What:  A comprehensive article on AI from an academic point of view, addressing the fears AI generates, how to overcome them, what to do in a business with AI and how to start.

Why it is important: The most difficult is not to set up a system, or to get going, but truly to connect the dots and be creative in the use of AI in every aspect of the business, and not only the most obvious ones.

The whole IESE article is about the fear that AI can generate, thanks to public culture, among business leaders, even though it is very much possible to use AI for good management and conduct of operations.

AI can be incorporated into companies' processes without overhauling their entire business model. Some ways include using chatbots and digital assistants for customer care, automating certain processes, predicting and anticipating customer needs, using AI for better resource planning, using AI for sustainable management of resources, using AI to minimize palm oil in products and ensuring sustainable harvesting through blockchain technology and satellite images, among others. Many AI models are readily available and can be easily used without the need for coding skills. Companies can also use existing AI tools and solutions from partners to achieve results in their specific industry.

The article discusses a path for companies to take in order to effectively implement AI within their organization. It recommends starting with structured data and identifying meaningful use cases, connecting data across different collaborators and platforms, identifying a process to optimize with AI, paying attention to company culture, staying people-centric, and developing an ethical compass for AI.

It emphasizes the importance of having a strategic view and understanding how AI can impact the business model and competition. The writers also stress the importance of transparency, explainability, and auditability in AI, and the need for an AI ethics board to monitor strategic-level concerns.

However, the most important, and the most complex, for leaders who have understood the importance of AI in a given field of activity, is to understand that there is actually no limit to its application and that it could very well be rolled over other departments or activities as easily.

Using AI for good management