ScotlandIS CEO Karen Meechan recently had an article published in The Herald around the strategic position Scotland could take as a global leader in AI, if we only take the time to apply it in an impactful way and not adopt it without understanding how it serves your business.
From self-driving cars and robotic surgical assistants to cartoon action figures and tragic Willy Wonka ‘experiences’, for better or worse, artificial intelligence (AI) can do some truly amazing things. With its potential to revolutionise how people across the world live and work, it’s no surprise that many of us have been quick off the mark to adopt these tools. AI represents a huge opportunity for Scotland’s economy, and we have everything in place to take full advantage. However, in today’s technology-driven society, it’s keep up or fall behind and, increasingly, Scotland is at risk of losing touch with the leaders.
With a unique combination of innovation, world-leading academic institutions and government backing, Scotland has been researching AI for more than 60 years. In fact, in the 1980s, the University of Edinburgh was one of the first places in the world to have a standalone AI department – long before it was mainstream. So, it’s no surprise that Edinburgh was ranked among the top AI-powered cities of the future by Deloitte – the only UK city to be included. But, despite this recognition, a clear gap remains between how many people are experimenting with the more frivolous aspects of the technology and how many are drilling down into some of the truly impactful uses. In our most recent technology industry report, 61% of Scottish respondents told us they have adopted AI in some form or another, but only 7% saw themselves as leaders in it. Despite its heritage in AI research, Scotland has not done enough to keep up with new global leaders in the technology. If we don’t do more to support a burgeoning sector that Scottish innovation helped make possible, we risk missing out on the rewards for that work.
As the dust begins to settle, people are realising AI isn’t going to solve every problem. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, it’s important not to jump into the newest, shiniest AI innovation without considering whether it’s really going to be helpful. Without having a clear understanding of what you want to get out of AI – you can end up wasting a lot of time and money.
The only way to make the most of the technology is to understand what you’re trying to achieve. From there, you can be more selective – choosing the right tools for what you need.
AI adoption is part of a much broader picture – one that could determine whether Scotland leads or lags in the global AI race.
If slow adoption rates continue, Scotland risks becoming a consumer of innovations built elsewhere, despite having the talent and potential to shape them at home. Smarter, faster adoption – grounded in the right skills and strategic intent – could be the
key to ensuring Scotland thrives in an increasingly tech-driven global economy. However, this technology is moving faster than anything we’ve seen before, that means Scotland has to jump on this opportunity now – before it’s too late.