AI Innovation Day: Companies already use AI. Biggest risk? Uncontrolled deployment

AI is no longer the future, but the present

The AI Innovation Day conference, organized by the business platform Helas in cooperation with Microsoft, offered a view of how Czech companies think about artificial intelligence, where they are already deploying it, and what obstacles they encounter.

From presentations and interviews on site it was clear that AI is moving very quickly from experimentation into everyday practice. At the same time, the pace of adoption varies between companies. Some are already addressing concrete benefits and efficiency, while others are still clarifying where artificial intelligence has real value for them.

The biggest risk? Companies ignore reality

One of the highlights of the event was an interview with Karolínou Kříženeckou, tiskovou mluvčí a manažerkou komunikace a společenské odpovědnosti společnosti Microsoft. She pointed out a problem that, in her view, is often underestimated.

"They underestimate reality the most. That means that if you look around, if a company does not provide its employees with a safe AI, those employees will bring their own."

According to Microsoft, up to 90% of employees today use some form of AI. However, if companies do not have its use under control, this can mean that sensitive data ends up in tools that the organization does not approve or manage.

At the conference Microsoft emphasized that its response is integrating AI directly into the workplace, for example through the Copilot tool, and a focus on security, transparency and compliance with European legislation.

"You don't use what you don't trust. So for us it is essential to deliver a trustworthy tool from the very beginning."

AI is already delivering concrete results in companies

From interviews with company representatives it was clear that AI is gradually making its way into daily operations.

For example, the company ALTECH uses it in areas such as invoicing, marketing and human resources. In manufacturing, however, the situation is more complicated because processes there are often precisely defined and governed by mathematical models. Artificial intelligence thus has not yet found application to the same extent as in administration.

It was also noted that what is not possible today may become a common part of production within a few years.

The concrete benefits were described by Václav Heinrich, obchodní ředitel společnosti TITAN - Multiplast:

"We jumped into it and we already use AI in many places and it has already saved us really hundreds of thousands of crowns."

From some interviews it was apparent that companies can already achieve measurable savings thanks to AI, especially in areas of automation and work efficiency.

It still can't be done without a human

An interesting perspective was also offered by Pavlína Torhanová from 201 Consulting. She described that just two years ago they did not plan to introduce AI in the company, but today they use it on a daily basis, for example in working with documents or preparing materials.

At the same time she emphasized that the role of the human remains key. According to her, AI outputs must always be checked and evaluated in the context of expertise and responsibility.

She also warned that without properly set processes in a company AI cannot deliver quality results. If an organization is not clear about why it is introducing AI and what its benefits should be, it can become merely an expensive technology without real impact.

Cybersecurity remains a firm part of the debate

Alongside efficiency, the topic of cybersecurity resonated across the conference.

Company representatives described experiences with phishing campaigns, fake emails or attempts at fraudulent money transfers. These attacks often target employees and management and exploit trust in internal communication.

For example, Václav Heinrich said:

"Some CFO frauds come in, we are trying right now to further educate employees..."

Other companies also confirmed that they encounter fraudulent emails impersonating company leadership. That is why the emphasis on employee training and implementing security measures is growing.

Automation as the main direction

According to Stanislava Trtka from Ixperta, companies see the greatest potential of AI primarily in automation.

According to him, it brings the fastest return and the greatest practical impact. It's not just about deploying chatbots or assistants, but about deeper integration into business processes, where AI helps reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Without the right processes, AI can be just an expensive technology

An important warning was also voiced at the conference. Implementing AI alone does not guarantee success.

If a company does not have clearly defined processes, goals, and expected outputs, implementation can be ineffective. In such a case AI does not bring real value but rather increases costs and complexity.

It is precisely the combination of technology, properly set processes and human oversight that proves crucial for meaningful use of artificial intelligence.

The conference showed great interest and a willingness to learn

According to the organizers from the business platform Helas, the conference was a response to the growing demand from companies for concrete experiences and practical demonstrations of AI use.

The event attracted approximately 150 participants and showed that there is significant interest in the topic among Czech companies. It was not only tech companies but also organizations that want to clarify their next steps and understand how to implement AI in practice.

In conclusion

AI Innovation Day confirmed that artificial intelligence is becoming an ordinary part of the corporate environment. Some companies already actively use it and can describe its benefits, others are at the beginning and are looking for the right path.

However, the common theme remains the need for controlled and secure deployment. AI can help companies significantly, but only if it is implemented with a clear goal, within appropriate processes and with an emphasis on security.