Bryce Coonce, vice president of business development with Xobee Networks in Fresno, highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern business operations at the Rotary Club of Fresno Monday. Photo by Ben Hensley

Last Monday, business and community leaders at the Rotary Club of Fresno were given the opportunity to learn about an entity directly affecting the lives and businesses of people nationwide, and some of the practical applications that could result from the continued evolution and development of the technology.

Bryce Coonce, vice president of business development with Xobee Networks in Fresno, highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern business operations. Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Coonce emphasized that AI is no longer science fiction but has become a reality that is fundamentally altering the way businesses function.

“It’s changing the foundation of business,” Coonce added.

However, while AI offers numerous advantages, he acknowledged that this technological revolution raises concerns, many of which were addressed during his presentation.

 

Impact on the workforce

One of the primary concerns for businesses worldwide is the potential for AI to displace jobs.

“To be honest, it is somewhat of a big concern,” Coonce said.

The extent of this issue depends on how businesses choose to incorporate AI into their operations.

With the continued development of AI as a product and business assistant in many industries, Coonce urged business leaders to view AI as a tool rather than a threat to employment — a tool that, if used properly, has the potential to exponentially increase employee productivity and output.

“Something that can take a programmer weeks or months to do can be done in under an hour,” he said. “AI can do it for you, but it’s all about how you use it in your business.”

Coonce said that businesses should not fear AI taking over roles, but instead, embrace its potential to augment their workforce.

“AI was written by a human — therefore there are errors; it’s very important that we remember that,” he said, reminding those in attendance that ultimately, workforces will always be necessary to some capacity, even with the continued evolution of the technology.

 

Be vigilant, be wary

Despite the potential positives, early in his presentation, Coonce discussed the dangers posed by AI-driven technologies like Deepfake, which can manipulate video footage to make it appear that someone is saying or doing something they never did.

“You could have the president of the United States up here talking and it’s you the entire time, and no one knows,” he said.

While the technology is undeniably convincing, Coonce warned that its potential for misuse is high.

He stressed that businesses and individuals must approach such technologies with caution, as they could easily be weaponized for misinformation.

Despite the threat of Deepfake and other potentially malicious applications, the technology is under and will likely continue to undergo increased scrutiny in production and application, with laws and regulations already being put in place to curb the potential dangers of an AI-driven online presence.

Coonce added that AI, in many cases, is being used to combat malicious AI programs, citing the recent CrowdStrike incident which shut down a large number of Microsoft servers across the world. He said that the issue that took place, while not confirmed, very well could have been a virus or malicious program initiated by AI.

AI, however, is approaching potential threats in a similar manner to that which the health care industry approaches emerging diseases — there is no way to learn how to handle a problem without first seeing the problem arise.

 

Training AI

Coonce also touched on how businesses should approach AI integration, explaining that AI needs to be trained and customized to meet the unique needs of different organizations.

Think of commonly used software like Microsoft Word; while Word is a versatile tool used across industries, it is not specifically tailored to any one business, requiring companies to develop their own templates and uses.

In many cases, AI falls into the same vein — necessitating customization in various industries in order to work at peak efficiency.

From chatbots to customer service, AI can be applied across various sectors, but it requires careful training and management to perform effectively.

“Some of the big ISPs out there — chatting with their chatbots — they can be very rude and very frustrating,” Coonce noted. He explained that this is why it is essential for businesses to tailor AI to their specific needs. “You have to tailor it to what your business wants.”

Coonce used the example of Starbucks’ AI-driven ordering system called “Deep Brew.” This system considers factors like weather patterns to adjust its product offerings, recommending hot drinks during cold weather and cold drinks during hot weather.

 

Security concerns

While practical applications in business can make one’s mouth water at the potential possibilities, security repeatedly reemerged as a major focus of Coonce’s talk.

Coonce explained that his company uses Sophos, a security platform that provides network firewalls, antivirus software, and other tools.

Unlike traditional systems, Sophos uses AI to actively seek out potential security threats and maintain system protection.

The way that AI handles viruses on a computer system, in many ways, is similar to how it is handled in medicine — when new illnesses arise in the medical field, they are labeled as “novel” illnesses, forcing doctors, scientists and health care professionals to essentially learn as they go when it comes to treating illness.

Computer viruses, even those developed or detected by AI, operate in a similar manner.

“A good example of this is Cryptovirus,” he said. “It would get on your computer and encrypt all of your files, and you’d have to pay a ransom.”

When Cryptovirus first emerged, antivirus software struggled to keep up with new versions, as they weren’t in the database.

Coonce said the AI utilized in Sophos, however, goes beyond scanning files — it analyzes what files are doing.

“If it encrypts files, the AI software utilized by BCT shuts that program down,” Coonce said.

He stressed that using AI to enhance security is crucial in today’s increasingly automated world, where threats can emerge without direct targeting.

“AI is already automated; somebody doesn’t have to be targeting you anymore — you’re on a list,” he said. Coonce emphasized the importance of staying ahead of cyber threats by leveraging AI to secure business operations.

 

Looking forward

As AI continues to evolve, Coonce stressed that businesses need to be proactive in understanding and incorporating this technology into their operations. Whether it’s enhancing customer service, improving security, or optimizing workflows, AI has the potential to revolutionize industries.

Coonce also made it clear that businesses must tread carefully, ensuring that AI is used ethically and responsibly.

“AI is still learning and developing day by day,” he said, adding that with the right approach, companies can harness its power to drive success while mitigating the risks.

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This story was written with assistance from ChatGPT — an AI-driven virtual assistant developed by OpenAi.