Lubor Kunc, at GrECo Czech Republic caught up with AI experts Lukáš Kačena, Director at prg.ai and Jan Procházka, CTO and Data & AI Platform Lead at DataSentics to discuss how Prague is embracing AI and what social impacts it is having on businesses.
AI is taking the world by storm and companies large and small across all sectors are exploring how this latest technological development can aid them in their business endeavours. Lubor Kunc at GrECo Czech Republic caught up with AI experts Lukáš Kačena, Director at prg.ai and Jan Procházka, CTO and Data & AI Platform Lead at DataSentics to discuss how Prague is embracing AI and what social impacts it is having on businesses.
Kunc: Please can you tell us a little bit about the AI scene in Prague?
Kačena: Like Czechia as a whole, Prague has a strong engineering tradition and a high quality of life. It’s a safe, strategically located city and home to numerous globally successful companies, not only in IT but also more specifically in cybersecurity and AI. There are also many leading European scientists in AI research subfields like computer vision and robotics based here. It has the business and research talent to become a significant AI hub.
Kunc: What impact is the focus on AI in Prague having on society?
Kačena: Since the rise of generative AI, we’ve seen interest in the entire field grow across society, which naturally impacts the whole AI scene. Far more people are interested in AI, which is positive, but it makes education even more important. This interest is translating into the creation of new companies and the exploration of AI’s potential benefits by existing ones – from small businesses to larger corporations everyone is exploring the possibilities. Many notable initiatives are emerging and evolving further harnessing AI’s potential in much needed areas such as primary and secondary school education.
Tailoring AI to industry needs
Kunc: Is there a difference in the approach of various industries towards AI? How are firms using AI tools?
Procházka: We focus on financial services, manufacturing, defence, retail & eCommerce, and healthcare & life sciences, and we’re finding the approach is quite homogenous. Today, advanced AI strategies are well-defined; they already rely on standardised cloud IT infrastructure. However, the success of AI strategy execution depends heavily on industry expertise. The implementation must be tailored not just to the industry, but to the specific organisation. This is where we will see the most challenges for businesses.
Kačena: That’s exactly right. It’s important to realise that AI isn’t just one tool, and it’s (much) more than just generative AI. Amidst the trailblazers, we’re seeing different firms in different industries using AI in various ways, each tailored to their specific needs. However, for the majority, AI is relatively new. Currently almost everyone is interested in it, but many companies don’t know where to start.
There’s also a significant difference in how companies approach it, with some adding integrated AI tools into their operations while others are reluctant to begin. We know of many interesting usages across sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and even law and the arts.
Kunc: Please could you give us a few examples?
Kačena: Of course. Looking among our members, I can name many and I’ll try to demonstrate the breadth of sectors where AI is helping. Some examples include a synthetic presenter for Czech radio stations; on-demand suburban transportation; the optimisation of milking cows; and automatic request processing in government offices. Perhaps one of the most exciting is the use of AI to detect fraudulent documents – this is something which could be very relevant to many companies.
Procházka: We’re also seeing the success of AI in highly regulated industries too such as financial services and healthcare and life sciences. In both sectors AI is dramatically boosting efficiency and streamlining processes. Traditional FS&I players have begun gaining a competitive edge and enhancing customer experience, and in the medical arena AI enhances diagnostics, personalises treatments, and speeds up drug discovery. Virtual assistants and optimised admin tasks are leading to increasingly improved patient outcomes.
Manufacturing is another interesting segment to look at. AI is already used in this sector for predictive maintenance, quality control, supply chain optimisation, and back-office automation. However, there’s a growing gap in manufacturing. Large enterprises have leveraged AI for years, while small to medium-sized manufacturers are often just starting out. This is where we are seeing the uncertainty Lukáš mentioned.
Kunc: Is it also possible to use AI tools for risk mitigation?
Kačena: Absolutely! Risk analysis and prevention are certainly areas where AI can be utilised. The foundation of risk mitigation is understanding phenomena and influences based on vast amounts of data, which is precisely where artificial intelligence significantly outperforms human capabilities. Leveraging AI can sometimes be the only way to effectively respond to fincrime and cybersecurity challenges, especially when the perpetrators themselves are using it.
Building strong AI confident workforces
Kunc: What do you think the biggest social impacts of AI are on industries in CZ? It is transforming work processes but what knock on impact is this then having on workforces?
Kačena: AI is transforming Czech industries by automating routine tasks and shifting the focus of work towards creativity and problem-solving. This necessitates upskilling and retraining of the workforce to meet the demands of AI-driven jobs. While AI improves productivity and efficiency, it also raises concerns about potential job displacement and socioeconomic inequality. Addressing these challenges requires proactive policies to ensure a smooth transition for all workers.
Procházka: That’s right, and we must remember a fear-driven culture kills AI adoption. The key is well-executed risk management and openness to change at individual, business, and public levels. Successful companies address concerns and transform them into constructive actions. This forward-thinking mindset must be embraced by a critical mass of employees to guarantee a confident, resilient workforce remains.
People need to trust that they can innovate and adapt, which is based on actions, not words. Digital businesses support innovations through A/B testing, prototyping, hackathons, and conferences; they literally inspire regular team members to change the company and its products. This digital culture brings an enormous competitive edge through daily innovations. The results are already visible in banks, insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries.
About DataSentics
DataSentics accelerates businesses to leverage data and AI for a competitive edge and strategic goals. We work with huge global enterprises through our mother company Atos under the Eviden brand and also with smaller companies with interesting data and growth mindset.
About prg.ai
Prg.ai takes care of Prague’s AI innovation ecosystem and connect key players. Its focus is broad: education and awareness raising, promoting the local AI scene both at home and abroad, mapping the AI landscape, and organising various events.
Its goal is to establish Prague as a significant European AI hub by bringing together researchers, companies, startups, non-profits, and educational institutions.
About Lukáš Kačena: Lukáš Kačena became managing director of prg.ai in April 2022. He took up the leadership of prg.ai with a vision to further develop its activities, expand the services provided to members and raise the profile of the Czech innovation scene in the world. Prior to this, Lukáš worked as a consultant to the public administration, focusing on strategy development and research, development, and innovation policy. He also headed the programme development and management section at the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.
About Jan Procházka: Helping people and organisations take 360° control of their AI, Data, and related technologies, unleashing value and opportunities, Jan Procházka supports data and AI specialists in forward-thinking changes, leveraging his past experiences as a developer, dwh operations lead and solution architect. He joined DataSentics in November 2017 and became Global CTO of Vertical AI Solutions at Eviden in April 2023.
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Lukáš Kačena
Director
prg.ai
Jan Procházka
CTO and Data & AI Platform Lead DataSentics
Lubor Kunc
Risk and Insurance Technique Manager
GrECo Czech Republic
T +420 725 565 573
