AI - Should you Buy or Build?

Artificial Intelligence is making into our social, enterprise and personal lives faster than what we are expecting. Unlike automation evolution where handling laundry to assembling cars using through well-defined rules and processing speed increased productivity, AI is different where decision parameters are defined based on live feedback. Key to the transformation from automation to AI are from deterministic outcomes to probabilistic predictions.?

Leading many AI projects from ideation to production, I started realizing that traditional approach of Build Vs Buy based on product features, cost and customization will not work. More often this approach results in conflicting expectation on outcomes, less than desired value and long iterations to customize.        

?Alternate hypothesis is to introduce the experimentation and self-experience right from beginning when building AI system(s). This will give opportunity for everyone involved to learn as we develop and provide continuous feedback to adjust the course. This reinforcement learning helps to meet AI adoption better and remove the fear of failure.

??Key points to ponder based on insights:

1. ?The success of AI solution is not based on technology but on the flexibility of solution to learn as per the field trails.
2. Tolerance of error for an AI driven solution will be very less. Simple gaps in prediction will quickly erode the confidence of using the system.
3. Don’t wait too long developing it instead spend more time in field improving the probabilities and feedback from anomalies.
4. Select just one or two scenarios and drive the value. Never start with enterprise scale AI promise in the beginning which will create fears, confusion and in some cases total revolt
5. Timebox the experimentation and experience to adopt or reject the solution. This will help in reducing the cost of failure and moving on with alternative or totally new scenarios.

So, what's your decision Now -

Are you Building or Buying AI? Share your thoughts!