Last week, I, along with over 12 students from the University of Edinburgh Business School, had the privilege of attending the 4th Annual Business Innovation Summit in London, organised by Economist Impact. As the President of the Accessible AI Society at the University, this was an amazing opportunity for me to engage in corporate AI dialogue. Our society advocates for enhanced student accessibility and engagement in AI, so this event was a tremendous chance to learn more about the business of AI and to represent the Business School and University student body.
I am grateful to the Student Development team for sponsoring our attendance and for their support around the event. I learned a ton by taking part – both about networking and about AI. Here are a few memorable quotes that hit home for me at the event:
Dušan Šenkypl, Interim CEO of Groupon, made an impactful statement that reshaped my understanding of AI's influence on the workforce: "Jobs aren’t being taken by AI, they’re being taken by people who can leverage AI." This perspective shift emphasises the importance of adapting to AI, rather than fearing job displacement.
Daniel Shapero, the COO of LinkedIn, shared invaluable advice for hiring managers: "When you’re hiring… build a team of AI literate employees." His words serve as a powerful reminder that familiarity with AI tools is increasingly becoming a fundamental skill in today’s job market.
Reflecting on the Innovation Summit, one thing became clear: feeling "behind" in the conversation about AI is more common than it seems. Despite the polished narratives prevalent on social media, many continue to grapple with understanding the full scope of AI. It's a path of constant learning and exploration.
My key takeaway? It’s crucial to take those initial steps toward engaging with AI. Starting simple is fine, but the important thing is to start now.
Embracing AI today is a chance to stand out tomorrow.