Navigating the AI shift: 7 ways to make the most of technology opportunities
AI’s rise is reshaping how organisations operate, innovate and make decisions. While many of us are diving right in, there’s a lot to consider.
“One of the consistent themes we’re seeing is the gap between adoption and transformation,” says David Callanan, GM Corporate Trustee Services at Public Trust.
“These discussions we are having aren’t about silver bullets. They are about what’s actually working, what’s proving harder than expected, and what leaders across the industry are learning in real time. It’s about understanding how innovation, regulation, risk, and trust intersect – and how we navigate that intersection responsibly.”
So, how can you, your organisation and employees get ahead, and stay ahead, using these technologies? At the recent ‘Investment Innovation in a Digital World’ events, co-hosted by Public Trust, DLA Piper and Mosaic, expert panelists combined to offer their insights and tips.
1. First, focus on the problem statement
Think about the problem you want to solve first before reaching for an AI or digital solution. Cautioning against an ‘AI confetti’ approach, Richard Kenyon, Associate Director of AI and Automation at Datacom and keynote speaker, recommends focusing on strategic adoption and adaptation, which reflects the need to not just speed up existing tasks (adopt) but change the way you work (adapt). “Be deliberate about where you are today, to how you’ll get to where you want to be.”
The FOMO factor shouldn’t drive adoption, says Nick Valentine, Partner – Technology and Data at DLA Piper. He often hears from organisations who say: “We want to do something with AI. We don’t know what yet, but we want to do something because everyone else is.” Instead, make sure you are ready; look at your cybersecurity, do a data audit first, he says.
“Technology transformation for technology transformation’s sake is almost always going to be destined to fail,” he says.
2. Design for people
Digital literacy and digital ability are two different things. Understand points of friction and think about the opportunities to remove them, says Julie Leuzinger, Co-founder and Principal at Ghost Dynamics.
Humans are still needed and so is the personal touch. Use AI to complete tasks “while you focus on the things that matter and that bring value,” Kenyon says. An example he gave was using AI to review a customer’s website before meeting a client. Human connection is what people crave, says Victoria Harris, Co-founder of The Curve. Leuzinger says while looking for efficiency gains and ways to be more robust, think about, “How will we be human-centred and human-first?”
3. Take ownership and accountability
You can outsource a task, but you can’t outsource accountability. Boards and executives need to actively build their own AI literacy; this can’t be driven solely from the bottom up. “If something goes wrong, it’s on you. You can’t say it’s on the software,” Valentine says.
Know your organisation’s risk appetite. “Once you know that, you know where the opportunities are to solve the problems,” Kenyon says.
4. Use AI to reshape your work processes
“Don’t be afraid to change the way you do work,” Kenyon says. He encourages teams to have the “if only we could” conversation, then go from there. Create a list, then work with a partner to prioritise them. “They could be the fundamental things that change the way you work today.”
“You do need to put your own oxygen mask on first,” says Kenyon. Datacom realised they were doing “what a lot of professional services companies do, we were helping our customers more than we were helping ourselves”. “How can we give our customers advice on AI if we are not doing this more strategically ourselves?” he says.
5. Find and leverage passionate people to make a difference
Find the people at your organisation who are passionate about AI. Having human advocates within an organisation who can act as ambassadors is so important, says Josh Daniell, CEO of Akahu. Datacom has taken it to the next level, establishing an in-house Centre of Excellence of AI specialists.
Women need to pay attention to AI. “I’m concerned about how AI is impacting women,” Harris says. “Women in particular need to lean into it and stay at the forefront.”
6. Use AI carefully
Kenyon says to explain things in a structured way as AI tools do not have real-world understanding. “Be conscious about it, don’t just trust it.” Critical thinking is essential. “You need to interpret what the AI tool puts out, and use it to make decisions,” Kenyon says.
“Not every AI specialist is going to be a compliance specialist,” reminds Mark Jephson, Partner at Mosaic. He says you can only go as fast as the front line. “If you’re on legacy systems and your processes are manual… then your auditing is going to be somewhat manual as well.”
“You need to make sure your house is in order; be ready with answers when the regulator comes knocking,” Valentine says. “If you’re using a tool that doesn’t give you those answers, you’re really exposing yourself to risk.”
7. Start today
Empower employees to take control of AI within their roles. Harris encourages her team to look at AI tools and use them to be more efficient, which in turn supports business outcomes. Use AI for menial tasks, she says. “Time is money.”
Valentine says there are “massive opportunities for cost savings and efficiency gains”. Technology frees up time and allows people to focus on higher value outputs like analysis, strategy, and design, he says.
If you haven’t already, get started today, Daniell says. “The best thing you can do is use it.”