{"id":18324,"date":"2019-11-18T09:01:20","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T08:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/?p=18324"},"modified":"2020-03-18T17:13:25","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T16:13:25","slug":"4-holding-back-ai-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/cross-industry\/2019\/11\/18\/4-holding-back-ai-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"4 things holding businesses back from AI implementation (and how to address them)"},"content":{"rendered":"
“We\u2019re mostly seeing positive strides<\/span> in AI,” Dr <\/span>Chris Brauer noted during this year\u2019s Future Decoded, “r<\/span>ather than giant leaps<\/span>.” <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our\u00a0in-depth\u00a0report\u00a0into AI, \u2018<\/span>Accelerating competitive advantage<\/span><\/a>\u2019, showed that 38% of business leaders want to be at the forefront of AI innovation.\u00a0This figure has doubled since last year.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Despite the overwhelming desire to be at the forefront of emerging technologies, many organisations are struggling to\u00a0successfully implement AI.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While 8% of UK organisations consider themselves in the advanced stage of AI use, plenty more find themselves trapped in the experimental phase.\u00a048% of organisations say they\u2019re \u2018experimenting\u2019 with the technology.\u00a0They tinker, they toy, they try \u2013 but\u00a0many\u00a0struggle\u00a0to move\u00a0beyond exploration of the technology\u00a0into\u00a0enterprise\u00a0scale AI.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen many organisations getting stuck in\u00a0the experimental\u00a0phase, and very few ever manage to\u00a0move into a\u00a0live AI product.\u00a0Even those\u00a0that\u00a0do deploy AI only manage to do so in pockets within the organisation,\u00a0and face challenges when trying to scale.\u00a0It\u2019s also apparent that a large section of the businesses we talked to don\u2019t have any AI strategy in place at all; 34%, according to our research, are doing nothing in the burgeoning AI arena.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This creates some major challenges in demonstrating the business ROI of AI.\u00a0Without demonstrating wins,\u00a0as small as they may be,\u00a0organizations might fail to see the benefits and turn away from this technology.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So,\u00a0what\u2019s the best way to advance from\u00a0being in\u00a0the 48% – or even the 34% \u2013 to the 8%?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To start, you should approach AI implementation as you would any other on-going digital transformation project. That is to say, this isn\u2019t something to be driven solely by your IT department; it demands buy-in at every level of your organisation, since the technology will empower every job role.\u00a0This requires thinking beyond the technology\u00a0itself,\u00a0and starting to think about the process, governance and roles that need to be in place to foster AI innovation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of my favourite statistics from our report shows that 96% of employees claim managers never consulted them on the introduction of AI\u00a0into the workplace\u00a0\u2013 and 83% of leaders claim employees never asked about the business\u2019s AI plans.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Or, to put it another way:\u00a0organizations need to leverage communication to drive innovation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s very easy for organisations to get caught\u00a0in the hype surrounding AI. The technology itself promises so much \u2013 but with that comes a lot of confusion as to\u00a0what AI\u00a0<\/span>actually is<\/span>,\u00a0the benefits of AI and what it can\u00a0actually help businesses achieve.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As Dr Lee Howls, Head of AI at PA Consulting Group, says: \u2018It is\u202fworth understanding whether you are just trying to do something\u202ffor\u202ftechnology\u2019s sake,\u00a0or if there is a genuine problem that might be solved through AI.\u2019\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While scaling the technology should be approached like any other\u00a0digital transformation, this is more than just another\u00a0IT\u00a0project.\u00a0AI has gone beyond the technical definition, impacting every employee in every department\u00a0\u2013 from marketing to finance. Therefore, it is fundamentally important that organizations think about AI enablement and education\u00a0across\u00a0all roles and functions. Through this understanding of AI organizations will be able to unlock\u00a0capabilities and potential.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n AI\u00a0must\u00a0be used fairly,\u00a0responsibly,\u00a0and effectively. The\u00a0challenge is, many business leaders aren\u2019t entirely sure how to implement the technology in\u00a0this way.\u00a0A lack of training lies at the heart of this issue.\u00a0\u2018Accelerating the competitive edge\u2019 reveals that a little over a fifth of UK leaders\u00a0have fully completed training; they understand how AI complements their job and empowers their organisation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, two-thirds don\u2019t yet know how\u00a0AI\u00a0<\/span>actually works<\/span>, and therefore where it would be best placed.\u00a0Without\u00a0a fundamental\u00a0understanding how the\u00a0system\u00a0comes up with the conclusions it does (hint:\u00a0lots of\u00a0data +\u00a0lots of\u00a0compute\u00a0+\u00a0algorithms = AI)\u00a0, it\u2019s impossible to fully recognise\u00a0the value of AI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A strong data strategy is what separates advanced AI organisations from their rivals. Not every business is equipped to deliver that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Part of the issue here is the\u00a0\u2018novelty\u2019 of AI.\u00a0The systems have evolved at\u00a0great pace, so now organisations find themselves\u00a0playing catch-up.\u00a0How can we transform AI into enterprise-<\/span>grade?<\/em><\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0leaders wonder.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The answer, of course, is the introduction of the right processes and tools.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hugh Milward, Microsoft UK\u2019s director of CELA, strikes a sympathetic note, saying: \u2018It\u2019s hard for a company to make a decision that looks like it is against its own short term commercial interests, but that is the point where ethics really hits the road. Having the right process by which making the \u201cright\u201d decision is eased for the Chief Executive Officer and management of the company is really important.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Creating any sort of AI framework\u00a0doesn\u2019t end post-launch,\u00a0AI systems are constantly evolving and iterating on themselves. The launch\u00a0is only just beginning,\u00a0and organizations need to think about having the right processes in place\u00a0to review and refine\u00a0these systems over time\u00a0to maximise the value of\u00a0AI.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Any sort of organisational change can be\u00a0challenging\u00a0for employees. With the large scale of change AI presents, your business may be facing a full-blown culture shock.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps this is linked to a misconception of how AI should be used. It shouldn\u2019t be used as a replacement for human workers, but to augment their roles\u00a0and allow humans\u00a0to use\u00a0our uniquely human skills\u00a0to do things\u00a0that they do best.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The introduction of AI\u00a0demands a\u00a0change of skills and a change of mindset \u2013 neither of which happen overnight.\u00a0<\/span>In itself, this<\/span>, perhaps, wouldn\u2019t be an issue. Every business leader understands how change\u00a0must be managed without damaging morale.\u00a0However, in our report, 71% of leaders say they\u2019re not sure how to cope with staffing changes\u00a0and workplace disruption\u00a0as they drive through AI.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thankfully,\u00a0according to\u00a0<\/span>PWC\u2019s 2018 Economic Outlook report<\/span><\/a>, there is a very real chance that \u201cAI will create as many jobs as it displaces. This chimes well with the outlook of\u00a0both employers and employees\u00a0who are eager to\u00a0become AI literate \u2013 in those AI-advanced organisations, 66% of business leaders claim to be actively supporting their employees on the path to AI literacy.\u00a0Meanwhile,\u00a036% of employees state that they\u2019d use the time saved by the technology to learn new skills; 29%\u00a0believe AI would allow them to take on new responsibilities.\u00a0On the flip side,\u00a0however,\u00a0a little over one in ten workers\u00a0have completed any sort of educational training.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The only way to overcome this sort of challenge is\u00a0for businesses to, first gain buy-in,\u00a0offer\u00a0dedicated\u00a0training\u00a0on AI systems\u00a0and ensure\u00a0you bring everyone on the AI journey.\u00a0Microsoft\u2019s popular\u00a0<\/span>AI business school<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is an excellent place to start when creating new business opportunities\u00a0for your business, employees, and customers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Download the full AI report, \u2018Accelerating competitive advantage\u2019<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>\nNever-ending experimental phase\u00a0\u2013 or not doing anything at all<\/h2>\n
Lack of understanding<\/h2>\n
Lack of process and tools<\/h2>\n
Cultural change<\/h2>\n
Find out more<\/h2>\n