Revolutionising Business or Reserving Its Place in Corporate Giants?
PlatorAI
In our recent visit to The Business Show at ExCeL (22nd – 23rd November 2023), we observed a paradox in AI's role in business: while its transformative potential is undeniable, many businesses, especially smaller ones, were notably absent in their AI messaging and use. This insight sheds light on the potential uneven spread of AI adoption in the corporate world. Our focus will be on deciphering this disparity and exploring AI's revolutionary impact on businesses that are embracing it.
1. Context: AI Real-Life Integration or Still Far From Commonality?
The show revealed to us what seems to be a striking disparity in AI adoption among businesses. While tech enthusiasts and AI-focused companies displayed a keen embrace of AI, integrating it deeply into their operations, there was a noticeable absence of AI promotion in many middle-ground businesses, particularly in sectors like global logistics, consultancy, legal, and HR.
This scenario raises critical questions about AI's real-life integration: 'Is AI becoming a mainstay in business operations, or does its application remain largely within the realms of tech giants and specialised companies?'
Three distinct narratives unfolded and grabbed our attention amongst the other voices. Keynote speakers like Harmony Murphy, Retail Head at Google UKI, and Marnie Swindles, the winner of The Apprentice 2023, a trailblazer and passionate owner of Bronx 'Beyond Boxing', aimed at giving people a sense of belonging. Their journeys unfolded against a backdrop of influential speakers and cutting-edge discussions, showcasing the diverse impacts and applications of AI in driving personalization. Smaller independent Dan Vencu, an AI enthusiast with a straightforward approach, offered a unique perspective. His plain-speaking thoughts on AI's societal impact added a valuable dimension, highlighting the broader implications of AI beyond technical applications.
Stands with titles like 'AI Company' or 'AI Powered' naturally align with the AI wave, showcasing how companies are integrating artificial intelligence into their operations. The enthusiasm for AI was notable in these areas, as businesses proudly displayed their commitment to the technological revolution.
However, walking among other stalls and interacting with more middle-ground businesses didn't always paint the same picture. Companies specializing in business consultancy, legal, HR, and more, revealed a story where AI messaging was notably absent from their business operations.
This disconnection emphasized the need for continued education and awareness within the business community regarding the tangible benefits and applications of AI.
2. Google's AI Odyssey: From Search to Personalised Creativity
Harmony Murphy took the stage, guiding the audience through Google's transformative journey into an AI-centric entity. This shift, initiated under Sundar Pichai's visionary leadership seven years ago (in 2016), proclaimed Google as 'An AI-first Company'. Beyond search algorithms, Google's focus on AI has extended to revolutionizing everyday tasks. Murphy shed light on Google's pivotal role in aiding users to visualize retail merchandise, streamline calendars, and optimize product placements during critical shopping seasons, from Black Friday to Boxing Day.
The future, as outlined by Murphy, revolves around personalized creativity. With a notable increase in consumer search requests becoming significantly more specific, Google aims to decipher long search phrases, gaining a profound understanding of the increased personalization of consumers' desires. This approach will drive the creation of immersive and relevant creatives promoted to end-users.
Furthermore, the integration of AI into Google Maps and Street View, offering augmented experiences based on location, adds another dimension to the company's visionary roadmap.
In a powerful closing statement, Murphy left the audience with a compelling reminder for businesses: 'You are not competing with AI. You are competing with marketers using AI.'
3. Marnie's Journey: Beyond the Legal Horizon
At the show, Marnie Swindles, known for her passion for boxing and her remarkable achievement as the winner of The Apprentice 2023, shared her inspiring journey. Hailing from Northern England, Marnie has defied expectations by securing a £250,000 investment for her innovative boxing club, Bronx, which aims to change perceptions of the sport. Bronx prioritizes mental and emotional well-being, building communities alongside physical fitness.
While her business venture is not directly related to AI, Marnie's story of transformation and growth resonates with themes of innovation and determination. Interestingly, in a casual conversation following her presentation, Marnie seemed particularly interested when we noted our involvement in AI. This detail, though not a focal point of her talk, aligns with the broader theme of AI's growing influence in both personal and a range of professional realms, not just in corporate settings.
4. Perspectives from an Event Manager: Aston Higton
During a coffee chat with Aston Higton, one of the event managers at the Business Show, we exchanged valuable insights into the industry's adoption of AI. Higton, who was eager to meet us, emphasized the fusion of creativity and efficiency in the AI space.
Aston acknowledged the significant advantages of AI, particularly in addressing the challenges of off-topic interactions and showed a keen interest in our approach to offering more structured and repeatable generative AI interactions, recognizing this as a potential market differentiator.
5. Beyond the Hype: Dan Vencu's Societal Reflections
Dan Vencu presented a thought-provoking perspective at The Business Show, shifting the dialogue from mere business applications to the broader societal impact of AI. Addressing critical issues like misinformation and AI-induced apprehension, he underscored AI's benefits in areas like content creation and image manipulation.
Highlighting the evolution of job roles in the wake of AI, he demonstrated its practical uses with his own images from Mid-Journey, showcasing advanced AI image generation capabilities in enhancing business presentations.
What made Vencu's presentation stand out was his candid discussion of AI's potential drawbacks, a topic often overlooked. This approach resonated deeply, emphasizing the importance of a balanced view on AI. His honest and transparent insights provided an educational experience, sparking in-depth questions and discussions, particularly beneficial for AI novices in the audience.
6. Conclusion: Reflecting on Industry Adoption
The Business Show at ExCeL, London UK, was a microcosm of the global business community, however it vividly demonstrated the ongoing debate about AI's integration in business. While larger tech companies are advancing the AI revolution, many smaller businesses lag in incorporating AI into their operations. This situation highlights the pressing need for learning and development in the context of AI as we head into 2024.
Reflecting on the varied narratives from the show, the messaging from the stands, and from individual discussions, it's clear that we may be approaching a significant skills and knowledge gap in the Industry 4.0 era, potentially causing fear and uncertainty.
AI's role is not limited to the elite; it's a powerful tool that can empower businesses of all sizes, integrating into every aspect of our global society, from professional settings to consumer and family life. To realize AI's full potential, bridging the educational and awareness gap within the business community is essential, ensuring all businesses can effectively harness AI's transformative power.
Notes:
In our dedication to transparency, we're excited to illuminate the creative process behind our blog visuals. The individuals showcased in our images are the result of AI craftsmanship. While often inspired by real people, these depictions are imaginative interpretations crafted to represent unique personas, not replicas.
Our approach ensures we avoid misrepresentation, as we purposefully refrain from aiming for accurate depictions of specific individuals. We value the uniqueness and creativity that AI brings to our content.
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About Our Blog Visuals: Embracing AI Creativity
In our dedication to transparency, we're excited to illuminate the creative process behind our blog visuals. The individuals showcased in our images are the result of artificial intelligence (AI) craftsmanship. While often inspired by real people, these depictions are imaginative interpretations crafted to represent unique personas, not replicas. Our approach ensures we avoid misrepresentation, as we purposefully refrain from aiming for accurate depictions of specific individuals. We value the uniqueness and creativity that AI brings to our content.
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