HBR On Strategy

You Need a Generative AI Strategy

Dec 6, 2023

In this episode, Microsoft's Head of Strategy and a Harvard Business School professor discuss the emerging value chains and competitive risks of generative AI. They highlight the potential of this technology to create new products and services, and explore the strategic choices and cost structures associated with it. They also discuss the role of middle managers and the opportunities and challenges for technology providers in the generative AI market.

36:37

Episode guests

Chris Young

Andy Wu

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Generative AI has the potential to transform businesses by creating new products and services.

Companies must balance innovation with responsible and safe AI implementation when incorporating generative AI into their strategies.

Deep dives

The transformative potential of generative AI

Generative AI is being recognized as a truly transformative technology with the potential to change the tech landscape and benefit humanity as a whole. Unlike previous technologies, the impact and practical applications of generative AI are widely acknowledged and expected to be game-changing. It is seen as a leader's responsibility to understand and manage the risks and opportunities associated with generative AI, even if it is a technology that is not fully understood by many.

Democratizing Access to Technology Through Strategy

01:05

Considerations for Building or Buying AI Models

02:21

Insights on the impact of AI on industries and leadership

02:32

Introduction

3min

The Impact of Generative AI on Business and Society

12min

Navigating the Strategic Choices of Generative AI

2min

Cost Structure and Sophistication in Generative AI

9min

The Role of Middle Managers in the Age of Generative AI

2min

The Perspective of a Technology Provider

12min

ChatGPT dominated news headlines in 2023. But generative AI isn’t just a hack to boost productivity. Many businesses are exploring its potential to create new products and services, which requires entirely new strategic work.

In this episode, HBR’s editor in chief, Adi Ignatius, speaks to Microsoft’s head of strategy Chris Young and Harvard Business School professor Andy Wu, an expert in growth and innovation strategy. They lay out Gen-AI’s emerging value chains and break down the competitive risks and tradeoffs that businesses should consider as they experiment with this new technology.

This is the first episode in a special series highlighting the four best strategy episodes of 2023, curated from across Harvard Business Review’s podcasts.

Key episode topics include: strategy, leadership, AI and machine learning, automation, technology and analytics, disruptive innovation, digital transformation.

HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: How Generative AI Changes Strategy (2023)

· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org

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HBR On Strategy

You Need a Generative AI Strategy

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The transformative potential of generative AI

Strategic considerations for incorporating generative AI

Building, buying, or partnering with generative AI solutions

Implications for strategy and the future of work

Democratizing Access to Technology Through Strategy

Considerations for Building or Buying AI Models

Insights on the impact of AI on industries and leadership

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts