Artificial intelligence

The metaverse is set to revolutionize the way businesses and people interact with each other. And though we might be still a few years away from what is close to a ‘finished product’, it’s not too soon for companies to start preparing for what’s ahead.

Modern digital platforms are hungry for data. Personalized digital experiences, accurate risk forecasting and powerful predictions that result in energy-efficient infrastructure all start with raw data. Greater situational awareness enables both faster responses to an uncertain business environment and leaner operations. But there’s a quiet technology transformation underway that allows organizations to reach for data beyond their boundaries as never before.

Algorithms may be perceived as being an objective way to instill diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in an organization, but AI is by no means exempt from the unconscious biases that human beings exhibit, and we must guard against thinking of AI as a silver bullet. We already know that a more diverse workforce leads to greater innovation, but diversity in the teams designing the AI underpinning future workplace processes will also help to keep it less biased, and ensure organizations achieve their DEI goals.

Bias in technology is real, and as we design and build increasingly powerful systems, our obligations to those using the technology increase in step. Two experts share what they’ve learned for building diverse and efficient teams and ethical AI frameworks.

If the past two years have taught organizations anything, it’s that empathy is an essential part of customer service and engagement. This is the right time for organizations to focus on building a culture of empathy by developing processes that promote empathetic customer experiences and engagements through tailored interactions and smart technology.

Trust is an imperative value in human interaction and behavior. In the business world, this is no different. AI has also become a key tool in unifying the business world with human elements to help automate processes and manage complex data. The pressure is on for organizations to keep up with the times and adopt using AI, but why are some companies hesitant to do so? Can AI be trusted?

It’s the next big thing in understanding and engaging customers: building a virtual replica of the business ecosystem, and leveraging ontologies as enabling technology. This exciting branch of AI can help businesses to generate very targeted insights into their customers’ expectations and needs.

Obtaining data can open up a whole wealth of business opportunities, as long as the data is valid and trustworthy. However, having incorrect, outdated or inaccurately sampled data can be damaging and costly. In such turbulent times, how can we secure data integrity for the best outcomes for businesses?

From picking up on our tendencies toward exclusion to offensively grouping characteristics, AI is learning (and scaling) our worst habits. Luckily, awareness and a desire to take action is growing across many organisations. It’s not too late to resolve this problem. So, what do businesses need to know and do to prevent it?

Continuous innovation used to be enough to drive growth. However, today’s organisations also must innovate at speed and scale. Indeed, a frequent question we hear from CEOs around the world is: “How can my organisation adapt and move faster?”

With skilful use of technology and data, businesses today can create intelligent customer experiences that outclass anything that was previously possible. Intelligent applications – those that use AI and predictive analytics to provide personalised, actionable outcomes – cannot be overlooked for those wanting to get (or stay) ahead.

Manufacturers are dealing with fundamental changes in every part of their operations, with a growing demand for higher product customisation, making traditional manufacturing processes no longer fit for purpose. It’s time for manufacturing to undergo a new stage in its transformation: Hyper Automation.

Could it be possible to make your organisation twice as agile? When businesses behave intelligently, they use data science to facilitate a culture of continual, democratised decision-making, which can cut response times in half.

What safeguards do organisations have against the constant tide of disruption? Those that are smart are taking full advantage of technologies like cloud, AI and big data analytics – and doing so with one focus in mind: giving their people what they need to leverage the full power of their collective intelligence.

AI is maturing. One of its newest uses can help advertising match the most relevant content to the viewer, touching gaming, TV. Here’s how.

The world is changing beyond recognition. Society is increasingly demanding that companies address sustainability as part of their transformation to a post-pandemic world. Sustainability is now firmly on the C-Suite agenda and it’s at the heart of NTT DATA’s vision for the future.

Innovation in technology has great potential in helping to provide accessible, tailored learning for every child. Through our AIDA project, we created a unique system that could give caregivers and educators the information they need by bringing together elements from design, AI, IoT and VR.

Education is not just a fundamental right for everyone: it’s also a pathway to a better quality of life, playing an instrumental role in attaining many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Through sharing skills such as cybersecurity, businesses can spread knowledge and help to shape more resilient, informed future global citizens.

If the modern firm is an organism living through rapid and complex changes in its ecosystem, then data insight provides its sensory information. Using data to drive decision-making, as has long been the case for telecoms companies, holds the key to continual adaptation and improvement.

New norms are emerging. Social movements, such as Black Lives Matter or Fridays for Future, urge companies to position themselves politically; and new legal frameworks and standards such as GDPR push companies to rethink the ways they develop products and services. As the responsibilities of companies grow and change, making sure that ethics, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability are built into every process is essential for both consumer and company.

Businesses strive to create new technologies, products and services that reshape or even disrupt their markets. Yet businesses also need to understand they must innovate sustainably and ethically. With pressure to innovate quickly - bias, ethics and discrimination can easily be forgotten.

As businesses continue to evolve their use of automation, what does this mean for leadership? AI and machine learning promise massive efficiency gains, but at what cost? Effective leadership in today's agile businesses means connecting on an emotional level with each employee. An algorithm will never replace an empathetic leader.