Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Transformation

Chapter 1A Revolution in the Making

The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.

Edsger W. Dijkstra, professor of computer science at the University of Texas

Since the 1940s, dramatic technological breakthroughs have not only made computers an essential and ubiquitous part of our lives but also made the development of modern AI possible – in fact, inevitable. All around us, AI is in use in ways that fundamentally affect the way we function. It has the power to save a great deal of money, time, and even lives. AI is likely to impact every company's interactions with its customers profoundly. An effective AI strategy has become a top priority for most businesses worldwide.

Successful digital personal assistants such as Siri and Alexa have prompted companies to bring voice-activated helpers to all aspects of our lives, from streetlights to refrigerators. Companies have built AI applications of a wide variety and impact, from tools that help automatically organize photos to AI-driven genomic research breakthroughs that have led to individualized gene therapies. AI is becoming so significant that the World Economic Forum¹ is calling it the fourth industrial revolution.

The Impact of the Four Revolutions

The first three industrial revolutions had impacts well beyond the work environment. They reshaped where and how we live, how we work, and to a large extent, how we think. The World Economic Forum has ...