Twenty years ago, I was a tech editor and analyst focused on streaming media technology. It was a pivotal time for streaming, we all had the appetite for it, but consumer broadband access was still the exception, not the norm, we faced steep challenges of last mile Internet connectivity, latency issues, scalability, encoding workflows, etc.

We all understood the opportunity and promise of online video and audio, and streaming media startups were plentiful, but it was still early days. For context, YouTube didn’t even exist until 2005, Netflix didn’t expand internationally until late 2010, and Spotify didn’t enter the US market until 2011! Fast-forward to 2021 and it’s hard to imagine any brand or enterprise that doesn’t leverage video or audio to share their stories or support customers and partners.

My first day at Opus Research brought back a lot of these memories. The Conversational AI landscape is robust, the tech is both amazing and promising, but it’s still early days. I’ve spent the last 4+ years of my career focused on solution design and technical program management for enterprise intelligent assistants, so I’ve developed a first-hand appreciation for the opportunities and the challenges facing vendors, enterprise clients, and the customers they serve.

So, what should you expect of me? The role of analyst might be a professional pivot for me, but it’s a familiar role, and I hope my experience and expertise will serve the community well. You can expect me to be enthusiastically curious, objective, and a trusted advisor to our clients. I’m excited to ride the inevitable waves of innovation and adoption as the industry moves forward.

There’s a lot we need to navigate together in the coming months and years and I’m proud to join Opus Research to help lead the way.

About Scott Baker:

Scott Baker joins Opus Research as Senior Analyst after 13 years of designing, deploying, and managing enterprise software solutions. He spent the last 4+ years specifically focused on technical program management for intelligent assistant deployments where his expertise and guidance was critical to the success of digital transformation projects for well-known Fortune 500 companies.

Previously, Baker focused on online video platform implementation design and management for large media brands and enterprise clients. Prior to his hands-on experience as a solutions provider, Baker served as video product manager for Boston.com and technical editor and analyst for Streaming Media, Inc. In his spare time, you’ll probably find him painting, drawing, writing, or exploring the Pacific Northwest with his wife and dogs.

Categories: Conversational Intelligence, Intelligent Assistants, Intelligent Authentication, Articles