EP04 - Beyond the Hype: A Business Pulse Check on AI

In this episode of the Professor Insight Podcast, we move beyond the theory and take a grounded look at how artificial intelligence is impacting business and society right now. Drawing from the 2024 Artificial Intelligence in Action report by the World Travel & Tourism Council in partnership with Microsoft, we explore the real-world use of AI across sectors including education, tourism, and business at large. This is not about distant predictions. It is about how AI is already transforming operations, enhancing customer experiences, and shaping workforce dynamics today.

We break down some of the report’s most revealing insights - from how AI is being used to personalise travel and optimise sustainability, to how businesses are struggling to scale AI due to skills gaps and infrastructure limitations. You will also hear about how AI is influencing legal frameworks, data governance, and ethical standards, and how these shifts are already affecting your industry, whether you are in travel, tech, or beyond.

Whether you're a professional, student, policymaker, or simply curious about how AI is shaping the world around you, this episode offers a clear and insightful overview of the current AI landscape. It is designed to help you understand what is happening beneath the surface of the AI headlines and why it matters for all of us. 

This episode is sponsored by the Next-Gen Visitor Experience CRC which aims to pioneer cutting-edge technology and deliver an industry-led program of research and development to transform Australia’s visitor economy and accelerate productivity improvements in Australia’s tourism sector. To learn more about the Next-Gen Visitor Experience CRC Round 26 bid, visit: https://www.visitoreconomycrc.com.au/