The technology is ready – now it’s time to harvest the fruits.

Key Takeaways from #Harvest event 9 October 2024

Generative AI (GenAI), and artificial intelligence (AI) in general, is no longer a promise of the future; it’s the reality of today. During the Harvest event on October 9th, 2024, it became clear that AI’s potential, particularly GenAI, is immense, yet many organisations are still standing on the sidelines.

Why? Not because the technology isn’t mature—it is. The real challenge lies in the myths and misunderstandings that continue to slow its widespread adoption. As DB Schenker’s Samuli Salmela explained in his keynote speech, these misconceptions prevent businesses from fully embracing the transformative power that GenAI, especially, offers.

As leaders, it’s time for us to move beyond the myths and recognise AI as a strategic partner, not just a tool. AI can bring profound improvements to our organisational processes and, ultimately, transform the entire business. The question is no longer whether AI is ready – it is. The real question is whether our companies are ready to learn, experiment, and utilise AI in the right way. The businesses that seize AI’s opportunities now will thrive, while those waiting for the “perfect moment” – that never comes – will be left behind.

Let’s explore the key takeaways and insights from the event by addressing the most prominent myths about GenAI and their practical implications for our organisations in overcoming them.

Myth 1: “AI is difficult and expensive”

This belief often stems from a fear of the unknown. In reality, AI has become increasingly accessible, with many easy to use  tools available. The real challenge lies not in the technology itself, but in our willingness as people to adapt. As leaders, we must reframe AI as an investment in both the company’s as well as the people’s future rather than a burdensome expense or a new thing that ends up benefitting no-one.

Myth 2: “GenAI makes mistakes, so it needs constant human supervision”

While it is true that AI is not infallible, neither are humans. The key is to view AI not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a powerful complement to it. This symbiosis of human intuition and machine processing power can lead to unprecedented insights and innovations for both organisational, as well as wider, good. A need for human oversight in AI related projects depends greatly on the use case and its risk profile. As we learn to understand and trust AI more, we can relax the oversight.

Myth 3: “We don’t have good enough data to use AI”

Perfect data is a mirage. Instead of waiting for an ideal dataset, we should focus on cultivating a data-driven culture where continuous improvement is the norm. AI can actually help us identify gaps in our data and AI can also allow us to start utilising unused or previously difficult-to-use data assets. AI can also refine our collection processes, so again, rather than thinking of it as a technology, think of it as an added competence to your organisation and treat it accordingly. 

Myth 4: “Our data is not safe with GenAI”

In an age of increasing digital threats, this concern is valid. However, it should not paralyse us. Instead, it should motivate us to implement robust data governance frameworks. By doing so, we not only protect our assets but also build trust with our stakeholders. It is also important to use technologies that are secure and enterprise-grade, such as the Microsoft offering.

Myth 5: “AI doesn’t really think”

This myth touches on deep philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence. While AI may not “think” in the human sense, it can process information and identify patterns at a scale beyond human capability in certain cases. Our role as leaders is to harness this power while providing the context, creativity, and ethical considerations and judgement that only humans can offer. This is one of the reasons it is important to focus on your people at the same time as you focus on technology.

Myth 6: “It’s just hype. Companies aren’t getting real benefits”

Scepticism is healthy, but it should not blind us to the real-world impacts of AI. From predictive maintenance to personalised customer experiences, AI is already delivering tangible benefits across industries and will also require a new set of measuring benefits. As leaders, we need to look beyond the hype and focus on practical applications that can drive our businesses forward. AI is like any major technology disruption; its short term implications are overestimated and long term impact under-estimated.

Myth 7: “The models aren’t ready; it is better to wait”

In the rapidly evolving world of AI, waiting for perfection is a luxury we cannot afford. The most successful organisations will be those that adopt a “learn fast” mentality, embracing current AI capabilities, while staying agile enough to adapt to future developments.

Building a Human-Centric, Data-Driven Culture: The Key to Successful AI Adoption

It is essential to remember that adopting AI goes beyond technology—it fundamentally revolves around people. To fully realise AI’s potential, the entire organisation must be engaged in the journey.

Since we’ve been talking about AI like a colleague, we figured, why not ask Copilot  itself, which of these myths resonated the most? “The myth that struck a chord was, ‘GenAI makes mistakes, so it needs human supervision.’ While it’s true that responsible AI use requires oversight in critical fields like healthcare, where accuracy and ethics are non-negotiable, the idea that GenAI always needs human supervision is a bit outdated.

This requires cultivating a culture that embraces data and AI literacy, with human leadership at its core. Such a culture encourages curiosity and experimentation, valuing human creativity and judgement. In this way, employees see AI tools as enablers rather than fearing replacement. This approach creates an environment where both human and artificial intelligence can thrive, laying the groundwork for genuine innovation and growth.

But as any good farmer knows, harvesting is only the beginning. The true value lies in how we refine those fruits—transforming them into products, services, and tangible results that drive real organisational impact. And just as importantly, we must sow new seeds for future growth by budgeting wisely and investing in the AI capabilities that will shape the years ahead. After all, success isn’t just about this harvest; it’s about laying the foundation for future seasons of prosperity.

Authored by:
Kira Sjöberg, GOODIN, Sami Masala & Nino Ilveskero, AIThink & CoPilot, Microsoft.