Artificial intelligence is all the rage. Startups of all ilks are using AI in their services, from generating music playlists to matching job-seekers with employment opportunities, from making purchase recommendations to feeding news aggregators—or so they claim. A report published in January 2018 by McKinsey suggests that early adopters of AI are already reaping benefits, so there is no doubt that its implementation in new arenas will disrupt how we work, consume, and live. But how will this digital transformation come about, and how will startups play a role in a world where AI is no longer a niche but a necessity?

At its core, AI is meant to make work easier for humans. It can handle tasks where our input is often repetitive. Speaking at the Ecosystm Leaders BreakFirst event in Singapore last month, Manoj Menon, a principal advisor at technology research and advisory firm Ecosystm, indicated that there are three prerequisites to a digital transformation for businesses—the technology for machine intelligence, economic backing to roll it out for broad usage, and the human resources to make it happen. Read More

#ai-first