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Get Inspired | Podcasts | The Future of AI Agents and the Power of Community

EPISODE 57

The Future of AI Agents and the Power of Community

Shir Meir Lador

Engineering Manager at Google

Shelly Darnutzer

Former Director of Community Growth and Impact at WiDS
About This Episode

This podcast episode features Shir Meir Lador, Engineering Manager at Google and former WiDS Tel Aviv Ambassador, in conversation about her career path and her work at the forefront of AI innovation. The discussion explores the emerging world of AI agents and Google’s Agent Development Kit (ADK), highlighting what it takes to move from prototypes to production while building responsibly. Shir also shares her experiences navigating career risks, fostering growth, and the powerful role of community through her work with WiDS. Her journey demonstrates how technical expertise, leadership, and inclusive community-building can intersect to drive both innovation and impact.


Highlights
  • Google’s new Agent Development Kit (3:16)
  • Getting production agents ready (8:33)
  • Taking risks in career (11:10)
  • Balancing life (13:22)
  • How being a WiDS Ambassador impacted Shir’s career (19:31)

About the Guest

Shir Meir Lador leads a team evangelizing applied AI at Google Cloud. Previously, she worked as the AI Group Manager of the Document Intelligence Group at Intuit, where she led teams in developing AI services that helped consumers and small businesses prosper. Prior to Intuit, she worked at 2 Israeli startups as a data scientist and researcher.

A recognized leader in AI and data science, Shir is a former WiDS Tel Aviv Ambassador, co-founder and organizer of PyData Tel Aviv, and co-host of Unsupervised, a podcast exploring the latest in data science. She frequently speaks at international AI and data science conferences, sharing insights on applied machine learning and AI innovation.

Shir holds an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Computers from Ben-Gurion University, specializing in machine learning and signal processing. Passionate about fostering inclusive data science communities, she actively contributes to initiatives that bridge AI research and business impact.