​How Artificial Intelligence will change the future of NZ business

Worried about how to impress your robot supervisor at your next performance review?

Concerned the autonomous barista at the business next door might make a better coffee than you do?

Is your courier company in danger of losing a contract to a firm of drones?

This could soon be the reality for businesses around New Zealand as technology reaches the point when machines are capable of independent thought, a concept known as the singularity - it is predicted by some experts to occur within as little as 10 years.

Fresh from releasing the second report in its ‘Future of Business’ series: ‘Surviving the Singularity’, MYOB Chief Technology Officer Simon Raik-Allen says, as leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts, scientists and theorists around the world are highlighting the dangers of uncontrolled technological development, it is important for people to think about how technology may change their future.

“Recently Professor Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Steve Wozniak, have all issued stark warnings about where technology might lead in the future - especially with the rise of autonomous, weaponised drones and robots,” Raik-Allen says.

“But regardless of how the technology is applied, the point at we give machines the capacity to learn and create on their own, will be the moment we are no longer the dominant species on the planet.

“While it’s fun, or even scary, to think about what that might be like, the changes we might see are likely to be closer than everyone expects.

“While the world probably won’t end up going the way of the Terminator series, if you are in business, developing your career or even thinking about what job you might have in the future, it makes sense to start planning now for the highly automated world that is quickly evolving.”

Raik-Allen says that while there is growing recognition of the risks of AI, Kiwis still want to harness the benefits of advanced technology - especially in business.

And that means having a good idea of what a world at the ‘singularity safety limit’ will look like.

The winning human factor

“Regardless of how advanced the technology, one thing that is unlikely to change is our desire for human experience,” Raik-Allen adds.

“That’s where people are always going to have the advantage over robots. As the world evolves, in everything from your retail experience to making a business deal, the complex interactions we have with people are likely to become, if anything, more valuable.

“Take, for example, buying music. There’s nothing more convenient than today’s digital download, but how many music lovers miss the experience of going into the record shop to talk to the assistant about the latest release from their favourite band?

“That sort of experience is only going to become more sought-after.”

The future of work

With the rise of automation, the world of work is going to change fundamentally over the next two decades, he explains.

“While we are probably not all going to be reporting to a robot, the reality is that a lot of jobs that exist today will be replaced by automation, while roles we’ve not yet thought of will open up,” he adds.

“If you are starting a business or a student thinking about your career, that makes it important to plan now.

“Again, it is likely to be the ‘human factor’ that will make all the difference. While technology provides us with high efficiency and accuracy, some skills are fundamentally difficult to automate.

“We still have an advantage over robots for the tasks that require judgment, creative thinking and human interaction.

“With more time on our hands, other business opportunities are likely to flourish, in the arts, culture, sports and caring professions.

“Whatever the future brings (and I’m hoping for a technological utopia) it really is just around the corner, so businesspeople, entrepreneurs and students should start preparing for it now.”

According to Raik-Allen, three things that a small business owner can to do to prepare for the age of AI:

1. Digitise your business: get online with a business website, and automate as many manual processes as you can

2. Focus on the customer experience that your product or service delivers. In the age of robotics, human contact will very likely become more valuable

3. Broaden your business network. Create relationships and partnerships that will enable you to connect more strongly with people