Though organisations are generally built to make a profit, excluding nonprofit and government organisations which might serve noble purposes and national strategies, the bottom line and revenue are what matter to any corporation on a large scale. Technology will never be an objective by itself; it is a means to achieve the organisation’s mission and purpose. Through this lens, we can observe how corporations’ views on technology have dramatically evolved.
Technology has transformed from being fully dependent on the industry and organisational maturity to becoming essential irrespective of the business’s maturity. It has evolved from a marginal, non-strategic costly service centre (an unavoidable evil) into a crucial business partner and risk holder.
With the growing importance of cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory compliance, enterprise risk managers and technology departments now play a crucial role in managing and mitigating business risks. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping our industry.
I clearly remember using an early antispam learning AI model in 2008 and moving it from the Middle East to Singapore and how it started over at the learning stage as the language and culture was completely different. While some might argue that construction processes have remained unchanged since the Roman Empire and that this industry is often perceived as traditional and slow to adopt new technologies, we are now at the cusp of a digital revolution driven by AI. In this article, I aim to shed light on how AI is revolutionising construction and why I firmly believe that embracing AI is not just an option but a necessity for future success.”
The Impact of Technology on Human Life
Globally, spending on IT has reached as per the latest reports $5 trillion, with $450 billion allocated to deep tech (including AI, Digital Twin, VR, Blockchain etc.). By 2033, these figures are projected to escalate to $7 trillion for IT and $ 7 trillion for deep tech. But what is technology? A profound description: technology is an extension of human capacity through machines. So, the magnificent towers of Dubai Marina are possible thanks to the technology of elevators, which allow us to stack floors vertically. Aircraft extend our ability to commute by enabling us to fly, and microphones amplify our voices. Similarly, AI is a technology that extends human intelligence through machines.
Intelligence
A useful definition of intelligence is the ability to surprise. A few years ago, all IT conferences and summits focused on topics like 5G, virtualisation, edge computing, and cloud computing. But not anymore! Have these technologies disappeared? No, they have become so integrated into our daily lives that we use them without even realising it. Just like previous technologies, AI is following a similar trajectory.
Current AI technologies primarily work by predicting the next token in a sequence based on probabilities derived from previous sequences learned by the algorithm. AI achieves this by connecting the dots. Unlike the human brain, which stores patterns and shapes norms rather than discrete information or databases, AI aims to mimic this process. For example, when we encounter a new type of dog, we use similarity learning, adding new patterns to our brains. AI strives to emulate this, making it fundamentally different from traditional search engines.
When librarians have read all the books, search engines will evolve into Generative AI (GenAI). These advanced systems will not only point us to where information is found but also provide the answers we seek. AI has the potential to evolve beyond its current capabilities. While AI has yet to fully understand the context to the extent of laughing at a joke, there may come a time when AI can prompt itself, achieve breakthroughs, and win Nobel Prizes regularly. However, vast amounts of data currently lie dormant in dashboards and warehouses, represented as isolated KPIs and metrics without true understanding.
AI Introduction to Corporate Strategy: The Amoeba Approach
In corporate settings, AI should be implemented with a holistic approach, which we call the Amoeba strategy. This means deploying AI solutions across all business functions and processes, even if they start simple and basic, and then continuously enhancing and sophisticating them. This contrasts with creating isolated AI case studies, similar to perfect hearts and lungs, which fail to create an interconnected system. By connecting different components first, we enable the system to learn from the data, making it easier to enhance over time. We should not view AI as a mere use case but as an ecosystem for holistic solutions across the organisation.
The Evolution of Products and AI
The evolution of product types — from physical commodities (appliances, gadgets, equipment, etc.) to web-based products (connected products, IoTs) — involves continuous feedback collection and crowd intelligence. This transformation compelled Google not only to develop the best search engine but also to create a mobile OS and browser. This was driven by the need to collect clicks (feedback) on search results and advertisements. This shift highlights the importance of owning the click sensors and collecting feedback to build user profiles. The latest stage in this evolution is the advent of smart AI ecosystems.
Views expressed by Ali Katkhada, Group Chief Information Officer, Depa Group
