Heading into Snowflake Summit next week I’m struck by the collective fixation on generative AI, in many cases to the exclusion of any other tool in the AI toolbox. Generative is indeed fascinating, with far reaching potential to disrupt how we live and work, but we’re in danger of losing track of the significant impact of Predictive AI.
Whereas Generative is about new content, Prescriptive AI uses existing data to make predictions and prescribe optimized decisions. The quantitative and probabilistic nature of most of the decisions we make at work – for example about inventory, pricing or customer experience – means predictive AI has enormous opportunity to drive operational efficiency, commercial gain and strategic advantage.
Perhaps the reason for the obsession with Generative is an assumption that we’ve done all we can with Predictive AI? Have the slick visualizations in tableau glazed eyes over to the extent we think everything is optimized?
My experience working with many different businesses is that there is still SO much to go after. So many decisions that can be augmented and automated. So many millions of dollars to be saved. So much we can do for the planet by making businesses more efficient.
Here’s my plea as many of us spend a week deep in conversation about data – no doubt inundated with announcements and ideas about Generative – don’t forget all the decisions you make across your inventory, pricing and customer experience and the potential for AI to improve them all.