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I have written many articles about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) that cover topics such as how AI can be leveraged to close the UK’s productivity gap, the need for a new social contract, augmented workforces, charting a career path in the age of AI, using AI in your personal life and the power of AI to transform organisations to grow faster, optimise costs and be more successful. In a winner takes all race for technological, economic and market dominance powered by the productisation and commodisation of intelligence, we have to think bigger and longer term as a nation. This fourth industrial revolution will be the last powered by human ingenuity and the advancement of technology will be constant, recursive, and compounding.  Within two decades, AI will play a part in the development of commercial nuclear fusion and cheap energy, quantum computing, carbon management, and cures for diseases and genetic conditions that plague humanity. The combined effect is transformative. In an exponential world, a government that fails to prioritise the development of a national strategy over one or two terms could leave the UK unable to catch up those nations that have embraced an inevitable future. We need to invest, develop appropriate policy and take action, to ensure that the UK prospers. 1.      Tech stack, country stack & wealth creation Where is the value? 2.      Understanding the AI Technology Stack It is important to understand the technology stack, which will also evolve.  Where expensive application and user-interface development once soaked up billions of venture capital fund money, AI models and natural language interfaces are democratising access to software development. AI will create huge wealth, up and down the technology stack, and it will not be evenly distributed. For example, the UK is not going to host semiconductor fabricators (FABs), although we have a history in CPU chip design (e.g. ARM), not GPUs. Hyperscale cloud platform providers are typically US companies such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft (Azure) and Google (Cloud), although there are other capabilities in countries such as China.  The US government responded to the risk of disruption to semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan by passing The CHIPS and Science Act (2022), included $39 billion in tax benefits and other incentives to encourage American companies to build new chip manufacturing plants in the U.S. FAB The UK has to pick its battles carefully and commit the necessary resources to ensure the UK and its researchers and entrepreneurs can compete when even large language model (LLM) providers such as Inflection AI, which raised hundreds of millions of dollars, are already being thinned out as the market consolidates. Semiconductor fabs: Multi-billion dollar manufacturing facilities Processors: High-performance processors (e.g. GPUs) Hyperscale Cloud Infrastructure: Platforms like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud, offering vast data storage and computing power AI Models: Core building blocks of AI systems, enabling learning, reasoning, and prediction AI Applications and Interfaces: End-user solutions AI refers to the broad concept of creating machines or computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. AI is still a tool with narrow or specialised capabilities. On the other hand, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) refers to a hypothetical type of AI that can understand, learn, and perform any intellectual task that a human being can. AGI is forecasted to become a reality within the next 3 to 20 years. AGI would have the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly, and learn from experience, just like a human. AGI would have general cognitive abilities that match or surpass those of humans, and whereas humans take years and generations to learn and pass on information, AGI would continuously compound and evolve. Asymmetry in ownership or control of AI and/or AGI will have profound consequences. 3.      Understanding the UK/Country AI Stack The country AI stack reflects where the UK can compete and where the implementation of AI should be supported. It also reflects a mechanism to ensure that the UK benefits from wealth creation further down the technology stack. Applications and interfaces: Development of end-user solutions Individuals: Personal use of Ai to augment individuals and training in AI Organisations: Private and third sector organisations leveraging AI for competitive advantage Government: AI adoption and regulation Sovereign Wealth Fund: Investing in the global AI technology stack to ensure the UK's participation in wealth creation 4.      Investing in the AI-first Future To capitalise on the tremendous wealth creation, and wealth concentration, potential of AI, the UK must take a multi-faceted approach to investment. AI UK The need for a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) Establishing a UK SWF dedicated to investing in global technology opportunities, including the AI technology stack is crucial. The AI stack will be a driver of innovation across all technology sectors, including nuclear fusion, quantum computing, genomics, robotics, spacetech and advanced manufacturing.   By strategically allocating resources to support domestic AI capabilities and collaborating with leading AI companies and investors worldwide, the UK can ensure that it captures a share of the value generated by AI.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has already announced a $40bn fund to focus purely on AI that will co-invest with well-known technology investment firms. The development of AI, which will impact all other technologies, leaves the UK with no real option other than to establish a SWF. A SWF will generate national wealth and act as a hedge against competitive global wealth creation. Supporting AI startups and entrepreneurs The UK must continue to foster a thriving ecosystem for AI startups and entrepreneurs by providing access to funding, mentorship, and resources. The difference going forwards is that a sense of national urgency is required.  If there is any silver lining to the Brexit act of national self-harm, it is that we are now less restricted by EU law and can provide more support without having to worry about state-aid rules.   Tax incentives for investment and R&D should be enhanced.  As a former board member of the government-owned British Business Bank, I still believe that it should be unshackled from the endless red-tape, fear and bureaucracy that will be imposed on it by any government.  The UK has to continue nurturing homegrown talent and attracting global innovators to maintain its position at the forefront of technology innovation.  It is no longer a ’nice to have’. Collaborating with global AI leaders To stay ahead in the AI race, the UK must actively collaborate with global AI leaders, including leading tech companies, research institutions, and other nations. By forging strategic partnerships, the UK can gain access to cutting-edge AI technologies, share knowledge, and drive joint research and development efforts. This collaboration will be essential in ensuring that the UK remains competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. It can be driven, in part, by a SWF, which needs to forge such relationships in order to be able to deploy capital up and down the entire AI technology stack. Investing across the global AI technology stack to ensure UK's share in wealth creation The UK must take a comprehensive approach to AI investment, allocating resources across the entire AI technology stack. This includes investing in domestic chip design and manufacturing capabilities, supporting the development of high-performance processors, and partnering with hyperscale cloud providers. By strategically investing across the stack, the UK can secure its position in the global AI value chain and maximize its share of the wealth generated by this transformative technology. Preparing the Workforce for the AI Era As AI transforms the nature of work, it is crucial for the UK to take proactive steps to prepare its workforce for the AI era: Adapting the education system and reskilling The education system must be adapted to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. I spent two years persuading my teenage son to learn to code and now agree with him that it is a waste of time.  Computer and data science, computational thinking and STEM subjects remain important, but when we can talk to technology and code becomes invisible, creative use of technology will be key.  Just as Singapore is doing, we need to provide training opportunities for a citizens that may need to retrain several times as AI replaces human cognitive and physical labour. It takes decades to change the education system, which is too long.  Some bold decisions are going to have to be made about how and what we teach the next generation. The impact of AI on cognitive and physical labour While AI has the potential to drive productivity and economic growth, it is essential to acknowledge and address its potential impact on employment if new roles are not created to replace those displaced by access to cheap cognitive labour. Office of the future? In the longer-term embodied AI (robots) will start to displace physical labour and after many false robotic dawns, there are signs that the combination of LLMs and robot platforms will spark the development of robots that will eventually be a feature of everyday life - first in commercial settings and then for consumers. Figure AI + OpenAI The UK must develop strategies to support workers who may be displaced by AI automation, such as providing transitional support, retraining opportunities, and exploring new job creation in AI-related fields. By proactively addressing the long-term implications of AI on the workforce, the UK can ensure a smooth and inclusive transition to an AI-driven economy. 5.      Socio-Economic Implications of AI The rise of AI presents both immense opportunities and challenges for society, and it is crucial for the UK to proactively address the socio-economic implications of this technological revolution. Wealth creation will remain important if the working population shrinks over time due to increased productivity and a lack of new roles. It remains to be seen what the impact of productised intelligence will be, compared to computing capability. Income distribution and wealth concentration As AI drives productivity and economic growth, there is a risk that the benefits may not be evenly distributed.  In fact, it is highly likely that they will not be.  Enormous wealth will accrue to a small number of companies and individuals.  The good news is that many of the companies are, or will be, publicly quoted and positions can be taken. The UK must take steps to ensure that the wealth generated by AI is fairly shared among all segments of society, rather than concentrated in the hands of a few. Inevitably, those who can afford technology will benefit most, although a child in a remote African village can now access all of human knowledge and productised intelligence on a tablet running a local LLM. Policies that promote inclusive growth will need to be implemented and measures to prevent excessive market consolidation, although the big players are not within the control of the UK’s regulators. UK Government role in ensuring fairness, inclusiveness, and ethical AI The Government must play a proactive role in shaping the socio-economic landscape of the AI era. This includes developing policies and regulations that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems. The UK Government has adopted a principles-based, non-statutory, and cross-sector framework for regulating AI, aimed at balancing innovation and safety. The framework is underpinned by five core principles: safety, security and robustness; appropriate transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and contestability and redress. Existing regulators will implement the framework within their respective domains by applying current laws and issuing supplementary guidance. The Government should also invest in programs that ensure equal access to AI education and training, as well as initiatives that support underrepresented groups in the AI workforce. The aim is to reduce the disparity between those with access to AI. Exploring future fiscal policy To address the potential economic disruptions caused by AI, the UK must explore new and innovative fiscal policies. This may include considering measures such as universal basic income (UBI), which could provide a safety net for those displaced by automation, which could be a sizeable part of the current working population. As with education, the key must be to do this before it becomes an imperative that is rushed given that the shift to an AI-first economy will be permanent. 6.      AI and National Security AI has significant implications for national security, and the UK must take a proactive approach to address both the opportunities and challenges presented by this technology. Protecting against AI-related threats As AI becomes more sophisticated and ubiquitous, it is essential to protect against potential threats, such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and the malicious use of AI by adversaries. The UK must invest in robust cybersecurity measures, develop secure AI systems, and collaborate with international partners to establish global standards for AI security and governance. Economic power and national security AI has the potential to significantly impact the global balance of power, with nations that lead in AI development and deployment gaining a strategic advantage. The UK must recognise the importance of AI as a key driver of economic competitiveness and national security. By investing in AI research, talent, and infrastructure, the UK can position itself as a global leader in AI and secure its economic and strategic interests in the long term. During my tenure as a Non-Executive Director of British Business Bank, The National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) was created to be the Government’s corporate venturing arm for dual-use advanced technologies. NSSIF provides 'patient capital' for advanced technology firms and leveraged Government technology expertise. NSSIF includes AI and data analytics, but has a specific focus and it remains difficult to prevent innovators from being acquired by foreign companies in free markets. Those who control the most advanced AI and AGI will gain a significant advantage in both national security and economic power. Furthermore, the development of quantum computing, which may be assisted using AI or AGI could render all existing encryption methods obsolete, posing new challenges to cybersecurity. 7.      The Cost of Inaction is Permanent In the rapidly evolving world of AI, the cost of inaction is not merely significant; it is potentially catastrophic for nations that fail to adapt and embrace this transformative technology. It is also permanent as catchup will not be possible as improvements. competitive advantages and wealth compound. The widening gap between AI leaders and laggards As AI continues to advance at an exponential pace, the gap between nations that lead in AI development and those that lag behind will widen at an unprecedented rate. Countries that fail to invest in AI research, talent, and infrastructure risk being left behind permanently, as the AI leaders will enjoy a compounding advantage in terms of economic growth, technological capabilities, and geopolitical influence. The risks of falling behind in an exponential world In an exponential world, where the rate of change is constantly accelerating, falling behind in AI adoption poses existential risks to nations. Beyond the economic costs, lagging in AI development could compromise national security, as adversaries with superior AI capabilities may gain strategic advantages. Moreover, failure to keep pace with AI advancements could result in a loss of competitiveness across industries, leading to job losses and economic stagnation. 8.      A Call to Action We are experiencing the dawn of a fourth industrial revolution powered by AI and the UK must act now to secure its place as a global leader that leverages this transformative technology, just as the nation did with the machines and innovations of previous technological revolutions. This has to be at the individual, organisational and institutional levels. The UK must confront the realities of an AI-driven future head-on, recognising both the immense opportunities and the significant challenges that lie ahead. This requires a clear-eyed assessment of the nation's strengths, weaknesses, and priorities in the context of the global AI and economic landscape. Taking decisive action to securing a prosperous future for all citizens To protect our interests and seize the opportunities presented by AI, the UK must take decisive action. This means investing heavily in AI-related technologies; supporting entrepreneurship which is now ever more key to national success; nurturing a vibrant AI ecosystem; and developing a comprehensive national AI strategy that aligns education, fiscal policy, and national security. It may be hard for politicians to take bold steps and show era-defining leadership, but it is those who have done so in the past that we remember.  By taking bold steps to embrace AI, the UK can secure a prosperous, secure, and inclusive future for all its citizens. This involves ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared, that the workforce is prepared, and that the nation's values and democratic principles are upheld in the development and deployment of AI technologies. The time for action is now. The UK must seize this narrow window of opportunity to establish itself as a global leader in AI and robotics innovation, or risk being left behind in the wake of this transformative technology. The nation's future prosperity, security, and influence on the world stage depend on its ability to harness the power of AI for the benefit of its citizens. We can't afford to miss this boat The UK has the talent, the resources, and the determination to rise to this challenge. In an exponentially evolving world, falling behind makes catch up extremely difficult. Missing the boat? There is a technological and economic ship leaving the harbour, and its not coming back. We need to ensure that the UK is on it. Thanks for reading.

McKinsey forecasts that, by 2030, up to 30 percent of hours currently worked across the US economy could be automated by generative AI. You are no doubt already well-aware of the impact that AI and automation is expected to have on work, but what does this mean for your own career plans? There is already talk of a near-future without employment at all that will necessitate the need for a system of Universal Basic Income (UBI) to provide an income for human populations that may never work.  I absolutely believe that we are in the foothills of an exponential curve of growth, change and technological advancement.  It is inevitable that AI will fundamentally change business, economics, and society, including our own place in the labour market. It is important to prepare in so far as it is possible for an uncertain future. Generative AI is revolutionising daily tasks. It's scheduling meetings, transcribing audio, and even translating languages with minimal human input. One striking example is OpenAI's Sora, a text-to-video model launched in February 2024. Sora's ability to create realistic scenes in seconds has significantly impacted investment in traditional film production. The research carried out by Nesta (£600m UK innovation foundation) when I was a trustee concluded that creatives were going to be safe from automation for longer.  Then generative AI came for visual creatives first.  You can turn a childish doodle into a photo-realistic image.  Every human now has the creative capability of a graphic designer or experienced photographer.  The latest coding language is English and the ‘learn to code’ advice for the next generation that was so popular just 24-months ago, is now clearly bad advice. Generative AI is not just transforming manual tasks; it's also disrupting high-cost cognitive jobs. The next step? Physical labour, as AI becomes mobile and robots more affordable. This is just the beginning of a transformative journey. Unless you plan to retire within the next 5-years, the trajectory of AI development warrants a proactive review of your current job role and how augmentation, reduced demand, or even redundancy, risk may emerge. If you are starting out, what path is least likely to insect with complete automation of your chosen job, or most of the tasks you expect to perform in that job?  By objectively assessing AI’s advancement across industries, you can make informed choices to future-proof your career. Phases of AI Automation Understanding AI's Impact on Jobs: It's easier to grasp the shift towards an AI-dominated job market by dividing it into three key phases. Phase 1: Human-First Workplaces: For most of industrial history, technology enhanced human productivity without widespread displacement. From steam powered farm equipment to computers, tools and machines made humans more productive. Output created wealth and a working class followed by a middle class in developed economies. Demand was met with increased supply of goods and services. This period of human history, and especially for cognitive labour, has come to an end. Some careers will be human-first for the foreseeable future (5 – 10 years), but in the long-run no job will be solely human-first, unless that is what is being paid for (e.g. musicians or artists). Phase 2: AI-Assisted Workplaces: We have entered the AI-assisted phase. The present phase of workplace evolution is one where humans are increasingly augmented, but still perform core job functions leaning on AI tools for support. AI increases business efficiency through data analysis, workflow automation, multi-tasking, and forecasting complexity beyond manual human capacity. Robotics will become more affordable and will migrate to every warehouse, and then homes for those who can afford it.  Just like autonomous cars, automation will require less and less human oversight overtime until fully autonomous systems are available and trusted.  Today, AI cannot take on complete jobs, but it can complete tasks from a job description and the number of tasks will increase. This phase will last for decades with some jobs disappearing within months and others requiring AI, and especially robotics to significantly evolve. Phase 3: AI-First Workplaces: The end state where entire occupations become fully automated with human oversight being optional. Fully autonomous organisations will spawn into existence.  Any repetitive job with structured inputs and quantifiable results will be replaced by AI and robots. As both cognitive and physical labour is displaced it will become unethical for a human to work in any dangerous environment, such as a building site, and it may become illegal for a human to drive a car in populated areas. Few human jobs may remain depending on if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) emerges, as expected, within coming decades to match, or exceed, human cognitive abilities. AGI will also rapidly improve the design of robotics resulting in permanent and exponential technological advancement. In this future AI designs AI and what you thought was impossible at breakfast has been solved by lunchtime. Assessing Your Career’s Automation Risk Given that AI will one day assume roles once considered to be sacredly human, it is worth analysing your career path sooner rather than later. I often hear people comment that AI can’t do this or that but remember it could do much only 18-months ago and it is the worst today that it will ever be.  Humans struggle to comprehend exponentially change with brains programmes in a linear world over hundreds of thousands of years. Framework to Evaluate Risk: Structured vs. Unpredictable Work: Defined inputs and quantifiable outputs will be automated faster than ambiguous situations requiring assessments like critical thinking or gut calls based on years of experience with humans’ reactions. Repetitive vs. Variable Tasks: Recurring work is codified into algorithms quicker than dynamic activities needing constant adaptation like relationship building or artistic performance or innovation. Hard Data vs. Sensory Input: Fact-based analysis using statistics, language datasets and visual libraries is easier to automate than interpreting smells, textures and emotions. Applying this framework will help you to gauge short and long-term susceptibility to AI incursion. AI Agents: A Bridge to Automation While automation looms as a threat to many roles, AI agents are currently enhancing human capabilities. They're taking over repetitive tasks like administration and customer service, paving the way for a more efficient workforce. They can automate admin, the mundane, the repetitive, quality assurance and take on tasks that humans are poorly equipped to perform, such as analysing larger data sets and multi-tasking at scale. AI agents empower employees to focus cognitive capacity and human emotional intelligence on more meaningful, strategic work. Over time, advancements in natural language processing, predictive algorithms and robotic manipulation will enable AI agents and robots to assume additional duties across more industries. But in the short-term, they promise to enhance workplace efficiency by managing standardised operations before progression to full self-sufficiency. The key will be continuously evaluating workflows to determine what tasks AI agents can realistically adopt versus those necessitating human discretion, at least temporarily. Talent, including yourself, should expect employers to engage AI in this AI-assisted era so that you can focus on the work that adds the most value.  In fact, employers that fail to augment their workforce will struggle to attract talent. The advancement of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) might redefine your work environment, pushing for heightened productivity in AI-driven virtual spaces, potentially impacting human connections and why you entered careers where human interaction was important (e.g. healthcare). Building Resilient Skills Once high-risk parts of your role surface, you can focus on nurturing complementary skills that have resilience against automated labour market competition. Examples include: Creative Fields: Despite advances in generative writing and art, uniquely human imagination and emotional intelligence endure and will eventually be sought and value at a premium. Strategy & Planning: AI informs but still struggles driving vision, leadership through ambiguity, politics and unknowns the way humans navigate uncertainty. Science & Medicine: Algorithms enhance diagnostics and drug discovery insights, but human specialists remain critical for patient care, emotional support and ethical considerations. Skilled Trades: Dexterous, high-touch vocations like carpentry and plumbing resist automation given the fine motor skills and improvisation needed to manipulate diverse physical environments. We may realise that manual labour has been undervalued by capitalism as technology struggles to replicate it. Entrepreneurship: Using the power of AI to start and grow a business with less need for expensive human overhead, especially if that business is linked to the roles and sectors above. Investing in Yourself Beyond adjusting hard skills, career insulation from AI also requires expanding your personal development. Learning will be a continuous requirement to stay ahead and learn new skills or understand how to apply new capabilities as they arise. Options to consider: Continuous learning: Both formally and informally, absorb new concepts to stay valuable as occupational needs shift. Mental wellness: Equip yourself to adapt in periods of volatility and great economic and societal change through self-care practices like mindfulness. Additional credentials: Pursue degrees and certification in human-centred skills that are less prone to automation. IQ vs EQ: IQ will be a service, whereas understanding and developing your own emotional intelligence will have value. The Future of Work and Your Career Careers will be increasingly defined by mode of work rather than specific field or industry. Economics will inevitably compel business leaders to adopt automation wherever it is more productive and more profitable. It is not a case of whether AI will disrupt many career paths, but when.  Only the pace of advancement remains uncertain. With vision, foresight and constant reskilling, this displacement can be harnessed for positive change where repetitive work vanishes to focus human potential on tackling society's greatest challenges unconstrained by laborious tasks. In the long-run (20-years), all bets are off as to the role of humans in the workplace. Your goal should be to nurture an anti-fragile skill base and adaptive identity around continuous self-improvement to secure your prosperity in age of AI. This can also act as a guide for the career advice you give to your children.  We should accept that playing a constant game of cat and mouse to maintain labour-market relevance will be tiring and eventually, in many cases, futile. Self-investment should also be about finding what enhances your life and brings joy, purpose, and self-actualisation.  This may be the challenge for mankind generally as we find our place in an AI-first world. As is always the case in this AI-assisted era, the time to review your career plan, the risk of automation and prospects is always right now. Thanks for reading.

McKinsey reports that AI leaders are generating up to 6x higher shareholder returns.  Are you going to be an AI leader or laggard? In its article Rewired and running ahead: Digital and AI leaders are leaving the rest behind. McKinsey highlights the growing divide between digital and AI leaders and laggards, emphasising that companies with strong digital and AI capabilities are significantly outperforming their peers. This performance gap is attributed to the compounding value generated by effectively implementing digital and AI strategies. While most companies have yet to fully capture the expected value from digital transformations, leaders who invest in hard-to-copy capabilities are pulling ahead, creating a competitive advantage that laggards will find challenging to match. The McKinsey research highlights a stark reality: companies with leading digital and AI capabilities significantly outperform the competition, achieving two to six times higher total shareholder returns. This disparity is not just a temporary advantage but a widening gap that laggards may find insurmountable. AI is no longer an optional add-on but a fundamental component of strategic planning and operational excellence. The benefits extend beyond mere automation to include predictive analytics, enhanced decision-making, and personalised customer experiences, among others. Companies that fail to recognise and act on this shift risk not just falling behind but becoming irrelevant. The journey begins with a commitment to understanding and implementing AI: This involves cultivating a culture of innovation, investing in training, talent and technology, and developing a strategic roadmap that aligns AI initiatives with business goals. Moreover, it requires an agile approach to experimentation and scaling, leveraging data to inform decisions and adapt to changing market dynamics. The journey does not stop at implementation: Continuous learning and adaptation are crucial, as AI technologies and their applications evolve. The leaders in this space are those that not only adopt AI early but also continue to innovate and refine their approaches to maintain their competitive edge. SME experience: Although, reports like the one published by McKinsey are based on the analysis of larger companies, the same applies to SMEs which are often better placed to effect change with less friction.  The time to act is now. Implementing AI before your competition does not only offer a temporary advantage; it sets the stage for sustained growth and success. The race is not just towards AI adoption but towards redefining business models with AI at their core – what we call your AI Operating System (AI OS). Your AI OS is a platform for growth, innovation, talent acquisition and retentions, improved customer satisfaction, cost optimisation, increased profitability and higher M&A synergies. Implement AI’s clients are already leveraging the power of AI to transform how they do business – from avatars and data analytics to voice agents, call analysis and automated prospect qualification. Leader or laggard?: The divide between AI leaders and laggards will widen as many business leaders approach AI like cloud transition or more general digital transformation, but it is not a project that you can return to in several years. The competitive landscape is being redrawn, and the stakes are high. By embracing AI, companies not only enhance their operational efficiency and customer offerings but also secure a place in the future of business. The question is no longer if AI should be integrated but how quickly and effectively it can be done to ensure long-term competitiveness, success and survival. Thanks for reading. Piers - pierslinney.com McKinsey article.

I have held off getting back into the saddle until this week as 2024 is going to be a crazy year. If you haven't already guessed, my focus is going to be on building Implement AI to support SMEs to embrace, understand and implement artificial intelligence (AI). When the history books are written (mostly by an AI) 2023 -2024 will be viewed as foundational years when we experienced  the beginnings of a period of exponential and permanent change. AI is still in its Pong and large ‘brick’ suitcase-sized mobile phone infancy. It will not take 20 – 50 years to achieve the equivalent of Red Dead Redemption II in gaming, or the iPhone in communications.  It might take 3- years, and then the pace of change will continue to accelerate. At CES 2024, we are learning that next generation TVs and refrigerators will be shipped with AI to optimise your content intake and ensure you have all the ingredients you need for your extra special Coq au vin. Samsung demonstrtated Ballie, an AI-driven robot for the home. Meet Ballie - Samsung's AI-powered home robot So much of what I read and hear at the events and conferences I attend, or speak at, is about the power of large language models (LLMs), large enterprise use-cases, AI safety and esoteric debates about when we can expect the emergence of Artificial General intelligence (AGI).  It's all fascinating, but doesn’t help a business owner or senior leadership team understand how to implement AI today to get ahead of the game, and stay there.  The same goes for personal AIs and their incredible ability to superpower individuals, teach them, challenge them and support them in business and personally. There is a ship leaving the harbour and we can all still make the jump from quayside, but that ship is accelerating away at increasing speed and there will come a day in the not-too-distant future when those on the quayside will be left there, and this time, the ship isn’t coming back.  This is not cloud computing transition - I am still asked to deliver the same keynotes about the power of cloud computing that I gave 10 years ago - or digital transformation, when an organisation can wait for 10 years before acting. Waiting will be fatal, for your business, or your career. In an exponential world, getting ahead means staying ahead.  I have reviewed many annual predictions (including those from our own #AI-assisted Organisation podcast) to generate this list of 20 AI predictions that will significantly impact both your corporate and personal life. 1. Generative AI's Mainstream Adoption: 2024 marks the year where generative AI becomes a staple in everyday life. For businesses, this means enhanced creative processes and automated content generation, leading to increased efficiency and innovation. Individuals will find everyday tasks simplified, from drafting emails to creating art. Access to generative Ai will be expected, especially as it is rolled out in productivity suites. 2. Voice Interfaces Everywhere: Voice technology will become ubiquitous, revolutionising user interfaces. Businesses can leverage this for customer service and internal operations, enhancing accessibility and user experience. For individuals, this means more intuitive interactions with technology, making life more convenient. The days of humans taking 1st line support calls are coming to an end. 3. Personal AI Adoption Surge: AI tools will become personal assistants in business, aiding in decision-making and data analysis. For individuals, these AI assistants can already offer personalised advice and learning, enhancing personal development and career growth. 4. The Rise of AI Companionship Market: Yes, I couldn’t ignore it. In 2024, we're witnessing the birth of a massive market for AI and embodied AI (robots) focused on personal companionship, marking a pivotal shift in both technology and social interaction. This emerging trend is not just a leap in robotics and AI development; it's a bridge towards fulfilling human emotional and social needs through technology. 'Her' may be here (watch the film (Her) if this means nothing to you) 5. Local AI on Mobile Devices: AI integration in mobile devices will offer businesses real-time data analysis and customer insights on the go. Individuals will enjoy more personalised and context-aware mobile experiences, from shopping to health monitoring.  Small LLMs will run without access to the internet, making AI available to anyone, anywhere. 6. Sophisticated AI-Driven Cybersecurity: With the rise in AI-powered cyber threats, businesses must adopt advanced AI-driven security measures. Individuals will also benefit from more robust personal cybersecurity solutions, protecting their digital lives. In 2024, we will see the start of the AI cyber arms race and potentially significant crimes executed using AI-related technology. 7. AI Integration in Operating Systems: Businesses will see enhanced productivity and streamlined operations with AI-integrated operating systems. For individuals, this means smarter, more responsive devices that adapt to personal preferences and usage patterns. 8. AI-Assisted Organisations Outperform: Businesses leveraging AI will start to gai noticeable competitive advantage, with AI driving growth and innovation. Individuals working in AI-assisted organisations will experience a more dynamic, efficient work environment and employers leveraging Ai to empower employees to focus on more meaningful work will attract the best talent. The AI-assisted Organisation will be the only type of organisation 9. AI Breakthroughs in Non-Tech Sectors: AI will revolutionise industries like construction and retail, offering new business opportunities and efficiencies. For consumers, this means more personalised and efficient services. 10. AI Agents in Workplaces: AI agents will become team members, enhancing business operations and decision-making. Employees will interact with AI colleagues, leading to a unique collaborative environment.  In most cases, humans will remain in the loop for the time being. 11. Mergers and Acquisitions in AI: The AI landscape will start to experience consolidation, impacting market dynamics and business strategies. For individuals in the tech sector, this could mean more job opportunities and advancements for those with the right skill sets and experience. 12. Adoption of AI-Driven Content Creation Tools: Businesses will harness AI tools for efficient content creation, enhancing marketing and communication strategies. Individuals will find creative expression more accessible, with AI simplifying content creation. Multimodality and improved image, animation and video generation will equip everybody with the ability to be creative and reduce the costs of high quality and personalised content. 13. Opensource AI Models Competing with Proprietary Models: The rise of open-source AI will continue to democratise AI development, offering businesses more options and flexibility. For tech enthusiasts and developers, this means more accessible and collaborative AI development opportunities, although some opensource models will lack the guardrails put in place by the providers of proprietary models. 14. Generative AI Integration into Workflows: Businesses will increasingly integrate generative AI into workflows, enhancing productivity and innovation. For employees, this means adapting to AI-assisted work processes, requiring new skills and approaches. Growth and margin enhancement will be powered by AI implementation. 15. AI Policy and Safety Discussions: Businesses must navigate evolving AI policies and regulations, impacting strategy and compliance. Individuals will need to stay informed about AI safety and ethical considerations, affecting their interaction with AI technologies. 16. AI Chips and Hardware Development: Businesses in tech and manufacturing will start to benefit from the massive investment in advanced AI chips and hardware, driving innovation and performance. More competition will improve access to more powerful and efficient models. 17. AI Will Become Somebody’s Day Job: Organisations will realise the somebody needs to own AI as CIOs and CTOs currently do not have the complete skill set. Businesses will recruit Chief AI Officers and specialists to ensure that AI is implemented at the right pace and in the right areas to maximise the return on investment and competitive advantage. 18. AI in the Legal System: The legal sector's adaptation to AI will influence business compliance and operations. Individuals will witness changes in legal processes and services, with AI playing a more significant role in the justice system. 19. There Will Be No AI Trough of Disillusionment: Unlike crypto or the metaverse, AI will not suffer from loss of momentum and interest in its potential.  Investment and news cycles may slow, but the tangible benefits of AI and the results of the billions invested will result in new and transformative developments. As we navigate through 2024, it's clear that AI is not just a fleeting trend but a fundamental shift in how we conduct business and live our lives.  Change brings uncertainty, but the development of AI, and eventually AGI, is inevitable.  The changes we will experience will be greater than the impact of the internet. As we tell our Implement AI clients – implement AI before your competition does! Thanks for reading. Visit: Implement AI to learn more about AI for business.

If you have not stopped to consider the inevitable impact of your cognitive (and eventually physical) human resources being augemented by AI , this article is going to change your strategic thinking forever. The dawn of the AI era is not just a technological advancement; it's a paradigm shift that's redefining the future of work. While the narrative often centres on automation and job displacement, the real game-changer is augmentation and the ability to grow without adding cost with a linear correlation to revenue growth. Very few organisations are already leveraging AI agents—sophisticated systems capable of autonomous reasoning and action—to create high-performing augmented workforces. Imagine having a human payroll augmented by an AI workforce that dramatically improves productivity, profits, your company valuation, human job satisfaction and your ability to recruit talent. Implement AI, which I co-founded, has published a whitepaper covering the future or human resources augmented by AI. This article breaks down some of the key insights and you can download the full whitepaper here. An evolutionary leap in resourcing: AI Agents AI agents are at the forefront of AI for business innovation. Powered by advanced natural language models, they can comprehend tasks articulated in everyday language, collate pertinent data, and execute intricate workflows with humans in the loop if necessary. Teams of AI agents can communicate, collaborate and challenge each other to optimise performance and complete complex tasks. AI agents are becoming increasingly adept at automating monotonous or time-consuming tasks such as data analysis, content generation, customer engagement and transposing unstructured data, such as audio, into structured data. This frees up human capital to concentrate on higher-order functions like strategic thinking, innovation and relationship cultivation. The arrival of generalist multimodal large language models (LLMs) means that AI agents can not only absorb and analyse large datasets and communicate via text and APIs; they now have vision. They can understand the content of images and video. Until recently, such capabilities required expensive and specialised computer vision machine learning (ML) models. The use cases for AI agents with vision are numerous in organisations of all sizes. The five-tiered impact on work The influence of AI agents is still nascent, but their impact will evolve rapidly across five distinct levels: Basic Assistance: AI streamlines administrative chores like calendar management and applicant screening. Task Automation: Agents handle repetitive processes, from invoice reconciliation to social media updates and translation. Augmented Specialisation: AI assumes specialised functions like predictive sales analytics, customer engagement, and advanced creative copywriting. Hybrid Collaboration: Humans and AI form synergistic partnerships, leveraging each other's unique strengths to collaborative on projects to achieve a desired outcome. Autonomous Oversight: AI manages specific, well-defined tasks autonomously, albeit under human supervision. Read our core whitepaper 'The AI-assisted Organisation: A Blueprint' for our framework and a guide to building an AI-assisted organisation workflow by workflow, and department by department within defined policy and governance. Workforce transformation: Your strategic approach As I explained at the beginning of this article, if the concept of augmented human resource was new to you, it should already be clear that to capitalise on this disruptive technology, organisations must re-engineer their operational frameworks and redefine roles. It may even be necessary to redefine performance-based compensation based on productivity if your colleagues are augmented. Key strategies involve: Pinpointing tasks ripe for AI agent automation. Preserving inherently human attributes like strategic acumen, creativity, and emotional intelligence in role delineations. Instituting governance protocols for quality assurance and ethical considerations. Upskilling the workforce for seamless AI collaboration via appropriate training. Transparently communicating AI-driven changes and actively involving employees in the implementation roadmap. A McKinsey & Company study found that the vast majority of employers expect over 5% of their workfroces to be reskilled over the next three years due to the impact of generative AI. Talent development and AI literacy AI literacy is no longer optional; it's a prerequisite for career progression. Organisations must invest in ongoing learning initiatives to cultivate AI-compatible competencies. Likewise, individuals should proactively seek to learn how to effectively augment their abilities with AI agents. In this new landscape, the increasing capability of AI agents will be complemented by uniquely human faculties like creativity, ethical discernment, and emotional acumen. For AI training courses from AI Fundamentals to AI Innovation & Product Design, visit the Implement AI Training Academy. Your competitive edge is early adoption Pioneering companies, such as many of Implement AI's clients, are already reaping the benefits of AI agent deployment. Those who seize the augmentation opportunity now will surge ahead, leaving the late adopters trailing. The future is not just automated; it's augmented. Is your organisation prepared for this seismic shift? The early adopters are going to be hard to catch in an exponential world where competitive advantage can be created using specialised AI agents as well as more generalist AI that will be accessible by all organisations. To learn more, read the full whitepaper and download our AI Toolkit here. Thanks for reading.

Anthropy23 and The Eden Project venue Last year I drove to Cornwall in my van conversion not knowing what to expect from the first Anthropy, which took place within a venue that effortlessly melds nature with human ingenuity - The Eden Project. The event was a huge success and I had conversations with experts from a wide range of fields, made new friends and caught up with for-profit and social entrepreneurs, politicians, policy makers and caught up with like-minded friends and acquaintances I have not seen for some time. This year there are over 180 sessions with more than 500 speakers. Anthropy stands on four pillars which reflect its core ethos: People: The quest for equity of opportunity for all, irrespective of one's starting point in life. Place: A call for harmony between our natural and built environments. Prosperity: Encouraging entrepreneurial endeavour through ethical and sustainable businesses. Perspective: Adopting an outward-looking stance to address global issues and contribute positively on the international stage. At its core, Anthropy aims to source ideas and encourge positive change by fostering collaborative thinking about the future of Britain among diverse leaders. The goal is to shape the national narrative towards positivity, sustainability, equity, and success. Anthropy23 (1st – 3rd November 2023) will be another amazing gathering within the beautiful biomes of the The Eden Project that house lush gardens under futuristic geodesic domes. When was the last time you joined a panel discussion in a rainforest? The Eden Project isn't merely a venue but a symbol of what Anthropy aims to nurture - a blend of nature, innovation, technology and community. The Anthropy23 agenda Anthropy23 is not merely a gathering, but a crucible where thought-provoking ideas meet actionable solutions. The meticulously crafted agenda, that you can access via the Anthropy23 app, reflects this ethos. I have been automatically invited to a series of sessions that reflect my interests and there are many more that I will attend to learn something new. Last year I was placed on a table for dinner with a well-known conservationist and a classical musician and learned a few things. It is such cross-pollination of ideas and relationships that creates value. This year, the discussions are segmented into themes that touch upon various facets of societal and economic realms. The 'Future of Britain' invites a discourse on the nation's vision, 'A Female Future' explores the transformative power of female leadership, while 'Our Land, Water & Air' delves into stewardship of our natural heritage. Each theme, curated with precision, aims to not only evoke a dialogue but stir a movement towards a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous Britain. Panel discussions and ‘In Conversation with Piers Linney’ The panel discussions at Anthropy23 are a nexus of knowledge, experience, innovation and noticeable passion. Read about the speakers and panel discussions that take place over three days on the Anthropy web site: https://anthropy.uk/agenda/ I am participating in several panel discussions and I am excited to be able to host another ‘In Conversation with Piers Linney' session on 2nd November at 11am (location: Core -The Lab). This session will provide an opportunity to share insights from my journey in entrepreneurship, technology, finance, and more. I am also focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on our economy, institutions, children and society generally. You can read some of my blogs on this here: https://www.pierslinney.com/blog Speakers I am a minor leagure player when it comes to the roster of attendees and speakers at Anthropy23 is nothing short of unbelievable. I look forward to engaging with such industry leaders and change-makers. Find out who is attending and speaking here: https://anthropy.uk/speakers/ Anthropy23 is a must-attend event On arrival at The Eden Project last year, I didn’t know what to expect. A year later the enthusiasm for Anthropy23 has snowballed and it has attracted supportive sponsors. It is an event that will grow in its content, reach, significance and eventual impact. For anyone interested in having thought-provoking discussions and contribute towards a better Britain, this gathering is a must-attend event. It is only 10 days away. By making my their way to Cornwall for a few days, attendees have to commit to participating and taking a break to think, soak up the environment and the venue, look up from their phones and hold meaningful conversations. There are clear signs requesting all attendees to leave their egos at the door. There is little more important that building a better Britain and it is a legacy that we should all strive to leave for generations to come. Register and purchase your tickets You can register and purchase your tickers on the Anthropy website here Thanks for reading. Top of Form

The pace of change is accelerating in the workplace, and this revolution is driven by the profound capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) that will fundamentally reshape entire industries. As AI capabilities rapidly accelerate, we are nearing an inflection point where utilising human labour over AI solutions will soon become untenable in many cases for ethical, risk and financial reasons. McKinsey research found that 43% of organisations expect their workforce to shrink by 3% - 20% within 3 years. McKinsey: The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier This article explores the reasons that will compel organisations to augment, and eventually replace, most human cognitive and physical labour with technology as it become better, cheaper, faster and safer. It also includes advice on what to do today. Better In sector after sector, AI is demonstrating superior performance to human workers. For example, in specialist healthcare AI imaging tools are diagnosing diseases more accurately and faster than radiologists and doctors. In finance, AI trading platforms make profitable investment decisions in nanoseconds that eclipse even the most seasoned human traders. The next generation of AI-driven chatbots are already handling customer queries with a high degree of accuracy, providing instant responses and improving customer satisfaction. Across industries, we see the same pattern – AI outperforming the most experienced and skilled human experts thanks to machine learning algorithms that continuously optimise based on huge datasets beyond any human's capacity. Once AI consistently surpasses human capabilities, persisting with error-prone and inferior human cognitive labour will make very little economic sense. Action: Amaze your customers by developing enhanced AI-powered offerings that are hyper-personalised. Create compelling products and services based on new insights and drive growth. Cheaper The economic argument for AI automation over human labour is compelling. Once trained, AI systems can replicate expertise and output limitlessly at marginal cost. Existing large language models (LLMs) can already undertake the labour of entire human teams for summarisation and document generation, or translation, at a fraction of the human wage cost. As AI developer wages fall due to open-source libraries, automated coding copilots and code reuse, AI labour becomes vastly cheaper than human workers demanding ever-higher pay. AI-driven HR tools can scan thousands of CVs in minutes, shortlisting candidates based on specific criteria. This not only reduces the cost of hiring but also ensures that businesses engage with the best talent without human bias. The financial incentives will drive mass automation as firms replace expensive human labour with affordable and scalable AI workers. Action: Reduce operation costs immediately with AI agents by automating repetitive and mundane. Free up valuable employee time and resources to add more value to the organisation and its customers so that your business can grow without increasing costs. Faster Speed and productivity gains are a key advantage of AI automation. For instance, current LLM’s can read and digest in 30 seconds what would take hours for a human expert to process. AI's ability to rapidly synthesize vast quantities of information and data will enable businesses to accelerate innovation, creative endeavours, and research. AI algorithms can predict demand, optimise inventory, and even automate reordering processes. This ensures that businesses can respond to market changes in real-time, reducing wastage and improving efficiency. Not only is AI faster, it can operate tirelessly 24/7 with no breaks, leave, or downtime. Replacing human resources with indefatigable AI automation boosts productivity and business outcomes. Action: Equip employees with AI skills now to augment their capabilities to drive productivity. Show each employee how to work with AI-assistants to take on time-consuming tasks accurately and at scale, empowering and freeing your team to accomplish more meaningful work that adds-value. Safer There are also moral and ethical imperatives for choosing AI over human labour when superior AI capabilities can save lives. For example, persisting with error-prone human drivers who cause 1.3 million annual fatalities versus adopting autonomous vehicles that could save millions of lives will soon be unconscionable. In fact self-driving cars are already safer than cars driven by humans measured by the accident rate over distance. Likewise, if AI imaging tools and medical robots demonstrate better patient outcomes than human doctors and surgeons, it would be unethical to persist with the inferior and riskier human option. As AI consistently proves safer, continuing risky human practices will become unjustifiable. Action: AI replacing physical labour and the associated risks to humans in the form of AI-powered robots will take longer but use AI now to analyse business risks and minimise them. No sector will be unaffected The scale of workplace AI adoption will be unprecedented, transforming jobs from manufacturing to healthcare to finance. Unlike past automation revolutions, advancements in machine learning mean that even highly cognitive jobs once considered safe from automation are now vulnerable. Natural language processing enables AI to excel at knowledge worker roles like legal assistants, financial analysts, and medical technicians that involve accessing, processing, and communicating complex information. The breadth of human jobs open to replacement by AI automation is simply staggering -even if AI evolution stopped today. The human role A future where AI takes over only routine tasks while humans still focus on higher-level responsibilities like strategy, innovation, and leadership is expected by many. However, AI capabilities are quickly reaching the point where knowledge work and managerial duties can also be automated – without the constraints of human bias of inability to assimilate large amounts of data and react to change. Rather than a neat delegation between humans and AI, we will see increasingly broad replacement across occupations. Firms may retain a skeleton human staff for oversight, governance, and public acceptance, but the bulk of operations will eventually be AI-driven. The augmented workforce The mass replacement of human labour with AI automation will fundamentally reshape the workforce and challenge traditional notions of jobs and careers. New roles may emerge in AI training, management, governance and ethics but these would be limited in number and eventually automated too. For the masses of workers displaced by AI, the loss of labour identity, social structures, and income could entail significant transition risks. We will need imaginative solutions, from universal basic income to new purpose frameworks, to manage this complexity. The bottom line The economic, moral, practical and competitive imperatives for automating most human tasks and jobs using AI solutions are inescapable. Much as machines replaced human physical labour during previous industrial revolutions, the AI-driven Fourth Industrial Revolution looks set to sweep away most of human cognitive and creative labour. Our best course is accepting and even embracing this future. Those organisations that do will be the success stories of the future. This article was inspired by a video by David Shapiro. Thanks for reading.

Do you suffer from FUD - fear, uncertainty and doubt? I often find myself in conversations about the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the perceived threats and benefits of an AI-first world. Almost everyone who engages in such conversations is partially motivated by FUD relating to the impact of AI on individuals, work, organisations, society and even the future of the human species. New technologies have always been accompanied by apprehension and alarmism before their benefits become apparent and they are accepted at speeds that were never expected. FUD is inevitable, as is its annoying ability to delay the adoption of new technologies, and progress. FUD about a new technology being overcome is also always inevitable. The FUD cycle I have learned in life and business that there is no point worrying about an inevitable future once the factors that will bring it about have crystallised. Energy is best spent on embracing that future and developing strategies to extract the most value from it, or minimising any negative impact. In this article I explain the reasons why AI-related FUD should be minimised and how the acceleration of AI adoption will overcome AI FUD more quickly than it was in any previous new technology adoption cycle. The Cycle of Scepticism and Acceptance Throughout history, breakthrough innovations including cars, electricity and cloud computing faced initial scepticism and uncertainty before becoming integral to modern life. When electricity first flickered into being in the 19th century, its early systems frequently caused fires and electrocutions. The war of the currents saw Edison, who had invested heavily in DC power, throw FUD at the suppliers of more scalable and useful AC power. Leading experts deemed electricity unsafe for widespread residential use and AC power was used to develop the electric chair and to electrocute elephants in public demonstrations of its danger to life. Edison eventually adopted AC and within 50 years, access to metered and affordable electricity generated at scale and distribution networks had changed the world forever. Pioneers in the computing age like IBM’s Thomas Watson questioned the technology’s viability. In 1943 Watson speculated that only five computers would find a global market. Today over 1.5 billion personal computers connect workforces and families worldwide. Legacy computing infrastructure suppliers said that cloud computing, a market I participated in pioneering in the UK, was not secure or flexible. Today most computing workloads are hosted in the so-called public cloud by Amazon Web Service, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud. It rarely makes sense to build your own infrastructure, especially for the growing number of AI-related workloads. In hindsight, early doubters and those propagating FUD always appear short-sighted, but they can also help to ensure that new technologies are safe, useful and properly regulated before mass adoption. Healthy scepticism can act as a balance to the unchecked exuberance and profiteering of those bringing a new technology to market. AI Anxiety and the Next FUD Cycle Modern AI evokes even more concern regarding its potential impact on employment, privacy and even humanity’s future. Numerous science fiction films based some competition between humans and AI for power, resources or even love with uneasy or dire results have done for AI what the film Jaws did for sharks. Although alignment between AI and humans is important given the impact assessment of improbable worst case scenarios, AI and even super-intelligences may be malevolent and lack the basic instincts that have driven humans to do terrible things. Unease Over the Future of Work Work will change dramatically, but Studies warning of significant workforce disruption fuel anxiety. A 2013 Oxford study forecast that automation could threaten over 47% of US jobs within two decades. While such predictions vary in conclusions and timescales, their sheer volume amplifies uncertainty. However, in the case of AI the likelihood of a significant disruption has led to large enterprises and governments to take action. The slow adoption and long period of FUD is going to be shorter in my view due to the material economic upsides that are already obvious. As I have said before, the adoption of AI and the eventually development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) may be the last invention by humans without AI assistance. In the case of wok, we are already experiencing change and even if AI development ceases today a wide range of sectors and roles have been permanently changed. History suggests societies adapt to technological change reshaping work. In 1841, over 20% of UK employment was in agriculture – today is has declined to less than 1%. In the US 41% were employed in agriculture in 1900; today it is less than 2%. Yet mass unemployment was avoided. The industrial revolution saw textile artisans displaced by mechanised looms. Rather than systemic joblessness, people migrated from cottages to towns cities to work in mills and factories. Today, while certain roles will undoubtedly become unnecessary, and others substituted, AI will initially automate specific tasks rather than entire jobs. The cost of AI ‘agents’ will begin to replace the cost of human resource. Initially, automation of the mundane will allow workers to focus more on responsibilities requiring human strengths like creativity. We will all have to learn to add more value or become unemployable. Educational programmes, provided by governments or employers, can reskill displaced workers or upskill them to add more value. New social safety nets will be necessary to support those left behind and universal basic income (UBI) is already on the UK and US political agendas. With proper leadership and acceptance of change, employers and economies can unlock AI’s benefits while ensuring shared prosperity. Concerns Over Data Privacy As AI systems grow more capable, their reliance on data increases. Feeding them people’s personal information raises concerns about how it will be used. OpenAI’s ChatGPT was trained on most of the internet and tech companies are working hard to lock-down their content using technology or lawyers. China’s Social Credit System exemplifies these fears. By collecting extensive data on citizens’ lives, enabling omnipresent monitoring, it hints at how unrestrained AI could accelerate the rise of digital authoritarianism. Yet the same technologies used for state surveillance also enable breakthroughs in sectors like healthcare where large data sets exist and are powerful. Google DeepMind’s AI techniques using NHS patient records pushed forward detection of eye disease and kidney injury. The issue is not inherently the technology itself, but how it is applied. International debates are coalescing around AI governance to balance innovation and ethical use. Organisations like the EU’s High-Level Expert Group have outlined frameworks surrounding transparency, accountability and consent for data usage that can guide responsible development. But vigilance around civil liberties will remain vital as capabilities advance. In any event, AI does not exist in a bubble outside existing laws and regulations, such as GDPR. Apprehension About Existential Risks Lurking beneath surface-level concerns lies deeper unease about AI potentially threatening humanity’s future. Dystopian science fiction depictions of humanoid robots trampling over the skulls of easily defeated human soldiers reinforce fears of sentient robots turning against their creators. Current AI lacks fundamental attributes that define human consciousness and leading experts believe that AGI, which can rival human cognition remains decades away, if ever feasible. AGI does not mean sentient either, which may never occur. Rather than framing AI as an independent entity, the technology is better understood as a tool, like your toaster; just far more powerful. Used judiciously, its capabilities can empower society rather than endanger it. But reckless implementation without proper regulation could lead to unintended consequences warranting caution, especially in the hands of bad actors. In particular, care must be taken to avoid embedding biases that marginalise groups based on race, gender and socioeconomic status. Microsoft’s Tay chatbot exemplified this in 2016 by rapidly adopting offensive behaviours from toxic inputs (i.e., ‘the internet’). Keeping AI aligned with ethics will only grow more vital as it becomes deeply integrated into social systems. Beyond Binary Narratives – Recognising Complexity AI debates often simplify progress as binary - utopia or dystopia. But innovation rarely follows such simplistic narratives. AI enables transformative applications alongside potential for misuse. Whether maximising benefits while minimising harms, or speeding progress while respecting people’s apprehensions, nuance and balance are key. Realising AI’s upside requires acknowledging that it won’t be a panacea. All tools bring trade-offs, but with wise governance, AI can positively impact core issues like climate change, healthcare, education and beyond. Google D so far catalogued by science, solving one of the biggest challenges in biology in only 18 months. Navigating the tides of change also demands empathy. Progress has always disrupted - but when managed with care and foresight, societies can fluidly adapt. Leaders must listen to those uneasy about AI’s implications and work constructively to address concerns. Beyond The FUD - The Path Forward As with past innovations, AI brings immense opportunities alongside complex challenges. By recognizing FUD as a natural human response to change, we can thoughtfully guide AI's development and deployment for the common good. There will always be those who resist change for many reasons although most relate to the protection of investment in legacy or the desire to avoid the uncertainty that change brings. The future belongs to the bold and in those that embrace AI and get out in front first are going to stay there not matter how much FUD is generated. Thanks for reading.

For generations, junior roles have provided the entry point into prestigious professions like law, finance, accounting, and medicine. I know, as I went through the legal qualification process and recall spending 2 weeks until the early hours each day indexing a meeting room of ring binders on floor to ceiling shelving crammed with documents for a large litigation case. Each night the legal secretaries would work on my index and print it for me to review in the morning. This labour-intensive exercise has long-since been replaced by scanning, optical character recognition and now artificial intelligence (AI) to search the content. New grads join as trainees, paying their dues by conducting research, analysis, and basic tasks under senior staff. The best are hired and then promoted over time to partner or director. This applies to all knowledge work over the near-term and even physical labour over the longer-term. This apprenticeship model has also been a rite of passage and has received renewed focus over the last decade. Apprenticeships are a chance for trainees to learn the ropes before progressing up the career ladder. Organisations also rely on this pipeline of junior talent supporting senior professionals. The Rise of AI Today, AI poses an existential threat to this career and training framework. Generative AI and Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) models can already create content that generally exceed human capability in both quantity and quality. AI capabilities are advancing exponentially across sectors, achieving expert-level performance in specialised domains such as healthcare. Contract review, financial analysis, radiology diagnosis - tasks that once defined entry-level jobs are now being matched or outperformed by AI. The pyramid of value is being filled by technology and humans have to migrate to the top by adding more value. Trainees are likely to be overtaken. As this technology improves, the need for trainees conducting repetitive, routine analytical and technical work is evaporating. AI lawyers can already analyse contracts with greater accuracy than any team of human lawyers. In medicine, AI is diagnosing disease from images better than experienced radiologists. The Disappearing Trainee Across industries, firms are responding by discontinuing traditional training programs. New AI systems are replacing the grunt work previously completed by trainees. The concept of ‘learning the ropes’ will soon be consigned to history. In law, new joiners find partners taking routine work directly to AI tools, bypassing junior lawyers altogether. In finance, analysts no longer spend months on Excel models and pitchbooks now handled by AI. Graduates are going to find themselves stranded as entry-level roles vanish. Hopes of meritocratic promotion ring hollow when there is no base left to the talent pyramid. The traditional career ladder has collapsed. The Automation Cliff Make no mistake - these junior jobs are not coming back. As routine tasks are automated, firms no longer need years of cheap human trainees practice menial tasks. The fourth industrial revolution is not like the previous ones as demand will not grow to absorb the almost infinite output of AI, and eventually robots. For ambitious graduates who invested heavily in education for a dream career, it is a bitter pill to swallow. The coveted training programs of elite firms have evaporated. A new lost generation faces a grim job market. The Human Skills Imperative But it's not all doom and gloom. As routine work is automated, uniquely human strengths become more crucial than ever. Creativity, empathy, communication, collaboration, critical thinking - these are innate human talents that AI cannot replicate. The smartest firms are already reforming training programs to focus on relationship-building, storytelling, and strategic thinking over technical skills. Recruiting now emphasises versatility and the ability to pair human strengths with AI. There are always new and emerging roles in periods of disruption. Those who can augment automated systems using human abilities will remain in high demand. Embracing the Change The implications for organizations are clear: adapt training for an AI-powered future of work or lose the war on talent. The next generation wants human-centred, purpose-driven roles. They see old jobs disappearing and have little loyalty to legacy career paths. Lifelong learning, creativity and human-AI collaboration will define the 21st century worker. For those entering the labour market, at any level, the choice is stark - evolve your abilities or face irrelevance. The age of the trainee may be over, but for those willing to adapt, working alongside AI unlocks immense new potential. Thanks for reading.

The more I delve into the potential impact of AI on society and business, and the more I engage with the major platform providers of this technology, the clearer it becomes that we're on the cusp of a revolution. This shift is so profound that it's set to transform the way we work, live, and interact with each other and technology. We're on the brink of being scaled at both the societal level and as individuals. We're about to become superhuman, augmented by powerful technologies that evolve at an accelerating rate, enabling us to do more with less. But here's the kicker: as we scale, we're going to need fewer of us working, and those who do work will need to add more value. The Triangle of Human Labour I often find myself using a triangle to represent all the work done by humans. In the beginning, most labour was done by us, with a bit of help from our animal friends and basic tools. Agriculture still relied on human and animal labour until the 1700s. Then came the industrial revolutions, and technology started to fill the triangle from its base, pushing us humans upwards, nudging us to up our game. The first industrial revolution brought in steam power, mechanising production and filling the first layer of our triangle. Labour moved from the fields into towns and cities to bring together the units of production. There was more work to satisfy demand from exploding populations. The second one introduced mass production, filling the next layer as wealth and consumerism spread. The third, the digital revolution, brought in computers and the internet. Until now, other than in cyclical depressions, the demand for labour has continued, but this is set to change. The Fourth Industrial Revolution: AI and Robotics Now, we're in the middle of the fourth industrial revolution, powered by artificial intelligence and robotics, and this is where things get really interesting, especially as population growth stalls. As technology has advanced, humans have had to add more value and during the course of the fourth industrial revolution, we are going to experience falling demand for both cognitive and eventually physical labour as robotics advances and becomes cheaper. AI isn't just another layer in the triangle; it's a game-changer. It is the last layer. It's accelerating the filling of the triangle, pushing us further up. Organisations are becoming "AI-assisted", supercharging their human resources and automating operations. Supercharging Humans with AI Emad Mostaque, a founder of Stability AI, paints a vivid picture of this future. He talks about AI as a tool for supercharging humans, like having a super-smart intern who's a bit forgetful. Memory in applications such as ChatGPT will soon be fixed. AI can already pass the bar exam, create beautiful art, and it's available to everyone for free. Watch the video here. In the business world, this means you can now scale up your human resource and individuals can scale up, and level up their personal, capabilities, but the best and brightest who embrace AI are likely to be the most employable. As employees are supercharged with AI, they can focus on adding value, leaving the mundane tasks to their AI agents and co-pilots. Talent will be freed from years of ‘learning the ropes’. Embracing the Change: The Future of Work As is the case in most technology cycles, it takes longer than expected to be embraced and then it is adopted faster than the forecasts. Although the exact rate of change is hard to envisage and it is difficult to imagine where the technology will be in 2 years, it's a wake-up call. As Emad Mostaque puts it, "We have figured out how to make humans scale." We're standing on the edge of a new era, and the question isn't whether we'll scale, but how quickly we'll grab the opportunity. The real winners will be the ones who embrace the change before the competition. They'll see AI not as a threat, but as a catalyst, a way to supercharge their capabilities, to do more with less, and to drive the next wave of innovation and growth. Thanks for reading.

A classic David and Goliath story is unfolding, driven by the systemic changes to business, economics, and even society that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will bring. The Goliaths, large enterprises, possess economies of scale, strong brands, large customer bases, distribution and manufacturing capabilities, capital, talent, market power, and sophisticated risk management. On the other hand, the Davids, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), are agile, have strong customer relationships, are innovative, can make rapid decisions, and have low overheads. However, AI is poised to disrupt everything over the coming decade. It closes the gap, enabling any business to pursue nearly any customer and tap into the long-tail opportunity through automation and personalisation. Generative AI has accelerated adoption and democratised access to AI. The question is, who will be the first to embrace this technology? The Goliaths: Large enterprises and AI Large enterprises can and are heavily investing in AI, benefiting from their vast customer bases that provide them with a wealth of data, the lifeblood of AI. However, these enterprises often struggle with legacy systems, entrenched cultures, and technical debt. These factors can impede AI adoption and make integration with existing systems challenging. Moreover, their size and complexity can lead to bureaucratic delays in decision-making. Despite these challenges, large enterprises recognize the existential threat posed by AI. In recent discussions with Microsoft AI partners, it became evident that large enterprises are rapidly responding to the potential risks and rewards of AI, unlike the slow adoption of previous technologies such as cloud services. Even traditionally cautious financial services clients are swiftly deploying AI and creating platforms. Many large enterprises have been actively testing and implementing AI solutions for years, employing machine learning (ML), deep learning, and robotics in various fields such as autonomous vehicles, distribution centres, healthcare, and genomics. The main threat to large enterprises is the risk of being outpaced by more agile competitors. However, AI can help them overcome this challenge and create remarkable data-driven products, services, and personalized customer experiences that SMEs cannot easily replicate. The Davids: SMEs and AI SMEs, on the other hand, are often more nimble and adaptable than their larger counterparts. They can quickly react to new technologies and integrate them into their operations. SMEs can leverage AI to provide generative AI-driven solutions that personalize customer experiences, setting themselves apart. However, SMEs face their own set of challenges. They may lack the resources for significant AI investments and struggle to attract talent knowledgeable in leveraging AI. Additionally, they may not have access to the same volume of data as large enterprises, which can limit the effectiveness of their AI models. Despite these challenges, SMEs have significant opportunities to harness the power of AI. As Andrew Ng highlighted in his TED talk, SMEs can target the "long tail" of AI opportunities, inaccessible to large enterprises. The "long tail" refers to numerous niche markets and specialized needs that AI technologies can address. Traditional business models tend to focus on serving popular and mainstream demands, but AI enables businesses to target the unique needs of individuals or smaller market segments. SMEs can optimize operations, reduce costs, and grow their businesses using AI. However, even very locally-focused SMEs risk being outcompeted by large enterprises that heavily invest in AI and possess broad distribution networks. If SMEs fail to keep pace with a changing commercial landscape driven by AI, they may lose their competitive edge. The convergence: A new business landscape There is another perspective on the David and Goliath battle. As large enterprises work to overcome legacy issues and become more agile, and as SMEs strive to leverage AI despite resource constraints, the two may converge. This convergence could lead to a new business landscape where businesses of all sizes compete on an even playing field, thanks to AI. The battle will then be fought in the overlapping markets worth billions in any developed economy. Who will win? The race is on in the realm of AI, and both large enterprises and SMEs have their unique strengths and challenges. Access to Large Language Models (LLMs) and is being democratised and over time the cost to access powerful cloud-based platforms with natural language and multi-modal interfaces will tumble. Microsoft and Google are both adding copilot agents to their productivity software which will empower employees in all sizes of organisation. As a champion of small businesses, I firmly believe that SMEs can stay ahead by embracing their creative and innovative spirit. However, it is crucial for all businesses to recognize the transformative power of AI and adopt it as a key driver of future success. The AI landscape is vast and uncertain, but one thing remains clear: today's Davids and Goliaths in the business world must fully embrace AI or risk being left behind. By leveraging AI, small businesses can tap into new markets, personalise customer experiences, optimise operations, and drive growth. Meanwhile, large enterprises can utilise AI to enhance their competitive edge, develop innovative products and services, and deliver personalised experiences at scale. As the business landscape evolves, the convergence between the strengths of both types of businesses may redefine the competitive dynamics, leading to a more level playing field.

Implementing AI technologies in your business is not optional. This is article is based on aLinkedin post by Aalok Shukla, my co-founder of Implement AI, following an insightful all day workshop event that we ran last week. The feedback has been unbelievable and has helped us to firm up our productised consultancy offering for small and medium-sized business in the UK, Ireland and UAE. Implement AI event discussing the future of business In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is set to drive significant business transformation, understanding how to leverage it is crucial for any organisation, whether for-profit, or not. Today, moving swiftly is more than just a competitive advantage, it is a survival imperative. The ship is leaving the harbour and there will be a point after which making the leap fro the quayside is impossible. It is extremely difficul to catch up with an exponential. We started Implement AI to support businesses and senior management in evolving into an AI-assisted business as quickly as possible. The goal is to maximise growth, profits, and your company valuation. As many have said, including myself, 'AI may not replace you or your business. But, a person or business assisted by AI will.' AI, artificial general intelligence (AGI) super-intelleigence, or AI in walking and talking robots, is a question of time horizon. When, not if. The asteroid like impact of AI: Do look up We're at the dawn of a new era—an era of AI. As my previous articles have explained, we will transition from an AI-assited world to an AI-first world with new generations that would rather place their trust in an autonomous car or a robo-lawyer, that a human equivalent, because they will be safer or better. The impact of AI on businesses will be akin to an asteroid impact, and the impact is imminent as we track its progress towards us. Unlike in the recent hollywood allegory, Don't Look Up, you really should. AGI would change the world in a heartbeat. This asteroid will result in an explosion of innovation and business, economic and societal change. We remain optimists about the power of AI and that it will be aligned with humans. This impact is the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Recognising this, we started Implement AI based on an approach that is grounded in the need for a top-down plan, including policies, governance, and even a fractional AI officer whose job is to scan possibilities across all departments. It is nobody's job today. In the session last week, Alan Smith calculated a £2m+ upside in the valuation of a business with just £1m of revenue. The window to leverage this change is three years at best. Now is the time to act and Implement AI is ready to guide businesses through this transformation. The AI dilemma: Snakes or ladders? The impact of AI can be positive or negative—it's your choice. Tese events are helping us to fine tune our services to help our clients to move quickly, to be proactive, fostering positive outcomes. In the AI era, rigidity in departments and job titles may prove a hindrance as AI evolves as a co-pilot, a co-worker, and as an agent. This shift necessitates adaptability from your team. You'll want general purpose, clever, and curious people who can thrive with the new possibilities that AI-first tools bring. Capitalise on AI's current and growing capabilities The capabilities of AI right now—which is at the Nokia Snake level—already far exceed what most humans can understand, and these capabilities are rapidly growing. The challenge lies not in the technology, but in organisations having the vision and leadership to adapt and take advantage of new opportunities. Our job is to stay ahead of the curve to guide businesses towards a future where AI is seamlessly integrated and effectively utilised. Foster a compelling team vision As AI becomes integral to business operations, it's crucial to include your team in this vision. Implement AI believes in the significant opportunities available for everyone willing to upskill. It is not a case of cutting costs or people. The goal is to grow without adding cost to optimise and increae margins. Your team can focus on the power of AI on internal or external factors. AI and the evolving job landscape The traditional career pathway—starting as a junior and working one's way up—is changing as AI assumes entry-level roles. Understanding what technology can do and how to add value in your industry has become critical. It was interested to hear legal and accounting professionals say that their sectors will change profoundly and even almost vanish (i.e. accounting). You need to recruit people with the know-how and willingness to learn and embrace rapidly evolving technologies. They will be AI-assisted from hereon. AI is not some distant reality—it's here Ai is already reshaping business as we know it. We are excited about the potential to add amterial value to businesses and to ensure that they remain optimised. For more information, or to sign up for an AI Boardroom Update & Training, go to Implement AI and complete the form, or message us.