The CEO’s of Broadcom and Intel Say the Quiet Part out Loud about AI and ROI

Artificial intelligence is not enough on its own, DBS CEO Tan Su Shan emphasized on October 12 at the inaugural DBS Asia Future Forward Conference. Human judgment plays a crucial role in the effective use of AI, she added. The conference, organized by DBS, aimed to explore how AI is transforming industries, business models, and the nature of work.

Tan discussed Asia's ability to apply AI for positive business and human outcomes, such as aiding the elderly, redesigning workflows, and supporting finance. She stressed that AI should not merely be applied superficially ("AI lipstick"), but rather, businesses must rethink their workflows and processes to unlock their full potential.

However, she noted that simply adding AI can only bring marginal improvements and may not fundamentally change the way companies operate.

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi also highlighted the significance of human judgment in AI usage during a panel discussion. He referenced the "paperclip example," which illustrates how AI might become overly focused on a single task at the expense of other important matters. Chew predicted that within the next two to three years, breakthroughs in physics, biotech, chemistry, and material science will occur due to AI advancements.

To ensure that AI serves human interests, Chew stressed the importance of aligning AI models and machines to uphold human moral and ethical boundaries. For now, he believes that human creativity remains vital, particularly for platforms like TikTok where AI-generated content faces skepticism from users who prefer authentic, real-world experiences.