AI success needs technology, human judgment and execution, says PMI's Amit Goyal

‘AI’s success is based on effective bundling of technology with human judgment, leadership, execution’

Organisations will need to combine artificial intelligence with human judgment, leadership and execution if they are to turn projects into successful outcomes, Amit Goyal, managing director, South Asia, Project Management Institute (PMI), said at the institute’s annual conference, PMSAC26.

The conference brought together global industry leaders to examine how businesses could convert their AI ambitions into meaningful outcomes.

Adoption must translate into business impact

Mr. Goyal said project success in the AI era would increasingly depend on how effectively organisations brought together technology and human capabilities.

His comments came as artificial intelligence reshaped jobs, business models and technology delivery, increasing the need for organisations to connect technological adoption with effective execution.

India’s strong technology ecosystem and its ability to adopt and scale new technologies were expected to position the country well for the next phase of growth, he observed.

However, the growing use of AI has not automatically translated into measurable business gains.

Quoting McKinsey’s State of AI report, Mr. Goyal said only 39% of organisations reported an enterprise-level EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) impact from AI.

The figure, he said, underscored the challenge of converting AI adoption into measurable business outcomes.

The conference was themed around ‘Future-Ready Leadership in the Age of AI’ and focused on practical perspectives and strategies for addressing that challenge collaboratively.

Human capabilities remain central

Business leaders at the conference discussed how AI was reshaping project success and project execution.

They also examined the growing importance of combining technology with strategic thinking, human judgment, adaptability, leadership and strong execution capabilities.

The discussions placed leadership and execution alongside technology as essential components of delivering results from AI-led initiatives.

Speaking at an interactive session, Johannes Heinlein, interim president and CEO of PMI, said technical knowledge alone would not make a professional unique.

“What is critical today is learning, updating constantly and learning to stay relevant in the job market,” Mr. Heinlein said.

He added, “While AI taken away certain kinds of coding jobs, it also created newer kinds of career opportunities.”

His remarks highlighted the need for professionals to keep developing their skills as AI changes the nature of work.

PMI is a Pennsylvania-headquartered not-for-profit organisation that serves millions of project professionals and changemakers globally.

It provides standards, certifications, resources and networking opportunities to help them advance in their professions.

Source: The Hindu