As the business world begins wrestling with the challenge of how to incorporate artificial intelligence into company operations, the Arizona Technology Council has stepped forward to help sort through the clutter.
The Council’s Arizona Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem (AAIE) Committee’s mission is to lead the state’s journey into the era of artificial intelligence by providing thought leadership, expertise and recommendations to the community and lawmakers on AI-related best practices, usage and policies.
The committee already counts more than 100 members with about 40 to 50 actively participating in virtual monthly open forums, as well as meetings of subcommittees based on industry, says Committee Chair Minky Kernacs, co-founder and CEO of Mercurio Analytics. “By bringing people together who share a common interest and diversity of thought, the discussions we are having, the connections we are making and the networking that we are doing is wonderful because it helps people understand how to take advantage of the advancements, share best practices and collaborate,” she says.
While open forum participants may include those who just want to get a grounding in AI topics, the subcommittees are comprised of members who participate in the sectors — such as aerospace and defense and advanced manufacturing — already impacted by the evolving field. “There’s so much that we can learn from each other about this rapidly transforming technology to create something very useful,” Kernacs says.
The AAIE Committee is unlike other AI organizations that focus on startups and funding. “We’re talking at a higher business level: This is how AI is transforming your industry and here are some interesting ways to use it. We hope to share insights to increase adoption,” says Kernacs.
In the subcommittee meetings, members discuss advances and best practices because things are moving so quickly in AI. “You want to be talking to people with hands-on knowledge and thought leaders,” Kernacs says. “We want the community’s input and experience so we can make Arizona stronger.”
Even the forums operate differently. For one, they are open to anyone regardless of whether they are Council members. This is to share how to incorporate AI and information to consider as well. Subcommittees focus on Arizona industries, such as health care, hospitality, aerospace and defense, communication, and workforce development.
But it’s the featured speakers who cause the most buzz. For example, plans called for the July forum to focus on how to develop AI use cases and the August forum topic to be people development. Kernacs explains the term “workforce development” is changing in the sense that AI is also becoming part of the workforce. “Now it’s time to equip our people with the appropriate skills to leverage the benefits of working with AI to increase productivity while enhancing work-life balance,” she says. “Employees know the nuances of how a company operates, which no code on its own can replicate. Empowered with the speed and accuracy that AI delivers, the employees will only get better and their job satisfaction will soar.”
Kernacs says she tries to find interesting speakers like those who talk about the practical aspect of generative AI because everyone is overwhelmed with the new capabilities. “GenAI is moving so quickly, and everyone’s being bombarded by ‘look at what you can do,’” she says. “We look at the practicality of it for the open forum to answer the questions around ‘What’s the plan?’ So how do you determine which features and capabilities are right for your organization and how do you handle a workforce that may be anxious? Let’s face it, everyone’s a little anxious.”
For more information about the Arizona Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem Committee, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org/committees/arizona-artificial-intelligence-ecosystem-aaie-committee/.
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