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Director Roundtable with Google’s John Ball
August 1, 2024
Last week Derwent hosted a Director’s Roundtable discussion on ‘How AI is changing the game’ with John Ball , Managing Director Customer Solutions at Google.
John highlighted the fact that Australia is asleep, with a global AI arms race well and truly underway. A shift in sentiment, awareness, and digital transformation skills (strategy, technology, ways of working, culture and people capabilities) are required to maximise the commercial opportunity that AI presents.
AI adoption is a complex process that requires a business-wide approach to learn, question and collaborate. This is no longer just the problem for the IT department to solve on their own; success requires leadership and strategies to bring entire organisations on the journey.
The board can start to address AI by implementing responsible AI principles which both the Australian Government and Google have recently released.
Once the foundations are in place then it is important that Directors are armed with the right questions to ask. The framing of these questions are centred around understanding potential risks, appreciating the expectations of your customers, and how are you going to evolve the culture to bring the entire organisation on the journey.
Embedding the right leadership skills and decision making at both the board and executive level are critical to ensure that the strategic opportunity of AI is driven effectively.
This event was hosted by Michelle Gardiner, Managing Partner , Board Practice at Derwent.
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