The largest business opportunities of artificial intelligence
"Too many managers are still under the misconception that the IT department should handle these matters."
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Articles
Artificial intelligence continues to flourish at the grassroots level, and most of us use it daily for various tasks. However, it is important for managers to wake up to the fact that the systematic implementation of AI, so that it benefits the entire organization and yields benefits for operations and bottom-line results, is by no means a technology project. Rather, it is a management project that requires a clear vision and integration with corporate strategy.
Technological revolution has rarely created such massive business opportunities as AI is currently creating for us. But if companies intend to create real value for their operations, the business side needs to take the lead in its sustainable utilization. All too many managers still labor under the misconception that the IT department should handle these matters and fail to recognize the opportunities, thereby letting business-side opportunities go to waste.
Three types of utilization
For further explanation, it is convenient to examine the status of companies in artificial intelligence by dividing utilization into three categories:
Individual-focused use
Groups create collective benefits for the team
The company builds holistic value for all staff and operations
Individual-focused use is fairly simple to analyze. AI is used for specific tasks. Some employees have become skilled in using AI and have often established connections into systems and possibly individual agents (agents).
In some companies, groups have begun to work together on utilizing AI internally. A good example is a team of programmers using AI in software development, utilizing procedures where AI is applied at different stages of development. There, synergy effects and improved utilization result in value for the entire team, but specialized silos are formed and knowledge is difficult to distribute from there.
Very few companies, on the other hand, have started using AI in such a way that it benefits the entire organizational entity. The new way is a forward-looking utilization of AI, and in those cases, companies apply a process-oriented approach, and the AI itself is under the control of those on the business side. This ensures that agents are shared and deliver value across the company instead of only helping individuals with single tasks. Work is carried out according to a clear vision, which is grounded in strategic decision-making.
Integration of security and business
In most types of operating environments, risk management, compliance, and data security are of paramount importance. But if we focus solely on threats and the response to them, we risk not seeing the forest for the trees. The implementation of necessary regulations such as NIS-2, DORA, and GDPR has certainly shown everywhere that the responsibility for the secure utilization of information technology lies with the executive management of each workplace. But we, on the other hand, need to take it a step further and integrate this secure utilization with the company's vision, so that business opportunities flourish side by side like never before.
A staged approach to success
To achieve success without compromising security, a staged approach can be taken:
Strategy sets the framework and the rules of the game at the top of the pyramid. Therefore, we want to start here and ensure that the company's executive management leads the way, not the technical staff.
At the process stage, we analyze both opportunities and risks, which allows us to select and prioritize the most valuable projects.
At the execution stage, we solve some of these projects with AI and, over time, build an integrated system of agents using a process-oriented approach.
By doing this, we build up competence within the company and strengthen compliance simultaneously. The outcome will be an incremental process where value increases steadily, and the AI will be under the secure control of the business side for the entire organizational entity.
The author is the CEO of APRÓ.
The opinion piece appeared in Viðskiptablaðið on September 9, 2026