Gen Z AI in the Workplace, California’s AI Start-Up Growth, and Predicting Flooding with AI

AI 101?

I wanted to start by highlighting an interesting article I read in Inc. Magazine.? It covers a recent upGrad Enterprise poll showing the continued growth of generative AI in the workplace.

Generative AI continues to make its way into the business world, increasing productivity and simplifying challenging tasks.? According to the poll, Gen Z has adopted this new technology at the fastest rate: a whopping 73 percent of Gen Zers surveyed use generative AI to complete daily tasks at work.

It makes sense that the digitally-native generation is an early adopter.? Google Workspace research found that AI most often helps overcome “task paralysis” for Gen Zers — in other words, making a dent in a task that seems overwhelming.? That could include writing a first draft of a difficult email or creating a to-do list for a particularly daunting project.? (I can personally confirm that AI tools are just as effective at curing “task paralysis” for us more seasoned executives as they are for our Gen Z colleagues!)

While AI has already been demonstrated to be a boon for productivity, the poll also showed that there’s room for growth.? The majority of Gen Z respondents said that their company’s AI training was insufficient and that guidelines for usage are not clear enough.

To me, the numbers show the encouraging progress of AI in the workplace, and also the need to close the gap between AI’s potential and its current use cases.? I’ll be keeping a close eye on how different businesses are navigating early adoption of this breakthrough tech and how workers will continue to harness the benefits of generative AI in creative ways.

Check out Inc.’s article here.

Best Practices for Using AI in the Workplace

On this same topic, a recent MIT Sloan Digital Technology and Strategy Conference highlighted some concrete strategies of how to successfully incorporate AI into the workplace.?

A panel of experts, including leaders from Google, ING, and Capital One, shared six main findings:

1. First, modernize your data and technology infrastructure: Great infrastructure is key to harnessing the vast amounts of data that AI uses.?
2. Then, focus on upskilling and educating talent: That means implementing training resources for employees and ensuring they are learning the skills to maintain a competitive edge.?
3. Embrace an ecosystem approach: Collaborate with a broad set of technology partners — don’t work alone.
4. Incorporate a test-and-learn approach for use-cases: Target smaller opportunities to use AI at first, and build up to more complex uses.
5. Keep humans in the loop: AI makes mistakes. Maintaining human oversight is important.
6. Think beyond the hype: Take a values-based approach — understand what works for you and your company’s mission.

The key takeaway? It's about balancing rapid innovation with thoughtful redesign of work patterns to harness AI's benefits responsibly.??

I think this framework is tremendously helpful and I recommend that you read more about the panelists’ insights here.

California’s AI Start-Up Funding Surge?

Recently released numbers from Crunchbase showed that California continued its growth as a leader in innovation this year.? The Golden State received $79 billion in start-up investment, up from $70 billion last year and far ahead of any other state.

California’s growth, Crunchbase writes, comes back to its status as a hub for generative AI. Much of its top start-up funding stemmed from the big names in AI located right here in the Bay Area.

As Crunchbase wrote, “Northern California’s combination of deep-tech talent, strong embedded networks, rich capital resources, and powerhouse universities remains unrivaled in its ability to scale transformative startups.? It’s still the place where investors spend the largest share of their money, by a long shot.”

Maintaining this growth will be key to pushing our economy forward.??

Silicon Valley remains the beating heart of our state’s innovation ecosystem, a point I’ve underscored with SV-AI readers through numerous data points.? But, we cannot afford complacency.?

To sustain this leadership, our business leaders and policymakers must work together to foster a more competitive and business-friendly environment, ensuring our region remains the global hub for innovation and growth.

AI IRL: An AI tool to predict flooding before a storm

At MIT, scientists have launched a tool that uses generative AI to predict where flooding might happen before a storm.? These predictive models can anticipate with relative accuracy which specific areas will experience the most rain, flooding, and other adverse storm effects.

The tool combines a physics-based flood model with generative AI technology.? According to the scientists piloting the project, these AI-driven visualizations can aid health and safety officials when communicating with the public, demonstrate the threat vulnerable communities face, and encourage evacuation if necessary.

With the wide range of weather we experience across the state of California – from floods to forest fires – it’s heartening to see new technology that will help keep our communities safe.

Read more here.

Final Thoughts

I want to close by wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.??

I hope that each of you will have a well-deserved opportunity over the holidays to recharge and reflect.??

I’m deeply grateful for the partnerships and collaboration that fuel the impact we are driving.? And, your engagement with my content helps to (I hope) provide insights of value to you while also sharing ideas that contribute to making Silicon Valley more competitive and scaling exciting technology that is already changing our world for the better.

As we look ahead to 2025, I’m energized by the opportunities on the horizon and the chance to build on this momentum together.??

Thank you so much and happy holidays!