At the round table «Artificial intelligence: together or instead» that took place during St. Petersburg International Gas Forum in the ExpoForum the participants discussed key issues of AI implementation. They touched on the differences between classic and generative AI, barriers on the way of technologies implementation, successful cases, as well as role of the leader in digitalization of the companies.

Natalia Sokova, Head of Innovative Projects in Education of B1 Business Academy stressed out a range of problems related to digitalization of business processes. «Currently the focus is made on technologies and processes, but the overlap point of a man and technologies is often ignored. It is a mistake», – she thinks.

Despite the attention to AI, its active use at the enterprises remains limited. According to a survey of B1 Business Academy, only a third of respondents in different companies understand what the AI is and see possibilities of growth in it.

Tatiana Suslova, CEO of B1 Business Academy focused on the role of leader being critically important during implementation of AI and other digital solutions. She singled out three key factors which favour successful AI integration.

The first factor is the necessity of application training of employees in new skills. «It is important that every employee understands how implementation of technologies will change business and his personal tasks», – she remarks. Moreover, training should be organized directly within the specific project groups or functional subdivisions in order to make it practical to the greatest possible extent.

The second important moment is the development of culture of «conscious incompetence». Tatiana Suslova explains: «That means that the leader should recognize that he doesn’t know everything and look for answers to arising questions involving his employees to this process».

The third factor is the ability of the leader to quickly respond to changes in external environment and in the company, and also communicate openly with the team regarding these changes.

Andrey Morozkin, Director for Operating Efficiency of Finam investment holding, remarked that when implementing AI it is important to activate the role of «data owner». Andrey explains: «Role of data owner is the change of thinking when you start to pertain to the accumulated data of the company, its processes and accumulated knowledge as the asset that should be monetized.

Pavel Bayuka, Deputy Director of ID Operator Gazprom LLC, dispelled some myths related to AI implementation which retard its use. «Many people think that AI needs complex structures and powerful computers, but it is not true. AI can also work on simple devices», – he says. It is also a mistake to think that for AI implementation huge amount of data is needed. It is not always correct.

One more myth is the belief that AI doesn’t bring real profit to the company. However, there is a variety of examples when AI helped the enterprises to reduce time of tasks execution and to raise revenue. So, one of the cases is related to the construction company where AI created the algorithm of engineering systems design. This algorithm was applied at design of sewage systems of residential houses that allowed to reduce significantly terms of design.

Another successful example is use of AI in a bank where it helped to develop algorithm for quickly decision making on loan granting to entities.

During the round table the difference between classic and generative AI was also discussed. Sergey Kobelev, Generative AI Implementation Expert, explained that classic AI is the system analyzing data and making conclusions based on given parameters. Generative AI, in its turn, is able to create something new based on the data obtained, for example, texts, music or images.

«Generative AI can both write a story for your child and help to develop marketing strategy for business», – Sergey added.