The rise of artificial intelligence in modern business

Artificial Intelligence is the new engine of business transformation and growth. Across industries, this technology is improving efficiency, reshaping competition, and, in many cases, completely changing how we work. 

 
Companies that once viewed AI as an experimental tool are now using it to automate tasks, analyse vast amounts of data or enhance customer experiences at scale. 

 
And the pace of adoption is breathtaking. Research from McKinsey shows that 78% of organisations globally now use AI in at least one business function, a steep rise from 72% in early 2024 and just 55% the year before. Generative AI, in particular, is making a significant impact, with 71% of organisations using it regularly. 

 
In Australia, business leaders have identified AI as the defining technology of 2025, and companies are embracing AI not only for efficiency but also for strategic advantage.  

 
AI in Action: How Industries Are Changing 

 
The impact of AI is already being felt across major industries. In healthcare, it is transforming diagnostics and patient care. Machine learning algorithms can now analyse medical images, detecting conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases earlier than traditional methods. 

 
The financial sector was among the first to adopt AI, and its presence is now deeply embedded in banking, investment, and fraud detection.   

In manufacturing, smart factories use AI-driven robotics to handle intricate tasks for predictive maintenance.  

 
Challenges of AI Adoption 

 
Despite these cases, it's not always easy for businesses to adopt the technology. Also, generative AI—the driving force behind much of today's AI revolution—comes with its own downsides.  

Unlike traditional AI models, it mimics human-like creativity and flexibility, which is great. Still, it is also less predictable and can generate incorrect information or, sometimes, completely false information, the famous hallucinations.  

Another major challenge is how to use it ethically. Organisations need to navigate issues like data privacy, algorithmic bias, AI ethics and lack of transparency. All these areas are new for most companies, and there is still a lot of uncertainty about what businesses should do.  

 
What AI Means to You 

 
If you are not a leader already facing these issues, your main question probably is what all this means to you and your career. Will AI impact what you are studying or your current job? Can you prepare for what is coming? If yes, how?  

 
The short—and not very surprising—answer is that a lot will change and that you must prepare. The good news is that almost everyone is at the beginning of this journey, and it is a great time to start.  

Now, the long answer. One of the biggest questions surrounding AI is its impact on jobs. While automation will undoubtedly eliminate some tasks and even entire jobs, it will also create new ones that require AI expertise. The reality is that AI will not simply replace workers—it will change the nature of work itself. 

 
Some companies use AI primarily as a cost-cutting tool, automating jobs to reduce workforce size. However, many forward-thinking businesses are taking a different approach, using AI to enhance productivity, develop new products, improve services and become more competitive.  

This means professionals who learn to work alongside AI—rather than compete or avoid it—will be best positioned to find jobs and succeed. 

Humans will still be central to making important decisions, using critical thinking to supervise AI. We also will be involved in many aspects of problem-solving and creativity that robots do better when guided by people.  

Those studying it and learning how to deeply integrate AI into their work will become highly valuable in an AI-driven economy.  

The Growing Demand for AI Education 

The AI-driven workplace of the future will look very different from today's. Multimodal AI—capable of simultaneously processing text, images, audio, and video—is set to become a game-changer. The AI agents will become increasingly sophisticated, handling tasks, managing processes, and even acting as workplace colleagues. 

 
The result is that AI training is no longer just for engineers or data scientists but essential for almost everyone, from business leaders and healthcare professionals to marketers and writers.  

By 2030, AI-driven automation is expected to create 200,000 new jobs and contribute $115 billion to the Australian economy alone. The impact will be felt across every industry, making AI literacy a must. 

 
Organisations that effectively integrate AI will gain a competitive edge, while professionals who embrace it will fare better in the future workforce.