The AI Advantage. How to Put the Artificial Intelligence Revolution to Work

by Thomas H. Davenport

Cutting through the hype, a practical guide to using artificial intelligence for business benefits and competitive advantage.

In The AI Advantage, Thomas Davenport offers a guide to using artificial intelligence in business. He describes what technologies are available and how companies can use them for business benefits and competitive advantage. He cuts through the hype of the AI craze—remember when it seemed plausible that IBM's Watson could cure cancer?—to explain how businesses can put artificial intelligence to work now, in the real world. His key recommendation: don't go for the “moonshot” (curing cancer, or synthesizing all investment knowledge); look for the “low-hanging fruit” to make your company more efficient.

Davenport explains that the business value AI offers is solid rather than sexy or splashy. AI will improve products and processes and make decisions better informed—important but largely invisible tasks. AI technologies won't replace human workers but augment their capabilities, with smart machines to work alongside smart people. AI can automate structured and repetitive work; provide extensive analysis of data through machine learning (“analytics on steroids”), and engage with customers and employees via chatbots and intelligent agents. Companies should experiment with these technologies and develop their own expertise.

Davenport describes the major AI technologies and explains how they are being used, reports on the AI work done by large commercial enterprises like Amazon and Google, and outlines strategies and steps to becoming a cognitive corporation. This book provides an invaluable guide to the real-world future of business AI.

A book in the Management on the Cutting Edge series, published in cooperation with MIT Sloan Management Review.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Nonfiction, Business, Technology, Science, Audiobook, Business Strategy

Unknown Binding

First published September 21, 2018

About the author

Tom Davenport holds the President's Chair in Information Technology and Management at Babson College. His books and articles on business process reengineering, knowledge management, attention management, knowledge worker productivity, and analytical competition helped to establish each of those business ideas. Over many years he's authored or co-authored nine books for Harvard Business Press, most recently Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning (2007) and Analytics at Work: Smarter Decisions, Better Results (2010). His byline has also appeared for publications such as Sloan Management Review, California Management Review, Financial Times, Information Week, CIO, and many others.

Davenport has an extensive background in research and has led research centers at Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Company, CSC Index, and the Accenture Institute of Strategic Change. Davenport holds a B.A. in sociology from Trinity University and M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University. For more from Tom Davenport, visit his website and follow his regular HBR blog.

Reviews

[Muromets · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the underlying message of the book was strong, but the content suffered from a lack of (in my opinion) use cases and scenarios that haven't already been heavily popularized. Many of the examples referred to Robotic Process Automation, pseudo-ML, and superficial intelligence rather than something more robust and impactful.

The book reads like a consulting discussion document, likely due to the author's involvement with Deloitte, and continuously references the same survey of individuals apparently "in the know" about AI and AI-like technologies. From that perspective, it does offer some practical application to organizations contemplating deploying "AI" initiatives in their environments.

I would say that the criticisms are fairly tame or guarded of making statements that could cut too deep, which leaves the reader (or at least this reader) grasping for more depth or insight. Decent book if you're a consultant or industry analyst looking at a broad perspective, but look elsewhere for deeper examination of AI and work.

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good practical overview for biz stakeholders fo how and where to leverage AI. It was a bit light on specifics. Also lumping RPA into the same bucket as other AI seemed a bit of a stretch. Most people looking to gain some expertise, I suspect, would not put RPA in the same category. It doesnt have the same challenges in terms of adoption.

[Remo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una estrella y media porque no es deplorable pero sí es aburridísimo. Montones de enumeraciones y autobombo constante hacen que acabe uno aborreciendo la IA. Eso y el prólogo "Creo que el mundo está listo para un libro de IA como este". Shit yourself little parrot.

[Brian Swain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the state of AI implementation in corporations and other orgs (at least as of 2018, when the book was published). Davenport also succinctly covers issues of social responsibility and, most importantly, the critical process improvement and change management issues attending any serious AI implementation.

[Alex S]

На случай, если кому-то тоже интересно, о чем на самом деле шла речь там, где в русском переводе появляются “кустарные” аналитические модели, сообщаю: в оригинале были “artisanal” analytical models, то есть аналитические модели, созданные вручную мастерами ремесла.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good focus on how AI influences business strategy.

[Victor Radebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

AI

I enjoyed the deep learning about artificial intelligence but somewhere along the line it got too technical for me. But still a great book.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book on applications of AI now and in future. Very easy to read even for people with little background in information technology.

[Alagappan AL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read, this book explores the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

[Visa o · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thinking, not much new.

[Soulllink · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book about dirt on beach. Complete waste of time. Example of over bloat essey.

[Remi Ojo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty cursory overview.
Thomas advises on many companies and he won't let you forget it....

[A Hu · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 years old and already outdated

[DoGG · Rating 2 out of 5]

AI is a group of cognitive technologies aimed at knowledge work processes within an organization. Overall, will likely follow Amara’s Law – short-term benefits, long term revolution.

Covers three key areas (RPA, cognitive insights, and cognitive engagement), why movement has been limited so far, and the potential effects on the future workforce.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing scary about AI, but somehow, Thomas Davenport made it quite an intimidating portent of things to come (and of some things as they currently are).

I did enjoy how he explored the many ways AI - used in varying complexities and by companies of differing maturities - can augment us human beings, and transform the future of work, commerce, and industries.

Note: This was from my 2019 reading list, and the words are from my thoughts back then. Minor grammatical edits may have been applied.

[Lena Tran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like the book could’ve been 50 pages. A lot of the points made were repeated and the writing was just not good. I’m sure that there are better books discussing AI out there