In conversation with Alexey Navolokin – a renowned technology expert and leading voice in the AI industry. As a driving force behind AMD's growth in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing in the Asia-Pacific region, he provides insights into the potential of emerging technologies and shares his expertise in cutting-edge AI-powered computing.
In what ways do you integrate AI tools into your personal daily routine either in a work environment or in your private life?
AI has become a true asset in my personal daily routine. I view it as a transformative technology that elevates my creative workflow. One example is how it empowers me in tackling the dreaded white page – the intimidating start of a project where one is beset with the fear of starting out on the wrong foot – and this is an area that AI-enhanced features can be greatly beneficial to creators. I am proactively using Microsoft Copilot for work across different applications.
What are eventual risks and/or threats that you see that come with the technological development?
Interoperability is important when it comes to technology that is evolving at an exponential rate because an open ecosystem is the best conduit to innovation. Developers shouldn’t have to develop for just one company’s hardware, instead, they should be able to develop what they want and to do so, they would require access to the best hardware underneath necessary to realise their vision. Each organisation has its own specialty within the ecosystem and there's no one company that can simply do it all in this space, which makes the opportunity to closely collaborate and partner up in this space all the more critical.
On the business front, our AI Outlook survey last year revealed that 3 in 4 IT leaders are optimistic about the potential benefits of AI — from increased employee efficiency to automated cybersecurity solutions — and more than 2 in 3 are increasing investments in AI technologies. However, with this increased enthusiasm, business leaders might be tempted to rush into the deployment phase without the necessary due diligence – including building a suitable infrastructure, establishing the appropriate framework, as well as providing sufficient training for the workforce. Without a proper foundation to leverage the technology, businesses will not be able to capture the full potential of AI.
What are some interesting use cases for AI in your industry that you have already come across?
AMD is the high performance and adaptive computing leader, powering the products and services that help solve the world’s most important challenges. AI is defining the next era of computing, and this is just the beginning. We work with partners across a wide spectrum of industries, including the advanced research sector and we see new use cases of AI every day—enabling medical research, curbing credit card fraud, reducing congestion in cities, or simply making life easier.
AMD Instinct is the accelerator of choice for some of the world’s fastest and greenest supercomputers, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s El Capitan system The NASA Mars rover uses AMD FPGAs to accelerate image detection, matching, and rectification. AMD FPGAs also help with analysing and filtering out irrelevant data before sending information back to Earth. At CERN, AMD accelerates AI inference with performance-critical sensor processing. Additionally, AMD accelerates machine learning neural network algorithm development and deployment.
What would be a specific piece of information that you gained through working closely with AI and that you believe most people do not know?
We don't believe the next five years of advancement in the AI space will be realised by a single company, product, or vision. The future of the technology will be born from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships that drive true innovation.
Which changes -by the influence of artificial intelligence - could you identify in your field of work? What development would you wish for?
We’re just at the very beginning of the AI arc, and it is an opportunity for us to take everything to an entirely different level. And for us at AMD, our belief is AI is going to be everywhere in every product that we build. At the same time, we see potential to leverage the technology in empowering us to build higher quality products.
We also see it through our every aspect of running the company, whether you're talking about sales or marketing or finance or lots and lots of opportunities, but, importantly, it’s at the foundation of what enables all these great applications and fucntions. AI’s pervasiveness is making the technology a core driver for both business and economic growth, transforming industries everywhere, enabling automation and improved decision making, and making new products and services possible.
Alexey Navolokin is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience, having held key roles at renowned companies such as Intel, Apple, and AMD. As Director of Commercial Sales for AMD in the Asia-Pacific region he oversees strategic growth in AI and high-performance computing. After graduating from INSEAD and MGIMO, Alexey also founded the blockchain startup Axir Pte. Ltd. and has advised firms like Synagie. His industry influence is recognized globally, with accolades and speaking engagements at organizations like IEEE, where he recently delivered a keynote on AI's future in computing.
This interview is part of PANTA Experts where we interview diverse experts in the media industry and beyond. Interviewer: Jan Kersling (PANTA RHAI).
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