AI Masterclass

Artificial intelligence is the business opportunity of a lifetime. That was the central message delivered by DJ Singley, Chief Technologist and Enterprise Architect at MAPSYS, during BeTechly's recent event, AI Masterclass: How To Build Your AI Strategy To Exceed The Competition.

With decades of experience and an engaging, no-fluff approach, DJ laid out the key elements businesses must focus on to turn AI from a trendy buzzword into a true competitive advantage.

 

The AI Goals of 2025 — What Companies Are Focusing On

According to a BeTechly survey of 157 business and tech leaders, the top AI goals for 2025 are:

• Generative AI (41%)
• Predictive Analytics (22%)
• Conversational AI (19%)

DJ wasn’t surprised. Generative AI, especially thanks to tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, has lowered the barrier to entry and opened up new opportunities for automation and innovation.

However, he encouraged leaders to think beyond chatbots. The real power of AI lies in embedding it within business processes to extract more value—whether in customer service, HR, or supply chain workflows.

 

Getting Started with AI: Scope Narrowly and Quantify Results

"What you do now in the next two, three, four, five years could set the tone for your business for the next decade or two," DJ explained

One of the most common pitfalls? Starting too big.

DJ strongly emphasized that organizations should narrow the scope of their first AI project to something manageable and measurable. Why? Because AI projects are prone to scope creep, and unclear expectations can derail outcomes fast.

Equally critical is quantifying the business impact up front. DJ noted that many companies dive into AI because it's a hot topic, not because they've defined what success looks like. In his experience, up to 80% of an AI project’s cost can be in services alone, so careful planning is essential.

 

 

The Biggest AI Challenges? It All Comes Down to Data and Cost

Survey respondents identified the following top challenges to incorporating AI:

• Data confidentiality (29%)
• Cost (22%)
• Security challenges (19%)

DJ reinforced the critical role data plays: "Data is your company. It is why you’re so valuable. You have to protect it."

He shared an eye-opening example: a customer who unknowingly shared confidential data with ChatGPT, not realizing it would be used to train future models. That’s why DJ recommends private foundational models that are trained on your data, managed on-prem, or managed with secure cloud providers.

As for cost, DJ cautioned that many leaders underestimate ongoing expenses. AI projects require constant care and feeding—models can age quickly, and data shifts often.

 

Best Practices for Real ROI

• Start with low-hanging fruit like customer service or experience. These offer high ROI and faster time-to-value.
• Use design thinking sessions to identify problem statements with clear business value.
• Plan for governance from day one, especially in terms of model lifecycle, security, and user access.
• Remember: AI should augment, not replace. In customer service, for example, AI can help reps resolve issues faster, but not eliminate their roles.

 

Watch the full replay of AI Masterclass Part 1 here, and check out AI Masterclass Part 2 and Part 3 using the links below!

AI Masterclass Part 2: Replay | Blog

AI Masterclass Part 3: Replay | Blog