News/AI Implementation
These areas are where entrepreneurs are proving real ROI on their AI strategies
AI's impact on business operations: Artificial intelligence adoption has surged to 35% in 2022, with entrepreneurs leveraging AI tools to drive significant returns on investment across various industries. The rise in AI adoption reflects a shift from theoretical discussions to practical implementations, with businesses experiencing tangible benefits in efficiency and revenue generation. AI tools are not only reducing costs but also fundamentally altering business operations and growth strategies. Sales automation breakthrough: An AI-powered sales system developed by Infinite AI generated $30 million in business lending within 90 days, demonstrating the potential for AI to revolutionize sales processes. The system increased...
read Nov 7, 2024CIOs face new role as ethical guardians of tech change
The evolving role of CIOs in the age of generative AI: As artificial intelligence technologies become more accessible across organizations, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are taking on a new responsibility as ethical guardians and strategic facilitators of innovation. The democratization of AI-driven innovation has empowered employees across various departments to apply technology creatively, potentially leading to rapid advancements but also introducing new risks. Many generative AI projects are currently stalled at the prototype stage, highlighting the need for strategic guidance and implementation expertise. CIOs are uniquely positioned to navigate this new landscape, leveraging their experience in secure and effective technology...
read Nov 6, 2024Forrester takes a page out of the ‘drink responsibly’ campaign in new guidance for AI marketing
The emergence of generative AI in marketing technology: Generative AI (genAI) is in its early stages of adoption within the marketing technology (martech) landscape, prompting a call for responsible implementation and strategic planning. Forrester analysts draw parallels between the responsible use of genAI and the alcohol industry's "Drink responsibly" campaign, highlighting the need for a measured approach to this transformative technology. The current state of genAI in martech primarily involves creative design applications, with limited adoption in analytics, insights, and operational assistance. Key resources for responsible AI adoption: Forrester has published two research pieces to guide marketers in responsibly planning...
read Nov 6, 2024How the nation’s capital thinks about AI implementation, and the values that guide it
AI initiatives in Washington, D.C. driven by core values: The nation's capital is taking a strategic approach to implementing artificial intelligence, guided by six core values established by Mayor Muriel Bowser in February 2024. An executive order signed by Mayor Bowser defined these AI values and established two key groups: a public AI Advisory Group and an internal AI Taskforce. The district's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Stephen Miller emphasizes that only AI solutions aligning with all six core values will be adopted. This value-driven approach aims to ensure that AI advancements meet the standards set by the mayor and benefit...
read Nov 5, 2024How Autodesk took AI from experimentation to real-world application
AI's transformative role at Autodesk: Autodesk, a global leader in design and engineering software, is embracing AI to enhance productivity and innovation across its operations and customer offerings. Prakash Kota, Autodesk's CIO for seven years, views AI as critical to automating and enhancing insights for customers, aligning with the company's mission of designing a better world. As Autodesk aims to grow from its current $6 billion annual revenue to $10 billion, scalable AI applications have become increasingly urgent. Transitioning from experimentation to production: Autodesk is moving beyond the experimental phase of AI, focusing on implementing it at scale across the...
read Nov 5, 2024How farmer resistance to AI adoption may impact the future of agriculture
The future of farming: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by drastically reducing the time it takes for farmers to optimize their operations and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Traditional farming methods often require 10-15 years for farmers to fully understand and maximize the potential of their land. AI systems can analyze fields in real-time, providing recommendations for water usage, fertilizer application, and planting schedules, enabling farmers to make informed decisions more quickly. This technology could help farmers achieve better yields and increased profitability in a shorter timeframe compared to conventional approaches. Climate change challenges: The agricultural...
read Nov 5, 2024Beyond the hype: How to unlock tangible business value from generative AI
The rise of generative AI: Generative AI (genAI) has emerged as a transformative technology, but enterprises are struggling to realize its full potential and achieve expected returns on investment. The public release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022 sparked unprecedented hype around genAI, comparable to the advent of the public internet. According to Gartner, genAI has recently entered the "trough of disillusionment," indicating that businesses are not seeing the anticipated value and ROI. Challenges in implementation: Organizations face difficulties in identifying and prioritizing the most effective genAI use cases to drive rapid ROI and business value. The sheer number of...
read Nov 4, 2024How Boulder schools balance AI innovation with student data protection
AI integration in education: Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts are implementing strategies to leverage artificial intelligence in classrooms while prioritizing student data protection and ethical use. Both districts opted not to block ChatGPT when it launched in November 2022, instead focusing on its potential benefits and necessary precautions. Conversations within the districts centered around data privacy, teaching students ethical AI use, and helping teachers utilize AI to streamline time-consuming tasks. Boulder Valley Superintendent Rob Anderson highlighted AI's potential to give teachers more time to reinvest in students by automating routine tasks. Teacher training initiatives: St. Vrain Valley...
read Nov 4, 2024AI at the edge: Key architecture decisions for future success
Edge intelligence revolutionizes AI deployment: By bringing processing and decision-making closer to the point of value creation, edge intelligence enhances responsiveness, reduces latency, and enables applications to function independently, even with limited cloud connectivity. Edge intelligence moves AI and analytics capabilities to devices, sensors, and localized systems, enabling real-time intelligence crucial for applications like autonomous vehicles and hospital monitoring. Running AI locally bypasses network delays, improving reliability in environments that demand split-second decisions. This approach scales AI for distributed applications across various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and retail. Architectural considerations for edge intelligence: IT leaders must carefully balance latency, data...
read Nov 4, 2024How CIOs are sharpening AI governance policies in an uncertain market
The AI governance imperative: As generative AI projects increasingly move into production environments, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are facing mounting pressure to establish robust AI governance policies to safeguard their enterprises. The rapid advancement of AI technology has outpaced the development of formal standards, forcing CIOs to craft internal policies to address the unique challenges posed by AI implementation. While government and research institutions have proposed some frameworks, these are often insufficient to address the complex and evolving nature of AI applications in enterprise settings. US organizations are notably behind their European counterparts in establishing multidisciplinary governance committees, a key...
read Nov 4, 2024To build business value in the AI economy, start with your company’s data
The AI data revolution: Businesses are discovering new ways to leverage their proprietary data using artificial intelligence, particularly large language models (LLMs), to gain a competitive edge in increasingly crowded markets. McKinsey estimates that utilizing internal data for sales and marketing insights can lead to above-average market growth and increases of 15 to 25% in EBITDA. LLMs offer a unique method to extract value from company data, with the potential to transform businesses across various industries. Quality over quantity: The effectiveness of AI models in enterprise settings relies more on the quality and relevance of data rather than sheer volume....
read Nov 3, 20244 practical strategies to turn AI experiments into real business value
Generative AI's rocky road to adoption: Despite initial excitement, generative AI has faced challenges in delivering on its promise, with many projects failing to move beyond the proof-of-concept stage. Gartner predicts that at least 30% of generative AI projects will be abandoned after the proof-of-concept stage by the end of 2025. The technology has reached the "trough of disillusionment" in Gartner's Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, indicating a significant shift from the previous year's enthusiasm. Many tech CEOs who once spoke enthusiastically about AI tools are now apologizing for mentioning generative AI, recognizing the growing disillusionment among professionals. Success stories...
read Nov 2, 2024AI tools vs AI solutions: What’s the difference and why should you care?
The rise of generative AI in enterprise strategy: MIT research suggests CIOs should adopt a two-tier approach to generative AI implementation, distinguishing between AI tools for productivity enhancement and AI solutions for strategic business transformation. MIT's Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) emphasizes the need for separate strategies when deploying productivity-enhancing AI tools versus business-case-driven AI solutions. The research was prompted by IT leaders questioning why they weren't seeing the same value from generative AI as they had from previous data and analytics technologies. A one-size-fits-all approach to AI implementation may be limiting the potential benefits for organizations. AI tools...
read Nov 2, 2024Why data is the limiting factor to all AI progress and business success
AI implementation hampered by data challenges: Recent surveys reveal that companies are struggling with data-related issues, hindering their ability to effectively implement artificial intelligence initiatives, particularly generative AI. A survey by Presidio of 1,000 IT executives found that 86% reported data-related barriers, such as difficulties in gaining meaningful insights and issues with real-time data access. Half of the executives surveyed believe they rushed into generative AI implementation before being fully prepared, with 84% of those who have adopted generative AI experiencing issues with their data sources. The survey highlights that readiness for AI adoption goes beyond just implementing the technology;...
read Nov 2, 2024How higher education institutions must adapt to exponential change in 2025
The rise of AI in higher education: The rapid adoption of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT is forcing colleges and universities to fundamentally rethink their approach to technology integration and organizational structure. Mark Roman, managing partner for education at Info-Tech Research Group, highlighted the unprecedented rate of AI adoption at the annual EDUCAUSE conference, noting that ChatGPT reached 1 million users in just five days. Roman argues that this rapid integration of AI into everyday life signals the accelerating pace of technological change that higher education institutions must adapt to in order to remain competitive and relevant. Historical context of...
read Nov 1, 2024Considerations for startups building AI-powered products
The AI revolution's impact on startups: Two years after ChatGPT's launch, the artificial intelligence landscape has dramatically shifted, creating both challenges and opportunities for startups in the field. The introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a pivotal moment in AI development, comparable to historic tech milestones like the graphical user interface demo in 1968 and the iPhone launch in 2007. The past 24 months have seen a seismic shift in Silicon Valley's tech industry, particularly in the realm of Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models (LLMs). The widening AI gap: The disparity between large AI companies and smaller...
read Nov 1, 20243 key considerations to successfully implement AI in any organization
AI's transformative potential across industries: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving from a niche technology to a versatile tool with applications across all sectors, offering businesses of all sizes and types the opportunity to innovate and enhance their operations. The widespread adoption of AI is no longer limited to tech startups and science fiction scenarios; it has become a practical solution for businesses in various industries to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Even traditionally conservative sectors like insurance are embracing AI to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. The key to successful AI integration lies in identifying industry-specific problems that can...
read Nov 1, 2024How SMBs and AI adoption are driving Singapore’s robust digital economy
Singapore's digital economy thrives: Singapore's digital economy has maintained a significant 17.7% share of the country's GDP, with small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and artificial intelligence (AI) playing crucial roles in driving growth. Key economic indicators: The digital economy contributed SG$113 billion ($85.31 billion) to Singapore's GDP in the previous year It accounted for SG$1 of every SG$6 in the country's total economic output The digital economy's compound annual growth rate of 11.2% between 2018 and 2023 nearly doubled the nominal GDP growth rate of 5.8% for the total economy SMB adoption of digital technologies: 94.6% of SMBs have adopted...
read Nov 1, 2024How Marsh McLennan is restructuring IT around generative AI
Digital transformation sets the stage for AI innovation: Marsh McLennan's CIO, Paul Beswick, initiated a comprehensive digital transformation five years ago, laying the groundwork for the company's current advancements in generative AI and other cutting-edge technologies. Beswick's vision focused on empowering clients to navigate risks in an increasingly digital landscape, recognizing the need for a unified technology approach across the company's four business units. The creation of MMTech, a consolidated technology organization, marked a significant step in aligning IT efforts and establishing a common platform for Marsh McLennan's digital future. This organizational transformation involved developing a core platform with built-in...
read Nov 1, 2024How state and local governments went all-in on AI in 2024
AI's growing impact on government in 2024: The year 2024 marked a significant shift in how state and local governments embraced and implemented artificial intelligence, moving beyond the chatbot hype of 2023 to more practical and transformative applications. Innovative AI applications emerged in critical areas such as emergency response, with advanced cameras using AI for early wildfire detection. Citizen services saw improvements, with AI helping to reduce response times and eliminate backlogs in permit processing. Governance and accountability measures: As AI adoption increased, so did efforts to ensure responsible use and oversight within government agencies. Numerous task forces and councils...
read Nov 1, 20245 lucrative AI business ideas you can launch now
The AI business revolution: The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in various industries is creating lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs to launch profitable AI-focused businesses. Artificial intelligence is quickly transitioning from a novelty to a necessity, with businesses worldwide rushing to integrate AI into their operations. Early adopters are currently reaping the benefits, but this shift is poised to become mainstream, presenting a prime opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter the market. The potential for AI to reshape industries and create new revenue streams is significant, making now an ideal time to launch an AI-focused business. Expert insights on AI business opportunities:...
read Oct 31, 2024Reid Hoffman imparts strategies for managing AI-driven change
The AI optimist's vision: Reid Hoffman on technology's transformative potential: Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and PayPal, shares his insights on the future of AI and how business leaders should navigate technological change. Hoffman, a prominent Silicon Valley figure, emphasizes the need for business leaders to think broadly about their responsibilities within the interconnected networks of customers, employees, investors, and society. He encourages leaders to articulate their vision for a better society in which their businesses can thrive, highlighting the importance of considering the broader impact of their operations. Spotting future trends: A strategic approach: Hoffman outlines a four-step process...
read Oct 31, 2024Automation vs. agents — what’s the difference and which is best for your company?
The rise of AI agents and automation in disguise: As AI technology advances, a trend of automation systems masquerading as AI agents has emerged, raising questions about the true nature and capabilities of these technologies. Gartner has named "Agentic AI" as the top tech trend for 2025, highlighting the growing importance of distinguishing between genuine AI agents and sophisticated automation systems. Major tech companies like Salesforce, Microsoft, and Amazon have recently announced various AI agents designed to revolutionize customer service, business operations, and third-party seller support. Defining the distinction: The key difference between AI agents and automation lies in their...
read Oct 31, 2024How to determine whether now is the right time to implement agentic AI
The emergence of agentic AI: Agentic AI is positioning itself as the next evolution beyond generative AI, promising autonomous decision-making and action-taking capabilities that surpass traditional robotic process automation (RPA). Software vendors are increasingly shifting their marketing focus from generative AI to agentic AI, emphasizing its ability to follow instructions, make decisions, and take actions without human intervention. Agentic AI is being presented as a more advanced and adaptable solution compared to RPA, with the potential to handle complex, variable tasks that traditional automation cannot manage. Key distinctions and potential applications: Agentic AI's adaptive nature and ability to interpret data,...
read