1. Please can you tell us a bit about your current role at Microsoft?
I work with the state of Switzerland for Microsoft. This includes various things from licensing, technology advice, security briefings to Artificial Intelligence. The role of Account Technology Strategist is one of the broadest roles in Microsoft. I like to say that it consists roughly of 3 personae, ultimately this gives a lot of room for interpretation and two Account Technology Strategists can be really quite different in how they carry out their role. I enjoy the flexibility this gives me to learn something new every day. No two days are ever the same!
2. Could you share with a brief overview of what your keynote presentation will cover?
Artificial Intelligence is the buzz word of 2023 and the topic will not vanish in 2024. Every industry is adopting AI for efficiency gains. Why should associations be different? We will shed some light into all the myths and half-truths what AI really is. Why do we need a “Responsible” use of AI including regulations. Let’s envision the work of AI assisted associations beyond 2024.
3. What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities for associations with AI 2024 and beyond?
- Trustworthiness: Associations need to ensure that their AI systems are reliable, transparent, and ethical, and that they can explain the logic and reasoning behind their decisions and outputs. This is especially important for associations that deal with sensitive or personal data, such as health, education, or finance. Trustworthiness also involves building and maintaining member trust and confidence in the use of AI, as well as addressing potential issues of bias, discrimination, or privacy.
- Regulation: Associations need to comply with the existing and emerging regulations and standards that govern the use and development of AI, such as the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Actor the US’s Algorithmic Accountability Act. These regulations aim to ensure that AI is used in a lawful, ethical, and human-centric manner, and that it respects fundamental rights and values. Associations also need to be aware of the potential legal and reputational risks of using AI, such as data breaches, cyberattacks, or litigation.
- Innovation: Associations need to leverage the opportunities that AI offers to enhance their performance, efficiency, and competitiveness, and to create new value for their members and stakeholders. AI can help associations to improve their membership engagement, decision-making, and strategy development, as well as to provide new services, products, or insights. Associations also need to foster a culture of innovation and learning, and to invest in the skills and infrastructure needed to adopt and implement AI solutions.
4. Would you agree that the emergence of this generation of AI is arguably the most important technology development to occur in our lifetimes?
There have always been important technology innovations and it depends on your year of birth. Let’s just to give a small timeline of innovation breakthrough:
Electricity -> Semiconductors -> Internet -> Artificial Intelligence of the ChatGPT type —–> next general Quantum Computing or Artificial General Intelligence?
So, a lot of innovations depend on another breakthrough from before. The current AI systems would not be possible without all the human knowledge captured by the internet. The internet would not be possible without semiconductors and these require electricity. Nevertheless, I believe that this particular AI breakthrough will make us more productive than we have seen for decades.
5. What are you looking forward to most at next year’s Digital Excellence Conference?
To be honest. It is the People. It will be great to learn and exchange ideas, opinions with all the association delegates.
6. Why do you feel it’s important for association and membership professionals to attend Digital Excellence next year?
It is always important to exchange ideas with your peers. Take the change to go out of your bubble. Learn from their successes and failures. Be open and take the time to reflect, which you will not do at work.
7. Where is your own touch point with associations?
I have various memberships in Cybersecurity associations such as (ISC)2, ISACA and the Cloud Security Alliance. I am a volunteering unpaid worker of the Cloud Security Alliance and help to develop best practices for Zero Trust and Artificial Intelligence. In 2023, I received the Juanita Koilpillai Service Award for my volunteering support. If you want to learn more About Juanita Koilpillai Service Award | CSA (cloudsecurityalliance.org)
Digital Excellence (2024): Thursday 16th May 2024, London
The Membership Sector’s Sell-Out Annual Digital Focused Best Practice Conference
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