AGLX

How do you maximise the chances of success for wine research in New Zealand? Get a diverse range of representatives from research institutions and wineries in the same room at Wellington Airport to discuss: - Contrasting views on the key elements and dynamics of the wine research landscape and the possibilities and costs of positive change - What both industry and researchers offer and need from each other and how we can connect better - Focus areas for research and indicators of success and failure. I had the pleasure of facilitating a Wine Research Strategy workshop last week on behalf of Bragato Research Institute to enable some useful conversations that generated valuable insights. Looking forward to finalising the BRI Wine Research Strategy in the next couple of months to provide focus for wine research and clarity on BRI’s role in connecting the wine industry to researchers to enable a more valuable and resilient NZ wine industry. Thanks to Juliet Ansell and Ngarita Warden from BRI for initiating this work. Thanks to the participants who thoroughly engaged in the process and special mention to Andrew Waterhouse for flying over to join us as an expert from UC Davis.

6 Degrees Media AI conference - The good, the bad, and the ugly I was recently invited to attend Auckland's 6 Degrees Media AI conference. The exclusivity reminded me of Groucho Marx's quip, “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.” It was nice to run into clients and former colleagues. I am always suspicious of conferences that promise the ‘future of x’. You can’t know the future of x. This is especially true when x=AI. Most speakers were smart enough to realize that the future of AI is indeterminate. The Good. It was a well-run conference, thanks to 6 Degrees Media. Adam Spencer is a great MC and kept the panelists sharp with his eclectic mix of insightful commentary and non-sequiturs. A good MC should have more than a passing knowledge of the subject. Adam knows his stuff. I liked the theme of exploration - learning by doing. Many panelists shared their experiences and encouraged others to do the same. I noted some senior banking people nodding wisely at this idea. I wonder if they have the desire or courage needed to enable the experimentation that would benefit the NZ banking sector? The focus on ethics was excellent. I use the simple idea of the sandwich to (hopefully) constrain AI to ethical standards. AI is sandwiched between two groups of humans. The first figures out how AI is going to support the strategic intent and how to safeguard it from an ethical perspective. The second ensures that the result is fit for purpose and meets expectations set by the first. The Bad As expected, the certainty merchants were over-promising. AI is undoubtedly beneficial. We saw some effective use cases for AI giving customers context-specific advice. It can provide a steer on vexing questions like ‘Can I put a baby in the overhead bin on a plane?’ but tactfully avoids the correct answer: If you have to ask, you shouldn’t be breeding. However, in any complex system predictability is limited. This is a feature of the system, not a feature of the technology or person used to analyse the system. AI won’t change this fact. Vendors and advisors need to understand and acknowledge the limits of prediction. The Ugly Many organisations are using AI for analysis. AI is trained on historical information. Embedded in this is The Conventional Wisdom—outdated ideas that are unchallenged and accepted as truth. I have seen many iterations of AI for business analysis that provide outputs such as SWOT analysis and Likelihood / Consequence tables. We are wrapping old ideas in modern technology. The certainty merchants love it; they look like leaders but don’t have to change. Clients can’t see the difference because the old ideas are hidden from view. AGLX.com To adopt a curious approach to AI, look at the AGLX ICE Innovation® framework. Enable experimentation but avoid potentially catastrophic risk. For governance, have a look at our Risk Appetite work. This sets authentic guard rails for ethical AI experimentation. Steve, AGLX.

I'm excited to attend the Electricity Engineers' Association of New Zealand conference in Christchurch next week! While I’m not an electrical engineer, at AGLX we’ve been working with industry members to develop adaptive strategies and build adaptive capacity. I’m keen to connect with leaders in electricity businesses who recognise the need for an adaptive approach to create value and resilience in a rapidly changing industry. What am I hoping to learn? While there will no doubt be interesting technology solutions, I’ll be listening closely for how people are navigating the sector's ongoing tensions. These aren’t straightforward problems but ones that need to be managed based on each business's unique context. Three key areas I’m particularly interested in: 1. Pace of Change – What are people’s experiences with the speed of change? In the sector, what is moving quickly and what’s slowing down? How are businesses driving change while also responding to external shifts? 2. Customer Centricity – How are businesses understanding customer needs and attitudes towards different elements of the sector? How do they offer solutions that are beneficial but your average electricity consumer may not even know exist? 3. Strategic Decision-Making – Are businesses relying solely on analysis to understand the environment, or are they experimenting to explore new possibilities? Send me a message if you'd like to catch up at a coffee break! https://lnkd.in/gXetcyZm

Depth. This recent post on #OODA by our AGLX colleague Mark McGrath shows the depth to which John Boyd went in his thinking and his research before producing his OODA framework (Its not a loop!). This is a really good start if you are interested in how to apply OODA to enhance decision making. It is a reminder for those who insist on over simplifying with linear frameworks disguised as loops - authenticity matters. https://lnkd.in/gAc26UJp