AI Readiness Ep 24: Rina Lakhman on AI Readiness, Governance and the Future of Digital in Higher Education

In this episode of the Databricks Diaries, Andy is joined by Rina Lakhman Interim Director of Digital at the University of Manchester, for a deep dive into AI readiness. Rina brings her extensive experience across legal, telecommunications, and academia to discuss the practical application of AI in large organisations.The conversation explores the critical balance between agentic AI for personal productivity and the large-scale AI models shaping institutional strategy. Rina and Andy discuss the often-overlooked costs of AI - both financial and environmental and why traditional data engineering remains a vital foundation. From the European AI Act to the nuances of model hallucinations, Rina shares her perspective on building a culture of governance and enablement. Whether you're navigating digital transformation or curious about the ethics of AI, this episode offers essential takeaways for the modern digital landscape.