Artificial Intelligence (AI): embrace or prevent from coming? Aside from the often mentioned ethics to bring arguments to the discussion, what is forgotten are the Needs we face at our companies and in our lives.
I always ask myself what benefit is AI bringing to problem ‘x’ in company ‘y’?
Why is AI breaking through in all kinds of setups?
In many cases there is a clear need that is being solved, and that could not be solved for otherwise. And as we can not afford to stay still and let problems staple up, we need to come up with solutions to problems in our fast moving world.
I will navigate some of the points I want to make by the Tesla example. Even though I do not own one (yet), I think the company is an inspiration to show a variety of good practices.
Players in the car industry serve the needs of transportation and safety (with more or less degree of glamour and enjoyment). They are big, they have resources, and they generate many jobs. Yet, what were they doing for the consumer for many years? In short, not much. Why? They could have. But they did not, even though the world was slowly changing and demanding for more. Probably they were focusing only on more revenue or fewer costs.
Don’t get me wrong, I love powerful beautiful cars. I used to own a BMW Z4 before having children, and every single day I enjoyed the ride.
Meanwhile, Tesla managed to reinvent the business model for the cars, answering to all the needs of people known or unknown to us.
Tesla was running electric (avoiding contaminating fuel). Tesla was working on autonomous driving (so you could do something useful during commute). Tesla was selling maintenance free cars (and avoiding you those painful visits to the garage). Tesla was giving you a software updated car on the ride.
People saw the benefits, and made Tesla leader in their field. Soon the giant players were throwing dirt at Tesla, tried to ignore it and finally followed in second gear.
You mostly don’t build your whole business on AI. In this example, the self-driving car could only be achieved by adding a more intelligent element to the mix, an approach using AI, as classical software could not solve for this problem proposition. You can not solve all problems with AI. AI is also not meant to solve everything. AI is a powerful tool that you need to integrate in your thinking.
The modern electric Tesla could also have been fitted in a ‘regular car’, but then it would probably have lacked the personality to break in as a revolution.
You must be thinking, I do not care much about this example. Where are your 5 practical reasons? And how can I proceed in my own company?
You could use these 5 following reasons to break the ice and build up your arguments to explain why we need AI in our companies. From a very practical and pragmatic perspective:
1. To create a breakthrough new feature or service
Is there some feature clients have been asking for, or you have a vision on something that would disrupt a new market or improve an existing one? You can not figure out how it could be implemented, but you are sure of its value? You have reasons to think AI would be suited? Or you are faced with resistance when you come up this idea? Well, if that is the case, you can talk to an expert to confirm your hypothesis, and do not forget to tell to your colleagues that the company could end up
2. Doubling turnover or
3. Do more with less (save)
Make sure to mention that, put some numbers to it if necessary, study the costs compared with the extra turnover (probably in small and medium companies) or savings (probably if you are at a big corporation).
Whether it is something concerned with computer vision functionalities, translations, automatic chatting robots, automation of all sorts to liberate resources, go on and give it a try. The list of examples to usefully set in AI is unwieldy long. But if you achieve to bring it through you could be
4. Leading the field
Why? Because many companies do not dare embracing AI, or maybe they are impeded by a lack of understanding on how to fit it in an improved vision. Or any other reason. Truth is you are in time to acquire knowledge, or improving knowledge and apply it. If you do, ultimately you will be
5. Creating value
That will allow for happy clients, a better running company, and a world that is improved a tiny bit.
This should be the ultimate goal for every single business, small or big.
The years to come can be a shiny bright place to be, if only we dare understand new needs and trying hard to find the best possible solution for everyone involved, with or without AI but probably with more AI in many fields and industries.
Dare you being inspired?