Are Manufacturers Acting Too Hastily in Adopting AI?

Manufacturers were among the first industries to embrace robotics. So it should come as no surprise that the sector is jumping aboard the artificial intelligence bandwagon. But is it moving too fast?

Along with the obvious benefits of AI comes a slew of uncertainties, including the potential impacts on a company’s security, reputation and regulatory stance. Says Mason Clutter, AI governance partner at the law firm of FBT Gibbons: “It’s really just a question of responsible development and employment — to strike the right balance.”

The rush to adopt AI isn’t unique to manufacturing, Clutter notes. The lure of enhancing efficiency in turbulent times is too strong for most businesses to resist. “I do think, though, that they need to question, and document the ‘why’ behind each deployment,” she says.

AI projects are often launched from the top of the corporate ladder, but those on the lower rungs aren’t always given sufficient guidance as to how and where top management intends to pursue them. Clutter says it’s vital to define specific use cases at the outset, and ask questions that will mitigate the potential risk of deploying a technology that even its creators are unsure about where it’s going.

This story was originally published by SupplyChainBrain. Read the full story at SupplyChainBrain →