UST UK Chief Data Scientist Heather Dawe reflects on the major developments of AI in enterprise in 2024 and what to look out for in 2025.
The role of AI in transforming business operations has been a central theme in 2024, with enterprises leveraging advanced technologies to drive efficiency and innovation. Gen AI, a subset of AI, has particularly caught the attention of organisations across industries.
From creating content to streamlining business processes, the applications of Gen AI have expanded at a remarkable pace.
While the potential of AI is undeniable, its widespread adoption has also raised significant questions about ethics, governance, and regulatory oversight.
Businesses must navigate a complex landscape of opportunities and challenges as they integrate these transformative tools into their operations.
To find out more, we spoke with Heather Dawe, Chief Data Scientist at UST UK, about the trends, use cases, and future of AI in enterprise.
Gen AI in enterprise
Gen AI has been one of the most significant trends of the year, with businesses exploring new ways to integrate it into their operations.
Heather explained, “The widespread Enterprise use of Gen AI has been big for sure. Businesses have clued on that value is being gained through this technology… this is only the beginning of the diffusion curve.”
This surge in adoption has gone beyond basic applications like meeting summaries. Companies are embedding Gen AI into core processes to save resources while maintaining quality outcomes.
“We are seeing an increased trend of embedding Gen AI into day-to-day business processes to yield significant resource savings whilst maintaining or improving the quality of outcome,” says Heather.
This progress comes with challenges. As Heather highlighted, many organisations fail to achieve their desired outcomes with Gen AI due to poor planning and siloed team structures.
Strategic planning and cohesive collaboration are essential for realising the full potential of AI.
Ethical AI and governance
As AI adoption accelerates, the ethical implications of its use have come under greater scrutiny.
Heather pointed out, “Awareness of the need to be ethical with the use of AI and the need for an AI governance framework has greatly increased this year.”
Despite this progress, many unregulated industries remain hesitant to implement robust AI governance.
“More mistakes (from an ethical, legal, and security perspective) are being made with AI than would be if UK government regulations had evolved to a more authoritative point,” says Heather.
For AI to flourish responsibly, Heather believes clear guidelines are essential.
“Until [goalposts] are in place, the more risk-averse Enterprises will not move forward… this could all be streamlined and standardised,” she says.
Quantum computing’s challenge
Looking ahead, the interplay between AI and quantum computing could revolutionise technology.
Heather explained, “Quantum has the capacity to take AI to a completely new level… quantum processing is exponentially faster than classical approaches.”
Quantum computing could accelerate the pace of AI development, making current computing models obsolete.
However, for the UK to achieve its goals in quantum by 2035, Heather stressed the importance of upskilling the workforce.
“We need to ensure we train enough people with the requisite skills… they will need to be highly skilled in using and working with AI too,” she said.
The integration of quantum and AI could enable breakthroughs in personalised AI agents, automation, and beyond.
Heather predicted, “AI agents in phones are going to be a game changer… they will transform customer experiences, making them hyper-personalised.”
A collaborative and ethical future
The evolution of AI and its intersection with quantum computing offer immense potential for businesses.
However, this journey requires careful planning, ethical consideration, and a focus on collaboration.
As Heather illustrates, the enterprises that succeed will be those that view AI not just as a tool but as a transformative force for innovation and growth.
The path forward demands thoughtful regulation, strategic adoption, and investment in skills, but with these measures in place, the future of AI looks bright.
