Mischa Dohler

In the rush to harness AI, telecoms and other industries might be overlooking the biggest threat: customer mistrust. If data privacy isn't prioritized, AI could do more harm than good. AI's promise of personalized services must thus be balanced with robust data protection strategies. To satisfy stakeholders, telecoms need to implement AI that not only adheres to privacy laws but also builds customer trust by being transparent about data usage and ensuring secure, scalable solutions. It is about making AI a force for good while mitigating risks. Let’s lead the industry by proving that advanced technology and uncompromised privacy can - and must - coexist!

AI will render many telco roles obsolete, but ... ... it will also create new ones and accelerate a large set of legacy roles. The industry's future belongs to those who adapt and leverage AI to redefine their skill sets. Instead of fearing job loss, telco professionals should focus on mastering AI tools that enhance productivity and create new value. There are so many free resources out there to learn: youtube, x, nvidia, microsoft, deeplearning, etc. And remember: do not only watch videos but apply your knowledge and break things. Happy tinkering!

Entrepreneurship is on life support, sad to say. We romanticize innovation! Yet, most startups are merely survival strategies in a broken start-up system. I feel it is time to disrupt the very culture of disruption: embrace true risk-taking, not the safe bets disguised as innovation. In 2024, the winners won’t just adapt. They will redefine the rules entirely. Heed my words!

GenAI/AI - Your Secret Weapon or Your Downfall? As a telco exec, I have seen AI revolutionize our industry. Yet, it is not about the tech; rather, about your team. Ditch the hype; show real results! Address fears head-on. Involve your team in the AI journey. Let them own it. Lead by example. Use AI tools daily. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Remember, AI isn't magic. It's a powerful tool that amplifies human potential. Preach & practice that, and watch your team transform from skeptics to innovators.

Telco urgently needs business innovation! Take a leaf out of our CEO’s play book: big bet by acquiring Vonage for $6bn. Did we overpay? Sure! Yet, this bold move put telco-API business innovation into motion. For the first time, we have a viable path to monetisation of telco infra. To summarize: business innovation first, then people innovation (upskilling, onboarding) and then tech innovation (AI, etc).

This is not what is happening right now, sorry. Sitting in Silicon Valley, I awake to new and often breakthrough AI news every single day. What I see are "short-term AI burnouts" and not "long-term AI burnouts". The real issue is how to deal with the constantly moving goal posts when it comes to AI and GenAI.