“Ten years from now there will not be a business on the planet that can function without AI just like they can’t function without electricity and digital communications,” he said. “We don’t get to decide about AI. We just have to decide when and how.”
While some people are skeptical of artificial intelligence – even fearful of a doomsday scenario – Conti is optimistic about the technology.
“We are on the verge of our next great era as a species, which is the augmented age,” he said. “It’s a vision where AI technology augments our natural human capabilities.”
Conti discussed the convergence of three components necessary to thrive in the augmented age:
- The toolset – These include a host of AI technologies, such as large language models like ChatGPT and AI image generators. Conti also shared insight on AI tools on the horizon. “What’s next is AI with agency – AI that can do things on their own, without supervision, for you,” he said. For example, AI tools will send emails on your behalf and negotiate deals with suppliers.
- The skillset – People will need to develop the appropriate skillset to take advantage of AI tools. “AI is going to augment your abilities to take on challenges; it’s not going to replace your efforts,” he said. “It’s the humans who will do the work. AI is just a tool.”
- The mindset – It’s imperative to be open to the possibilities AI presents. “If you don’t have the right mindset, the toolset and skillset are useless,” said Conti. He encouraged CAMX attendees not to think of AI as a technological revolution but to view it as a business transformation, much like when we went from analog to digital.
AI is already transforming several industries, including customer service, finance and law. Conti speculated that because composites manufacturing is rooted in the physical world, industry companies have a two- to four-year buffer to take advantage of the technologies and differentiate themselves. But they can’t ignore artificial intelligence.
“Now is the time to start thinking about AI,” said Conti. “The companies that take advantage of AI today are the ones that are going to be most resilient.”
