Prof. Marek Kowalkiewicz’s Post

It's been a busy year: everyone wants to talk about the business of AI. And there's a curious consistency in what I hear from CEOs when I am in the room. Despite what you might see here on LinkedIn, the conversation about the impacts of AI on organisations is less common than you'd think in CEO circles. I am lucky enough to engage in 1:1 conversations with lots of CEOs. Here's what I am seeing and hearing: 1. AI is not entirely new for mid-size and large organisations. Many businesses are experienced in using predictive analytics, customer segmentation, supply chain optimisation and similar tools that use various #artificialintelligence algorithms. 2. It's the new "breed" of AI applications that's new to them: one that is not the domain of their IT departments and enterprise architects, but the breed that is super easy to use, doesn't have to be integrated with any of their systems, and can--if appropriately used--provide benefits to their knowledge workers. This is mostly Generative AI right now, but I wouldn't limit it to just this category. 3. The most consistent comment I hear is that CEOs need help to stay on top of all the new developments in this space. How can they remain aware of all the new opportunities and challenges? Figuring an answer to this question is the first step to addressing and capitalising on them. My response to that question is that the ones in the sessions I come to are already doing the right thing: they're proactively reaching out and engaging with experts to learn more. There are no shortcuts here. If you're a CEO, a managing director, or a high-ranking executive, make sure you reach out to someone in your circle that you can get regular updates from. It will pay off sooner than you think. You might have great employees who will happily give you such "#business of #technology" briefings. Or, there will be experts in your network--just stay away from "overnight AI gurus". I haven't had so much fun in years doing similar things--most of my sessions with CEOs include real demos, playing with these tools and using them in scenarios given to me by the CEOs. This way, we can "demystify" AI. It feels like my job many years ago when it had something that sounded like "software evangelist" in its description. 😅 Here's a photo from a session with The CEO Institute syndicate earlier this week--I've worked with several such syndicates this year already. Thanks, Linda Ginger, for the invite!