AI Technology Leading the Future: Analyzing the Transformation of Enterprise Operations and Opportunities for Startups

No matter where you are, AI, ChatGPT, and related tools are the hottest topics of discussion. Statistics show that the global generative AI market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 27% and is expected to exceed $22 billion by 2025.

Now, the question is how will it change our operations?

The Current State of AI

As no one knows yet what technology can or cannot do for us, we are still in the stage of "trying everything to see what works." Some companies have downsized or cut budgets because they believe AI can do their work better, faster, and cheaper. For example, the German publication "Bild" recently laid off about 200 jobs due to automation and "restructuring."

Companies should focus on harnessing the synergy between AI and humans to drive entrepreneurship and business growth, rather than resorting to job cuts. This path will lead to increased job opportunities, greater job security and loyalty for existing employees, and a better overall job market. Collaborating with AI means lighter and more enriching work for employees, enabling businesses to grow, expand, and experiment without worrying too much about profits.

We already know that AI has excellent capabilities in aggregating, analyzing, and interpreting data. It is also a good substitute for frontline customer service, providing round-the-clock basic assistance to customers in almost every industry. General AI for more "humanized" frontline customer service experiences has been actively tested, which is a simple and effective way for other companies to "dabble" in this technology.

The most important thing to understand about AI in business today is that it is a time for adventure and innovation. There is no one "right" or "wrong" way to implement AI yet, so businesses of all sizes have unique opportunities to explore new and effective applications of AI technology.

Predictions for an AI-Driven Future

AI will be a "multivitamin supplement" for many industries. It will not replace humans like supplements replace a healthy diet. However, it will enhance existing company operations and bridge the gap that currently burdens human workers.

People will engage in fewer routine tasks and instead fill positions overseeing automation and robotics technology. Excitingly, we will soon have professions that we don't even have names for yet. As technology matures and governing bodies establish necessary laws and regulations, our current state of uncertainty will transform into an exciting and bright future of human-machine collaboration.

We are already seeing this future taking shape. For example, market tech companies are testing AI-driven fraud detection to supplement human experts' work in monitoring traffic quality and transparency. This not only lightens the workload for humans but also helps companies save resources while achieving better results.

The collaboration between artificial intelligence and humans can also be seen in the healthcare sector, where AI can be trained to assist patients in rehabilitation or perform routine tasks in medical institutions and hospitals, allowing nurses and doctors to focus on patient outcomes. Additionally, there are collaborative roles in fields such as warehousing, manufacturing, and rapid commerce, and I believe there will be even more collaborative roles in the future that we currently don't have reference frameworks for.

The most likely form of AI in the future is to view it as a "joint effort" technology that requires human involvement to unleash its full potential. Therefore, when considering new AI integrations, businesses should focus on such collaborative applications.

Investor Perspective

Amidst the excitement and uncertainty, startups are eagerly searching for the most unique and promising AI applications. One of the most wonderful things about this AI-driven world we are about to enter is that no one truly knows the "right" direction, allowing founders to innovate as much as possible.

Startups typically focus on leveraging current trends, and AI is no exception. We have witnessed large companies like Microsoft making massive investments in AI applications, as well as ambitious startups betting on the capabilities of AI. However, the reality is that many other companies are moving slowly and are not yet ready for significant risk investments in this technology. This presents an opportunity for startups to fill these riskier innovation gaps.

Currently, it is a race to win the favor of investors, so such companies will emerge like mushrooms after rain in the next one or two years. Founders are looking for ways to launch projects that revolve around ideas that already exist in the world but can be applied to AI.

Entrepreneurs currently seeking capital are likely to wonder if investors will evaluate them based on their ability to expand with AI. The fact is, for startups, incorporating AI into their business plans is better. This technology already exists, and for investors, seeing startups with a greater appeal to incorporate AI in some form into their long-term goals is more attractive. However, equally important is being prepared with answers to ethical implementation and fair use questions, as these topics have become the focus of potential technological issues.