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AI is everywhere and we, for one, welcome our new robot overlords. (Kidding, mostly.)
After years of hype, AI is finally finding its place in the mainstream.
In fact, 2023 might be seen as a turning point in the history of AI adoption.
The famed Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January was all-AI, all the time. Consulting firms are pushing AI as the solution to just about everything. And if you haven’t been pitched an AI-enabled tech application by one vendor or another, check your LinkedIn messages, because you soon will be.
Then, of course, there’s the new belle of the AI ball: ChatGPT. Seemingly everyone who tries the new chatbot comes back with a sense that the world is changing.
But should your company be rushing to adopt AI?
Just for fun, here’s what ChatGPT had to say:
“Yes, companies should consider adopting AI as it has the potential to bring increased efficiency, improved decision making, and cost savings. AI technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, can automate tasks that would otherwise require human intervention, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic and creative work. Additionally, AI systems can analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately, helping them make better informed decisions.
However, it is important for companies to approach AI adoption strategically and carefully. They should consider the specific needs and goals of their business and carefully evaluate the potential benefits associated with different AI solutions.”
What ChatGPT is (smartly) implying in that second paragraph is, while AI is likely mission-critical for the future of most businesses, many companies need to walk before they run.
And that means first embracing digitization in order to eventually take full advantage of what AI has to offer. And of course, there’s a real urgency to do this soon.
With the acceleration of AI adoption and other tech advances, companies that don’t embrace digital transformation will soon find themselves competing with organizations that are leveraging digitization to automate, innovate, and scale.
That’s not going to be a fair fight.
A short guide to digitization…vs jumping right into AI adoption
If we take for granted that organizations need to start moving towards AI adoption at some point, the question remains: are you ready now?
Here are a few clarifying questions to ask:
- Do you need AI right now, or just digitization? This question speaks to where you are on your digital transformation journey. Are you at the outset or somewhere further along the path? If you’re at the very beginning, going from zero-to-AI immediately might make less sense than taking some foundational steps to digitize your business, so you can leverage AI in the future.
- Is your data in the cloud? If your data is on-premises rather than stored in the cloud, your first step might be cloud adoption. Because you’ll need that infrastructure before you can drive value through AI applications.
- Is your data stuck in silos? To utilize AI, your data needs to be centrally available to everyone in your organization and interoperable, not stuck on individual employees’ computers or, heaven forbid, paper files.
- Do you need a fulsome AI application right now, or just a subset of it? Deploying a targeted machine learning model can offer you a way to dip your organizational toes into AI that doesn’t require fully committing to more complex AI-enabled solutions yet.
- Do you have a data-driven culture? Digital transformation — and leveraging AI — requires that companies embrace data-driven decision making at every level. That’s often a cultural change as much as a technical one. What’s the state of your culture? Are you ready? If not, what needs to change?
Your answers to these questions can help you choose the right path for your digital transformation journey.
If your data is centrally available on the cloud and your organization regularly uses it to make decisions, then you may be ready to explore what AI can do for your business right now.
If not, we can help you get there.
Whether starting with digitization or developing AI software, you need the right tech partner
Easy for us to say, right? But it’s the truth, and we exist because digital transformation requires partnerships, and we do this really well.
At Vog, we build apps and software, and AI is a growing part of the development process for many clients.
But we never start our engagements with pre-determined solutions. And it’s not about diving AI as fast as possible. Actually, at first it’s usually not about technology at all.
Our first step is always to understand a client’s business drivers and needs, then design custom digital solutions (that may or may not include AI) to help advance the digital transformation journey. More on that here.
“We talk about [clients’] everyday operations and what performance looks like, so that we can fully immerse ourselves in how their business works –– as well as the problems that need to be addressed,” says Vog CEO, Vince O’Gorman.
This means we are effective strategic partners for companies at any stage of their digital evolution. We’re here for all of it.
In the spirit of our AI-enabled future, let’s give the final word to ChatGPT.
What’s the key insight from this article? What should companies take away from it?
“Companies should be careful to assess their current capabilities and needs before adopting AI, rather than just reacting to media reports of its use. A thoughtful approach to AI adoption can ensure that the right solutions are selected and implemented effectively, leading to successful long-term digitization of a business.”
Nicely put, chatbot friend.
This article originally appeared on Vog App Developers as part of its series on digital product development. To discuss custom application and mobile apps, contact Vog App Developers.
