The advent of AI has shifted the economy by reinventing how organizations function. While there are companies that formed because of AI, there are traditional organizations that reinvent themselves to keep up with the AI race.  

Shalini Kapoor, currently the Chief Technologist in Public Sector at AWS, along with Sameep Mehta, authored the book ‘AI for You- The New Game changer’. “Through the book, we wanted to address the fear of AI”, said Shalini in a conversation with the INDIAai Head of Content & Research, Jibu Elias. 

In Shalini’s opinion, there are multiple fears about AI. Being replaced by AI in the workspace is one of the major concerns. Through the book, the authors are trying to ensure AI will only make the way we work smarter. It also speaks about the fear of bias due to AI, practicing responsible AI, AI ethics and the fear of AI overpowering humans.  

The author divides the organizations in the time of AI into three types- AI born, which are born because of AI; AI-led, which live because of AI; and AI-enabled, which are traditional organizations which reinvent themselves using AI.  

Writing AI for You 

“There is a time for everything”, said Shalini Kapoor when asked about the journey behind penning AI for You. She stated that during her research with her co-writer, they found that currently available books about AI are highly technical, and there are business personnel who require clarifications on AI adoption.  

“In our book, we have taken the best practices in the industry”, says Shalini.  

Embracing the AI mindset 

The book also contains a framework they call ‘AI mindset’, which provides an idea on the successful introduction of AI. 

According to Shalini, there are multiple reasons for an AI to fail. “You might put in too much or less money or invest in the wrong skillsets”.  

If the organizations pass the initial stage successfully, it enters a phase of AI infusion, where AI is still growing while the organization might have already been established. There are strategies and plans to be adopted for an organization to be successful. 

Finally, once the company overcomes the roadblocks and bottlenecks in the preliminary phases, it enters a stage called ‘transformed’.  

Overcoming the challenges 

 Shalini Kapoor opined that the biggest challenge in writing AI for You was the availability of abundant data. “How do you put the information together from which people can derive value,” said Shalini speaking about the challenges she faced while writing the book. 

Shalini was grateful for INDIAai, which holds an umbrella bringing together AI experts from various sectors. “With INDIAai, it was easy to reach out to more people”, she said. 

AI for You is a book that can be applied in an Indian context. It is simultaneously adaptable to business personnel, academicians and students. While it contains strategies and frameworks for businesses, students from vivid backgrounds can learn to evolve as AI experts in their chosen fields. “AI is not just technology. It is a mindset”, said Shalini.