Medical device manufacturer Medtronic is taking an ambitious approach to integrating artificial intelligence across its operations. The company has tasked every department with devising ways to leverage AI for enhancing productivity and improving patient care. This initiative has already generated over 200 ideas from employees, with several receiving initial internal funding.
Ken Washington, Medtronic’s senior vice president and chief technology and innovation officer, emphasized the importance of involving the entire workforce in AI implementation. He believes that success hinges on widespread participation rather than relying solely on a small group of AI experts.
Medtronic’s reach extends to more than 74 million patients annually, underscoring the potential impact of AI integration on healthcare delivery. The company has already deployed AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and an internal version of ChatGPT called MedtronicGPT to boost employee productivity.
Beyond internal efficiency, Medtronic is prioritizing AI investments that directly benefit patients. Examples include using AI to improve polyp detection during colonoscopies and reduce false positives in cardiac monitoring. Washington sees these applications as just the beginning of AI’s potential to transform patient outcomes.
Industry-wide, Accenture reports that while 90% of companies are exploring AI capabilities, less than a third are building the necessary infrastructure for success. Even fewer are achieving their targeted value from AI investments. Muqsit Ashraf, Accenture’s group chief executive of strategy, notes that many companies are adopting a scattered approach to AI implementation rather than developing structured use cases.
In the public sector, California’s state government is harnessing AI to enhance both employee workflows and citizen services. Projects include an AI-powered chatbot for the Department of Motor Vehicles and a collaboration with UC San Diego to develop AI for smoke detection and forest fire prevention.
Liana Bailey-Crimmins, California’s state chief information officer, stresses the importance of considering not just financial returns but also human impact and policy implications when implementing AI. The state is open to various AI solutions, including those addressing traffic, climate change, and construction planning.
In the private sector, beauty and personal care company Natura & Co categorizes AI use cases into two groups: “everyday AI” for employee productivity and “change the game AI” for broader impacts on production, customers, and the environment. Chief Information Officer Renata Marques emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to AI implementation, addressing data usage, engineering, governance, and strategy.
Natura is focused on measuring AI investments, objectives, and results, recognizing that without tangible business outcomes, AI initiatives risk becoming mere experiments. Marques stresses the importance of collaboration between technical experts and those less familiar with AI’s complexities.
Accenture highlights that technology costs typically account for only 30% of AI spending, with the majority going towards training, hiring, and change management. Medtronic has invested significantly in educating employees about AI’s capabilities and limitations to combat hype and misunderstanding.
As AI continues to evolve, experts emphasize that successful implementation requires more than just technological adoption. It necessitates a transformative approach to reimagine business processes and working methods, ultimately unlocking the full potential of AI across industries.