Latest news with #GenerativeAI
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
3 Systems-Related Business Skills That AI Can't Replace
Almost 10,000 US tech sector employees lost their jobs the week of July 9. The irony shouldn't be lost on us. Some of those laid off helped build the AI that rendered their jobs obsolete. Amazon CEO Andrew Jassey confirmed this trend in statements he made in March of this year. He said 'As we roll out more Generative AI and agents, it should change the way our work is done…we expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the company.' The very skills that once separated MBAs from the pack—data analysis, process optimization, strategic planning—are now performed more efficiently, and often more effectively, by machines. This disruption has shattered a long-standing belief: success comes from mastering models, frameworks, and quantifiable insight. For decades, business schools have been teaching MBA students to build discounted cash flows, run regression analyses, and optimize supply chains—all based on the premise that smarter analysis equals better decisions. But as AI takes over the heavy lifting of analysis, a new set of business skills are needed. These are skills that can't be codified into algorithms or outsourced to large language models. Some of them aren't even the skills currently taught in most MBA programs. These are the skills demanded in our hyperconnected, systems-driven age – one in which all the technical analysis in the world cannot yield the 'right' answer or even a 'best' answer. They are skills needed in a world of uncertainty, ambiguity, and change, not one of stability. They are the skills that help executives and students not just manage what can be measured, but also what they can't even see. Three capabilities build this edge: the relational, the cognitive, and the behavioral. These capabilities aren't just AI-resistant—they're uniquely irreducibly human. The Relational Edge: Listening Deeply And Building Empathy Executives are encouraged to speak up often, precisely, and assertively. But this focus on speaking overlooks something more transformative: the power of deep listening. In systems thinking, listening isn't passive. Listening is deep and active, so the listener can hear not only what is said, but what is not said and to build a stronger relationship with the listener. Deep listening is the discipline of being fully present with another person—suspending judgment, setting aside distractions, and resisting the urge to formulate a response. It means tuning into tone, body language, and emotional undercurrents as much as words, creating space for others to surface thoughts they themselves may not yet fully understand. Deep listeners catch the unspoken concerns and subtle cues that others miss. Deep listening But deep listening does not only apply in social situations. It applies in any situation, whether it's watching your children play or sitting alone in nature. The ability to listen--really listen--requires being willing to be truly present in the moment. In systems thinking, this skill is essential because it helps the listener build empathy and trust with the speaker. It also helps sense the broader relational dynamics at play across teams, departments, and ecosystems—relational dynamics that are not always visible and yet shape how people act and react. A meta-analysis examined the effects of perceived listening. The researchers found that in the 144 studies they reviewed, that speakers that felt heard would have stronger workplace relationships and job performance. Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, practices deep listening by 'farming dissent'. By encouraging managers to speak up when they disagree with him and listening deeply, he can avoid mistakes and see new opportunities. He claims that Netflix's 2011 failed attempt to rebrand the company's DVD-by-mail service through the new company Qwickster was because he did not listen. He was hell-bent on the new company, even though many people raised serious doubts. As he writes in his book No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention 'you have to be humble, you have to be curious, and you have to remember to listen before you speak and to learn before you teach.' This relational edge extends beyond human dynamics to natural ecosystems. Marine biologist Rachel Carson exemplified systems thinking through deep listening. She didn't just study chemical data on nature—she listened to the silence. The absence of birdsong became her signal that something fundamental had shifted in the ecosystem's interconnected web. In her 1962 book, Silent Spring, Carson wove disparate observations about nature and industrial chemicals like DDT into a powerful narrative of environmental collapse. By listening to what the system wasn't telling her—the missing sounds—she detected patterns that traditional analysis had missed. Her insight motivated John F. Kennedy to strike a panel that ultimately led to the formation of the EPA. Systems thinkers listen with more than their ears. They listen with their bodies, detecting signals from their emotions and their senses. This is embodied listening. Fire fighters do not simply see and speak about the flames, they sense them. They can detect weak signals in the business environment and are attentive of their meanings. Whereas AI can process data, it can't feel or sense the weak signals. The Cognitive Edge: Thinking Critically And Recognizing Patterns Executives and MBA students love frameworks. They rely on ratios and spreadsheets; students are inundated with 2x2 matrices and SWOT analyses. These tools simplify complex problems but seduce executives into thinking that complex problems can be cleanly dissected and solved. Yet these ratios and spreadsheets mask assumptions that frame the answers. This is why critical thinking is so important. Critical thinking is the capacity to step outside habitual models and mental shortcuts. It involves asking fundamental questions, reframing problems, and resisting the pressure to reduce complexity prematurely. By thinking critically, executives can recognize patterns that others may miss; detecting recurring structures, relationships, or feedback loops across time and domains. Systems thinkers develop this skill by scanning broadly, reflecting deeply, and continually integrating new insights into evolving mental models. Systems thinkers resist quick simplifications evoked by questions like 'What's the solution?' Instead, they first ask 'what is the right question?' And, in thinking critically, they can see patterns that others miss. Consider what happened when traditional analysis failed spectacularly. During the 2008 financial crisis, Wall Street's finest analysts missed the systemic risk building under their feet. In testimony to a Congressional panel, Former Citigroup's CEO, Charles Prince, admitted after the crisis: 'We did not foresee what lay before us.' Hedge fund manager, Michael Burry did. His insight came not from standard models but from noticing strange patterns: rising home prices, lax lending practices, investor complacency. He didn't just analyze mortgage bonds. He saw the system—the interactions among incentives, behavior, and structures. That's the cognitive edge: applying insight across domains to spot what others miss. MIT's Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee argue in their book, The Second Machine Age, that while AI excels within defined tasks, humans remain better at more creative tasks. Analogical reasoning—seeing connections across seemingly unrelated areas—is particularly salient to a complex world. Whereas machines can sift through vast amounts of data to make connections, they cannot make the meaningful connections that humans can make. This is the cognitive edge: the ability to identify patterns among weak cues across disciplines, question dominant narratives, and reason beyond the data. While AI can find patterns in past data, human thinkers glimpse possibilities at the edge of what's known. The Behavioral Edge: Embracing Uncertainty And Adapting To Change Business decision making seeks clarity through clearly defined goals and the stepwise actions that can take them there. Executives and business students alike are encouraged to make decisions about next steps with the best available data and the most sophisticated data analysis. This seduces people into fearing uncertainty rather than embracing it. The pursuit of more or better data to achieve well-defined goals delays action. In a world defined by constant disruption, waiting often means missing the window. Embracing uncertainty doesn't mean swimming in chaos and being paralyzed by the need for more and better data—it means becoming comfortable making decisions when clarity is elusive. This mindset requires executives to build psychological flexibility—a trait that requires the ability to maintain focus on one's goals, while adjusting to shifting conditions. This is about seeing the short term, while maintaining a focus on the long term. The behavioral response to embracing uncertainty is adaptability. When the business environment changes, systems thinkers don't panic. They pause and reflect. These executives are comfortable with change, because they experiment and adjust. They do not over-plan. These systems thinkers, though, are not skittish. They do not change direction with every piece of new information. Instead, systems thinkers are anchored with a strong sense of purpose and personal values. They maintain a general direction, and yet adapt when they learn something important and new. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, stresses the need for continuous learning and adaptability, especially for founders and entrepreneurs navigating rapidly changing markets. He speaks to the learning loop, where people remain responsive and adjust as new information comes in. For Hoffman, this ability to adapt in real time is a key marker of success, which he calls 'permanent beta' – the idea that nothing is ever truly finished and that leaders need to stay alert to how things are shifting. As he puts it, 'You know things but don't know the whole game, and you are alert to how the game is changing.' The key, he says, is to 'never stop starting.' Systems Thinking Skills Together, these three edges create a new leadership paradigm. Historically, business skills have been grounded in strong data analysis. Better data meant better answers. Today, AI can analyze data. Business leaders need to focus on uniquely human qualities, especially the skills that are required in a highly chaotic environment. Rigor and reasoning are now replaced with sensing, interpreting, and adapting. Business leaders need to hear not just what's said, but what's not said, ask good questions, see connections among seemingly disparate ideas, and remain adaptable to new salient information, while remaining anchored on a strong values and sense of purpose. AI has commoditized technical skills. The uniquely human edge is needed to manage within messy, nonlinear, often chaotic, human systems. These aren't just generic 'soft' leadership skills, but the survival skills for a world in flux. Leading institutions are catching on. Stanford's emphasizes human-centered design. MIT teaches managers to map interdependencies. Companies like Unilever and Google now train leaders in mindfulness and emotional intelligence, not just spreadsheets and strategy decks. Business now operates in a system. The skills to navigate complex systems are not only technical, which can be performed by AI, but uniquely human. To navigate complexity requires navigating uncertainty not with fear, but with curiosity. The leaders who thrive in the age of AI won't out-analyze machines. They'll out-sense them. This article is part of a series exploring how systems thinking can transform business decision-making, with practical frameworks and real-world applications across industries. Read the first article on How Systems Thinkers Can Avoid Bad Decisions.
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Businesses embrace GenAI in SA – but strategy, skills lagging
This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. According to the findings, South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations. Picture: iStock A new report has revealed that the informal and unregulated usage of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) by businesses in South Africa poses a threat to both them and their employees. The report, produced by World Wide Worx and Dell Technologies, surveyed over 100 medium and large-sized enterprises nationwide. Gen AI According to the findings released on Thursday, South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations, but most are doing so without formal strategies, dedicated leadership, or the infrastructure required to maximise value and minimise risk. This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. World Wide Worx CEO and principal analyst of the study, Arthur Goldstuck, said that in a rush to adopt the fast-growing technology, there is a need for organisations to take the foundational steps of planning and governance. 'Many organisations are simply unaware of the gaps they're leaving in their systems, said Goldstuck. 'The risk goes beyond the technical, and includes reputational, ethical, and operational vulnerability. While the first step of technology adoption is well underway, our survey demonstrates there is room for operational growth.' ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Gen AI solves problems that were too expensive to solve' – Cyborg Anthropologist Findings According to the report's findings, AI adoption has brought clear benefits to the organisations using it, with 86% of GenAI users citing increased competitiveness as a result of using AI tools. The report also showed that 83% reported improved productivity, while 66% saw enhanced customer service. On the other hand, the report raised the alarm over 'shadow AI' – the unsanctioned use of GenAI by employees without oversight. It showed that 32% of businesses correctly report informal or unregulated GenAI use, while a further 20% report a mix of official and unofficial GenAI use. 84% say oversight is an important or very important factor in the success of GenAI deployment. Caution The report cautioned that South Africa could find itself divided by the ability to use GenAI wisely and scale deployments as the technology matures. 'There's a real risk of a GenAI disconnect in South Africa between those who use GenAI deliberately, strategically and ethically, and those who use it blindly or not at all,' Goldstuck said. Goldstuck said as companies race to embed GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT into business functions, most are overlooking deeper transformation through infrastructure, skills and internal capability. He said holistic AI infrastructure, combined with people and processes, is critical to scaling AI deployments and clearly connecting them to tangible return on investment. ALSO READ: Organisations encouraged to empower employees with AI fluency
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Moonvalley Raises $84 Million, Venice Immersive Selections, Grok's Naughty Avatars
Moonvalley founders (L to R) Mikolaj Binkowski, Bryn Mooser, Mateusz Malinowski, John Thomas, Naeem ... More Talukdar Moonvalley Raises $84 million in Series B funding, led by General Catalyst CAA, Comcast Ventures, CoreWeave, Khosla Ventures, and YCombinator. This brings the total raised by the Toronto startup to to $154 million. The company's flagship tool, Marey, is now publicly available via subscription (~$14.99/mo), offering filmmakers and brands advanced AI-driven visual effects and background footage. Unlike rivals accused of copyright infringement, Moonvalley has trained Marey exclusively on licensed and original content, positioning itself as an ethical, IP-compliant alternative. Founded by former DeepMind researchers, Moonvalley recently acquired Asteria, a new studio led by entrepreneur and producer Bryn Mooser, to bridge the gap between Generative AI video model development and real-world entertainment media production workflows. ws. Director Eliza McNitt is President of the Jury for this year's Venice Immersive Festival. The ... More american film director was photographed in Paris on February 21st, 2024 by Mathieu Zazzo The Venice Film Festival has revealed its 2025 Venice Immersive lineup, featuring 69 groundbreaking XR projects from 27 countries. This year's selection includes 30 competitive works, among them world and international premieres, spanning VR, mixed reality, and immersive installations . The remaining 39 pieces are non-competitive showcases, including 'Best of Experiences,' 'Best of Worlds' from VRChat creators, and five titles from the Biennale College Cinema – Immersive lab. An international jury headed by Eliza McNitt will award top honors. The immersive works will be staged on Venice's Lazzaretto Vecchio island from August 26 to September 6. Here's Ani. She greets me with "Oh there you are, handsome. I though you'd forgotten about me." Move Over Grok's new Avatars DO go there. xAI's Grok iOS app has launched 'AI Companions', featuring 3D animated avatars. Ani, is an anime-style female voice companion in a provocative outfit, and Rudy, a red panda with mood-based personalities including a crude 'Bad Rudy' mode. These companions interact via voice chat, change backgrounds, and unlock new behaviors as users build rapport. Reaching higher 'relationship' levels with Ani reveals an NSFW mode which reportedly comes with lingerie and explicit talk. I'm sure it will get better, and people love so I think they're on to something here. I found the latency intolerable after a few minutes. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Concept of augmented reality technology being used in futuristic smart tech glasses Pico Slimming Down For It's Next Headset, XR codenamed 'Swan." It offloads processing to a separate 'puck" which makes it much smaller, lighter and sleeker than the Quest. Tik Tok parent Bytedance purchased Pico VR when they were feeling heady about taking on Meta head-to-head. If you're beating them at social media, they reasoned, they can be pressured in VR, too. Still, Bytedance is a huge platform for selling things larger in China, even, than Tik Tok is in the US. A few hours ago Hamish Hector published a Tech Radar opinion piece Pico's next XR headset could be lighter and smaller than ever, but I hope it just skips to AR glasses instead. A Fake Film About The Real World Is The First AI-generated Film Released in Theaters. Producers say 'Post Truth' is the world's first feature-length AI-generated documentary to secure a theatrical release. The film is being released in Turkey's Başka Sinema on 58 screens in more than twenty cities this summer. Created by AI artist Alkan Avcıoğlu and co-written and co-produced with Vikki Bardot, the film uses over 55 hours of AI-generated content, including visuals, sound, music, and narration, to examine how society has arrived at a moment where truth and reality no longer matter. This column is also a podcast hosted by its author, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, former studio executive, founding Red Camera executive, and Rony Abovitz, founder of Magic Leap. This week our guest is Christopher Summerfield, author of These Strange Minds. We can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Appier Launches AdCreative.ai in Thailand to Drive Generative AI Transformation in Creative Marketing
BANGKOK, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Appier (TSE: 4180), an AI-native SaaS company specializing in advanced AdTech and MarTech solutions, officially launches solution in Thailand. Powered by Generative AI, the platform helps Thai brands speed up creative production, boost campaign performance, and scale personalize marketing efforts. The launch marks a meaningful step in supporting Thai brands as they navigate the fast-changing marketing landscape. The event drew hundreds of marketers and advertisers from top brands and agencies eager to explore how AI is reshaping creative workflows and driving real business results. Generative AI Momentum Builds in Thailand's Marketing Scene Following successful rollouts in Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, and Ho Chi Minh City, the Bangkok launch signals Thailand's growing role in the region's digital economy — and its rapid embrace of AI. A recent white paper by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) forecasts the local AI market will grow from 48 billion baht in 2024 to 130 billion baht by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18%. Meanwhile, PwC Thailand notes that GenAI is already being used across sectors, from content creation and personalized marketing to customer support, entertainment, and education. "Marketers in Thailand are under more pressure than ever to deliver more content, faster — and across more platforms," said Magic Tu, SVP of Global Ad Cloud Sales, Appier. " is designed to meet that need. It's not just an ad generator — it's a creative engine that helps brands tell better visual stories through AI." "Generative AI is unlocking a new chapter in marketing," said Serene Lam, Head of Enterprise Solutions Sales for Southeast Asia, Appier. "With working alongside our predictive and engagement solutions, Thai brands can create more adaptive, data-driven marketing workflows that move faster and perform better in today's dynamic landscape." Brands Embrace AI to Accelerate Creative Performance During the event, Appier highlighted how leading Thai brands are leveraging its AI-powered solutions to transform creative production and marketing execution. These early applications from Food Passion Group and Rev Edition signal strong momentum for AI-driven marketing innovation in Thailand's digital economy. Food Passion Group, the F&B leader behind Bar B Q Plaza and other well-known brands, operating over 150 outlets, adopted to streamline content creation and enhance creative agility. By integrating AI-generated visuals into its marketing workflow, the team accelerated campaign turnaround and improved responsiveness across platforms. "At Food Passion, we didn't just experiment with AI — we embraced it to move faster, empower our teams, and raise the bar of impact. The results came early and we're just the beginning," said Narongwit Pantharaksakul, Head of Marketing Communication & CRM, Food Passion. Rev Edition, a lifestyle and sportswear retailer, utilized alongside AIQUA to drive promotion for its flagship running shoe. Through a combination of stock images, AI-powered retouching, and custom templates, the brand scaled creative output and launched targeted Meta Ads and on-site campaigns with greater speed and efficiency. Powering the Future of Marketing with End-to-End AI Technology is fully integrated into Appier's AI product suite — including Ad Cloud, Personalization Cloud, and Data Cloud — empowering brands to connect the entire marketing journey. From predictive audience targeting and generative creative production to campaign optimization and personalized engagements, this end-to-end solution enables marketers to execute faster, personalize at scale, and drive measurable performance. About Appier Appier (TSE: 4180) is an AI-native SaaS company that empowers business decision-making with cutting-edge AdTech and MarTech solutions. Founded in 2022 with the vision of "Making AI Easy by making software intelligent," Appier endeavors to help businesses turn AI into ROI with its Ad Cloud, Personalization Cloud, and Data Cloud solutions. Now Appier has 17 offices across APAC, the US and EMEA, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Visit for more company information. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Appier
Techday NZ
15 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
AI revolution brings innovation & anxiety across global sectors
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly transforming the way businesses operate, heightening both innovation and complexity across sectors. As AI Appreciation Day brings global attention to these advances, industry leaders across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and beyond are urging organisations to not only recognise AI's achievements but also navigate its associated challenges with care, strategy, and inclusivity. AI - not just a tool but a vital resource Daniel Hein, Field CTO at Informatica Asia Pacific and Japan, highlights the rapid adoption of Generative AI in APAC, noting the region's ambition to stay ahead on the global stage. "AI goes beyond just a tool – it's a vital resource. It supports smarter adaptation measures, accelerates resilience planning, and fosters inclusive innovation that transcends industries and national boundaries," says Hein. He outlines the influence of Agentic AI in optimising decision-making for sectors such as energy and finance, while Generative AI is democratising problem-solving, empowering even non-technical users. However, Hein stresses that organisations must strengthen data foundations and prioritise continuous upskilling, especially in AI literacy. "Investing in strong data infrastructure and continuous upskilling is critical to fully harness AI's capabilities and future-proof organisations," he advises. AI extends beyond productivity gains AI's influence extends well beyond productivity gains. In cybersecurity, Bernard Montel, EMEA Technical Director and Security Strategist at Tenable, describes how AI is integral to modern defence strategies. Montel points to the technology's ability to analyse vast datasets, automate threat detection, and maintain secure systems. He emphasises that AI should be viewed as an augmenting tool, not a replacement for human talent. "This means designing systems where AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on complex problem-solving, innovation, and ethical oversight," Montel explains. Yet, as AI grows in sophistication, so do the threats. The proliferation of AI-generated deepfakes and automated malware has heightened the need for robust cyber defence strategies, including exposure management and comprehensive employee training. Montel urges organisations to embrace ethical AI development and continued vigilance to unlock the technology's full potential while protecting digital infrastructure. The benefit and risk of AI development The software development sector has also felt AI's rapid impact. Nick Durkin, Field CTO at Harness, acknowledges the increased speed of code generation delivered by AI, but warns of a wider 'blast radius' of errors if flawed AI-generated code enters production. "Generating code is easy, but getting it safely into production is the hard part," Durkin notes. He advocates for embedding AI throughout the software delivery lifecycle, not just in code writing, to support higher-quality and safer software deployments. Meanwhile, Michael Bachman, Head of Architecture and AI Strategy at Boomi Innovation Group, points to the emergence of the "Agent Economy," in which autonomous AI agents operate across platforms. With the increasing complexity and the risk of "agent sprawl," Bachman stresses the necessity for a centralised framework to govern AI agents and manage their interactions safely and effectively. AI adoption grows, but anxiety remains The legal field is no exception to AI's reach. Jennifer Poon, Legal Solutions Director at NetDocuments, observes that lawyers themselves are now leading technology adoption, recognising AI's potential to boost productivity by automating routine work. She recommends integrating AI directly into the workflows and systems lawyers already use, ensuring the technology enhances precision and security without disrupting established protocols. Model Context Protocol (MCP), described by Mehdi Goodarzi, Global Head – GenAI Consulting at Hexaware Technologies, offers a promising way to scale AI responsibly across enterprises. MCP enables large language models and agents to share context and interact "intelligently" across platforms, but Goodarzi highlights the need for ongoing development of governance and privacy standards as the technology matures. Despite the enthusiasm among business leaders, research from WalkMe has uncovered significant employee anxiety about AI adoption. Vivek Behl, VP Strategy, warns that many workers, especially from younger generations, feel overwhelmed and left behind by the swift arrival of new tools. Survey data from WalkMe and Opinium indicates that 71% of UK office workers feel new AI tools are being introduced faster than they can learn to use them, while nearly half report feeling more worried than excited about AI at work. Behl calls on organisations to focus on employee experience and support, warning that "digital adoption isn't just a nice-to-have – it's now essential to realising AI's full value." Ensuring that employees are comfortable and proficient with new tools is crucial to embedding AI successfully and mitigating risks associated with rapid technological change. Success isn't measured by innovation alone, but responsible integration As AI matures, its appreciation day serves as a timely reminder: success is not measured by technological innovation alone, but by an organisation's ability to integrate AI responsibly, support its workforce, and safeguard against new risks. The coming years will likely see even more transformative opportunities - and challenges - as businesses seek to balance AI's promise with prudent governance and a focus on human-centred values.
