Lab49

Join Lab49’s Global Head of Design Anna Hegarty and Senior UX Designer Jonny Grass as they discuss how Lab49's UX Scorecard can help business and technology leaders identify key shortcomings in their existing products and offer strategic insight into where to invest, from quick wins to large-scale overhauls or enhancements. Key topics to be discussed include: ▶ What we’ve observed with the UX Scorecard and finding the best way to proceed  ▶ Our formula for evaluating existing products and providing actionable recommendations  ▶ Why the UX Scorecard works  ▶ Components of the UX Scorecard   ▶ Client success story of it in action Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eBt7fcX8

There was never much question that Generative AI would transform our lives. From when it was announced in October 2022, it was clear that the ability to generate text and images, along with an almost magical capability to process large volumes of information, opened up a completely new paradigm. What wasn’t immediately clear was how it would happen. First movers with GenAI, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others built frontier large language models. With both text and creative applications such as image, audio, and video generation, users were expected to submit queries to get results. That led to mixed results. Apple has approached the implementation of GenAI from a different perspective. Lab49’s Yiannis Antoniou, Head of Data and AI, says Apple’s strategy offers a better framework to understand how AI will transform the application landscape. In an interview with AI Magazine Yiannis explained: “Apple has made a very conscious decision not to compete in the foundation model arena by equipping its devices with powerful, state-of-the-art SLMs (Small Language Models) that can run fully on-device.“ Apple’s strategy is significant for two reasons: First, AI models that are designed to run on local devices offer “clear privacy, security, and ethical guardrails.” It pushes “the cost and ease-of-use of AI into the hands of the users.” Second, integrating AI capabilities into existing applications and products native to iOS means that consumers will be more likely to use the features and reap the benefits as part of their daily routine. What does this look like in practice? In Apple’s case, it means that AI features such as text summarization, photo enhancements, document analysis and other day-to-day tasks will be available within those native applications and appear as micro-interactions within a task.  It doesn’t require switching to a different app or chat window to get the help you need. Integrating at the task level, and not the app level, will create so-called “agentic workflows” where task-specific agents work together in systems to streamline a user’s workflow. Apple Intelligence’s integration with Apple Mail includes identification, summarization, and prepared responses for priority emails. We’ve explored and shared about similar opportunities in sellside trading, where agentic workflows in trading desktops would match proprietary research with client preferences to streamline and enhance a trader’s ability to offer market color in the morning. Similarly, these agents could provide end-of-day wraps and next best actions from IB chats or other channels. The beauty of this model is that agents are reusable, for example the prioritization and summarization agents can be recycled across other relevant apps and contexts.  Reimagining UX through this lens will create the seemingly magical, anticipatory experiences that came with the promise of AI long ago.

Yiannis Antoniou, Lab49's Head of Data and AI, recently led a panel of experts from AWS, QXQ and the United Nations in discussing Responsible AI and its application for financial services.   The panel agreed that proper governance and regulatory frameworks are needed to ensure that AI is aligned with the values and laws of the company, community, and society in which it operates. Additionally, the panelists discussed the need to ensure transparency and accountability and address issues such as bias and hallucinations.   To watch the webinar on YouTube, click on the link below.   #ReponsibleAI #Webinar

Digital transformation requires companies to leverage data effectively. This was clear in our recent webinar, hosted by Lab49’s Kelly A., with two industry experts, Beth Pollack, an Operating Partner at Decision Science Advisors and Julia C. Carreon, Co-Founder of Rejuvna and the former Global Head of Wealth Platforms & Experiences at Citi bank. Pollack and Carreon shared their experiences and insights on the role of data in driving towards business outcomes, and the critical role of leadership in enabling these large-scale initiatives. Carreon highlighted the significance of planning and understanding data intricacies, "projects fail when you try to eat the elephant whole. In order to run fast, you have to start slow," she said. She also stressed the need for ongoing data management and governance, noting that “firms should be managing their data hygiene on a continuous basis."                                      Attril emphasized the foundational role of data in digital businesses, highlighting the need for rapid and precise decision-making.  Carreon added that "smaller, more agile shops are going to be able to compete in different ways if they've got their data landscape under control”. Pollack focused on the importance of having a clear strategy. "The number one thing with data is resiliency,” she said. “Success or failure with transformation depends on riding through the bumps in the road and solutioning through them." KEY POINTS ➡ The financial services industry continues to embrace technology but still requires digital upskilling across all levels and functions ➡ There's a growing expectation for business leaders to understand data and technology. Increasingly, C-suite executives are being drawn from these parts of the business ➡ 70% or more of digital transformations in financial services fail, often due to inadequate planning and leadership involvement ➡ Successful data initiatives require clear communication of value and expectations, as well as incremental wins ➡ The Holy Grail of hyper-personalization at scale remains an aspiration for many firms, with significant potential for those who achieve it ➡ Most FS organizations still struggle with siloed data, preventing a holistic view of their clients across different products and services ➡ Smaller firms can still compete by leveraging their proprietary data and ensuring that data is managed effectively (Please find a link to the recording in the comments) #DigitalTransformation #DataManagement #FinancialServices #Leadership #WebinarHighlights

"Apple’s AI initiatives mark the beginning of the next wave of Gen AI transformation, upending the industry by taking the Gen AI revolution to the mass market in one fell swoop."   Lab49's Head of Data, AI, and Analytics, Yiannis Antoniou, spoke to AI Magazine on the impact of Apple's integration with OpenAI's GPT-4o.   For more on what this means for the industry, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eArJMci5   #Apple #GenerativeAI #Innovation

In an article for Data Management Insight, from A-Team Group, Lab49’s Strategy and Advisory Practice Head Kelly A. explores how an effective data strategy can unlock innovation.   A data strategy aligned with business goals can help firms streamline risk management, enhance services and improve client satisfaction.   You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eJN-btik   #Data #Innovation #Transformation

Lab49's Head of AI, Data and Analytics Yiannis Antoniou recently contributed to an article in Global Finance Magazine on how GenAI is revolutionizing banking in the Gulf.   While GenAI promises vast improvements to the Gulf's banking sector, such as improved customer relationship management, fraud detection and other back-office functions, in order to avoid added complexity and inefficiency, there is a need to address cultural and legal issues in the development of AI tools and establish a cohesive cross-border Islamic finance network.    You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eSS8SUZR   #GenAI #Banks #Gulf 

Read Lab49's Head of Data and AI Yiannis Antoniou's thoughts on Meta's release of Llama 3.1, what it means for the state of AI, and the ramifications for the industry.

Join Lab49’s Head of Data and AI Yiannis Antoniou as he leads a panel discussion on Responsible AI, its definition, implications, and importance for the Financial Services Industry and society as a whole. Joining Yiannis will be Denis V. Batalov (Worldwide Technical Leader, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, AWS), Lambert Hogenhout (Chief Data and AI, United Nations), and Tirath Virdee (Chief Scientist, QXQ). Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eRrRJ3hN

Looking forward to tomorrow when former Global Head of Wealth Platform & Experiences at Citi Wealth Julia C. Carreon and Operating Partner, Applied AI and Data Strategy at Decision Science Advisors Beth Pollack will join Lab49's Kelly A. to discuss successful data transformations. Registration link in the comments!