Insight Snapshot
Welcome to the EMEA Confluence 2024 Insight Snapshot
Dive into the heart of Infosys EMEA Confluence 2024 with our real-time Insight Snapshot. Stay informed with the latest updates, key moments, inspiring quotes, highlights and takeaways from Day 1 and Day 2. Whether you’re attending in person or following along online, our live updates will keep you connected to all the action, insights, and innovations as they happen. Don’t miss a beat of this year’s most anticipated event!
Key Takeaways from Day 1
The vast and revolutionary potential of AI was painted in vivid colours - and sounds - for the audience of Confluence Europe on Day 1. However the sessions also provided pragmatic lessons in managing Enterprise AI transformations effectively, efficiently and responsibly.
Key takeaways from the diverse set of speakers included:
- AI is at its most powerful when driven by human creativity and imagination.
- Enterprise AI faces its own set of challenges and opportunities, and is distinct from Consumer AI.
- Focusing on strategy fundamentals is key when dealing with revolutionary change.
- Innovate with partners to embrace change both rapidly and responsibly.
- Most organisations are facing rapid AI driven evolutions and must bring humans along the journey to achieve a revolution.
At a time of great change, it’s important to move fast but also to ensure you have a clear strategy, an ability to bring in the best innovations, and keep humans at the centre of the transformation.
Session 1: Welcome Address
The Magic of AI came to life with stunning video footage of Venice, its buildings and people…and our on-screen master of ceremonies. Only for it then to be revealed that the whole show had been generated with a series of AI tools.
Then, coming on to stage, the real Katharina Moser revealed the various tools used that were used in combination to create this impressive illusion. From ChatGPT, Flux, and HeyGen, to Suno and Eleven labs, none of it could have been possible without human inspiration, input, and creativity.
Session 2: CEO's Address
Setting the tone for the day, Salil Parekh separated Consumer Generative AI from Enterprise Generative AI, which drives growth and productivity for business. It is here where Infosys' expertise within its clients' industries helps it make AI applicable and effective for growth as well as operational effectiveness.
Presenting multiple examples of AI success, the session also showcased how Infosys is invested in driving organic and sustainable growth in Europe.
Read moreAdditionally, it highlighted strong partnerships with technology vendors, ongoing training, and delivery strength to benefit clients in the region. Infosys’ commitment to social responsibility and sustainability was also shared, with particular mention of the partnership with Streetchild and Infosys’ ongoing leadership as a net zero company.
Speaker
Salil Parekh, CEO & MD, Infosys
Session 3: Leader’s Game Plans for a Changing World
Two businesses involved in the foundations of the digital and AI revolution – providing digital networks and de-carbonised energy – discussed with the Financial Times Innovation editor about how they think big, start small and scale fast.
Critical insights included being honest about your strengths and gaps, partnering where possible, using the AI revolution to reset and redefine work, and taking the fastest route to action.
Read moreCulture, consistency, and communication were also listed as important to bring the humans in your organization along the journey. But perhaps the best takeaway was “AI has made being a geek cool again!”
Speakers
Session 4: Turning Crisis into Opportunities: A Mission Oriented Approach
Mariana Mazzucato, a native of Venice, discussed how to re-evaluate value and transform the “meta-crises” of recession, pandemics, biodiversity collapse, and climate change into opportunities for growth. Central to her message is understanding and measuring the differences between value creation, value extraction, and value destruction.
Read moreThis understanding can be applied to stakeholder capitalism to support sustainable global growth. Mazzucato also advocated for re-evaluating public-private partnerships as “mission-driven” and learning from successful policies and business practices, rather than focusing on failures. She emphasized that while solutions are not easy, the cost of inaction is too high.
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Session 5: Navigating the Revolution: The Role of AI in Strategic Transformation
Mapping out emergence of agentic AI solutions, Rafee Tarafdar revealed how Infosys is using AI to accelerate its own efficiency and growth. Toyota’s Luis Lopez joined to explain his companies AI journey and how agents are being used to streamline processes, support decision making and amplify users. With data paucity being one of the biggest barriers to progress in AI, Cambridge professor Colm-Cille Caufield shared his approach to using complex mathematics to fill data gaps. He aims to solve problems previously considered impossible by academia and business. His University is also using AI agents to replicate the abilities of a Phd student.
Speakers
Session 6: Exploring the Creative Potential of AI with Holly+
Pushing the boundaries of art, music and intellectual property, groundbreaking artist Holly Herndon introduced the Confluence audience to her vocal twin, known as Holly+.
Using ‘Timbre Transfer’, Holly+ is an AI voice that anyone can use to perform music as Holly. As an artist and technologist, Holly Herndon challenges us all to embrace a new era of “Identity play.”
Read moreShe also encourages a new understanding of how to reconsider the boundaries and opportunities of intellectual property, collaboration, and creativity. The audience were treated to a beautiful song by artist Ruthven, who sung both their own voice, as well as the AI generated voice of Holly+.
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