This week on That Tech Pod, Kevin and Laura talk with David Turner, Global Leader of Data & Analytics and Co-Leader of AI at FTI Consulting, about what it really means to operate at the center of data, AI, and high-stakes problem solving.

David’s career path might look straightforward, from Arthur Andersen to Capital One and then more than two decades at FTI, but he explains it was less about a master plan and more about finding the right environments and teams. Consulting, for him, became the place where he could continuously solve new, complex problems, often stepping in when companies are facing moments that feel existential.

The conversation dives into AI quickly, cutting through the hype. David focuses on what actually works: real use cases, hands-on experience, and teams actively experimenting with tools. His view is that AI isn’t something you can understand from a slide deck. It’s a skill you build by using it, and the companies moving fastest are the ones sharing what’s working internally. One of the biggest themes is how AI is reshaping the economics of consulting. If technology compresses time to insight, what happens to the billable hour? David doesn’t see a clean break, but he does see a shift. Expertise becomes more valuable, and firms will need to get more creative with pricing, blending traditional models with outcome-based approaches depending on the work. They also spend time on risk, shaped in part by David’s early experience during the collapse of Arthur Andersen. That moment reinforced that no firm is immune, and it continues to influence how he balances innovation with caution, especially in today’s AI-driven environment. This is a grounded look at where AI is actually making an impact and where the real challenges still are.

David Turner is the Global Leader of Data and Analytics and Co-Leader of AI at FTI Consulting, and now serves as the firm’s Chief Technology Officer for client-facing technology. He works with executive teams on high-stakes challenges across investigations, litigation, compliance, and corporate transformation, helping organizations turn data into a real asset using advanced analytics and responsible AI. Over the course of his career, he’s advised Fortune 500 companies, global law firms, and public sector clients, and has played a key role in shaping FTI’s approach to AI and client-facing solutions.