Embrace AI for Competitive Edge, IT Expert Urges Business Leaders

Victor Haruna-Francis, an Information Technology (IT) Expert, has urged business leaders to prioritize the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to remain competitive in today’s fast-evolving landscape.

The UK-based AI governance advocate gave the counsel in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to Haruna-Francis, deliberate leadership efforts are crucial to drive AI adoption and governance.

He explained that AI operationalisation and governance were critical for sustainable growth, adding that business leaders must champion the initiative.

Haruna-Francis said that research showed that business leaders are lagging behind in AI policy implementation by 23 per cent, adding that whereas 40 per cent of employees believed that implementation should be spearheaded by the technology department.

He said that recent discoveries also showed that more than 82 per cent of business leaders and chief executive officers believed that their businesses would be extremely and significantly impacted by Artificial intelligence.

“AI-driven automation streamlines operations and empowers employees to focus on critical human aspects such as innovation, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement.

“This ultimately positions the company for long-term success in an increasingly competitive environment,” he said.

The IT expert said that, just like the ongoing push for digital transformation in business and public service, integrating AI into business operations required widespread acceptance from all stakeholders.

According to him, the responsibility of integrating AI into business operations ultimately falls on business leaders.

“Business leaders must grasp AI’s capabilities and potential impact to harness its power effectively.

“Increased awareness and education among business leaders is needed to fully adopt AI in Nigeria.

“HR professionals, managers and team leads play a crucial role in ensuring seamless AI integration.

“A high-level understanding of AI’s capabilities and its potential impact enables leaders to harness its power effectively, optimise operations, drive innovation and unlock new growth opportunities that position the business for future success,” he said.

The expert also advised risk managers, operations specialists, finance, and accounting specialists to integrate AI into their functions.