To strategically implement AI, leaders should assess their business needs, prioritize them, and consider timelines for AI rollout, typically six to 12 months. For complex needs, especially in regulated industries, managed service providers are recommended. Leaders should evaluate providers based on data control, scalability, flexibility, and support. Additionally, gaining foundational AI knowledge and promoting company-wide AI education can help leaders make informed decisions and safeguard their organizations. AI should be seen as an enhancement to business operations rather than a threat.
Key takeaways:
- Limited internal AI expertise can lead to challenges such as misunderstanding AI's potential impact, lost opportunities, and increased costs due to insufficient or excessive implementations.
- Off-the-shelf AI services can be suitable for companies with basic needs, but may not provide the necessary data privacy, security, and customization for companies with sensitive data or strict compliance requirements.
- Leaders should assess their business needs, prioritize them, and consider managed service providers for AI implementation, especially in heavily regulated industries.
- Executives should gain foundational AI knowledge and promote AI education within their organizations to better safeguard their companies and make informed implementation decisions.