around the globe. But over the past decade, Asian entrepreneurs and artists have started to give their Western counterparts a run for their money. BCG’s Neeraj Aggarwal explores how Asia’s influence could evolve over the next decade to rival the West’s—and how companies can strategically position themselves now to seize new opportunities. Learn More: Neeraj Aggarwal: https://on.bcg.com/3LVoawo The Five Forces Shaping Asia-Pacific’s New Powerhouses: https://on.bcg.com/4p5bGB4 Chapters 00:00- 02:16 The scenario: Asia’s influence is on near-equal footing with the West 02:17-03:24 What forces are converging to extend the global reach? 03:25-04:02 What about capital for creatives and entrepreneurs? 04:03-06:21 Where will rebalancing be most evident now and in the future? 06:22-07:33 Will entrenched legacy thinking slow the West? 07:34-09:00 What role does AI play in the impact of the East and West? 09:01-10:26 To what degree is the Asian diaspora driving the rebalancing trend? 10:27-11:37 What is the role of global native entrepreneurs in this rebalancing? 11:38-12:58 Does a multipolar world work for or against global natives? 12:59-13:32 Bill and GENE Teaser 13:33-15:54 Will companies see rebalancing in the flow of talent? 15:55-18:31 Implications for Western companies in this global rebalancing18:32-21:28 Will we see more fracturing and censorship? 21:29-23:00 If AI ecosystems become siloed, what is the impact on cultural exports? 23:01-24:06 What could upend this future? 24:07-25:25 What is one no-regret move CEOs can make now? 25:26-27:52 Bill and GENE: Creating the next K-pop blockbuster 27:52-28:36 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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The Future of Trade: How Will Multinational CEOs Succeed?
Nov 1200:29:19Tap to summarizeAs regional trading blocs emerge, today’s multinational playbooks will become increasingly obsolete. Marc Gilbert, BCG’s Global Lead for its Center for Geopolitics, unpacks what every CEO needs to know to master the multi-polar world, from what winning looks like to navigating local rules, preferences and politics without losing the global edge. Learn More: Marc Gilbert: https://on.bcg.com/4p2KjqP What’s in Your Tariff Response Toolkit?: https://on.bcg.com/47z0M03 Services Are the New Fault Lines in Global Trade: https://on.bcg.com/43hUsaM BCG on International Trade: https://on.bcg.com/3JBZoAB Bonus Content on Trade and Tariffs: https://youtu.be/08RH9rSjH5YChapters 00:00-01:38 The scenario: The multinational has become regional 01:39-02:57 The current state of trade and tariffs 02:58-04:25 How are CEOs navigating geopolitical risk? 04:26-06:59 What are command centers and how are leaders using them? 7:00-08:11 How do CEOs focus on long-term value during turbulence? 08:12-10:18 What major trade blocs could emerge in the future? 10:19-11:54 Will companies need to restructure to thrive? 11:55-12:57 How will companies adapt? 12:58-13:53 Which industries are likely to be most disrupted? 13:54-14:33 Bill and GENE Teaser 14:34-16:39 How can companies acquire the best talent? 16:40-17:34 How can companies insure they have the best AI talent? 17:35-19:21 How would regulation develop in this new world? 19:22-20:10 How should companies think about their headquarters? 20:11-21:11 Will local wins cannibalize global value? 21:12-22:39 How will trade disputes be handled? 22:40-23:51 What scenarios could disrupt this future? 23:52-25:47 What is one no-regret move CEOs can make now? 25:48-28:34 Bill and GENE: Building apps with no experience using AI 28:35-29:18 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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Force Multiplier or Co-Worker? Humans, AI, and the Future of Work
Oct 2900:34:33Tap to summarizeMany fear a future where huge swaths of the workforce are replaced by AI. But those concerns are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how companies can best unlock AI's profit-boosting potential, says Julie Bedard, a Fellow at BCG Henderson Institute. Instead of replacing people with AI, she says, companies should upskill workers with higher-order capabilities and put them in charge of AI tools—which will serve not as coworkers but as human-controlled conduits for better outcomes. Learn More: Julie Bedard: https://on.bcg.com/4ofmtYQ AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Workforce Strategy. Are You Ready?: https://on.bcg.com/3LeAEi6 BCG’s Latest Thinking on People Strategy: https://on.bcg.com/4oaJmMU BCG on GenAI: https://on.bcg.com/4oJKqYd BCG Henderson Institute’s Latest Insights: https://on.bcg.com/3WZhwHu Chapters00:00-02:04 The scenario: Does placing AI on equal footing with humans limit its potential? 02:05-02:51 Will companies become more profitable by replacing humans with AI? 02:52-03:59 Where will AI replace humans? 04:00-04:56 AI as a tool 04:57-06:10 What skills will be needed to succeed? 06:11-07:32 Who will need to be upskilled? 07:33-08:31 What happens to corporate hierarchy? 08:32-09:58 How can companies use AI holistically? 09:59-12:01 What does AI mean for mature workers? 12:02-14:16 How can the education system prepare? 14:17-14:56 Bill and GENE teaser 14:57-18:50 How to build a talent strategy 18:51-21:33 The role of the CPO 21:34-22:53 Is AI a coworker? 22:54-24:06 What happens to mentorship? 24:07-27:34 How companies can approach fear surrounding AI27:35-29:07 How companies might approach AI in the future 29:08-30:20 What could disrupt this future? 30:21-31:43 No regret moves for CEOs 31:44-33:49 Bill and GENE: How to introduce AI agents to your team 33:50-34:33 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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Will You Buy a Car from a Chatbot?
Oct 1500:37:21Tap to summarizeSponsored and boosted content is a reality of web searches these days, making it harder for consumers to find agnostic product recommendations. Consumers who want to cut to the chase will increasingly use LLMs. Chatbots can quickly comb the web to help consumers research products and serve up recommendations that fit personal needs and tastes. BCG’s Andrej Levin explores how consumers will use LLMs to transform the car buying experience and how CEOs across industries can position their companies to thrive in this burgeoning AI-enabled consumer journey. Learn More: Andrej Levin: https://on.bcg.com/4nSUluo BGC’s Latest Thinking on Automotive: https://on.bcg.com/4mYjenj Will AI Become the Best Car Sales Advisor?: https://on.bcg.com/46Na1cyChapters 00:00-02:38 The scenario: AI reinvents how consumers shop 02:39-04:00 How are people already shopping for cars with AI? 04:01-05:20 How will information reach consumers using LLMs to buy cars? 05:21-08:04 Who controls the information LLMs access? 08:05-09:41 What happens to brands that lag behind? 09:42-11:07 What happens to customer loyalty? 11:08-13:12 How can auto manufacturers approach regional differences? 13:13-14:23 How will LLMs merge with the web and traditional search? 14:24-17:18 Will your car sensors help serve up recommendations? 17:19-19:43 How can AI improve financing in car buying? 19:44-20:15 Bill and GENE teaser 20:16-22:38 How can AI assist with everyday purchases? 22:39-24:53 Can retail shopping experiences compete with LLMs? 24:54-26:00 Will mass market brands break down? 26:01-27:32 Who will be in control of consumers’ data? 27:33-29:20 Will sponsored content find its way to chatbots? 29:21-31:46 How can business leaders ensure their product shows up in LLMs? 31:47-32:33 What could disrupt this future? 32:34-33:34 What no-regret move could CEOs make now to prepare? 33:35-36:36 Bill and GENE: How to become visible in LLM search 36:37-37:20 OutroThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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How Will AI Revamp Marketing—and the Role of CMOs?
Oct 100:30:33Tap to summarizeAI is creating greater customer personalization, but a far more fundamental change is coming. Over the next decade, it will break down silos across organizations and give CMOs always-on access to better, deeper, and far more comprehensive information. In this episode, BCG’s Janet Balis explores how this will fundamentally change CMOs’ decision making. They will no longer focus exclusively on marketing campaigns; rather, they’ll broaden their oversight to delivering business outcomes—and they’ll do it by leading a holistic, company-wide transformation. Learn More: Janet Balis: https://on.bcg.com/46NNawp BCG’s Latest Thinking on Marketing and Sales: https://on.bcg.com/4pJwe2u BCG on the Media and Entertainment Industry: https://on.bcg.com/4mBDECp Chapters: 00:00-02:14 The scenario: AI in marketing 02:15-03:59 How are marketing departments currently using AI? 04:00-05:36 How can AI drive personalization? 05:37-08:10 How will companies use AI to create content? 08:11-11:35 How will AI change the way the C-suite makes decisions? 11:36-13:32 Who owns the customer experience in the future? 13:33-15:15 Should the CMO lead AI transformations? 15:15-15:43 Break 15:43-19:35 How will AI change the way data is presented? 19:36-21:23 What cultural and structural changes are holding companies back? 21:24-23:06 What skills will be needed to succeed in the future? 23:07-24:47 Will companies need to rethink incentives? 24:48-26:23 What can CEOs do today to prepare? 26:24-29:49 Bill and GENE: Creating a vibe marketing campaign 29:50-30:33 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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AI Agents and the 'Everywhere All at Once' Sales Team
Sep 1700:36:08Tap to summarizeToo often, a company’s sales strategy is limited by finite resources. Even the largest multinational corporations have to make tough decisions about where to deploy their sales teams. But as they grow more sophisticated, AI agents are expected to be capable of reaching and interacting with not only your largest and most valuable clients and customers, but also small businesses most sales teams simply didn’t have the bandwidth to engage before. BCG’s Phillip Andersen examines the potential of AI-driven sales teams and imagines how AI-agents might even negotiate simple transactions with each other. Learn More: Phillip Andersen: https://on.bcg.com/46plrlt BCG’s Latest Thinking on Marketing and Sales: https://on.bcg.com/47L7ZKR A Bold AI Ambition for B2B Marketing, Sales, and Service: https://on.bcg.com/3VVCNBi How to Accelerate the GenAI Revolution in Sales: http://on.bcg.com/42zfEZb Chapters: 00:00-02:13The scenario: AI sales agents of the future 02:14-03:02 How do sales teams currently prioritize where to put their resources? 03:03-03:46 How are most sales teams using AI right now 03:47- 06:09 What have we learned from AI already being used in customer service? 06:10-08:40 What doors will AI agents open for sales teams that are currently closed to them? 08:41- 11:08 What would AI outreach look like in the future? 11:09-12:56 What is the role of humans when AI agents are making deals? 12:57-13:24 Short break 13:25-16:13 How to use AI agents to build relationships with valued clients 16:14- 17:47 Who owns the “redline”? 17:48-19:43 How will junior members of the team grow their skills? 19:44-22:16 How can AI help junior members grow their skills? 22:17-23:38 What kind of skills will humans need to succeed when they're augmented by AI agents? 23:39-25:47 What will it look like when two AI agents interact with each other? 25:48-27:50 How will AI agents gained trust of customers? 27:51-29:25 What could disrupt this path to the future? 29:26-31:45 No regret moves for CEOs 31:46-35:23 Bill and GENE: A hypothetical conversation between two AI agents. 35:24-36:08 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
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