Foundational years and strategic expansion

While initially pursuing an academic career, and having completed her Ph.D., Hilda made the pivotal decision to transition to a data science role and, after working at a start-up, she joined colleague Florian Rosenberg at Crayon. Both were pivotal in the expansion of the Data & AI CoE, Florian says: “We wanted to build a diverse team that has customer experience and is used to working with customers, solving their problems, but also has deep AI expertise.”

Over the past few years, the Data and AI CoE has flourished, the team expanded from its small innovative hub to 200 or so dedicated professionals with expertise in Decision Intelligence, Computer Vision, Language Technologies, and Data Platforms & Engineering, working across diverse projects and regions, from across Europe and the US to the Middle East and APAC which have contributed to more than 300 projects in production across different industries such as agriculture to shipping, financial services to manufacturing.

The journey hasn’t just been about scaling up; it was about cultivating a culture of innovation, where challenges were embraced, and expertise in fields like computer vision, language understanding, and decision intelligence was deepened. This strategic focus enabled the CoE to deliver comprehensive solutions that address the multifaceted needs of its clients.

Customer-centric first and foremost

Crayon has been recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in AI and ML in Microsoft’s annual Partner Awards, being bestowed the AI & Machine Learning Partner of the Year Award for 2019. This accolade recognized Crayon as a partner that has designed, developed, and deployed high-value, repeatable customer-centric AI solutions using Azure AI.

Throughout its decade-long journey, the Data & AI CoE has embraced the changing technology and market demands, notably adapting (in the past couple of years) to the surge in interest surrounding generative AI technologies like ChatGPT as well as working on other platforms (notably AWS and Google). This adaptability underscores a broader trend in the AI industry, where agility and the ability to forecast and respond to technological advancements are paramount.

Today the AI landscape is more competitive and fast-paced than ever, requiring a continuous drive for innovation, talent acquisition, and strategic foresight. Yet, the foundation built over the past decade, characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep understanding of the transformative power of AI, positions the Data & AI CoE to navigate this future successfully. “You just need to talk to the people, to the customers, and you need to keep reading, following up on what's out there...and then be able to quickly separate the signal from the noise,” Rosenberg says, emphasizing the dynamic approach that has been crucial to the Data & AI CoE's evolution.

Hilda takes a pragmatic approach when working with customers: “I advise businesses to seek expert help when setting up their IT infrastructure and services platforms for data-led decision-making. Attempting to do this complex task alone can be costly which can lead to suboptimal outcomes. It’s critical to develop the right platform tailored to the specific use cases and seek expertise in the field. By doing so, businesses can ensure they have the necessary foundation to leverage data effectively for decision-making which paves the way to achieve success in their AI initiatives.”

Navigating the AI revolution with responsibility

As the Data & AI CoE evolved, it faced the dual challenge of harnessing rapid technological advancements, such as generative AI technologies and addressing the ethical, regulatory, and societal implications accompanying these innovations. Florian reflects on this broader impact of AI, noting, This acknowledgment underscores the Data & AI CoE’s commitment to responsible AI deployment, ensuring that technological advancements translate into tangible, ethically grounded outcomes.

The road ahead: Envisioning the future of AI

Looking towards the future, Kosorus and Rosenberg envision a landscape marked by both challenges and boundless opportunities. The potential shift towards general artificial intelligence (AGI) looms on the horizon, promising to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. “As this becomes closer, most people can’t even imagine what that means,” Hilda reflects, acknowledging the transformative yet unpredictable path that lies ahead.

“We’re all learning together. Whether we like it or not, we see transformation happening across all fields,” adds Florian, highlighting the collective journey toward understanding and leveraging AI's full potential. His contemplation of a future where AI could autonomously create complex software solutions encapsulates the transformative potential of AI while also hinting at the unprecedented challenges and considerations that such advancements entail.

“Companies need to be experimenting with GenAI now,” continues Florian highlighting the significance of embracing transformation. “Those companies that prefer to adopt a "wait and see" approach are potentially foregoing the invaluable experiences that accompany early adoption. Transformation is not merely about acquiring new technology; it's about the journey of integrating and adapting to these advancements.”

Hilda adds: “AI has an incredible potential to impact society, the economy, and businesses positively now more than ever given the potential that Generative AI has shown over the past years, with a phenomenal take up by individuals and organizations across the world. While its adoption may bring challenges due to privacy, security, and governance concerns, I believe that if organizations don’t embrace and adopt AI whatever line of business they are in, they may find themselves losing competitive advantage. Although legitimate concerns about job displacement exist, AI will also create new opportunities that were previously unimaginable and drive further innovation and adoption in various industries.”

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