Generative AI: Fiction and reality

Governments want to work on what matters, and have a positive impact on the communities they serve. But delivering on that promise is complex, and often challenging. And while emerging technologies offer tantalizing promise, sometimes it's hard to distinguish fiction from reality.

Generative AI is no exception. In the last year, algorithms that can converse, reason, speculate, understand voice and images, generate art, and solve problems have gone from science fiction to a tap on our phones and a click on our screens.

But you're right to have questions: How does it work? How can it be incorporated into service delivery? What are the ethical and legal risks for early adopters?

Examples of how powerful AI can be are everywhere. Consider, for example, how Avanade partnered with SSE Renewables to create a wildlife tracking and modeling tool atop Microsoft AI and Azure (video here) that ensured wind farms wouldn't impact Puffin habitats.

With decades of experience navigating waves of new technology, Avanade CTO Aaron Reich has the background to guide us through the uncharted waters of AI. In this open conversation with FWD50 chair Alistair Croll, he'll bring modern AI to life with concrete examples, sharing lessons learned from his work with some of the largest public- and private-sector organizations in the world.