Nancy Rademaker is a renowned technology expert who has spent her career at the forefront of digital transformation. Last week, she delivered a thought-provoking keynote speech at Dublin's Pendulum Summit, outlining the exciting potential that lies within the future of AI technology.
As well as working with some of the world’s leading technology companies, Rademaker is widely recognized for her ability to demystify complex technological concepts and make them accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Speaking with RTÉ Lifestyle following her address, the business speaker explained why Irish businesses need to embrace the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence.
"You need to have a vision of where you want to go," says Nancy, "and you need to define the first steps for your employees."
According to Rademaker, four factors come into play when bringing AI into a business plan and overcoming resistance to change: communicate your plan clearly, be open to others' views, have a budget in mind, and learn as much as possible.
"Having people educate themselves continuously is going to be massively important," she notes.
Reflecting on how AI may evolve into the health industry, Rademaker suggests that it will make us more "aware" of our health, and could potentially prevent us from getting sick.
"I think this is a big opportunity for healthcare in general," she insists. "It could also help with detecting diseases in early stages, making sure that we have a higher chance of being cured."
In terms of retail, she believes that we have a long way to go, but that shopping could become increasingly personalised, to the point that retailers will know exactly what shoppers are looking for any time they log on.
Of course, as with anything, there are pros and cons to AI - but Rademaker insists that this will not be a case of man versus machine, but rather man versus morality.
"If you have tools, you can use them for the good or the bad," she says, using the example of voice technology. On the one hand, it could be used to impersonate someone without their permission, but on the other, it could be used to recreate the voices of those suffering from ALS.
"If we prohibit it all together, we'll be losing the good parts," she insists. "That's with everything, so I think there's a big challenge here and a big opportunity for governments globally to really put the regulatory framework in place."
Watch RTÉ Lifestyle's interview with Nancy Rademaker at Pendulum Summit 2024 above.
