How artificial intelligence is changing workplace productivity

    Every era has an epoch-defining innovation that transforms society. Machinery increased the efficiency and speed of production; aeroplanes boosted power of movement; and the internet revolutionised ways in which people communicate, access information and consume. Artificial intelligence (AI) will provide the next paradigm shift. It is already the driving force behind emerging technologies such as robotics, big data and the internet of Things (IoT), with generative AI further expanding its scope.

    AI’s everyday impact can already be seen through the use of smart assistants and in real-time traffic technology. From a consumer point of view, much of the current wave of AI is about offering a personalised experience, with the aim of increasing customer loyalty and driving sales. One example is the proprietary recommendation algorithm, which offers users personalised shopping options throughout their customer journey. Similarly, entertainment platforms can use AI to identify what consumers watch and how long they watch it for to inform future recommendations. Both are hugely effective, with such recommendations historically accounting for 35 per cent of Amazon sales and 75 per cent of audience choices on Netflix, according to reports.

    “With all the different potential applications of AI, there’s a boom right now in generative AI training and, particularly, large language models (LLMs),”  says David Ku, Co-COO, Corporate Executive Vice President and CFO at MediaTek, a global fabless semiconductor company. "We’re seeing people optimise models for a particular area, such as legal or health, creating more curated data sets that better represent what we want the AI to learn.”