AI in business is moving fast. In this session, Gerry Lawrence explores where artificial intelligence comes from, where it’s headed, and how mid-market CEOs can use AI in business to drive growth, improve efficiency, and unlock new value. Gain valuable insights into how AI is accelerating growth, enhancing efficiency, and creating unprecedented opportunities for mid-market businesses like yours. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how AI can revolutionise your organisation and drive success in today’s competitive market.
The evolution of AI. The origins of AI and why now is the perfect time to leverage its potential in your mid-market business.
Practical implementation. Where to start with AI in your company, and how to determine the areas with the highest potential for impact.
AI tools. Introductions to the most usable AI tools available, including text and image generation, and see what’s on the horizon for sound and video.
Off-the-shelf or bespoke solutions. How to determine which one is right for your needs.
Maximising value. How to generate the most value with AI in your business.
The video is an informative, no-nonsense introduction to AI for busy CEOs looking to take the first step toward the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to begin implementing AI in your mid-market business.
Table of Contents
Why AI in business is Surging Now
- Decades of Foundation: AI concepts have existed since World War II with pioneers like Alan Turing [00:15].
- Massive Investment: The recent surge isn’t due to new science, but rather massive financial investment. This has allowed for bigger models and more extensive training data sets [00:43].
- Rapid Improvement: Technologies for generating text and images have improved drastically in just one year, making it difficult to distinguish AI-generated content from reality [01:16].
The “Fork in the Road”: Standard vs. Custom
Gerry Lawrence describes two primary paths for businesses:
- Standard Approach: Utilizing AI built directly into common tools like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Adobe.
- Leadership Role: CEOs should inform and guide their teams on these new functionalities rather than leaving them to figure it out alone [02:26].
- Custom (Bespoke) Approach: Developing specific AI tools to solve unique business problems.
- Value Outcome: While more complex, the rewards for custom solutions can be significantly larger for specific high-value issues [03:18].
- Affordability: The cost of custom AI has decreased as platforms like AWS and Microsoft bring more affordable services to the market [04:03].
Where to Start
- Look Inward First: Identify the biggest issues, highest costs, or largest departments in your business. These areas often yield the most value from automation and enhancement [04:40].
- Key Departments: Customer services, sales, and marketing are currently finding quick wins with AI [05:07].
- Outside-In Approach: Look at what AI tools are currently mature. For example, text and image generation are very advanced, while video and sound are catching up quickly [05:31].
- The Collision Point: The most successful AI implementation happens where your business’s highest value needs collide with mature, available AI tools [07:00].