Can Tech Leaders Unlock Real Business Value?

Happy Monday!

This week’s edition explores how Gen Z is leveraging AI to move beyond the traditional 9-to-5 work model. We’ll also dive into Saudi Arabia's impressive AI initiatives highlighted at the UN General Assembly. Our tech spotlight shines on Angle Bush, founder of Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, and we’ll discuss the urgent call for tech officers to enhance value in their organizations.

In this edition:

• Tech Today: Can Tech Leaders Unlock Real Business Value?

• WeeklyTech: China’s Race for Autonomous Driving Dominance

• Trending: Gen Z Says No More 9-to-5

• What’s New?: Saudi Arabia leads in AI and data at the UNGA

• Tech Spotlight: Angel Bush

• Did You Know?: AI's Creative Side: Writing Movie Scripts

• What You Missed?: Insights from the UN Science Summit

Stay tuned for insights and inspiration that will shape the future of technology!

TECH IN TODAY
Tech Officers at the Forefront: Can Tech Leaders Unlock Real Business Value?

Companies increasingly look to their CIOs, CTOs, and CDIOs to convert technological advancements into real business value. These leaders must adapt to global trends reshaping industries, ensuring that technology delivers tangible outcomes. To succeed, tech officers must evolve beyond their traditional roles, embracing new responsibilities and capabilities.

Recent discussions with board members, CEOs, tech leaders, and extensive research have identified key shifts that can position technology officers to meet these heightened expectations. According to McKinsey Insights, these shifts center around four primary roles:

1. Orchestrator – Tech leaders must transition from supporting business functions to directing them, ensuring technology is seamlessly integrated with business strategy. They take accountability for both digital transformation and the business value it generates, often directly influencing revenue streams.

2. Builder – Tech officers are not only responsible for enabling existing businesses but also for creating new digital-first ventures. These ventures, often driven by cutting-edge technologies like generative AI, offer unique products and services that drive growth. To build these new markets, tech leaders must develop customer-facing products that utilize the company’s core strengths.

3. Protector – The increasing complexity of technology brings higher risks, from cybersecurity threats to operational disruptions. Tech officers now play a crucial role in safeguarding business continuity, moving beyond compliance to actively managing resilience and protecting revenue.

4. Operator – As automation and AI transform business operations, tech officers are called to extend their influence beyond IT, integrating technology into areas such as customer experience, innovation, procurement, and overall corporate strategy. This integration is key to breaking down silos and accelerating the organization’s digital transformation.

Each of these roles requires a different set of capabilities and focus areas. The pace at which a tech leader adopts these expanded responsibilities will vary depending on the organization's current talent, industry dynamics, and level of technological maturity. Ultimately, scaling the impact of AI and digital technology hinges on strategic tech leadership.

Advantages:

• Enhanced Influence: Tech officers gain more strategic influence by shaping business outcomes.

• Revenue Growth: Building new AI-driven products offers new revenue streams.

• Resilience: Taking ownership of cybersecurity strengthens overall business continuity.

• Operational Efficiency: Automation and tech integration streamline business functions.

As technology continues to shape industries, the role of the tech officer is becoming increasingly multifaceted. From building new AI-driven businesses to ensuring cybersecurity, tech officers are expected to drive transformation at the core of business operations. By stepping into these expanded roles, tech leaders can ensure their organizations not only adapt to but thrive in this rapidly evolving digital landscape

WEEKLY TECH
China’s Race for Autonomous Driving Dominance

China is making swift advancements in autonomous driving technology, led by companies like XPeng, Li Auto, and Huawei, who are racing to launch Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) systems across the country. While these systems are not fully autonomous, they allow cars to steer, brake, and navigate urban streets with minimal human input. However, unlike fully autonomous vehicles, human drivers must stay attentive and be ready to take control at any moment. NOA technology is currently available in select cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, but it remains a premium feature, limited to more expensive car models equipped with advanced sensors.

Urban environments pose significant challenges to NOA systems, including unpredictable traffic, pedestrians, and diverse city layouts. Despite these obstacles, Chinese companies are determined to roll out their NOA services in as many cities as possible, hoping to capture market share in the competitive autonomous driving space. For now, the technology remains in its early stages, and while promising, it has limitations in both availability and performance.

Challenges:

• Limited deployment to select cities.

• High costs for consumers due to required hardware.

• Inconsistent standards and safety concerns.

  
  China's race for autonomous driving dominance highlights the rapid development of NOA technology, particularly in urban environments. While the country is making significant strides in rolling out these systems, challenges such as limited availability, high costs, and safety concerns persist. However, as more companies enter the market and the technology evolves, China's potential to lead in the global autonomous driving industry grows stronger.

TRENDING
Gen Z Says No More 9-to-5: How AI is Powering the New Side Hustle Economy

In the ever-evolving world of work, the boundary between primary careers and supplementary income streams is becoming increasingly blurred, particularly for Generation Z. Recent reports highlight a growing trend where young professionals are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their side hustles. These trends reflect a shift in how younger generations approach work and AI's pivotal role in shaping future income models.

According to a report commissioned by Samsung and conducted by Edelman, about 73% of approximately 2,000 Generation Z individuals (referred to as "Zoomers") with side jobs surveyed across five countries are using AI to assist in their side income activities. This study emphasizes the versatility and accessibility of AI tools, particularly for those who are balancing multiple income streams.

AI's Role in Side Hustles

The Samsung report highlights three primary tasks where AI is proving indispensable for these side hustlers:

1. Summarizing long documents or meeting notes: AI tools like language models streamline the task of distilling lengthy information into actionable insights.

2. Conducting research: From academic papers to market data, AI can sift through massive data sets at unprecedented speeds.

3. Developing new written and visual content: Generative AI tools are increasingly used for content creation, whether it’s writing, designing graphics, or even creating videos.

These tasks reflect the growing reliance on AI for both creative and administrative functions. Notably, many of the platforms offering freelance work, such as Fiverr and Upwork, have seen a surge in AI-related gigs, pointing to a broader market demand for these skills. However, this rise in AI-driven side work has also led to a disruption in traditional freelance sectors, with many seasoned freelancers reporting decreased opportunities.

Who Are These AI Side-Hustlers?

The Samsung report categorizes side hustlers into three distinct profiles, each reflecting different approaches to AI:

• AI Super Users (48%): These individuals, aged 25-27, represent the largest group of AI-powered side hustlers. They use AI across various tasks, from content creation to web development, showcasing the versatility of these tools.

• AI Experimenters (23%): Primarily on the younger end of the generational spectrum, this group focuses on using AI for a single task, such as investment, trading, or coaching. Their targeted use of AI shows the growing niche applications of technology in specific fields.

• AI Undecided (29%): This group stands out for its reluctance to integrate AI into its side gigs. Instead, it tends to engage in more traditional, offline work, such as arts and crafts.

AI is not just reshaping industries—it’s transforming how individuals, particularly Gen Z, approach work and income generation. As dissatisfaction with traditional employment grows, young professionals increasingly turn to side hustles where AI is a critical tool for success. With the projected growth of the multi-earning economy, particularly in AI-driven sectors, this trend is only set to accelerate in the coming year

TECH SPOTLIGHT
Tech Spotlight of the Week: Angel Bush

Angle Bush, founder of Black Women in Artificial Intelligence (BWIAI), is leading the charge to ensure that Black women have a strong presence in this transformative field. Her journey began after attending a tech event, where she was struck by the glaring lack of diversity. Rather than accepting this status quo, she took action to amplify the voices of Black women in AI.

Bush’s mission led to the establishment of National Black Women in Artificial Intelligence Day, celebrated annually on August 1. This day stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to recognizing and elevating the contributions of Black women in the AI space. Through BWIAI, Bush has created a platform that not only empowers women but also fosters opportunities for mentorship, career development, and community building.

Why Angle Bush is Celebrated in Tech

• Advocacy for Representation: Bush is a vocal advocate for diversity in AI, ensuring that Black women are seen and heard in a space where they are often underrepresented.

• Creating National Black Women in AI Day: By spearheading the creation of this day, she has set an annual reminder of the importance of inclusivity in tech, encouraging dialogue and action around diversity.

• Building a Community: BWIAI is a vital network for Black women in AI, providing resources, support, and professional growth opportunities.

• Championing Future Leaders: Through her initiatives, Bush inspires the next generation of women to enter the AI field, driving positive change for the future of tech.

Angle Bush’s work continues to pave the way for a more inclusive AI industry, showing that when diversity is embraced, innovation thrives.

WHATS NEW?
Saudi Arabia Showcases Global Leadership in AI and Data at the UN

According to a report from the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia's representation at the 79th UN General Assembly showcased the Kingdom's advances in AI, particularly its alignment with global goals on education and gender equality.

At the forefront of these efforts is Saudi Arabia’s ambitious push to build national AI capacity, which includes programs like the National Olympiad for Programming and AI. More than 260,000 middle and high school students participated in this initiative, paving the way for future leaders in AI. Alarfaj also mentioned the inaugural International AI Olympiad, which drew participation from 25 countries, further positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in AI education and innovation on a global scale.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia's AI infrastructure is gaining global recognition. The National Data Bank and Estishraf, an AI-powered decision-making platform, have won the prestigious 2024 WSIS prizes. These initiatives represent the Kingdom’s commitment to ethical AI practices, a theme emphasized by Alarfaj in her address.

The Riyadh-based International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics is also a pillar of the Kingdom’s global AI strategy. It promotes research, policy development, and capacity-building for ethical AI use worldwide.

Saudi Arabia’s strides in AI, especially within the context of global goals and ethical practices, are setting a new standard for how nations can leverage technology for sustainable development. By prioritizing education, inclusivity, and global partnerships, the Kingdom is demonstrating how AI can be harnessed for technological growth and for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

DID YOU KNOW?
AI's Creative Side: Writing Movie Scripts

Did you know AI is venturing into Hollywood? According to Ars Technica, an AI system named Benjamin wrote a short film titled Sunspring in just 48 hours!

Starring Thomas Middleditch, the film's quirky, offbeat script highlighted AI’s surprising creative potential. While not Oscar-worthy, it showcased how AI can push boundaries beyond data processing into the realm of storytelling.

This innovative use of AI hints at a future where machines might play a role in entertainment production.

WHAT YOU MISSED?
Insights from the UN Science Summit on Ethical AI Practices

I had the privilege of joining a distinguished panel at the UN Science Summit, where participants engaged in an enlightening discussion on Ethical AI Practices & Frameworks for Workplace Well-being and Employee Thriving. The session facilitated a rich exchange of ideas alongside respected professionals Bailey Parnell, Hamza Khan, Anitta Krishan, and Declan Edwards.

For those who missed the live event, the session is now accessible on YouTube. It offers valuable insights into how AI can create healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures.

Watch here: UN Science Summit Panel

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