MASTERING THE AI WAVE: Key Takeaways from Training and Advising South Africa's Top Corporates

/ By Dean Furman /

So, you want to transform your company using AI? Great. I want to help you do just that. Over the years, my team and I have been fortunate enough to run hundreds of AI-focused training and strategy sessions. We have advised and crafted dozens of AI strategies and have spoken at endless conferences. Our AI offerings have been licensed by partners in Israel, the US, the UK, and Australia, who have likewise added incredible value to their clients. Having been deeply immersed in the world, I'd like to share some vital insights for those considering AI training or strategy partners.

Understanding AI's Potential is Crucial:

Companies often struggle to innovate with AI primarily due to time constraints. Many leaders and pivotal employees lack the bandwidth to explore the ever-evolving realm of AI, being preoccupied with daily operational challenges. This lack of awareness of what is possible does not allow their leaders to strategically guide their company into the new age. Our team recognized this early on, ensuring our sessions succinctly impart essential AI knowledge. Through our engagements, we have seen participants gain critical insights, with some radically altering their AI strategy by the end of a session. A word of caution: the number of AI training providers and advisors is growing daily. Everyone and their granny are jumping on the AI bandwagon. Their past ventures, whether selling hand sanitizers or solar panels, may not necessarily qualify them to enlighten others about AI.

Rethinking ChatGPT and AI Productivity Tools:

Repeat after me: "Work is not school." In academia, knowledge assessment is paramount. In the professional world, however, value addition and output take precedence. It's crucial to shed any guilt over deploying AI tools to augment one's tasks. Leveraging these potent tools, especially given their affordability and accessibility, is a must. The risk of not using these tools drastically outweighs the risks of using them. Of course, you need to learn how to use them responsibly, but you have no option but to jump into this new age of AI-enhanced productivity with two feet. I believe it is irresponsible not to leverage the generative AI technologies that can save you many hours of work each week, while simultaneously improving the quality of work being done. Unfortunately, most people are only scratching the surface with their usage of ChatGPT, etc. As a business leader, you need to train your people, and make them feel comfortable to use these enabling, augmenting AI productivity boosters.

Make sure that you have an AI strategy that aligns with your business strategy.

Ensuring that your AI strategy is in perfect alignment with your business strategy is no longer optional; it's a critical pillar of modern corporate success. In a world increasingly driven by digital innovation, artificial intelligence stands out as a transformative force, and businesses across the spectrum need to integrate it not as an isolated tool, but as a core component of their overall strategic plan. This integration means understanding your company's long-term goals, the needs of your customer base, and the operational intricacies that define your day-to-day activities, then leveraging AI to enhance, streamline, and potentially revolutionize those areas. An aligned AI strategy doesn't just amplify your current operations, it also paves the way for uncovering new opportunities, driving innovation, and maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

The Immense ROI:

Quality AI training and having the right AI strategy promises colossal returns, but there's a catch: Action. Willingness to adapt, change, and act on newfound insights is pivotal. I can hand you the keys to the kingdom, but embarking on the journey? That's up to you.

For more insights, feel free to reach out to me at dean@1064degrees.com

About the author:

Dean Furman is a well-known AI thought leader and is the CEO of 1064 Degrees, an AI training and advisory business. He is an author, actuary and the co-creator of the popular AI experience called Dawn of Disruption.