Why "Living Intelligence" Is the Next Big Thing.
By Amy Webb
Recently I was sitting across the table from the executive leadership team of a global healthcare services company, and I could tell by their body language that something was off. They’d invited me in to consult on their AI strategy, but they seemed defensive. The Chief Information Officer, a sharp guy who’d clearly done his homework on emerging tech, launched into a detailed explanation of their new large language model. It was impressive, no doubt. This model automated their insanely complex data entry process — think mountains of handwritten patient forms and a chaotic mix of digital files — and consolidated everything into a single, coherent record. They’d spent well over a year developing and testing it, and were understandably proud of their accomplishment. But as he talked about the rollout, it was obvious to me that they were already lagging behind.
“You’ve built an incredible foundation,” I said, “but this is just the starting line.” The energy in the room shifted. This wasn’t the reaction they were expecting. Here was a company that had invested heavily in AI, built a sophisticated system, and deployed a successful pilot. Like so many other executive leadership teams who’ve spent the past year building and implementing AI tools, they thought they were done. In reality, their transformation had only begun. AI is merely one facet of a sweeping technological change underway, and companies that fail to recognize the importance of other converging technologies risk being left behind.
During my meeting with the company’s executive team, I acknowledged that like so many leaders, the recent hyper-focus on AI, though late, was the right move. However, LLMs were just a starting point. With new developments happening at a breakneck speed, the company would need to build a new muscle for continuous transformation. That’s because AI is just one of three groundbreaking technologies shifting the business landscape. The other two — advanced sensors and biotechnology — are less visible, though no less important, and have been quietly advancing. Soon, the convergence of these three technologies is going to underpin a new reality that will shape the future decisions of every leader across industries.
Read full Harvard Business Review article.
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Amy Webb is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Stern School of Business.