No matter how small, Quebec companies can not miss the artificial intelligence boat, says Google's general manager in Quebec, Marie-Jose Lamothe. And it is now that they must begin to become familiar with this technological innovation. Interview.
First, what is artificial intelligence (AI) and what can it do for a business context?
AI, for many, is still a subject that is very generic, vague. But we can not afford as business leaders to postpone this until later. In the end, it's a performance tool. It will allow us to process data much faster or more efficiently than the brain. It is important in Quebec that our businesses do it, to stay and become even more competitive. It could be the big differentiator between success and failure of big companies.
In concrete terms, what can it do for a company?
It varies, but whether you're a retailer, dealer or a company that makes kitchen products, we all have to manage data at the production base, imports and exports, logistics, finance. AI gives meaning to this dataset, that's where it gets interesting. But you have to test right now, to get your teeth wet, to be competitive when everyone is going to be there.
What role does Google play in this?
We invest a lot in Montreal to work with basic research, start-ups ... We want to contribute to the value chain. Google does not offer services directly to businesses. We, we develop technology. Different agencies and suppliers are there for companies.
Will AI lead to job losses?
I hope and encourage all companies to identify avenues for optimization. But it's about getting employees to work on tasks that are more valuable to them. AI can only work for very automatic, repetitive activities. It frees up time to do more important and challenging things. Also, we will not go from one extreme to another overnight. AI is not a technology that replaces humans, it is a tool that allows it to perform better.
Google Quebec
• Just over 100 out of 400 employees in Canada
• Mainly for Google Brain, Google Deepmind, Google Chrome, Security, Cloud and Training.
• 41 positions posted in Canada, including several in Montreal under development and artificial intelligence.