Navigating the AI wave

We are facing a transformative change. But amid the buzz of the AI technological revolution, how do we ensure we’re steering our companies – and most importantly, our people – in the right direction? Thilo Stadelmann, a prominent figure in Switzerland’s innovation landscape who has a history of collaboration with GF, joined me on a rainy day in early May at GF headquarters, and we dived straight into the topic.

ANDREAS MÜLLER: Thilo, when was the last time you used AI?

THILO STADELMANN: On my way to this meeting, actually! AI is already woven into the fabric of our lives and it’s pretty much omnipresent – for example, curating the personalized playlists on Spotify that I listened to on the train to Schaffhausen. The reach of AI today already extends far beyond retrieving information or providing a ranking of best guesses. The responses it gives are tailored to your specific needs with high precision; it can feel like talking to a “superhuman,” who has read all existing digitalized texts ever available and learned to connect the dots pretty well, in a matter of seconds. When did you use it last, Andreas?

ANDREAS: I like to prompt ChatGPT to give me in-depth assessments or executive summaries of new technologies and industrial trends. A recent example: a deep dive on Direct Lithium Extraction and the players in the field, a good starting point for further analysis. But I’m always open to new tips.

Imagine an external scaffolding that supports you in building a house. I think AI is similar. It offers an external support system that improves our abilities. It helps us by processing large amounts of information quickly, making complex calculations and providing insights that we might not easily reach on our own. Ultimately – and this is a big opportunity – it can take the tasks you don’t enjoy out of the equation. Well, at least some of them.

At GF, we will make the best use of AI to accelerate our journey to become a sustainability and innovation leader. Whether in R&D, in training or in our operations, our company is already experimenting, using AI tools for process optimizations or new software development. A notable example is an AI-supported indoor climate control system to increase comfort while saving energy. Other pilot projects, such as how to use AI to help sales representatives bring value-adding propositions to customers, are in the pipeline; we are also working on an AI strategy to identify pain points and current challenges, and then see how these new technologies can help us unlock new solutions. Our position is clear: embrace innovation, empower employees and foster a culture of experimentation. Anchor these efforts with a strong governance model, and be ready to scale, once something has proven successful.

Thilo, how can leaders prepare the ground for people to use AI smartly – whether in the office or on the shop floor – and also help them avoid missteps?

THILO: Well, GF already has very good elements in its corporate culture that can support its people on any transformation journey, this one included. You need a work environment where people are empowered to experiment and learn, one based on trust and intellectual curiosity. Leadership should prioritize open communication, provide necessary training and ensure access to resources and tools for AI integration. At the same time, AI is a powerful tool, and as such it should be used smartly and under a strong moral compass – also something on which today’s business leaders must have a clear stance. We are still navigating the ethical complexities of AI and, of course, we must remain vigilant. Reality manipulation is not a new phenomenon. People have been cheating in schools since forever, art forgeries were already common in the Middle Ages. This is a problem that will be handled socially; it’s on all of us to steer this ship in the right direction – for example by trusting real relationships.

ANDREAS: Indeed. In the complex landscape of AI tools that promise to help us increase productivity, we should not forget one key element: ourselves. A lot of people are concerned about the future of certain roles and wonder whether AI will not only bring about a disruption, but also whether there will be job losses on a large scale. I do not expect that to happen.

THILO: The discussion was never about whether AI should replace people. AI’s role is to enhance and strengthen individual capabilities, but there is an irreplaceable element in human interactions that no amount of AI will ever be able to replicate. Ultimately, jobs are more than a checklist of tasks, and that is also true in the case of production work. They’re about empathy and connection with one another. AI’s role? Leaving humans to focus on what they do best – innovate and relate.

ANDREAS: AI might be changing the rules of the game, but it won’t change the players. I believe we are looking at an opportunity to shape a new reality, an even more human-centric one, in which we get more freedom to interact and pursue meaningful activities, once other tasks are taken care of. It’s our ticket to an era of innovation and connectivity. Let’s dive in and guide our organizations toward a future where our creativity and inventiveness will take the lead.