UFC enhances fight analysis with AI, OpenAI teases AI agent & Bank of England scraps operational resilience rules

Sports betting firm Entain appoints Dafne Guisard to drive OPEX, Embraer unveils digital transformation gains and psychology meets BPM

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Michael Hill
11/15/2024

PEX Network’s weekly news bulletin rounds up the latest from the process community including operational excellence (OPEX), digital transformation, business process management (BPM), process mining, artificial intelligence (AI) and much more.

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UFC embraces AI to enhance fan viewing experiences

UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and part of TKO Group Holdings, announced a new AI partnership with IBM to enhance the viewing experience for millions of fans around the world. With the new agreement, IBM will become UFC’s official global AI partner, marking the first time UFC has opened up this marketing category to a brand partner, according to a press release.

The core of the partnership will feature UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx. Insights Engine will harness IBM's expertise in data and AI technologies – including its family of Granite large language models (LLMs) – and UFC's rich data feeds to provide the UFC global viewing audience with more timely, in-depth information. This includes unique insights and advanced analysis of live bouts, fighter tendencies, projections of possible match outcomes and method of victory – all of which will be engineered to update in real-time on-screen as more live data is generated.

"This partnership with IBM is one of the most significant milestones for UFC and a game changer for how fans will experience our sport,” said Grant Norris-Jones, head of global partnerships at TKO. “Together, we’re pioneering a product to revolutionize analytics and information in live sports.”

OpenAI set to release new AI agent tool in early 2025

OpenAI is preparing to release an autonomous AI agent that can control computers and perform tasks independently, according to a report by Bloomberg. Code-named “Operator,” the company plans to debut it as a research preview and developer tool in January 2025. OpenAI’s computer-using agent could significantly improve productivity, allowing users to assign their most mundane and time-consuming tasks.

The concept of an agentic AI system is one that can act as a true agent for users and, unlike generative AI (which primarily responds to user prompts), agentic AI systems are designed to be proactive partners in problem-solving and decision-making, capable of driving significant business outcomes.

Agentic AI is poised to play a transformative role in the future of process management, with Forrester recently citing the evolution of AI agents as “perhaps the most exciting development” reflected in its Top 10 Emerging Technologies For 2024 list.

Lee Bogner, Mars Inc., outlines the importance of data in AI

Denmark leads Europe in responsible use of AI assistants

Denmark has become the first European country to create comprehensive guidelines for the responsible implementation of AI assistants and agents. Spearheaded by Netcompany, a Danish provider of digital solutions, and joined by leading tech companies including Microsoft, the initiative sets out guidelines offering best practices for technical, organizational and legal compliance with a clear framework for collaboration between organizations in both the public and private sectors on AI adoption. Other founding members include the Agency for Digital Government, Jyske Bank and Danish Business Authority.

The partnership underscores a shared commitment to responsible digital innovation, even in highly regulated sectors, aiming to enhance trust and transparency in AI-powered services, according to a press release. Organizations will have access to recommendations on how to incorporate AI assistants while maintaining full compliance with evolving regulations, including the EU’s AI Act.

“In Denmark, we’ve already shown how the public and private sectors can work together to responsibly implement large-scale digital solutions grounded in democratic values and complex legal frameworks,” said André Rogaczewski, CEO of Netcompany and chairman of Danish Industry Digital. “This approach has inspired not only Europe but the rest of the world, putting Denmark at the forefront of digital innovation.”

Michael Arena, thought leader and researcher, discusses the power of social capital in the age of AI

Bank of England U-turns on operational resilience rules

UK’s financial regulators have abandoned plans to mandate that “critical third party” (CTP) organizations disclose new software vulnerabilities to them. In response to feedback on a set of new policies designed to enhance the operational resilience of the UK’s financial system and related CTPs, the regulators have removed any requirements and expectations on CTPs to disclose unremedied cyber security vulnerabilities to them and the firms they provide certain services to.

In a joint statement, the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) recognized that the mooted rules could have unwittingly invited additional cyber risks.

“Respondents were particularly concerned about potential requirements or expectations on CTPs to disclose unremedied vulnerabilities (in the cyber security sense) to the regulators and to the firms they provide systemic third-party services, as this could increase the risk of threat actors exploiting these vulnerabilities, which would go against the overall objective,” the statement read.

Entain appoints Dafne Guisard to drive OPEX

Sports betting and gaming company Entain announced the appointment of Dafne Guisard as new chief operations officer (COO) to drive OPEX. Effective January 2025, Guisard will be responsible for operational strategy, leading the customer service organization, global strategic planning and the integration of mergers and acquisitions. She joins from The Kraft Heinz Company, where she served as chief strategy, transformation and digital officer.

“Dafne brings a wealth of experience in driving strategic growth and delivering transformation on a global scale,” commented Gavin Isaacs, CEO of Entain. “Her appointment will help place Entain at the leading edge of innovation, as well as strengthen the executive management team as we build on a period of stronger-than-expected revenue growth and key market expansion.”

Pradheep Kileti, National Grid, outlines balancing operations and innovation

Embraer unveils digital transformation gains, wins Kaizen award

Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation Embraer showcased its latest developments in digital transformation at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai. It discussed new technologies designed to improve efficiency and strengthen connectivity in China’s aviation market. It also revealed several new and significant enhancements to the E-Jets E2 family of aircraft, including the world’s first ever automatic takeoff system (E2TS).

“We’re continually looking for ways to promote cooperation in China by offering aircraft that improve air service and connecting second and third tier cities to satisfy the ever-growing demand for air travel,” said Martyn Holmes, chief commercial officer at Embraer Commercial Aviation.

In the same week, Embraer won the sixth edition of the Global KAIZEN Award, a prize for the best practices in business excellence that promote efficiency gains and greater value generation for society. The announcement was made at a ceremony held in São Paulo, Brazil, by the Kaizen Institute.

Nao Anthony, Commonwealth Bank, and Tariq Munir, PepsiCo, discuss the complexities and challenges of digital transformation

BPM meets psychology in latest New Process Podcast episode

In the latest episode of the New Process Podcast host Mirko Kloppenburg spoke to psychologist and organizational developer Leona Holzbecher about human-centric approaches to BPM. They spoke about how a deeper understanding of emotional responses to processes can help manage them better. The pair explored the four basic human needs to trigger meaningful responses and how to integrate them into BPM strategies.

Holzbecher was a speaker at PEX Network’s flagship webinar series All Access: BPM where she joined Tony Benedict, president of the Association of BPM Professionals International, to discuss the importance of the human elements of successful process design.

Leona Holzbecher reflects on accountability in process management

Small Business Tech Consortium launches to support Irish firms with digital transformation

Enterprise Nation announced the launch of the Small Business Tech Consortium, an initiative designed to enable Ireland’s smallest companies to accelerate their digital adoption. In partnership with tech firms including Amazon, Google and Square, the consortium will carry out research, draft policy proposals and engage with government on behalf of small businesses. Its goal is to become a key driver of digital transformation across Ireland’s business landscape.

“Through the Small Business Tech Consortium, we’re fostering collaboration between the tech sector and small business community, creating a powerful voice for policy change,” commented Joanne Mangan, Ireland country manager at Enterprise Nation. “Our first priority is to identify the most acute skills gaps when it comes to digital adoptions and develop joint solutions to help address the key challenges that prevent small businesses from benefiting from technology.”

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