The largest business opportunities of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence continues to flourish at the grassroots level, and most of us use it daily for various tasks. However, it is crucial that managers realize the fact that the systematic implementation of artificial intelligence—such that it benefits the entire organization and yields gains in operations and performance—is by no means a technical project. Rather, it is a management project that requires a clear vision and integration with corporate strategy.

A technological revolution has rarely created business opportunities as significant as artificial intelligence is creating for us today. But if companies intend to create real value for their operations, the business side must take the lead in its sustainable utilization. Far too many managers still labor under the misconception that the IT department should handle these matters, failing to recognize the opportunities and thereby squandering potential on the business side.

Three Types of Utilization

For further clarification, it is helpful to assess the AI maturity of companies by dividing utilization into three categories:

1. Individual-oriented use

2. Groups creating shared benefits for the team

3. The enterprise building holistic value for all employees and operations

Individual-oriented use is relatively simple to identify. AI is used for isolated tasks. Some employees have become adept at using AI, often setting up connections into systems and possibly single agents (erindrekar).

In some companies, groups have begun collaborating to share AI internally. A good example is a team of software developers using AI in software development, sharing workflows where AI is utilized at various stages of the development cycle. In this case, synergy and enhanced efficiency yield value for the entire team, but specialized silos are formed and knowledge sharing from there proves difficult.

Very few companies, however, have begun using AI in a way that benefits the entire organization. The new approach involves forward-looking AI utilization, where companies apply a process-oriented methodology and AI itself is governed by those on the business side. This ensures that agents are shared and deliver value across the organization rather than merely assisting individuals with isolated tasks. Work is carried out according to a clear vision grounded in strategic decision-making.

Integrating Security and Business

In most types of operational environments, risk management, compliance, and data security are of paramount importance. However, if we focus solely on threats and reactive measures, we risk missing the forest for the trees. The implementation of essential regulations such as NIS-2, DORA, and GDPR has certainly demonstrated everywhere that the responsibility for the secure use of information technology rests with senior leadership. Yet we need to take it a step further and integrate this secure utilization with the company's vision, allowing business opportunities to flourish side by side like never before.

A Phased Approach to Success

To achieve success without compromising security, a tiered approach can be adopted:

• Strategy establishes the framework and ground rules at the top of the pyramid. That is why we want to start here, ensuring that executive leadership guides the journey rather than the technical staff.

• At the process level, we analyze both opportunities and risks, enabling us to select and prioritize the highest-value projects.

• At the execution level, we solve some of these projects with AI, gradually building an integrated system of agents using a process-oriented approach.

Through this, we build practical expertise within the company while simultaneously strengthening compliance. The result is an incremental process where value grows steadily and AI is placed under the secure control of the business side for the benefit of the entire organization.

The author is the CEO of APRÓ.

The opinion piece was published in Viðskiptablaðið on September 9, 2026