Conference offers spark of creativity as AI tsunami flows into business world
Event explores how businesses can fuse AI technology with creativity to maximise impact and sees launch of service blending tech and Bayes’ business expertise
AI’s ‘breakout year’ guaranteed a good attendance at a Bayes conference assessing the technology’s likely impact on businesses who can leverage creativity and AI for strategising and problem solving.
Neil Maiden, Professor of Digital Creativity at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) and Director of the National Centre for Creativity enabled by AI (CebAI), noted that interest in AI had “exploded” since the launch of ChatGPT almost a year ago. However, he added that leaders of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in particular – and the consultants who advise them – need to consider how to integrate creativity and creative thinking into the ”AI tsunami” descending on business.
“Is AI just for the productivity and efficiency of your business or is it to think more radically around business, business models and strategy?” Professor Maiden asked.
He said: “Even before this AI explosion, there was a shortage of people with creative skills and mindsets – the ability to think creatively when developing business strategies. We’re not educating people for those creative skills. Additionally, there is something about the word creativity that worries people, that makes them feel it doesn’t apply to them.
“AI solutions need to support creative thinking – not automate it.”
New service links AI to Bayes' repository of expertise
The conference, ‘The Creative Edge: AI & innovation for business leaders & consultants’, saw Bayes and CebAI launch a groundbreaking digital service that addresses some of those issues.
Business Sparks uses AI technologies to stimulate creative thinking by SMEs and consultants about business models and strategies. Bayes and CebAI have drawn on several years of their own research to design new forms of co-creative AI tools that can create novel outcomes which stimulate people to be more creative in their work. Content generated by the tools draws on the vast business expertise of Bayes academics.
Professor Maiden said: “This service means we can equip businesses with new creative thinking capabilities about their business models and strategies. Not only do these capabilities address a strategic UK need, but Business Sparks delivers it in ways that are transparent and controllable by businesses.”
Users can also tap into Bayes’ Executive Education, short courses and consultancy services.
Professor Maiden concluded: “The creativity tools that CebAI is developing will certainly give a competitive edge. If businesses apply them together with practical learning, they will benefit from powerful and long-lasting change in their business.
“AI is an impressive tool. A tool that is operated by humans. Business leaders need to invest in both humans and AI to ensure this powerful new technology delivers its full potential.”