Devon must not 'fall behind' in AI revolution

Businesses in Devon need to act now to avoid falling behind in the artificial intelligence revolution, according to business leaders.

The boss of Devon Chamber of Commerce said less than 20% of businesses in Devon were actively using AI and that figure needed to increase.

The chamber's CEO, Helen Wylde-Archibald, said areas such as manufacturing and tourism that were prevalent in the South West were typically much slower to adapt to new technology.

She was speaking at the Digital Devon event organised by the chamber and held at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay which attracted hundreds of business people keen to learn more about the challenges and the benefits of using AI.

Wylde-Archibald told people attending the conference it was "not too late" but "starting on that journey this year is really important".

She said it was important to remember AI was "just a tool" that could vastly improve productivity.

Wylde-Archibald also wants to see a pledge from businesses in Devon to ensure AI is used ethically and "putting people first".

She acknowledged concerns about potential job losses but said the AI revolution would lead to changes in the jobs market with new jobs also being created.

The chamber has launched a guide for businesses to take them through the various steps towards using AI including issues like connectivity, training and cyber security.

Gemma Boss is a director of Exeter-based Chalk and Ward marketing company, which is already using AI to increase productivity and deliver a better service.

She said: "The massive thing about it is that efficiency - so we're creating bespoke AI solutions which will hopefully help free up at least 20% of our time.

"That will then give us back that ability to focus on our own business and create that added value for our clients."

Legal firms are one of the professions wrestling with how to use AI and what the consequences will be.

Mick Savage, chief operating officer at CWC Solicitors - which has offices across Devon, said: "Internally we're using AI to improve processes, simplify the landscape and improve the client experience."

He said his firm was using AI to carry out simple tasks or administrative tasks which allowed staff "to spend more time dealing with clients".

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