Artificial Intelligence on the boardroom table

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most important advances when we talk about innovation. The size of its impact is reaffirmed by hundreds of market professionals. The research “Antes of IT, the” 2024” presented by the IT Forum Intelligence, in June of this year, shows that 49% of the 308 respondents consider Artificial Intelligence “mvery important for business (repeated relevance, yet, with the investment forecast of US$ 200 billion by next year in technology companies, according to IDC Worldwide Artificial Intelligence. 

Belonging to the technology segment, it is common to think that those responsible for creating new AI applications are the developers, right? Because I say no. For solutions to be developed assertively, the direction must come from those who understand the pains of the business.

The team at the head of the projects in a given area has the necessary knowledge to identify where AI can generate the greatest impact. They know what the market needs, customer demands and specific challenges of each segment are. Without the assertive knowledge of how the solution should act, there is no way for the process to flow 100%. Recently NetApp sponsored the study “scaling AI initiatives responsibly: the critical role of an intelligent data infrastructure” and this showed that 20% of AI projects fail without data infrastructure. 

Research with this bias is critical to reinforce the need for the specific business team to dictate how AI solutions should be targeted to solve real problems, increase efficiency and generate tangible value. On the other hand, IT professionals, with their technical expertise, turn these ideas into reality, ensuring that the technology works effectively.

After clarifying the question of who thinks about the solution and who develops it, it is important to highlight the synergy between the two areas. The collaboration between strategy and technology is fundamental to the success in the application of the tool.It is not just about creating the technology, but ensuring that it is implemented safely and efficiently. 

Another point that reinforces the need for business leaders to be ahead of the creation of AI solutions is that they are not universal. What is effective in the financial industry may not serve retail or health. Therefore, the business, with the knowledge of the sector, guides the development of these solutions so that they meet the particularities of each segment. 

Finally, frequent monitoring of developers and business feedback is essential for the continuity of the effectiveness and evolution of the tool. Since technological solutions are always evolving and a single tool and version will not deliver the effectiveness and evolution expected eternally. 

When those who are ahead of the business understand how AI can be applied in their operations, the articulation with the team of developers flows. In this way, misunderstandings or communication failures are minimized or even cease to exist. The clarity about the needs and objectives of the solution allows the technical team to deliver tools more aligned to specific needs, resulting in more agile projects and with greater return on investment.