Are you ready for AI?
AI gets a lot of attention from businesses these days, which is not misplaced given its potential, however, the Enterprise team at Surrey Business School is encouraging businesses to look beyond the hype and consider how the conversation around AI is being framed.
It usually begins around the definition of AI. Is it Machine learning? Generative AI? Or Superintelligence? What is missing though, is the context, because AI is typically embedded in digital tools which do not necessarily talk to each other, while employees may not have the skills or the guidance to deploy AI effectively.
For this reason, businesses should map out their capabilities first before developing conversations about how to deploy AI. It should include the following:
- Data management: getting your data house in order by cleaning and organising business data so that it is reliable and complete.
- Skill and mindset: upskilling AI literacy through employee training. This should include prompt engineering, data management, data protection awareness, and process thinking to map workflows where AI may be deployed.
- Governance: identifying who is accountable for AI and what are the rules. AI requires internal oversight and policy about what data can go into tools and how AI content output can be vetted before going to customers.
- Cost and ROI: how is AI implemented? It should include a clear template with problem, expected benefit, cost, risk, and ownership to ensure that AI deployment can be managed.
After completing AI self-assessment, businesses can then evaluate potential applications. Here, businesses should start with the problem to be solved (instead of the tools) to avoid unnecessary expenditure and to achieve a better problem-solution fit. Indeed, AI tools should be tested through controlled pilot projects before wider dissemination.
Surrey Business School supports small businesses in this conversation through business engagement. Outside expertise and experience can serve as a catalyst to help businesses become AI ready.
Most recently, we received a £231,730 grant from Innovate UK for a three-year project to support businesses develop their AI capabilities through the B-Clinic, an online portal for business engagement. Here, students collaborate with businesses in applied student projects.
To find out more, please get in touch or visit our B-Clinic to see how we can help your business.
This feature is part of a growing series from Surrey Business School's enterprise team, exploring key issues and emerging trends relevant to businesses.
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