Takeaways from a Gen-AI for data scientists event - and what marketers and communicators can learn

The future of AI is bright, but only if we navigate it responsibly and collaboratively! 🌟

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting IBM Singapore for a closed-door NUS-ISS evening talk event on how #GenAI is revolutionizing the role of data scientists.

Clearly, I am no data scientist but I managed to capture a few key takeaways during the panel discussion, and quite a number of points resonate with me, as a practioner the marketing/ digital communications space.

1. "Link problems to solutions in order to create value"

Influencing and convincing stakeholders is key to moving forward and maintaining your competitive edge.

Challenge to marketers: To move away from the on-going narrative of being a cost centre, marketing leaders must improve their perception of business and management value by connecting business needs to potential solutions as well as thinking business metrics first, not channel metrics.

2. "Embrace a hybrid-human approach"

Overcoming mental blocks is now essential for successful integration of human and machine efforts.

Challenge to marketers: AI is here. It's not 'OR', it's 'AND'. Let's overcome the fear of new tools and technology. We must continuous reskil and retrain, adapt and use new tools to stay relevant. Resistance will only set you back.

3. "Every data scientist must be an ethics guardian"

In an AI-era where decisions are often left to machines, accountability is paramount.

Challenge to marketers: In the pursuit of increasing KPI rates year-on-year, marketers must also consider if what they are hawking is exactly what the product/solution can do!

4. "Understand your domain thoroughly, but adopt a polymath mindset in AI"

Whether you are multidisciplinary or working in diverse teams, this approach is crucial to thrive in the AI landscape.

Challenge to marketers: This is a tough one. No matter what industry - be it healthcare of finance, know your sector key themes, challenges and opportunities. At the same time, the differeniator is the ability to know connect abstract dots.

Step out of your comfort zone, and speak to others outside of your circuit to challenge your own thinking and disrupt your learning.        

5. "Adopting touchless, augmented, orchestration"

Think in terms of "ask me, help me, do it for me" to enhance efficiency and user experience.

Challenge to marketers: Solutions and products across industries are going to evolve quickly into gesture-based, voice or touchless-enabled - how can our marketing experiences, campaigns or campaigns also evolve?

Thank you to the NUS-ISS organizing team and IBM for hosting the event!