As 2024 draws to a close, artificial intelligence (AI) has certainly been one of the biggest changes of the year in the business sector. 65% of companies already use gen AIand it changes almost every day. But as exciting as this technology is, there remains a crucial question that many companies still need to answer: what does AI really mean for us?
For tech experts, the answer may be obvious. But the truth is that AI means different things to different people. What someone in the technical department says may be completely different from what someone in marketing or human resources says. Even the person sitting next to you might give you a completely different answer. And if your organization doesn’t have a clear, shared understanding of AI, it won’t be able to unlock its full potential.
AI offers the essential building blocks to help businesses evolve, but first, as business leaders, you need to understand what it really means for your organization.
What is AI, Really?
AI is everywhere, but defining it in a single sentence? Almost impossible. Indeed, AI is not one thing: it is a whole range of technologies, from machine learning and natural language processing to computer vision and robotics. It is a tool that can automate mundane tasks, improve decision-making and increase efficiency. However, the ways in which AI can be used differ significantly from organization to organization.
For some companies, like NatWestthe AI could be a virtual assistant handling customer queries. For others, such like Rolls Royceit could be predictive maintenance to help predict when parts will fail to reduce downtime. The possibilities are endless, but without a clear understanding of how AI applies to your specific business, it won’t become a reality.
Top of every company’s Christmas list? A clear definition of AI
Without a common definition of AI, different teams could go in different directions. Your IT team might think about the technical potential of AI, while marketing sees it as a customer analytics tool. It’s as if two people were going on a trip: one goes to Switzerland by car and the other takes a sleigh to the North Pole. You’ll never get to the same place if you don’t agree on where you’re going.
This is why it is crucial to define AI and have a clear AI strategy for your organization: this brings everyone together around a common understanding, ensuring that you are all working towards the same goal.
How to define AI
So how do we define AI in a way that actually drives transformation? First things first: stop assuming everyone in the company already understands this.
Communication is the key to achieving this. Start by talking to everyone in the organization, not just the technical teams. Ask people in every department, marketing, operations and HR, what they think about AI and how they think it could help them. And don’t stop there. Also talk to your customers. Their perspective is essential because understanding what AI means to them will help shape your strategy.
Ensuring shared understanding helps highlight knowledge gaps so you can fill them. Second, it shows up where people actually see the value of AI – both internally and externally. Maybe your employees are excited about using AI to automate tedious tasks, while your customers are hungry for more personalized experiences. This information can guide you in how you define the use of AI in your business.
Remember, defining AI is not just about technology, it’s also about vision. Ask yourself: “What do we want to achieve with AI?” “. Do you want to be an AI-powered customer service leader? Or is your goal to use AI to make smarter business decisions? The clearer your definition, the more aligned your teams will be and the more focused your AI strategy will be.
If everyone agrees on what AI means and what it is capable of, you will be able to create targeted solutions that lead to real transformation. No more guesswork. AI becomes a strategic tool that empowers your teams and delivers measurable value. And with tools like Microsoft’s Copilot, AI is becoming increasingly accessible to non-technical teams, enabling everyone in the business to build applications and automate workflows.
Using AI strategically, with a clear purpose, will set businesses apart in 2025. The businesses that thrive will be those that take the time to clearly define AI, ensuring that everyone from direction to customer service, know exactly how it works. integrates into the company.
Defining AI: The Best Gift You Can Give Your Organization
As 2025 approaches, the best gift your business can give itself is a clear, actionable definition of AI. It’s not enough to just jump into AI technologies: you need to take the time to define what AI means for your organization, your employees, and your customers.
AI has the power to transform the way you work, the way you serve your customers, and the way you grow your business. But this transformation can only happen if everyone in the organization understands AI and how it fits into the broader context.
So, let 2025 be the year your business moves from AI hype to AI strategy. By clearly defining AI and aligning your teams around this definition, you will be able to lead in the era of digital transformation.
Janet Robb is Director of Customer Enablement at YEARa digital transformation provider and Microsoft Services Partner of the Year 2024 in the UK. Headquartered in Manchester, it provides public and private cloud, security, business applications, low code and data services to thousands of customers, from enterprises to SMEs and public sector organisations. .