David Savage

What questions are leaders thinking about now where AI and robotics are concerned? Last weekAmazon Web Services(AWS) teamed up with Harvey Nash to host over 100 digital leaders to engage in a discussion focused on the frontier of autonomy. As we start to grapple with the impact of AI and robotics it feels more important than ever to dive into the topic with our community. The afternoon was built around a second public screening ofNash Squared’s film ‘A Near Future You're Not Prepared For’ which explores how organisations are preparing for the disruption caused by emerging technology like AI. It highlights the lack of cohesive AI policies and regulation across organisations and governments, which threatens to stifle innovation and put talent at risk. In the film academics and leaders discuss how best to ethically implement AI while supporting their workforce through current technological disruption akin to the industrial revolution, especially given the concerns of job losses to automation. The film provides a nuanced perspective: AI can alleviate humans from dangerous or monotonous work, creating new opportunities in an AI-driven economy. With the scene set we heard from a number of expert voices including Slalom’sRichard Fayers,Niall Robinsonfrom theMet Office,Eddie SeymourofNvidia,BladeBug’sChris Cieslak, this year’s most influential woman in tech (Computer Weekly)Suki FullerandMike Curtis-RouseofCatapult.The discussions were hosted byCheryl RazzellandJon Hammant, both from AWS. So where does such a broad and knowledgeable group feel we need to spend time really thinking about this technology? The panel explored the potential of AI-powered "smart cities" to improve urban planning, transportation, utilities and more, but also raised challenges around data privacy and equitable access. There was reference to AI guilt and the idea that younger members of teams will use AI tools available to them, but they may also hide the fact that they do because it could be frowned upon. If the right guardrails are in place then there is zero reason to feel any guilt, but addressing that emotion is something leaders need to do to stop adoption happening out of sight and with unintended consequences. It will also compound any efforts made to get the workforce GenAI ready. Data privacy and a particular focus on bias was a recurring theme. How do we address bias present in the data used to train AI models? The need was placed on emphasising diverse data sets and rigorous testing to mitigate discrimination and unintended consequences. One panelist warned that lax data governance might lead to some form of ‘mad cow’ for AI. The panel took time to consider the current state and future advancements of robotics and automation technology, and the potential for societal change. Are we giving enough thought to the ethical questions posed by building technology? Technology used in the development of a wind farm can be used to propel a rocket. Whilst tech is rarely ever developed with bad intentions we are culpable as an industry if we simply fail to engage in the debate. That may be the most pertinent take away. Much of the technology innovation to emerge in the past decade has been narrow in it's application, even if it's unlocked huge benefits (Cloud for example). AI is a tool set that's being applied to so many situations that it's hard to assess its impact. Almost as quickly as we have an understanding of one aspect of the change we face, the picture evolves, and at this point in time debate and community is more important than ever. About the Panel Jon HammantHead of Compute for EMEA at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Niall RobinsonHead of Product Futures at Met Office Mike Curtis-RouseHead of In-Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing - Satellite Applications at Catapult Eddie SeymourEuropean Director at NVIDIA Chris CieslakFounder and Director at BladeBUG Limited Suki FullerFounder | Analytical StorytellerWINNER 2023 Most Influential Women in UK Technology About the author: David Savageis the Group Technology Evangelist for our parent company, Nash Squared. He has a deep understanding of the technology and talent markets and spends his time crafting podcasts, hosting video debates, speaking, moderating conferences, and chairing keynote stages. Since 2017, he has been the editor and host of Tech Talks, a show about leadership and technology currently ranked as one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

What topics are currently at the forefront of the minds of digital leaders? Nash Squared Technology Evangelist, David Savage breaks down the key discussions from the evening. Last week we brought together digital leaders from across Leeds to join us for our annual Digital Leadership Report (DLR) event. Throughout the evening, several key topics were pulled out of the data and expanded by the leadership community. I think it would be a shock to you if AI hadn’t dominated conversations. Since we released the initial DLR we’ve also conducted a pulse survey. It goes into even greater detail about Generative AI and the challenges faced by technology and digital leaders. Now, full disclosure. Making notes whilst presenting can be hard. But I did note down the key topics and some commentary from the room. Those notes are as exhaustive as ‘tech debt v business debt, yes’. Highly insightful. So, I had some fun. I fleshed out my notes as much as possible. I then prompted Copilot to reference it against the DLR and pulse survey, and finally to rewrite it in my own style. The results are below! At once this highlights how great these tools are for productivity. But it’s not me, and when I read the text, it doesn’t sound like me. The point is these tools are great but the data we have internally to query isn’t always the best. My writing style in emails is not how I’d approach an article. We have a long way to go until AI takes our place, a point raised in our research. Just 1% of roles are currently being replaced. It’s how we adopt AI, not the fact that we can adapt it. The honeymoon is over and that’s a good thing. So here they are, the key points from our digital leaders within Leeds, written by Copilot with a little steer from me: Projects That Pay Off vs. Cost-Cutting: What’s the Smart Move? Let’s face it, we’re all looking for the next big thing that’ll make the cash registers sing. Right now, it’s all about those projects that bring in the dough. But hey, don’t forget, the big bosses are breathing down our necks for more than just revenue – they want us to be ninjas at cutting costs too. It’s a tightrope walk, but who said being a digital leader was easy? GenAI: Friend or Foe to Developers? Here’s the million-dollar question – is Generative AI the trusty sidekick for our software developers, or is it the villain in disguise? It’s a hot debate, and I’m all ears for your thoughts. Are we looking at a game-changer or just another tech headache? Transforming Business: Can We Make Magic Without Top-Notch Data? Alright, let’s talk turkey. Can we really shake up the business world if our data’s not up to snuff? It’s like trying to paint a masterpiece with a blunt pencil. Sure, we might make some headway, but without that golden data, we’re almost flying blind. Net Zero and GenAI: A Match Made in Tech Heaven or a Carbon Footprint Nightmare? Net zero – it’s the goal we’re all chasing, but as we dive headfirst into the world of GenAI tools, are we helping or hindering the cause? The jury’s out, and the clock’s ticking. We’ve got tech giants like Google waving red flags about missing the 2030 targets, so it’s time to get real about where GenAI fits into our green dreams. Technical Debt vs. Business Debt: Two Sides of the Same Coin? Technical debts like that drawer we all have – full of stuff we’ll ‘sort out later.’ But let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not just a tech problem. It’s a business problem too. Ignore it, and you’ll see the financial side start to wobble. The trick? Keep it all in check, balance the books, and never let that debt drawer overflow. The Rise of the Chief AI Officer: Are We Ready to Roll Out the Red Carpet? The tech world’s buzzing with talk of a new VIP – the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. It’s a role that’s picking up steam, with companies getting wise to the need for some AI smarts at the top table. Will it stick around, or is it just a passing trend? Time will tell, but for now, the CAIO is the talk of the town. And finally… Thank you to everyone who attended our event, and all the digital leaders who took part in our research. We appreciate your time, and hope you get value out of our insights and the connections you make. We also hope it encourages you to find out more about what we do, so – and here is the marketing bit – if you would like to find out more about our Harvey Nash tech recruitment services, or how NashTech can help you build your software development capability, Natalie or Steve would love to hear from you: Natalie.Dobson@harveynash.com Steve.Rake@nashtechglobal.com

On the 23rd of May, Nash Squared premiered our latest documentary in the 'Tech Flix' series at the National Robotarium, just outside Edinburgh. This third edition was titled, ‘AI and Robotics: A Near Future You’re Not Prepared For’ and explored the issues facing digital leaders looking to adopt automation with analysis from across the sector. Whilst the film itself will be released later in the summer after further screenings in New York and London, a local panel of experts added a huge amount of context and detail following the credits. JoiningCameron Macgrain(Harvey Nash Regional Director) on the panel wereGary Crawford(Waracle),Kjersti Ferguson(Scottish Government),Samantha Rhynas(Effini),Graham Hosking(Quorum Cyber) andAngus Allan(xDesign). So, what were the key discussion points in the room when the credits started to roll? Unsurprisingly one of the key themes was the need to maintain the human element in decision-making. Angus Allan was at pains to stress the point. In fact, human qualities appear to be hugely important when dealing with AI. We know that AI is prone to hallucinating and therefore spreading misinformation. When we encounter another person doing that, we spot it and we are sceptical, but we fail to look at the results we are getting from GenAI tools in anything more than binary: yes or no, or right and wrong. Kjersti also made the point that we spend rather too much time worrying about AI’s impact on humans and society, and not enough on how we actually want to use it. Another topic of discussion was policy and regulation; but through the prism of its impact on innovation.Gary pointed out that it was crucial to ensure innovative ideas were not constrained. There was clear concern amongst the panel that due to the rate of change, organisations needed to consider building flexibility into their policies to respond to a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Graham also added that none of this is new, so we really cannot afford to wait for the government, and we should have the policies in place already! Data governance was raised, as was the need to ensure we only use AI where it helps.Both points rely on education and understanding of the challenges presented. One terrifying thought highlighted, was that we are moving from an attention economy to a relationship economy, where the public might view AI as a friend. Given its intentions will always have another purpose behind them, owned elsewhere, that is a real concern; especially for parents trying to navigate technology with impressionable children. Samantha also made the point that just because someone might have experience working as a technology professional, or as an engineer, it does not mean you are an expert in AI. It is a point that underscores that this really is an area where there are still many more questions than answers. It all begs the question, what are the biggest questions you have concerning the adoption of AI in business, and do youfeel prepared? About the author: David Savageis the Group Technology Evangelist for our parent company, Nash Squared. He has a deep understanding of the technology and talent markets and spends his time crafting podcasts, hosting video debates, speaking, moderating conferences, and chairing keynote stages. Since 2017, he has been the editor and host of Tech Talks, a show about leadership and technology currently ranked as one of the most popular podcasts in the world.