Posts in category: business

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Organizations that have recently discovered generative AI are at risk of overlooking an older and better-established form of AI, which the authors call “analytical AI.” This form of AI is by no means obsolete and is still an important resource for the great majority of companies. While a few applications of AI employ both analytical and generative AI, the two AI approaches are largely separate. To make decisions about the relative importance and value of generative AI and analytical AI, organizations must first understand the differences between the two technologies, and the different benefits and risks associated with each. They can then make decisions about which to prioritize under what circumstances based on their strategies, business models, risk tolerance, and other situations. Without an understanding of their differences, however, organizations risk under-utilizing one or both types to transform their businesses.

In a conversation with HBR editor-in-chief Adi Ignatius, Lisa Su, CEO of leading semiconductor company AMD, discusses its evolution toward high-performance and adaptive computing, the future of AI use in sectors from healthcare to tech to personal productivity, and the importance of responsible risk-taking. She advocates for fast experimentation and implementation while ensuring safety through initiatives like AMD’s Responsible AI Council, active learning within the organization and among industry peers and partners, and the hiring of diverse talent to drive innovation.

From the early days of mechanical automatons to more recent conversational bots, scientists and engineers have dreamed of a future where AI systems can work and act intelligently and independently. Recent advances in agentic AI bring that autonomous future a step closer to reality. With their supercharged reasoning and execution capabilities, agentic AI systems promise to transform many aspects of human-machine collaboration. The agentic AI prize could be great, with the promise of greater productivity, innovation and insights for the human workforce. But so, too, are the risks: the potential for bias, mistakes, and inappropriate use. Early action by business and government leaders now will help set the right course for agentic AI development, so that its benefits can be achieved safely and fairly.