Generative AI can become a crucial tool in supporting ESG and sustainability initiatives within businesses—an area many business leaders have not yet fully explored. "Sustainable cloud is now being promoted much more in the technology space," says Roland.
"It's helping tech leaders and business leaders react to ESG reporting more scientifically. You're starting to get information about the carbon impact of your cloud computing, not just what you use within your cloud provider but also what you consume through things like open AI. And that's going to allow people to start looking at the business case more stringently."
Upskilling, development, and talent strategies are an essential component for successful AI adoption, now and long-term. We've already seen routine tasks become automated, and staff can benefit from guidance on how they can utilise skills that complement AI — critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, etc.
"I think it's important for leaders to be intentional about what people should do with that time that is going to be freed up and have a change management plan," says Carolyn. "What do employees do with that time? I think, as leaders, we need to give direction."
Matt referred to a recent creative industries survey he conducted which revealed that 72% of creatives felt generative AI tools would empower them in their roles. But, after drilling down into the data, it was revealed that 100% of junior workers felt 'threatened' or 'very threatened' by generative AI.
"We need to think about the roles people go into straight out of university," he says. "If these tools come in and replace admin tasks, we don't want to prevent those people from getting onto the career ladder because we're going to have a massive problem in a few years where we haven't got people trained up to fulfil middle management roles, then become senior management," he says.
