Welcome to 2022, the year when AI goes human

For many people, it’s a looming fear that robots and machines will take over and replace the human workforce, which could lead to some roles becoming redundant or even obsolete. The answer is yes, and no.

There are jobs that can easily be replaced by robots and machines. It’s a common occurrence these days as it’s a natural consequence of the ongoing industrial revolution. The business landscape is changing, and we will need to change with it. If the fourth industrial revolution was all about technologies like digital platforms, Internet of Things, 3D printing, Big Data, AI, augmented and virtual reality - the fifth industrial revolution is where it all comes together.

People and AI need to act hand in hand to maximize business impact

New challenges can’t be solved by old ways of thinking so new jobs and services will be created. A close relationship between humans and technology will be a key to generate future innovation and profitable growth. AI is needed to interpret the massive amount of data generated and extract meaningful information that companies can use to create stronger and more relevant businesses. People and AI need to act hand in hand to maximize business impact. This way, AI will act as the link between humans and technology, to create new innovations, new business models, new processes, and new products delivering a higher customer value.

AI and creativity

Creativity is rated as one of the most important skills to have according to the World Economic Forum, and the value of creative thinking and problem solving is growing. Creative people, who dare to think different, see the vast and positive potential of AI. These talented thought leaders are the new business rock stars.?When creativity is used to see ideas in a different light, we’ll come up with solutions that nobody else have considered. AI will encourage people to enhance their skills and become more cognitive in their approach.

This is of course not breaking news. Business areas like sales and marketing have used AI for a long time to derive important information and statistics from customers, to strengthen their business. In the car industry, AI is used to identify driving patterns and detect preventive maintenance before a problem may even occur. Every profession will have the availability of smart tools that are driven by AI, supporting individuals to work more efficiently.

AI and people

Society will be hugely affected by more widespread AI services. How about machines that can communicate with us in a language that we can understand? Or converting human languages into codes to execute and run applications? The usage of language modeling is surging and will have a huge impact on innovation and the creation of new products and services. Tesla is a classic example of AI-driven cars, which have transformed the driving experience, and this is only the beginning. AI will play an even greater role as the brain of technology in the whole transport industry, such as cars, aircrafts, trains, and boats. Volvo has widely communicated their safety vision – ‘by 2020, nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. ′ This vision has been driving innovation hand in hand with the brand experience since 2008. Even if there is still work to be done to reach the vision, it clearly demonstrates a direction for the company and how AI is used to improve our lives. According to WHO, about 1.3 million people die in car accidents every year, and about 3,700 people are killed globally in crashes involving cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, or pedestrians every day. These alarming statistics can be largely improved using more sophisticated AI solutions.

In my eyes, there has never been a more exciting time to work in the interface between people and technology. If 2021 was the year of transition, 2022 will be the year of digital acceleration where AI will have a tremendous impact everywhere. Let’s continue to connect the dots between humans and technology and use creativity to make the world a better place.

?Fredrik Tumeg?rd

Global CTO and SVP of R&D at SVP Worldwide and Chairman of the Board at VSM Group AB