The new year is upon us, and for many, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Outdated, inflexible systems and processes will be shown the door, ushering in a new way of working smarter, not harder.
Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence, including generative AI, will continue to drive many technology conversations in 2024. That’s the consensus among research firms, including Gartner, Deloitte, and Forrester.
Deloitte’s 15th annual “Tech Trends” report puts AI front and center, not just as a tool for improving machines and processes but also as a way for organizations to achieve new heights with their business. The organization lists six technology trends that together create a foundation for success, and, not surprisingly, generative AI is the cornerstone for many of these trends.
“The newfound opportunity to augment productive professionals with silicon-based intelligence is indeed a generational business opportunity,” writes Deloitte Chief Futurist Mike Bechtel. “It’s a full-on paradigm shift that is poised to unlock the doors to altogether-new business opportunities and fundamentally change how the enterprise itself organizes and operates.”
To that end, generative AI as a growth catalyst was one of the six trends listed by Deloitte as organizations scramble to benefit from gains in productivity and efficiency, not to mention the prospect of leaps and bounds in innovation. “Today the question is more about how to deploy these cognitive tools in ways that provide real business impact,” according to the report.
Interest and investment in generative AI have grown exponentially over the last 12 months, largely fueled by investors backing startups that have generative AI at their core. But instead of facing a business future with AI making us humans obsolete, generative AI has more power to transform the business from the inside out by providing humans with tools that enhance their productivity, creativity, and knowledge. In other words, generative AI will foment evolutionary changes, not big bang, revolutionary changes.
Understanding what generative AI can do and what you want it to do for your organization will go a long way in laying the groundwork for success. This year, investments in infrastructure modernization will increase dramatically as generative AI moves into the mainstream, with data—collection, processing, storage, and delivery—taking center stage.
As much as has been discussed regarding the opportunities around generative AI, this will be the year for organizations to take action to reap the benefits. AI adoption is moving at an unprecedented speed. Organizations that don’t make their moves today may face a very uncertain future.
