How to responsibly integrate AI into your organization

Virtual assistance is a promise of AI, but didn’t we already have Google, Siri, and Alexa? The applications of AI are hardly comprehensible given the rapid developments in this field. How do you determine which applications fit your business operations?

After the launch of ChatGPT, everyone seems to be captivated by AI developments. And rightly so, as the technology will be even more transformative than we can currently imagine. The claim that every company becomes a technology company was made decades ago, but AI is making it a reality.

Consider the factory that takes safety seriously for its employees: by connecting AI to the existing camera system. The system learns on its own where dangerous situations may occur in the factory, allowing management to take appropriate measures. AI can also assist the blind and visually impaired with an application that can tell them in the store that they are holding a jar of peanut butter, not jam.

These are relatively simple applications that can already be implemented. Where Tesla was ridiculed last year because their car couldn’t drive autonomously, things have changed now. AI in the automotive industry is still in its infancy, but it is expected that the role of the driver will significantly change in a few years, if the driver is even needed at all. It’s high time to delve deeper into AI matters. The technology is already ubiquitous. We are now at the beginning of a period in which companies will come up with targeted solutions. When scientists say that developments are happening “quickly,” they are mainly referring to the self-learning capabilities of AI systems. Our human perception tells us that we need to provide the system with data, but these systems are often already self-learning. The current version of ChatGPT is barely comparable to the previous one, and the new one has only been around for a few weeks. There are systems that play chess or Go; with each game they play – 40,000 games in an hour – they get better. We tend to discuss developments in terms of decades, but nowadays we talk about months and years.

But where do you start? After all, AI is not limited to the IT department but can be applied to any imaginable department of the company. It is important to be aware of the possibilities of AI and how this technology can be used to improve and grow your organization. These steps will help you further:

1. Explore the applications of AI for your organization

The first thing to investigate is where AI can be applied. This may involve looking at what competitors are doing with AI and what possibilities exist to optimize processes and save costs, but it is better to focus on the customer. What solution would your customer prefer to see from you now? In what way can you assist them, and in such a way that they trust your AI implementation? Also, go back to basics: thanks to AI, solutions that were previously impossible are now possible. It is a good time to start from the beginning and outline your ideal situation, always keeping in mind: what does my customer want?

2. Collect Data

To effectively use AI, collecting data is crucial. Invest in the right tools and systems to gather and store data so that it can be analyzed and used to train AI systems. AI is about connecting and combining information. You probably already have a lot of datasets, but what happens when you merge them? What new insights can you gain from that?

3. Experiment with AI

Organizations can experiment with AI by setting up small projects and observing how AI can be used to optimize business processes. Consider how AI can be used for automating repetitive tasks, predicting trends and customer behavior, and optimizing business processes. Think big but experiment small; in a successful experiment, you can quickly scale up, while disappointing results will have limited impact.

4. Invest in the right AI tools

Once you know how you want to use AI, it’s important to invest in the right AI tools and systems. Look into AI software and platforms, hardware, and cloud services that can be used to develop and implement AI solutions. Platforms like Microsoft Azure allow you to create your own models, enabling you to get started quickly. Don’t forget about the human resources: Seek collaboration with external consultants, hire AI specialists, or establish an internal AI department.

AI still faces many ethical challenges, but it presents an opportunity to improve and grow organizations. By exploring how AI can be applied in your industry, experimenting with AI, collaborating with AI specialists, and investing in the right tools, you can fully leverage the many benefits that AI offers.

Want to know more? Podcast: Applying OpenAI in your business

The possibilities of AI are endless; this is the moment to create the perfect virtual assistant for your organization. Discover in this podcast in 30 minutes the impact AI has on your business and how to take the first steps.