AUGUST 2020CIOAPPLICATIONSEUROPE.COM8IN MYOPINIONver since Artificial Intelligence (AI) shifted from simply being hype to a tangible business asset, fears among workforces worldwide have grown. A common argument against technology is that it could cost workforces their jobs. Recent research Oracle conducted with the Otto Beisheim School of Management shows nearly a quarter of employees worldwide are worried in that respect. But these fears are born out of a perception that machine must be versus man, rather than considering the possibilities of their amalgamation. But the opposite is the reality; just as we need light and dark, fire and water, hot and cold, there is strong evidence that businesses need both people and AI to thrive in the current climate. As the old Chinese proverbs suggest, there is magic in two contrary forces coming together to create a balance that is needed for survival. So, rather than seeing the two at war, let us consider the possibilities of man and machine in a dualism akin to Yin and Yang. Adapt and thriveBusinesses have never needed to be more adaptable, set up to react to a consumer, economic, and societal changes at the drop of a hat. Expectations of consumers are changing, and being as agile as possible is critical in providing the level of service they require. It's in this new environment that we are seeing different skill sets coming into fruition. As employees' roles evolve and change, organizations need Man and Machine: a Dualism like Yin and YangBY DEBBIE GREEN, VP OF APPLICATIONS, ORACLE [NYSE: ORCL]technology to enable this way of working. And this is where AI set foot in, as a supplement to enhance and abet human skills, rather than replacing them.From finance and HR to marketing, sales, and the supply chain, AI is supporting the reshaping of traditional roles, teams, and departments. AI can improve decision making. It can accelerate processes. It can drive efficiencies. And, most importantly, as it can take care of the more routine parts of any job, it can allow business users to focus their time, energy, and passion on activities at which humans excel, such as creativity, problem-solving, and invention. Each organization holds a vast amount of data across its systems, which needs to be analyzed securely to both get the best insights but also to adhere to strict regulations. Sometimes human error cannot guarantee that. Striking the perfect balanceThe key principle of Yin and Yang is that all things exist as inseparable opposites. And that is the key here--AI is the Yang to the human Yin--it excels at repetitive, lower level tasks and analysis, while people are free to make the E
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