Panel: AI and Enterprise Innovation with Kevin Hague, The Coca-Cola Company
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Moderator:Fay Hazaveh Costa, Partner, NTTVCThis session explores how a massive, iconic global brand navigates the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence to get closer to consumers, connect with bottling partners, and drive top-line revenue growth.Vertical Agent Orchestration: Rather than using traditional horizontal agent chaining, Coca-Cola is building a vertical “pyramid” of AI agents. These agents sit directly on top of databases to bubble up raw data into strategic intelligence briefings for decision-makers.The Importance of Change Management: Hague emphasizes that 80% of AI transformation work involves change management. The organization aims to transition employees from manually building pivot tables in Excel to directing digital AI “coworkers”.Strict ROI and Cost Tracking: As AI use cases grow in complexity and token hosting costs run into the millions, Coca-Cola now mandates strict return-on-investment (ROI) projections for new AI projects submitted through their centralized intake portal.Capturing Tribal Knowledge: By utilizing “Coke GPT” and vector databases to store long-term memory and user interactions, the company is preserving valuable institutional knowledge and decision-making context even if employees leave.Quantum Computing in Beverage R&D: Hague highlights the future potential of pairing quantum computing with machine learning to optimize complex molecular folding for developing new flavors and sweeteners.Structuring Successful AI Pods: To prevent failed AI proofs-of-concept, Hague recommends forming highly focused project pods consisting of three essential roles: a project manager, a technical expert, and a business stakeholder who will actively use the technology.Our site uses cookies to improve functionality and to help provide the best possible user experience. By visiting our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To learn more about cookies and how they can be disabled, please read our Cookies Statement.When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.