Alexander Sukharevsky, the principal partner and global president of QuantumBlack, an AI company owned by McKinsey, emphasized that conceptual AI represents more than just a passing trend. In a virtual discussion with Fortune CEO Alan Murray at the Fortune Global Forum in Abu Dhabi, Sukharevsky highlighted the transformative nature of conceptual AI, describing it as a significant platform shift unlike anything seen in the past 15 years.
Acknowledging past misjudgments in areas like ecommerce and bitcoin, Sukharevsky expressed confidence in the current paradigm shift driven by a 1000-fold reduction in manufacturing costs. He stressed the profound impact this change would have on various industries.
While recognizing the potential for automation to significantly alter the nature of work, Sukharevsky cautioned against simplistic predictions about job displacement. He underscored the importance of understanding the nuanced implications of AI on different roles within organizations, advocating for a detailed assessment rather than broad generalizations.
Sukharevsky drew parallels between generative AI and the transformative impact of the internet, noting the rapid reduction in the marginal cost of creative endeavors like film production and legal services. He forecasted that half of all tasks performed by employees could be automated within two decades, with 70% of current tasks ripe for automation.
Contrary to fears of mass job losses, Sukharevsky envisioned AI as a tool to enhance existing capabilities rather than replace them. QuantumBlack, a key player in relational AI with a global workforce of 5,000 employees, aims to leverage “composite intelligence” to enable collaboration between AI systems and human workers.
In contrast to predictions of a shortened workweek due to the IoT revolution, Sukharevsky proposed a future where administrative tasks could be streamlined, allowing employees to focus on honing their skills and creativity. He highlighted the potential of conceptual AI to accelerate research, unlock individual potential, and streamline mundane tasks, fostering a new era of creativity and innovation.
Sukharevsky concluded by emphasizing the positive impact of AI in empowering individuals to shape their destinies, bridging the gap between human ingenuity and technological advancement. He encouraged readers to explore the influence of AI on business by signing up for the Eye on AI magazine, available for free registration.
