Keynote – Julie Sweet
Summary
Sweet framed AI as the engine of economic growth and presented three pillars:
- AI‑driven growth: 78 % of C‑suite executives view AI as the primary growth lever.
- SME inclusion: 50 % of global GDP comes from SMEs; ensuring AI access to them is a priority.
- Human leadership: “Humans in the lead, not in the loop” – executives must steer AI strategy, not merely supervise.
She recounted Accenture’s transformation from a RPA‑centric firm to an AI‑centric powerhouse, citing examples such as AI‑augmented drug discovery and AI‑enabled personalized education. Sweet highlighted the need for lifelong learning and global AI standards (safety, fairness, accountability).
The talk closed with a call to re‑imagine work: AI will automate routine tasks, freeing humans for higher‑order problem‑solving, creativity, and empathy.
Key Takeaways
- AI is a growth catalyst: Majority of CEOs see AI as the top source of future value.
- SME focus: Democratizing AI for small and medium enterprises amplifies overall economic impact.
- Leadership mindset: Executives must own AI strategy, not merely react to technology.
- Reskilling imperative: Continuous learning pipelines are needed to keep talent AI‑ready.
- Global standards: Safety, fairness, and accountability frameworks must be universal.