By Jim Kavanaugh, cofounder and CEO, World Wide Technology 

The rapid advancement of generative AI is forcing CEOs and other executive leaders to move swiftly to digitally transform their businesses and take chances in the name of innovation — all while doing so in a responsible and secure way. 

In fact, nearly every leader I meet with, from Fortune 500 companies all the way to emerging startups, is asking about three key areas: digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. These three areas serve as critical enablers to driving future growth for all organizations, no matter their size or industry.

Massive opportunities in AI

As fast as the market is moving, many challenges still exist. There are questions on how leaders can integrate AI into their organizations, securely train AI models on proprietary data, scale AI across their business, and identify what kind of infrastructure needs to be in place to enable it all. The complexity can be overwhelming and the urgency to move quickly only adds to that pressure. 

Leaders should start with the basics and understand what AI is and what it means for their business. Because AI adoption encompasses so many technologies, from data analytics and machine learning to data center and cloud to security and software, stakeholders from all parts of your organization should be involved from the onset. This includes your board of directors, who should clearly understand the impact AI can have on your company's goals, objectives, and market opportunities.

While it's essential to be a fast follower, leaders should avoid chasing every new trend. Instead, they should focus on thoughtful and controlled AI implementation, and assess current and future resource needs based on prioritized initiatives. At World Wide Technology, we call this approach practical AI, a methodology we've stress-tested and refined over the course of a decade to deliver end-to-end AI/ML solutions for our clients.

Courtesy of World Wide Technology

The spectacular introduction of generative AI into mainstream consciousness can make it feel like the underlying technology is unique. To diminish the complexity, it can help to think about implementing AI as if it were any new technology. Taking that approach, you would want to:

Identify and prioritize foundational use cases that are applicable to your business, making sure to weigh use case value versus complexity of implementation. Understand the foundational data capabilities needed to move forward with prioritized use cases. Test and validate models or use cases to ensure they deliver the expected value. Consider whether you have access to the right IT infrastructure to achieve your goals. This should include existing skill sets, data privacy, and governance to minimize disruption. 

If this approach sounds daunting, your first steps should involve an attempt to drive education and expertise throughout your organization, both on the IT and business side, as it relates to AI. Having leaders who understand AI's potential and its alignment with organizational goals will be crucial to future success, and the collaboration it requires will create centers of excellence along the way that can act as hubs for innovation.

The imperative to be proactive

AI is, and will continue to be, a transformative force in today's business world. To realize its benefits, organizations need an approach to AI solution development and adoption that is thoughtful, strategic, and practical.

Small steps can quickly turn into serious momentum. A leader's ability to cultivate that momentum can have a major influence on the organization's ability to kickstart, sustain, and push strategic AI initiatives across the finish line. 

Learn more about AI strategy.

This post was created by World Wide Technology with Insider Studios.