Microsoft Ignite 2024 Event Highlights: Implementing AI Responsibly and Securely

Authored by

Published on

Dec 6, 2024

Hear from Sam Dover, Global AI Strategy Lead Unilever

"With Holistic AI, we’ve ensured compliance for over 200 AI use cases, mitigating risks in 50% of them. Governance has enabled us to scale responsibly, boosting trust across the board."

- Sam Dover, Global AI Assurance & Strategy Lead

Unilever’s Success Story:

Over 300 AI use cases deployed across their operations, from marketing to supply chain optimization.
The use of AI assurance frameworks has ensured alignment with global regulations, including the EU AI Act.
A cross-functional AI Center of Excellence in London supports scalability and innovation.

Key Highlights from the Talks

1. Addressing Challenges in AI Deployment

80% of AI projects fail to scale, and 50% of organizations cite risks and lack of processes as the main barriers.
Key challenges include:
Lack of a clear ROI realization plan.
Absence of frameworks for testing and reporting.
Gaps in end-user trust and understanding of AI systems.
Regulatory hurdles such as the EU AI Act and over 200 state-level AI bills in the U.S.

2. Proven Business Benefits of AI Governance

The adoption of AI governance platforms delivers measurable impact:

50–60% faster AI deployment into production, unlocking business value.
25–40% reduction in wasted spend by proactively identifying and addressing risks.
Increased customer trust ratings and regulatory compliance scores by 30%.

Adriano Koshiyama, Co-Founder of Holistic AI mentioned that:

"Without structured governance, businesses face mounting barriers, from trust issues to regulatory fines. Governance transforms AI into a scalable, impactful tool."

3. Solutions to Accelerate AI Adoption

Holistic AI’s Governance Platform provides:

A management hub offering transparency and control over both internal and third-party AI systems.
A focus on risk mitigation, addressing issues like bias, privacy, and security.
Tools to establish a common framework for testing and ensuring compliance across the organization.

As Adriano Koshiyama concluded:

"By embedding governance, businesses can reduce ethical incidents by 40% and position themselves as leaders in AI innovation."

Key Takeaways for Businesses

Establish an AI Center of Excellence

Ensure alignment with business goals and foster an AI-driven mindset

Invest in Governance Early

Build trust, minimize risks, and accelerate ROI on AI investments

Govern Across the Full AI Lifecycle

Leverage purpose-built solutions designed for the complexity and scale of AI

Download our comments here

Videos sourced from Microsoft Ignite 2024.

DISCLAIMER: This news article is for informational purposes only. This blog article is not intended to, and does not, provide legal advice or a legal opinion. It is not a do-it-yourself guide to resolving legal issues or handling litigation. This blog article is not a substitute for experienced legal counsel and does not provide legal advice regarding any situation or employer.