World AI Day: A Look At Artificial Intelligence Over The Years

July 16 goes down as World AI Day, and the tech world is celebrating the latest big innovation. On this day, startups, industry experts and academic professionals come together to talk about AI through the years.

AI has been particularly famous in the startup scene, with the biggest AI companies being startups.

It isn’t any different within the general business space. According to the latest CIO Report from Logicalis, the C-Suite wants to bring AI into their operations.

In fact, 89% of CIOs are looking for ways to do so. Already, 87% of those surveyed say they already do have AI workflows, and 85% intend to include AI in their budgets going forward, if they don’t already.

 

AI Across Different Industries

 

We took a look at how AI impacted the different industries as it became more widely used. Experts have shared insightful thoughts on what AI has done to their respective industries:
 

Our Industry Experts:

 

• Vasagi Kothandapani, President, TrainAI, RWS on AI and jobs
• Dan Hauck, Chief Product Officer, NetDocuments, on the legal industry
• Ted Wallae-Williams, Creative Technology Director, R/GA EMEA, on AI assistants
• James Hall, CEO, Enate on innovation for Gen Alpha in the workplace
• Martin Taylor, Co-Founder and Deputy CEO, Content Guru
• Kevin O’Marah, Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer, Zero100, on supply chain reinvention

 

Vasagi Kothandapani, President, TrainAI, RWS

 

 
“I believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not the ‘mass destroyer of jobs’ as frequently depicted in the media. Recognising the roots of these concerns, it’s essential to move beyond fear to truly embrace the immense value AI offers, particularly when it comes to its collaboration with human intelligence. By fostering a partnership between humans and AI, we can unlock unparalleled benefits for businesses and industries worldwide.”

“AI holds the potential to enhance human capabilities, enabling the UK workforce to perform their roles with greater precision and focus more on the intricate nuances that define their positions. If AI is being used without human intervention or review, it’s being used wrong.

“This is especially true in regulated industries, such as the financial sector, where there are considerations when using any kind of AI to make high-level decisions, whether generative or otherwise. The real power comes from building Genuine Intelligence which champions the fusion of AI’s capabilities with human insight and expertise, ensuring a balanced and effective use of technology.
 

Dan Hauck, Chief Product Officer, NetDocuments

 

 
“With generative AI continuing to gain traction and making its mark on nearly every sector, the legal industry is no exception and is often seen as one of the most impacted.

“That’s because this generation of large language models are exceptional at analysing language, allowing them to read and revise contracts and other legal documents like never before.

“As lawyers explore the potential of AI, one key priority will be transforming usage from novelty experiences to production workflows.

“From speeding up routine tasks like summarising and drafting documents, to leveraging insights from past cases, generative AI frees up time for legal professionals to focus on higher value tasks.

“Using AI does not eliminate a lawyer’s obligation of client confidentiality. By keeping AI within the secure boundaries of an existing solutions like their document management system, firms can respect existing ethical walls and confidentiality orders.

“Not having to move copies of documents to other systems also ensures that productivity does not suffer in the desire to implement this new technology.

“Ultimately, the responsibility remains with lawyers to scrutinise AI-generated content and grasp the technology’s constraints, just as they would review work from colleagues and support staff.

“Legal firms must establish comprehensive testing and review protocols with a robust emphasis on accountability and ensure that AI responses are properly grounded with work they trust, like their own documents”
 

Ted Wallae-Williams, Creative Technology Director, R/GA EMEA

 

 
AI Super Assistants

“We will have a highly personalized AI Assistant for both our personal and professional life, that will know us inside and out.

“I think the super assistants one is the most prominent trends in AI and in fact it’s starting to come to life with Apple’s announcement of “Apple Intelligence” which puts AI into all areas of the new iPhone – so it’s supercharging everything you do.

My prediction is that we’ll eventually feel comfortable enough sharing all our personal and professional info with a single AI assistant that’s a part of our entire life. Kind of like how Jarvis is always there for Iron Man to help with anything and knowing everything about him and his life. Some examples of this could be:

“-you ask your assistant to book you a massage and it not only knows when you are free, but when you are likely to be the most stressed and in need of one you ask your assistant to help you learn a new skill and it creates a training plan that suits your way of thinking and how you learn best, and creates moments to watch videos, read etc across your devices at the times when you will have the most focus

“-you ask the assistant to summarise a meeting you were just in and follow up with action points to relevant people, collate their responses and decide how to move forward with xyz.”
 

James Hall, CEO, Enate

 

 
 
“Generation Alpha, raised in the era of iPhones and next-day delivery, won’t tolerate inefficient legacy systems or outdated work methods. These digital natives seek purposeful, efficient work environments.

“However, equipping them with the necessary AI skills and training presents a significant challenge. Meanwhile, the current generation of workers risks displacement without massive upskilling and AI integration/augmentation efforts.

“Businesses must act now to bridge this gap. The Institute of Public Policy Research highlights that without urgent upskilling, up to 8 million jobs could be at risk. Companies that value human capital and embrace advanced technologies will thrive.

“Empowering employees to leverage AI tools will drive business value and efficiency, shaping a successful future.”
 

Martin Taylor, Co-Founder and Deputy CEO, Content Guru

 

 
“Many of the use cases for GenAI that we hear about are still theoretical and unproven, but in Customer Experience (CX) and contact centres it’s real and deliverable.

“AI is playing a role at every stage: before, during and after customer interactions. Capturing details and intent from customers in the queue, and enabling self-service there and then.

“Transcribing calls and written interactions in real-time, in order to search knowledge bases and show the right information to the service agent during a conversation, or filling in forms automatically during an interaction.

“AI-driven analytics will also provide more in-depth insights, including automated customer satisfaction (CSAT) scoring, quality auditing and resource forecasting.

“For those interactions which don’t require a human, AI-driven automation allows for more intelligent self-service options, which free up human agents for more complex inquiries.”
 

Kevin O’Marah, Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer, Zero100

 

 
 
“AI has come a long way from its first wave, when the technology gave a voice to Siri, turned Google Maps into the world’s navigator, and bested grandmasters at chess and Go.

“But even the most impressive generative AI-enabled tools of the current second wave – from software that generates car designs to a platform that speeds up the development of new drugs – are just laying the groundwork for far greater innovations to come, both in terms of the tech itself and the benefits it unlocks.

“For supply chain leaders, the coming third wave of AI won’t just turn heads, it’ll make jaws drop.
 
From AI interns to advanced assistants.

“If today’s virtual bots are passive interns, tomorrow’s AI assistants will be enterprising go-getters capable of carrying out complex tasks, real-time data analysis, and proactive inventory management.

“These advanced assistants could transform sourcing, where employees are often overloaded with small tasks and struggle to see the wood for the trees.

“Handing over these routine assignments to advanced AI assistants will increase productivity and avoid wasted time and talent, allowing existing team members to take on higher-order work and drive greater value throughout the supply chain.

“Companies like Walmart are already piloting AI systems that analyse historical purchasing data and predict stockouts. The system then automatically generates purchase orders, streamlining inventory management and preventing potential delays.

“It could take up to ten years for advanced AI assistants to go mainstream, but early adopters that successfully harness the technology for specific supply chain functions could start reaping the benefits as early as next year.
 
The transformation of urban logistics.

“There are clear limits to how far we can scale the human doorstep delivery workforce and to what dense metropolitan areas can take in terms of additional congestion and pollution.

“Fortunately, the rise of AI and reinforcement learning, where software learns and improves through trial-and-error, will jump-start the field of robotics and automation, and drive the wholesale transformation of our urban logistics infrastructure.

“Rather than continuing to hire more drivers, companies will be able to train, deploy and scale autonomous delivery fleets at unprecedented speed. These fully electric, limited-range fleets will operate 24/7, zipping down the pavement using AI-optimised routes to achieve precise delivery windows and reduce the risk of serious accidents and collisions along the way.

“Companies like Ford are already developing self-driving delivery vehicles designed specifically for navigating dense urban environments. Third-wave AI is the key to unlocking faster, more affordable and sustainable deliveries and a revolution in last-mile fulfilment.
 
A window into the future.

“The best companies have done good work in recent years to identify sources of supply chain risk, decide where they need alternatives, and use technology to support ongoing assessment and monitoring across their global networks.

“However, supply chain issues and disruptions can arise suddenly from any direction at any given moment. What these existing systems cannot do is cut across all the data and intel to accurately predict where trouble may be brewing, let alone tell supply chain leaders what they should do about it or automatically execute a mitigation strategy.

“Third-wave AI has the potential to change this, by allowing supply chain leaders to digitally replicate the entire supply chain and run simulations across it based on real-time external data.

“It’s already possible to achieve a high degree of foresight on a small scale. Companies like Siemens are developing digital twins of entire factories, allowing them to optimise production processes and predict potential equipment failures before they occur.

“When applied to the supply chain at large, AI-powered digital twins will unlock remarkable risk mitigation capabilities, running simulations based on everything from structured performance data to social media chatter, to calculate the cost of action versus inaction.

“It’ll be another 5-10 years before the technology fully delivers on its promise, but AI-powered digital twins hold the key to building more resilient supply chains and furthering the shift away from reactive risk management towards proactive risk mitigation.
 
‘In the moment’ no-code software for all.

“Generative AI’s ability to translate natural language into computer code is one of the most significant second-wave breakthroughs we’ve seen. Yet the biggest breakthrough is still to come: allowing non-technical staff to reap the benefits.

“With third-wave AI, every supply chain analyst on the planet will be able to have a natural language conversation with a coding agent and get a personalised application in return.

“The ability to create an app that chases orders or solves sourcing problems without typing a single line of code will free employees from the IT bottlenecks that so often stymie supply chain transformation. We’ll see a no-code revolution that drives the development of supply chain technology that is fully bespoke, in the moment and ‘organic’ to every worker’s needs.
 
Organisations need the blueprint for tomorrow’s AI tech today.

“With the entire business world still grappling to translate AI’s promise into tangible long-term gain, supply chain leaders have a unique opportunity to own AI strategy and ready their organisations for the coming third wave of AI.

“To do this, they must create an AI blueprint that accurately maps their existing AI capabilities, highlighting where the biggest future opportunities lie and where gaps may need addressing.

“Supply chain leaders can use this blueprint to establish where bleeding-edge AI tech could deliver a unique competitive advantage, versus where a ‘leapfrog’ strategy makes more sense, learning from the mistakes and adopting the winning techniques of other AI leaders.

“Successfully harnessing the third wave of AI doesn’t mean leading across every AI category and sub-category. It means tracking the rapidly evolving AI landscape, understanding your own business, and knowing where and when to go big.”
 

 

What Do Experts Predict With AI Trends?

 
Experts share many differing opinions and takes on what will happen with AI in the future. Aspects such as AI taking jobs has been addressed, and now, it’s time to look what how AI will work with the world.
 

Our Experts:

 

• Ash Gawthorp, Chief Academy Officer, Ten10
• Gaby Diamant, CEO and Co-Founder, Bridgewise
• Matan Bordo, Product Marketing Manager, DoiT
• Jim Chappell, Head of AI and Advanced Analytics, AVEVA
• Dan Ridsdale, Head of Technology, Edison Group

 

Ash Gawthorp, Chief Academy Officer, Ten10

 

 
 
“AI has been around for decades (it was first attributed to a John McCarthy speech in Dartmouth in 1955), but it’s only really over the last few years that it has become prominent and moved from scientific/military applications to touching our daily lives in ways we aware of, and also in ways we aren’t.

“AI is now in the hands of the public through the use of generative, i.e., LLMS such as ChatGPT, image, and even video generation software.

“Whilst many of these tools are becoming pervasive in aiding people’s work and making them more productive, there are still many elements to resolve, such as attribution of content used as training models to people/artists, etc., as well as where AI can be used ethically.

“I think in the near-term future we will see AI systems able to do more using multiple modes of input (one great example I saw is where an individual scanned in a set of plans for flat-pack furniture and pointed their phone camera at their toolbox and asked whether they had sufficient tools to be able to complete the task), nothing groundbreaking here. Still, it demonstrates how different AI systems can be combined to solve various problems.

“It will be interesting to see if and how quickly AI is adopted in “mission critical” systems, i.e. driverless cars/planes (much further down the line), surgery, medicine decision systems, etc., moving from an aid to something that is self-acting.

“In an automobile taxi environment, the cost of the human driver is significant, and a relatively low barrier around regulation will make it much easier to adopt aviation at the other end of the scale. Here, human pilots are a relatively inexpensive part of the overall system, including the cost of an airliner, fuel, maintenance, etc.

“Finally, irrespective of the tech, we’re still finding our feet in how we all work together. We’re seeing a trend with AI systems that can be used to reduce the overall number of junior people in a particular sector, whether it’s IT, law, accounting, etc., with a senior practitioner augmented by AI systems able to do the work of a senior and a number of juniors.

“In my mind, this is shortsighted, putting short-term profit before the general health of industries… without the juniors of today, how will they gain the experience and expertise to become the seniors of tomorrow?”
 

Gaby Diamant, CEO and Co-Founder, Bridgewiseq

 
 

 
 
“At Bridgewise, we’re incredibly excited by the doors that AI can open, but we must focus just as much on the risks as well as the potential so that all sectors can safely reap the benefits of this technology.

“The cat is well and truly out of the bag with AI – and as is the case with any new disruptive technology – there is naturally a broad range of voices and opinions about where we should steer the industry in the long run.

“Rather than a source of friction, I think this is a great opportunity to strengthen international co-operation. AI is no longer a technology of the future; it is already affecting most industries and we need to make sure standards and regulation keep up with the pace of change.

“This is particularly the case in capital markets and financial services, where AI has enormous potential. We have seen first-hand how it can transform legacy process and open up vast swathes of new data and information to everyday investors that would otherwise be out of reach.

“I urge policy makers to focus on discussions around clear and proportionate regulation, as this is what will give financial institutions more confidence to integrate AI into their processes.”

 

Matan Bordo, Product Marketing Manager, DoiT

 

 

“Businesses must foster a culture that not only tolerates but accepts and encourages the use of AI in the workplace through strategic initiatives, cultural shifts and practical implementation.

“All employees should be equipped with the latest tools and resources to support AI transparency and compliance, to be able to use and implement transparent and fair AI/ML systems effectively.

“The HR team should be on hand to offer regular, up-to-date training on how to use these tools ethically and following compliance requirements.

“Finally, it’s worth creating a well-thought-out plan to quickly and effectively respond to any AI-related ethical or compliance issues that arise. This could include establishing a point of contact for any ethical concerns or compliance breaches, developing internal and external communication strategies, defining corrective actions, and conducting additional training and/or awareness sessions as needed.

“As we continue to forge ahead into the AI-driven era, businesses must strive to strike the balance between innovation, accountability and compliance. In doing so, organisations will harness the transformative potential that AI offers whilst safeguarding their employees and revenue against risks. This approach will shape a future that is both technologically progressive and ethically sound.”

 

Jim Chappell, Head of AI and Advanced Analytics, AVEVA

 

 

“Over the next 5-10 years, AI will continue to become more capable and goal oriented, allowing the industry to improve operational efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. At the same time, it will help reduce the cost of green energy production while improving its reliability, eventually surpassing traditional energy.

“When this occurs, there will be a massive shift to green energy, as it will be both the environmental and economic choice of business.

“Similar to the Industrial revolution and more recently, computers themselves, AI is very likely to result in a net increase in jobs overall.

“As in the past, the types of jobs will change, and people will adapt. Humans will become more supervisory and strategic, while AI-driven robots may perform tasks where safety is a concern. Overall, AI will drive software to do more of the “heavy lifting” for humans, vs it being merely a tool that humans use.

“A unique aspect of AI is that it can be used to help teach humans about new and changing jobs, and how to perform those new tasks. Human training and knowledge transfer are key benefits of AI and will play a larger role in preparing people for shifts in the employment landscape due to AI.”

 

Dan Ridsdale, Head of Technology, Edison Groups

 

 

 

 

“The deal has been in the rumour mill for a while, but interesting to see it happen. In terms of the actual deal, I think this is actually good news for UK tech and Graphcore.

“NVidia has carved out dominant position in Generative AI processing with the ecosystem and capital it now has at its disposal, will be very hard to displace for large scale LLM/GenAI deployments.

“There are other opportunities within AI however and the industry does will need viable competitors to nVIdia, but Graphcore will need substantial capital to remain in the mix.

“It is a positive that Graphcore has found an investor willing to take the risk and provide the capital to put Graphcore in the mix.

“Overall, however, the emergence of AI is bringing about a period of disruptive innovation, which accelerate the rate of value creation for companies and investors who have the right exposure and destruction of value for those who do not.

“The UK as a whole needs to revisit its attitude to risk and reward the benefit from this, particularly at the scale up phase. The UK has the third strongest AI ecosystem after the US and China, but we need urgently to establish the appetite, expertise and fund structures to enable UK investors to support these businesses and enjoy the returns from doing so. A market which is underweight structural growth will structurally underperform and we have seen this in the performance of UK markets over the past 10 years.”