Generative AI levels the playing field.
The same cheap advanced AI capabilities are available in the pockets and laptops of all of us. The City of Kuopio now has access to the same AI media capabilities as the City of London.
SME’s, Corporates and Startups in North Savo can harness the same generative tools as organisations in Silicon Valley and Singapore.
It all comes down to three things: mindset, skillset and toolset.
Of all of these, mindset is probably the most important. Skills can easily be improved at the individual and team level by intuitive, cheap/free access to tools. As we acquire new skills from applying generative AI tools in new ways, both ourselves and our organisations gain more value.
This allows us to automate more of our traditional workflows, elevating all of us to much higher value tasks.
And the tools are advancing every week. For example, by now many of us have access to ChatGPT advanced voice mode, and maybe we have tested Google Notebook LM for turning research papers into podcasts! These and other evolving tools continue to push out the boundaries of what is possible for us individually and at organisation levels.
Which brings me to the most important item: Mindset.
How do business Leadership teams, Boards and Investors react to the possibilities offered to us by generative AI?
Some immediately see the advantages that it brings by investing those new skills in new growth areas. Before generative AI was applied, perhaps we were constrained by costs and risks.
But now we have access to extra capacity and capability within our businesses. Maybe we don’t need that merger or acquisition, or maybe we can see new risks on our horizon by our customers, partners and competitors also having access to the same tools.
One mindset challenge to manage is Leaders, Boards and Investors assuming, that because we get productivity improvements, then we can reduce headcount.
This is a mistake.
Consider the possibilities of scaling into new markets or internationally with the new AI-powered workforce that you have. Those AI tools will continue to get better, and the overall value and scale of your organisation will continue to grow.
Businesses in North Savo can harness the winds of generative AI to open-up new possibility spaces, powering the region.
All it takes is mindsets, skillsets and toolsets!
Patrick Halford
Pat is based in Kuopio and works with Boards, Leadership teams and Investors helping to accelerate growth with Generative AI strategies. For the last 4 years, he led the R&D consortia funding business for Spinverse Digital Industries across Europe including mobility, smart cities, Defense, AI/electronics and healthtech industries, working with corporates, research, startups, governments & investors. Previously he spend 20 years in leadership positions in IBM.
He is an expert with the Singularity Group (California) on AI & organisational impact, as well as mobility & drones. He is on the Board of Advisors at Mixed Reality and drone startups, and Advisor to Nordic VCs in Spacetech and AI. He is a frequent international conference moderator and speaker, and a published Author on Amazon. His new Finnish thriller, ”North Karelian Boomerang” has just been published on Amazon.
