The most-awaited DMAP Digital Congress (DigiCon) 2024 occurred in Newport Performing Arts Theatre from October 15-16, 2024. The two-day event was packed with valuable insights on how artificial intelligence is transforming innovation, creativity, and business landscapes. Featuring leaders like Steven Johnson and Ana Delgado, the event discussed how AI is shaping the future of work and the importance of balancing technology with human creativity and curiosity.
Where Good Ideas Come From: Steven Johnson on Innovation in the AI Era
Known for his exploration of how big ideas emerge and his famous book, Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson emphasized that innovation is rarely born from sudden "eureka" moments. Instead, ideas act like "seedlings" that grow and evolve. He even shared how he has notes from ideas he had a decade ago that formulate into a major concept and then plans it out from there. Take this as a sign to start jotting down notes or ideas, no matter how mundane they may be.
Johnson also introduced the concept of "adjacent possibilities," describing how each new idea opens doors to more possibilities. Since we're in the age of AI, these possibilities will keep expanding dramatically. He also tackled the question on many minds: can AI really be trusted? Tools like GPT, Gemini, and other language models are being integrated into our workflows more. While some people detest AI, Johnson believes that the partnership between humans and machines, or "co-intelligence," as he calls it, will enhance our creativity and productivity rather than replace it.
A key takeaway from his talk was the importance of diverse teams. He argued that a group of people with varied backgrounds and perspectives is far better than a homogenous team. Instead of having a monolithic perspective, a wide range of fields is more likely to lead to breakthroughs.
Johnson also reminded the audience about the significance of playful curiosity when we interact with technology. Creativity thrives when we're allowed to explore without rigid boundaries, whether we're experimenting with AI tools or new workflows.
The Digital Transformation of Unionbank: Insights from Ana Delgado
Unionbank Online has been hailed as the best banking app, and for good reason. Ana Delgado, the Senior Vice Executive of Unionbank of the Philippines, discussed the business side of AI and digital transformation. She recounted the bank's journey towards launching the best banking app and how crucial AI has been in its evolution.
To start her presentation, Delgado shared that as of 2024, 71% of images online are AI-generated, which shows how pervasive AI is in digital interactions. Unionbank's transformation began in 2016, with the first phase being about building the architectural plan of its enterprise. In 2017, they launched UB Online, and in 2019, they launched The Ark, the Philippines' first paperless branch located in Makati. By then, Unionbank had fully scaled its digital operations.
Phase 3 followed to support a rapidly growing user base. This phase involved automating more processes and expanding Unionbank's online and mobile offerings. According to Delgado, Unionbank's AI strategy is centered around two principles: automated and assisted intelligence.
- Automated Intelligence involves using AI to streamline and automate routine tasks. This has allowed Unionbank to focus on more complex and strategic roles, increasing productivity and customer satisfaction.
- Assisted Intelligence is aimed at supporting employees. From customer support to financial planning, AI tools provide staff with data-driven insights, helping them serve clients more effectively and make better-informed decisions.
Delgado's discussion highlighted how Unionbank has used these AI principles to stay at the cutting edge of financial services, demonstrating how a well-thought-out digital strategy can lead to long-term growth. Unionbank's utilization of AI shows why we shouldn't fear it but embrace it and combine it with existing work models to create more efficient workflows.
Innovation with AI Requires Both Strategy and Playfulness
The DigiCon illuminated the transformative power of AI in innovation. It has the potential to streamline workflows and open new horizons for businesses. Harnessing this potential requires playful curiosity and a commitment to diverse thinking. As we weave AI into our daily lives, the synergy between human creativity and machine intelligence will undoubtedly shape a remarkable future for work and innovation.