Artificial intelligence is a matter of trust

Thursday, 25.07.2024 | #Technology

Securitas Direct hosted the first SYMPOSIUM DIRECT on June 3, 2024 in the clubhouse of its partner, the Swiss Bike Park Oberried Foundation. The event was dedicated to the topic "AI for SMEs: Creating the future today". Renowned experts from business, development, technology and research shed light on the diverse applications and implications of artificial intelligence (AI), discussed legal and ethical aspects, ventured visions of the future and also addressed the question: "Will AI cost us our jobs?"

Around 200 entrepreneurs from Switzerland gathered at the Swiss Bike Park, taking the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence holds for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Learning, sharing and passing on knowledge, exchanging and connecting: this is what SYMPOSIUM DIRECT stands for.

From the beginnings of the internet to AI hype: Switzerland on the road to the digital future

In the early 1990s, the door to the World Wide Web opened for the Swiss population. The first e-mails were sent, initially in scientific and academic circles. At the same time, the development of artificial intelligence, which had been making steady progress since the mid-1950s, went largely unnoticed by the public.

Although more than half of the Swiss population had not yet actively used AI by 2022, the technology has become increasingly embedded in our everyday lives in recent years. Voice assistants, recommendation systems and smart applications have found their way into households and businesses.

OpenAI made its big breakthrough in the public consciousness at the end of 2022 with the release of ChatGPT.

This chatbot triggered a veritable hype and contributed to AI suddenly being on everyone's lips.

Smart helpers for more efficient work

At the SYMPOSIUM DIRECT, a robot also served drinks to the speakers. It politely asked the guests to choose the right drink, then thanked them politely, wished them a good day and made its way back to the charging station.

The great diversity of functions

Depending on the model, a robot can clean, disinfect, transport, assemble and disassemble things. It can secure premises and buildings or inspect them for weak points; drones can independently monitor parking lots, major events or security zones. In medical technology, robots sterilize instruments or even assist during operations. AI also supports text, image and video work, automatically generating texts, analyzing images and editing videos. Voice assistants make our everyday lives easier, they provide information, organize tasks and control devices, and self-driving cars will probably also shape the way we travel one day.

KI für KMU, Symposium Direct, 4. Juni 2024, Roboter Securitas

AI: already an integral part of our everyday lives

With enormous progress, AI is being continuously developed to take on new tasks and optimize processes. The wide range of possible applications for AI proves that it has already become an integral part of many areas of life and work.

In many companies today, AI-supported chatbots are significantly improving customer communication, enabling companies to offer their customers support and information around the clock. This leads to greater customer satisfaction and at the same time relieves the burden on employees, who can focus on more complex tasks.
AI is also being used in the financial sector, where it can not only automate trading but also detect fraud.
In medicine, it enables more precise diagnoses, analyzes medical images and processes immeasurably large amounts of data in the shortest possible time, thereby supporting doctors in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and therapy measures. This promises a longer and healthier life for humans and animals.
In the automation of warehouse management or repetitive work processes, the use of AI enables higher and qualitatively better productivity.

This reduction in workload gives employees more capacity for more demanding tasks. However, they also have more time to learn new skills, undergo further training and maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is more important than ever in the rapidly changing (working) world.

Opportunities and new fields of work

Artificial intelligence will continue to change our everyday working lives. There are many activities that can be carried out more efficiently and precisely by AI than by human hands.

The further development of AI is creating new professional fields and career opportunities, which will entail a rethink in training and retraining.

In the future, creativity, analytical thinking, technical understanding, the ability to continuously adapt, willingness to learn and curiosity will become much more important. With a smart balance between the use of technology and the utilization of human skills, companies and people can benefit from this development. Lifelong learning will become a matter of course.

”With a smart balance between the use of technology and the utilization of human skills, companies and people can benefit from this development. Lifelong learning will become a matter of course.

Jörg Heynen, CEO at Dimando Digital

”Education, research and innovation are becoming even more important, as development is happening very close to research, and (further) education is becoming increasingly important.

Marcel Salathé, Professor EPFL Lausanne

Trust and responsibility: risks and challenges of AI

A central topic of the SYMPOSIUM DIRECT was the question of the extent to which trust in the technology is justified, as the potential of AI can only be fully exploited if people feel safe and trust the applications.

The acceptance and success of AI solutions are closely linked to user trust.

Trust requires transparency on the part of developers and users as well as a critical examination of the ethical and legal aspects. The risks of disinformation, data misuse, manipulation and the loss of intellectual property must be taken seriously. Clear regulations, the rapid identification and closure of security gaps, ethical standards and responsible implementations help here.

The applicable security standards are high and are constantly reviewed and adapted.

”Trust requires transparency on the part of developers and users as well as a critical examination of the ethical and legal aspects. The risks of disinformation, data misuse, manipulation and the loss of intellectual property must be taken seriously. Clear regulations, the rapid identification and closure of security gaps, ethical standards and responsible implementations help here.

Christian Chenaux, CEO of Securitas Direct

People are the key to success

The conclusion after this exciting and informative SYMPOSIUM DIRECT in a nutshell:

Huge potential

Artificial intelligence offers enormous opportunities for increased efficiency and innovation. We are only at the beginning of this development, but the potential is enormous.

Gain experience without fear

We can try out the possibilities of AI without fear and gain valuable experience. The responsible use of AI technologies is in people's hands.

Trust is fundamental

Trust is essential: trust in ourselves, in our partners and in society. This is the only way we can fully exploit the opportunities offered by AI and master future challenges.

The SYMPOSIUM DIRECT impressively demonstrated that the future of AI in SMEs will not only be shaped by technology, but also by people. We will only succeed in integrating AI into everyday life and the business world if we learn, grow and trust together.

Insights into the Symposium Direct

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