Five predictions for AI, machine learning and data analytics in 2020

As a new year and decade approaches and enterprises move from artificial intelligence (AI) experimentation to implementation, new issues arise. How companies understand and apply this technology will play a pivotal role in how they accelerate efficiencies and growth in the next few years. Genpact Chief Digital Officer Sanjay Srivastava offers his top five predictions for AI, machine learning and data analytics for 2020:

1. The move to “Transformation-as-a-Service.” Many large corporations realize they need to transform operations and processes, but they can’t achieve this with speed and meaningful impact. The answer is Transformation-as-a-Service. This includes not only AI and machine learning, but also AI accelerators.
2. Customer experience is the main battle ground in digital. Business leaders recognize that soon there will be two types of companies – those who do customer experience (CX) well and those who go out of business: the True North for digital transformation in 2020.
3. Human in the loop – the increasing value of judgment and reskilling. Humans will play a critical role in the last mile of AI and data analytics. While machines predict and analyze, humans are needed for their judgment, empathy and creative problem-solving. In 2020, the value of data decreasing while the value of human judgment increases.
4. The ethical governance of data, AI and digital. The rise of digital ethics officers, who will be responsible for implementing ethical frameworks to make decisions. This includes security, bias, intended use and built-in governance.
5. Increased modularity in the form of accelerators. Implementing AI is not enough; companies must expedite AI adoption through pretrained accelerators. How accelerators democratize AI will have huge implications given the prediction that by 2025 organizations that are AI leaders will be 10 times more efficient and hold twice the market share.