“We must use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) securely and responsibly, and ensure an ethical development framework that contemplates the criteria of security, privacy, equality, inclusion, transparency and responsibility”, explained Alberto Granados, CEO Microsoft Spain, at the latest Esade Matins entitled “Artificial Intelligence, catalyst of organizational change”. “The idea is to democratize the adoption of AI technology, particularly in four scenarios: development, customers, employees and observability,” said Granados.
 
The chief executive highlighted the lack of developers. “This is a problem,” he said, so Microsoft is pushing ahead with low-code programming that enables apps to be developed with no knowledge of programming. “Developers increasingly use Copilot, so 46% of new code is written by IA and some of the most famous developers are already creating with GitHub Copilot”, he explained. As for customers, “we companies are more reactive than proactive, but in fact, customers want us to be proactive and AI can enhance the customer experience. One example is the use of Azure OpenAI Service to build apps that help call center operators understand customers’ queries better and faster.”

The Microsoft Spain CEO also mentioned the Work Trade Index. This report by Microsoft reveals that 57% of working hours are spent communicating and collaborating (e-mails, Teams meetings and Teams chats) and just 43% are spent creating. “In this respect, our idea is to introduce the co-pilot concept provided by Microsoft 365 Copilot, and work with natural language based on Microsoft’s integrated approach”. As for observability, Granados emphasized that “by 2026, 70% of the organizations using it will reduce the time spent taking decisions and will improve their competitive edge.” Therefore, Microsoft has created and launched the concept of “Business in your pocket”. “GenAI lets us analyze data and makes it easier to see what’s happening. One good example is Almirall, a company using Azure OpenAI Service to optimize data crunching, answer questions and generate useful data”, he emphasized.

Security as the starting point 

“Above all, we work under the security concept,” said the Microsoft Spain CEO, explaining that cyberattacks have increased by 67% in the last five years and 1,287 passwords are attacked every second. “Microsoft analyses 65 trillion threats a day and monitors more than 250 cybercrime organizations. Consequently, we intend to massively extend Security Copilot as a model of OpenAI to accelerate security apps and tasks and make it possible to identify malicious activities, take better informed decisions and improve the work of cybersecurity experts in each company.”

“Our customers’ data belong to our customers and aren’t used to train other models of AI. They’re protected by data protection regulations”, declared Granados, before ending his talk with a recap of the many disruptions that have happened over the centuries. Granados believes that “it’s not a matter of what AI can do, but what AI should do.”

Esade Matins are symposiums where the leaders of foremost companies and institutions can address their own obstacles and challenges and think about their progression through them. On this occasion, Alberto Granados was accompanied by Patricia Valentí, director of Esade Alumni, and Josep Lluís Cano, senior associate professor at the Esade Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences.