Artificial intelligence can unleash great optimization potential and change companies in the long term, predicts Pegasystems, provider of a low-code platform. The company presents five trends that could make 2024 the year of innovative decision-makers and thought leaders.

Generative AI leaves the toy mode

In recent months, generative AI has already provided some surprising moments: texts, graphics and videos have been generated virtually, customer management has benefited from the automation of inquiries and AI has even taken over human tasks when coding low-code applications. In 2024, isolated application situations and creative gimmicks will be replaced by AI-driven models that connect generative agents with all kinds of internal and external data sources. Complex work processes can thus be automated from start to finish. The main task of employees will then be to maintain control so that generative AI is used within clearly defined parameters.

AI regulation enters the hot phase

From the EU AI Act to the implementing regulation of the AI Safety Summit - political decision-makers around the world have capitalized heavily on the topic of AI regulation in 2023. AI has become a trending topic with high media attention. The next twelve months will show which political decision-makers are able to back up their words with action. With the provisional agreement on the AI Act on December 9, 2023, the European Union has taken the lead. In other countries, such as the USA, it could prove difficult to follow suit with their own regulations due to the upcoming elections. The battle for the lead will therefore continue and will also have an impact on companies.

AI natives flock to the world of work

More and more consumers are already familiar with AI applications. In 2024, the first AI natives will therefore enter the world of work, who are used to using AI tools in their everyday lives to write texts or produce photos. They will bring their knowledge with them, but also their expectations of the workplace. For employers, this will be a crucial moment to define the framework conditions for the use of generative AI and also to decide on less "sexy" forms of AI, such as business rules and decision-making. All of this could be the start of a real AI revolution in companies. Instead of "Will AI take my job?", employees should ask themselves "Will an AI native take my job?".

Pioneering companies reinvent themselves

The first AI applications are being used in more and more companies. But are the investments made worth the money? In 2024, the successful use of AI will be particularly evident in companies that use AI and automation to increase their business benefits - for example, by enabling employees to work more efficiently, achieving business goals autonomously or continuously optimizing work processes with a feedback loop. Such companies are well on the way to becoming autonomous enterprises.

The rebranding of KI is imminent

Many concerns have been expressed about AI in recent months. However, AI is gradually being perceived as a helper in life and work situations. This does not mean losing sight of the risks and limitations of the technology. Rather, it means looking for pragmatic ways to minimize risks and take advantage of opportunities. The coming months will therefore lead to a rebranding of AI in many areas. As AI becomes more mainstream, the public image will also become more positive. And perhaps the AI Safety Summit will then also be called AI Opportunities Everest.

"In many companies, the use of AI in 2023 was a bit like a laboratory experiment," confirms Peter van der Putten, Director AI Lab at Pegasystems. "Many applications were used in isolation and without being integrated into business processes. This will change in the coming months. AI natives are flooding into the world of work and will provide impetus for the pioneering companies that have embarked on the journey to the Autonomous Enterprise. The rewards of this effort will be impressive and unleash great potential for optimization. More than ever, therefore, the saying applies: "If you rest, you rust."

According to documents from Pegasystems.