IBM TECH INNOVATION FORUM 2023 PRESENTS WATSONX
KOMUNIDAD is a startup that helps businesses and communities become disaster-ready with data. Founder Felix Ayque developed the environmental intelligence platform that feeds itself with data from various public and private sources, to create into specific analytics to help clients respond promptly to possible calamities.
Ayque told Malaya Business Insight how he applied artificial intelligence to help create better predictive models to respond more accurately to the fluctuations in weather and address climate change in the process. At the beginning of his startup was collecting data from a weather aggregator platform ‘The Weather Company,’ which was acquired by IBM in 2015. That acquisition led him to Watson, IBM’s first AI platform. Today, Komunidad runs on WatsonX, the latest evolution of IBM’s AI platform.
Komunidad is one of over 70 companies, enterprises, startups and academic institutions who attended the IBM Tech Innovation Forum last week. IBM brought together industry experts and business leaders to delve into the potential of AI in reshaping businesses and fostering growth.
“Without AI it to analyze vast amounts of weather data we gather and create the predictions and forecasts we need to answers would take human researchers days, weeks or even months to derive,” Ayque expressed, adding that harnessing the powers of AI is needed in this age that is run almost completely by data.
Tech leader IBM is not new to Artificial Intelligence (AI). It has in fact been in the forefront of the technology, starting with Watson–which was originally developed in its own DeepQA research project to develop a natural language-responsive AI system that could interpret questions asked in a human language, and provide answers based on available data.
“Our collaboration with IBM and leveraging the game-changing power of AI to help our customers make better business decisions and implement effective business continuity planning (BCP) strategies that minimize risks of environmental changes,” Ayque said.
“Now is the time to dispel the fear that have lingered around this transformative technology… Rather than dwelling on apprehension, it’s time to recognize that there is truly nothing to fear about AI,” Aileen Judan-Jiao, IBM Philippines President and Technology Leader told Malaya Business Insight adding that the key message was clear: AI should be harnessed with trust and transparency as its foundation to deliver real value to enterprises.
IBM’s Institute for Business Value (IBV) CEO study reveals a compelling perspective from global CEOs. A staggering 75 percent of top bosses believe that harnessing advanced generative AI provides a considerable competitive edge. Notably, 43 percent of CEOs have already integrated generative AI into strategic decisions, while 36 percent utilize it for operational choices. Furthermore, half of ASEAN CEOs, including those in the Philippines, prioritize technology modernization, closely followed by enhancing productivity and customer experience.
The driving force behind the new era of AI lies in foundation models. These models are pre-trained on vast amounts of unlabeled data, reducing the cost of preparation while significantly enhancing scalability and adaptability. As businesses strive for accuracy, scalability, and adaptability in AI solutions, foundation models emerge as the game-changer, enabling rapid adaptation to new scenarios and use cases.
IBM’s Watsonx platform emerges as a trustworthy AI solution developed under ethical principles. This self-service platform equips businesses with the tools, technology, infrastructure, and consulting expertise they need to leverage AI effectively. WatsonX ensures data security, accuracy, and prevents the generation of false information. The platform embraces transparency and fairness, crucial qualities for AI solutions in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Watson X was recently named a leader in the 2023 IDC Artificial Intelligence Services Marketscape Gain. This service from the International Data Company provides advice on selecting an AI services provider to help build AI capabilities.
IBM’s commitment to trustworthy AI extends beyond technology. Watsonx is founded on five fundamental properties: explainability, fairness, robustness, transparency, and privacy. These properties govern the AI lifecycle, from model development and deployment to monitoring and centralizing facts for transparency and explainability.
“Organizations must place trust at the core of their AI strategy to be better positioned for compliance with impending regulations of AI and data use. Taking ethical shortcuts in AI will not only lead to increased costs due to redesigning or recreating models, but also prevents a future where many people can benefit from this transformational technology,” Judan-Jiao adds.
Generative AI’s rise sparks discussions about its impact on the workforce. The key lies in understanding that AI isn’t just about technology; it’s about scaling employee expertise and transforming work processes. Organizations need to reskill their workforce and integrate human talent into their AI strategy to achieve competitive advantage.
“The age of AI is here, and it’s time to embrace the future with optimism. Fear has no place in this narrative. Instead, we must recognize AI’s potential to reshape businesses, enhance productivity, and drive growth. By fostering trust, transparency, and ethical principles, AI can truly empower organizations, ushering in an era of unprecedented innovation and progress. Let’s not shy away from the possibilities — the time to embrace AI is now,” Judan-Jiao concludes.
