David Hardoon, CEO of Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI)
Organizations can further optimize their operations by unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI) beyond high-profile applications, according to David Hardoon, CEO of Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI), the data science and AI division of Aboitiz Group.
During a recent media briefing, Hardun emphasized the importance of operational focus, saying that while revenue generation and risk management are important, greater benefits can come from improving operational efficiency through AI.
“Often the primary focus is on revenue generation, protection and, in regulated industries, power and risk management operations,” Hardun said, emphasizing that AI can significantly improve operational efficiencies, something that is often overlooked in discussions of its capabilities.
ADI helps organizations identify areas where AI can be effectively implemented and provides the right applications to enhance those areas. Even top performing organizations can benefit from the new tools and capabilities that AI provides, enabling them to perform tasks that were previously impossible.
Critical processes that can tolerate some degree of failure are an ideal starting point for AI adoption. Starting with use cases that deliver modest but noticeable improvements allows organizations to build trust in AI systems before tackling more ambitious applications.
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“It's important to start with operations that are important but not so critical that failure would be catastrophic,” Hardun says. “This approach allows you to gradually integrate and test AI solutions without risking major disruptions.”
In AI development, it is essential to validate data and ensure that AI models generalize well across different scenarios, which includes building systems that are adaptable and perform well in different contexts, not just specific tasks.
ADI aims to become the “go-to” expert in AI implementation in the Philippines and abroad over the next decade, and Hardoon, a pioneer in AI adoption within the Aboitiz Group, continues to drive the company’s AI initiatives.
ADI is working with Cloudera to leverage generative AI in financial services and industrial sectors, and is partnering with Thailand's Repco Next and AboitizPower to build Thailand's first smart power plant that will use AI-driven proactive maintenance to improve asset health and reduce downtime.
Khaldun noted ADI's intent to expand AI expertise and collaboration across borders, noting ongoing discussions with organizations in Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
