A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being invited to talk with Dux Raymond Sy and Mario Carvajal on the AvePoint #shifthappens podcast.

We talked about the macro wave changes in technology and the recent impact generative AI is having across public and private sector organisations.

We delved into the recently published AI Work Trend Index Report and where New Zealand and Australian organisations are seeing the most impact on use of AI. We discussed the opportunities c-level leaders have in adopting Ai to solve business problems and where they need to empower and enable staff to learn about the strategic business value enablement capabilities of AI.

This is very timely with the recent announcement via the AI Forum NZ and Callaghan Innovation AI Activator programme, which will enable New Zealand organisations to rapidly get started and learn and apply AI where it matters most.

Get hands-on experience: Start using AI to see whether you can actually apply it to solve a small use case before you move on to bigger projects.
Learn from failures: Show a willingness to learn from your failures. You can’t expect everything to be perfect on day one and work perfectly.
Understand the problem and stakeholders. My suggestions, “Understand the data, who your stakeholders are, and most importantly for AI, understand who your subject matter experts are.”
Be open to experimentation: People do not fear change; they fear loss. Set the right mindset around the evolving technology and how you need to grow/change with it.
Focus on high-value tasks: Use AI to automate routine tasks, allowing you to focus on more strategic, creative, and high-value activities. This not only increases productivity but also enhances job satisfaction and career growth.
Embrace continuous learning: With AI rapidly evolving, continuous learning is crucial. Leverage online resources, workshops, and training programs to stay updated on AI developments and applications in your field.
Develop AI-complementary skills: While technical AI skills are in demand, also focus on developing skills that complement AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving.
Collaborate and share insights: I recommend creating “cohesive groups where you showcase to each other’s use cases” This collaborative approach can accelerate learning and adoption across teams and organizations.

I also shared insights from two of my recent favourite books on AI that I think everyone who is in technology should read. “AI for Good” by Juan M, Lavista Ferres and “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Suleyman.
Thanks to Dux and Mario for having me!
Full episode on “How GenAI is Reshaping Business in Australia and New Zealand” is available on the AvePoint web site along with my narrative.

Spotify- https://avpt.co/spotify-shifthappens

Apple Podcasts- https://avpt.co/Apple-shifthappens

Thanks to Dux and Mario for having me on #shifthappens