Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping the operational landscape of businesses, driving automation and enhancing efficiency across various industries, such as manufacturing, warehousing and retail. Amidst the “hype” over generative AI (GenAI), some businesses forget that AI has been around for a long time. AI has a long history stretching back to the 1950s, with significant milestones nearly every decade.
AI was largely experimental a decade ago when researchers and enterprises explored systems designed to outperform humans. Fast forward to today, we find ourselves in a vastly different landscape. The introduction of GenAI technologies, such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot for developers, Sora, and Midjourney, has elevated AI to a front-and-central role in industry conversations. Enterprises are increasingly utilizing these capabilities to improve efficiency and outcomes.
Today, as businesses grapple with tightening budgets, rising security concerns, and the pressure to deliver a return on investment, there is little room or time to admire the hype. It is critical for business leaders to focus on measurable productivity, process efficiency, workforce optimization, cost savings, and revenue growth.
Powering APAC’s digital leap
In Asia Pacific (APAC), AI and GenAI are top priorities for decision-makers in 2024. Research showed that 83% of APAC C-suite executives rank GenAI among their top three business priorities, while another study also forecasted a 140% increase in GenAI spending in the next year, outpacing other regions. However, 93% of executives recognize barriers to adopting GenAI in their business today, and only 6% have created policies to ensure that AI is being used responsibly.
In manufacturing, AI is expected to drive significant business growth. According to Zebra’s 2024 Manufacturing Vision Study, 68% of APAC manufacturers surveyed expect AI to propel their growth by 2029, an increase from 46% in 2024. This surge in AI adoption, coupled with 87% of APAC respondents prioritizing digital transformation, highlights manufacturers’ commitment to enhancing data management and leveraging new technologies like AI to improve visibility and quality throughout the manufacturing process.
Advances in machine vision are examples where we see organizations of different industries at different maturity levels, leveraging AI to achieve meaningful results. Modern machine vision unlocks new levels of analysis, accuracy, compliance, and quality in production processes, providing engineers with new tools to work more efficiently. These developments go beyond the hype surrounding AI and show its true value across industries.
Unlocking the power of AI through training
Deep learning neural networks are powerful AI tools. Despite their transformative potential, they are not without limitations. To maximize AI’s capabilities, businesses must invest in training their AI models and their people. Realistic expectations and comprehensive training strategies allow teams to capitalize on AI’s capabilities fully. Proper evaluation metrics are also crucial to assessing performance and ensuring AI systems deliver real value.
Businesses must also address several data challenges to harness AI effectively, such as inadequate and unbalanced sample sizes and inconsistent data annotation. Additionally, environmental factors influencing data quality must be carefully managed to ensure deep learning solutions work properly.
How to transform AI from hype to reality
The APAC region is witnessing a concerted effort by governments to create a conducive environment for AI development and usage. By establishing regulatory frameworks, such as the Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI in Singapore, promoting ethical guidelines, and investing in innovation, governments aim to harness the potential of AI while addressing associated risks and challenges. In this evolving landscape, businesses also require guidance to cut through the hype to secure AI-driven value for their operations.
These efforts act as a new driving force to invest in the partnerships and technologies necessary to make digital factories and smart manufacturing operations a reality. Organizations can unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation by leveraging AI to automate workflows, empower workers, and harness predictive and prescriptive analytics.
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, business leaders must ask the right questions: Which manufacturing process requires automation and would benefit from AI? Which type of AI would be most appropriate? How do we ensure legal compliance, and who should be the stakeholders involved in making it happen? These are critical considerations that go beyond the hype surrounding AI and must be addressed to drive successful implementation.
Beyond the buzz: AI’s real-world impact
Contrary to the prevailing notion that AI is merely creating and eliminating jobs, we are witnessing a transformative shift similar to the advent of the car, telephone, and internet — one that will give rise to new jobs and industries. By equipping teams with new and better tools with AI, businesses are enabling teams to work faster, more efficiently, and with greater precision.
In industries such as manufacturing and warehousing, which face significant challenges in hiring, training, and retaining, AI helps fill labor gaps, train workers faster, and assist the current workforce. Workers with AI capabilities will be increasingly valuable as businesses build a future-ready workforce.
Organizations are also increasingly recognizing the importance of democratizing AI and machine learning as a strategic priority. By upskilling their workforce and providing accessible learning resources, employees can utilize user-friendly AI tools that automate tasks and support them in other areas of their roles.
The future of AI lies in its strategic application, where businesses move beyond the hype to focus on real-world impact. As AI continues to evolve, companies that invest in proper training, responsible use, and data management will be best positioned to unlock its full potential. By empowering workers, automating processes, and embracing innovation, AI will enhance efficiency and drive sustainable growth across industries. Those who thoughtfully integrate AI into their operations today will be the leaders shaping the future of business tomorrow.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CDOTrends. Image credit: iStockphoto/1001gece
