FOIL Disclosure #1 | Read last month’s Substack Newsletter with Mish, Head of Strategy
This is a copy of FOIL Disclosure, a monthly newsletter written by Mish Naik, Head of Strategy. To get notified of the next one a month in advance, subscribe to the FOIL Substack here.
Welcome to the very first edition of FOIL Disclosure! It’s great to have you here with us as we kick off this journey.
Each month, we'll be sharing stuff that's got us thinking, talking, and occasionally arguing (in the best possible way) here at FOIL. We're not here to bombard you with technical jargon or predict the singularity – we're much more interested in curating perspectives that help you navigate this rapidly evolving landscape in ways that actually matter to your organisation.
So, grab your drink of choice, and let's dive into what's caught our attention this month:
Is AI Just Making Things Faster, or Actually Creating Something New?
Satya Nadella recently argued that AI hasn't quite delivered substantial real-world value yet. His view, we’ll know it's working when we see proper economic growth driven by these technologies. Check it out here
Early on, McKinsey was projecting that generative AI could pump trillions into the global economy. Sounds brilliant, but some recent MIT research suggests we might need to temper our expectations a bit. McKinsey's take | MIT's perspective
Fascinating new research suggests we've been thinking about AI all wrong. Rather than viewing it as just another productivity tool (like Excel), evidence shows users are increasingly employing AI for critical thinking and complex problem-solving. The research argues that AI might function more like a teammate than a tool – improving performance, enabling expertise sharing, and creating positive collaborative experiences. This could fundamentally change how we structure teams, training programs, and even career pathways. Wharton Research Summary
Points to ponder:
What if we stopped thinking about AI as just a way to streamline what we already do? Where in your business could doors open to entirely new possibilities?
If AI is more "teammate" than "tool," how might that change your approach to implementation and team structures?
When your team talks about AI success, what does that actually look like? Are you measuring what truly matters to your customers and people?
Your People: The Real Magic Behind Data Transformation
All the algorithms in the world won't help if your team isn't on board and equipped for the journey. The Open University found that a whopping 70% of UK businesses feel their growth is being held back by gaps in data skills.
Meanwhile, McKinsey's recently published a piece discussing how organisations are chucking money at AI, but precious few have really cracked it – often because leadership teams are still finding their feet in this new territory. More from McKinsey
Points to ponder:
Who in your organisation brings a completely different perspective to the table? How might their unique viewpoint transform your approach to data challenges?
How are you supporting your leaders to build both the confidence and the practical know-how to guide your AI journey in a way that feels authentic to your organisation?
China's AI Scene: Fascinating Developments Worth Watching
There's some really interesting stuff happening in China's AI landscape. Models like DeepSeek's R1, Alibaba's QwQ-32B, and Baidu's Ernie 4.5 are giving Western models a run for their money – often at a fraction of the cost. Dive deeper here
This brings up some thought-provoking considerations:
OpenAI's raised eyebrows about DeepSeek potentially using their models to train competing systems. Financial Times report
Several American government agencies have put the brakes on using DeepSeek on their devices, citing data security worries. Reuters report
The Biden administration introduced an "AI Diffusion rule" aimed at creating a global licensing system for cutting-edge AI tech. Wired breaks it down
Points to ponder:
How do you balance tapping into global innovation while ensuring your organisation's data remains protected?
What principles guide your decisions about which AI systems align with your organisation's values?
We hope some of this has sparked a thought or two as you navigate your own data and AI journey. Remember, the most powerful transformations often begin with asking better questions – and we're right here beside you, figuring it out together.
Until next month,
Mish and the FOIL team
P.S. We'd love to hear what you think! Drop us a line with any thoughts, questions, or topics you'd like us to explore in future editions.