| | December 20209CIOReviewDeveloping viable AI use cases gives CIOs a clear understanding of how early AI scale can be obtained by adding AI-powered features to existing products and servicesEthan CohenFocus on Specific High-Value AI Use CasesStrong use cases help the utility accelerate toward operational AI. This allows CIOs to capitalize on the momentum garnered from early experimentation, quickly move toward delivering real AI business value, and develop further capability in existing business and technology areas. Further, starting with use cases puts a focus on human-machine interactions, the area where AI delivers the highest value. Developing viable AI use cases gives utility CIOs a clear understanding of how early AI scale can be obtained by adding AI-powered features to existing products and services. This in turn sets the stage for AI to be systematically applied across the other business departments and functions in the enterprise to optimize redesigned processes, introduce new innovative business practices, products or services, and build the exponent of future technology capabilities.Balance AI's Technical Capabilities with Business Opportunities and RisksUtility CIOs are being asked to not only assess technical suitability for AI solutions, but also to evaluate AI "fitness" with business context. To do so, they must think about strategy, business and technology capabilities, and business outcome expectations all at once.Use the below "consider-embrace-experiment-avoid" model to organize and prioritize AI use cases and to contextualize these within the utilities' overarching digital business plan. Consider-Embrace-Experiment-Avoid Model for AI Use Case PrioritizationSet a strong foundation for democratizing AIDemocratizing AI means taking steps to ensure that everyone in the utility can access, embrace and derive the most value from it. Utility CIOs must set a strong foundation for democratizing AI by fostering AI development and scale by integrating AI use cases into the larger digital business platform. Further, utility CIOs reinforce the foundation for democratizing AI by using good governance principles, clear policy, strong stewardship, and robust empowerment inside IT and across the business. This robust empowerment includes developing enterprise:· Capabilities to deploy and manage AI application models· Talent and skills needed to support and exploit continuously evolving AI tools and techniques· Structures and processes, such as center of excellence, to curate new AI products and steward AI services provided by internal and external partnersRemember, AI's promise and potential is realized first in creative use and second in democratizing it--scaling around purpose and ubiquity.
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