The Numbers Game: Episode 1 (A $170 Video Call?!)

Welcome to the series premiere of The Numbers Game! This is the show where leading technology analysts put their instincts, insights, and industry knowledge to the test. Join Kevin Keiller, Tim Banting, and David Maldow as they face off against number-driven questions covering AI, Unified Communications (UC), Customer Experience (CX), and the trends shaping the enterprise market. In this first episode, our analysts tackle big claims from Microsoft, McKenzie, and the history books. Who will come closest to the real numbers, and what do these statistics mean for the future of technology? Tune in to find out! 0:00 Introduction & Rules 1:38 Round 1: Microsoft AI Survey 2:02 Q1: AI & High-Value Work 4:50 Q2: Leadership AI Alignment 7:16 Q3: Agentic AI Growth Rate 9:44 Round 2: Automation & Compliance 10:18 Q4: Automated Workflow % 11:42 Q5: EU AI Act Fines 14:42 Q6: Usage-Based Pricing Trends 18:37 Round 3: Collaboration & History 19:10 Q7: Daily Teams Message Count 20:52 Q8: 1964 Video Call Cost 22:57 Q9: Polycom Starfish Launch Year 25:03 Final Scores & Takeaways