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GenAI in the Enterprise: Doug Hohulin, Futurist & Generative AI Consultant

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Welcome to the first full episode of Generative AI in the Enterprise: A Videocast with Industry Experts! Keyhole Software’s Chief Architect, Zach Gardner, talks with Futurist, GenAI Expert, and Tech Advisor Doug Hohulin.

Key Takeaways:

  • Generative AI: including models like GPT, has witnessed rapid advancements, outcompeting various aspects of human experience as training data and processing power increase.
  • The future of AI regulation: is a complex challenge, with the United States and Europe taking different approaches, emphasizing responsible AI tech and governance.
  • AI Integration: Doug draws parallels between AI integration and the historical partnership between humans and wolves, highlighting the importance of fostering safe and effective AI for the benefit of humanity.
  • The journey of AI: from a wild wolf to a friendly dog is a metaphor for the evolution of AI’s role in society, with the goal of preventing harm and maximizing its positive impact.

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About Guest Doug Hohulin:

Doug Hohulin, Futurist, Generative AI, Metaverse, Communication Tech Scout & Innovation Advisor, worked for 33 years at Nokia/Motorola in Strategy, Business Development, Account Management and Engineering roles. He focuses on Generative AI, XR, Digital Health, Telehealth, Education, Telecommunication (5G/6G, WiFi, Cable/10G), Intelligent Transportation/AV, Sustainability, Energy, Smart Grid and Public Policy projects. He was a member for 4 years of the 5G Automotive Association (http://5gaa.org/) Business Models and Go-To-Market Strategies Working Group and US FCC Task Force working on the development of Automated/Connected Vehicle Technology. He is the VRARA Chapter President – KC / Generative AI Committee Chair and a VR Research Scientist at Virtual World Society. He is on the KU School of Nursing Advisory Board and was an Affiliate Faculty member supporting various XR projects and a KC Digital Drive Member focusing on: Healthcare Innovation and provides consulting, training/workshops on Generative AI to these and other groups.

About The Generative AI In The Enterprise Series:

Welcome to Keyhole Software’s first-ever Podcast Series, Generative AI in the Enterprise. Chief Architect, Zach Gardner, talks with industry leaders, founders, tech evangelists, and GenAI specialists to find out how they utilize Generative AI in their businesses.

And we’re not talking about the surface-level stuff! We dive into how these bleeding-edge revolutionists use GenAI to increase revenue and decrease operational costs. You’ll learn how they have woven GenAI into the very fabric of their business to push themselves to new limits, beating out competition and exceeding expectations.

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Partial Generative AI In The Enterprise Episode Transcript

Note: this transcript section was created using generative AI tools like YouTube automated transcripts and ChatGPT. There may be typos, slight content changes, or character limits for brevity!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future. I’m Zach Gardner, the Chief Architect at Keyhole Software. About three to four months ago, I set off on a little bit of a journey. I wanted to find people who were actually using generative AI to power their business, to make recommendations about where the industry should be going, and to give insights into what we can do as software practitioners to make everyone’s lives better. The good news is, I found a lot of these people.

The first person that I’m going to be interviewing as part of this series is Doug Hohulin. He’s a futurist and generative AI specialist. He was at Motorola for 33 years, if I remember right, and the president of the VR Association KC committee. He’s also been on the KU School of Nursing Advisory Board. Doug is the kind of person that, when I set out in this series to find people who would give me great insights, he was exactly the kind of person I had in mind. So, Doug, thank you very much for agreeing to be on this series.

Doug Hohulin: Well, it’s a pleasure.

Zach Gardner: Very cool. So, there’s a lot of things that we could talk about. I’m sure we could probably spend 7, 8, 9, 10 hours, but unfortunately, our time is limited. If you would, talk me through the EU AI Act. A lot of people have heard about it; it’s been in the news. But I’m just curious, what’s your take on it? What are maybe the good parts about it that you see, what are the parts that kind of worry you, and how does it really relate to us as software practitioners? Just knowledge drop as best you can.

Doug Hohulin: Oh, absolutely. Yeah, happy to discuss that. I’m actually with an organization called AI and Partners, and they are focusing on making sure that companies follow the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act. It should be actually this week that the language is finalized. Their process in Europe is a little bit different than in the US, but in the next few months, it should be going into effect as law. Companies have, depending on the type of AI, fines start kicking in in six months, then 12 months, and then two years.

So, why does it matter? Well, if you look at GDPR, especially here in Kansas City or in the United States, you might say, “Why do I have to worry about it?” GDPR is a good example. If you don’t follow GDPR, the data privacy rules in Europe, and you do anything that’s in Europe, you have the opportunity to pay lots of fines. So, it’s move fast, break things, but you could pay lots of fines if you don’t operate properly. There’s a huge opportunity in AI; it’s expected to be about $13 trillion by 2030 around the world. There’s a lot of opportunity to make money in AI, but you also have to follow the regulations, or you can pay lots of fines. The largest GDPR fine is 1.2 billion euros, which Meta (Facebook) had to pay. There’s a site that lists all the fines companies had to pay for GDPR.

The EU AI Act has three different levels of classifications: unacceptable risk, high-risk, and low-risk types of AI. Once this passes, you have six months as a company not to engage in any unacceptable risk activities. If you do, fines kick in, and they can be substantial, into the billions of euros, because it’s dependent on your revenue. There are two types of companies: those that develop AI content or products and sell them to clients, and those that buy AI products and use them for their business. Both types need to comply with the regulations to avoid fines.

In fact, I just wrote about this two weeks ago, or actually at the end of 2023. The title of my LinkedIn article was, “What Do I Wish I Would Have Known in 2025 About AI at the End of 2023?” When I was with Motorola and Nokia for 33 years, I worked on the Sprint account and on supply agreements. We went through seven rounds of supply agreements, moving from 2G technology to 3G to 4G to 5G. Technology was my responsibility, and we always tried to put the risk on the other side during negotiations.

So, when you buy AI content or sell it, you need to think about risk, especially in light of the EU AI Act. Here in the United States, we already have laws in place, like the FTC regulations, where you have to follow the law. While there aren’t explicit laws on how AI works, if you don’t follow existing laws, you can pay fines or even go to jail, depending on the situation. The question is, how do you follow the regulations properly?

The EU AI Act will be the first laws specifically around AI. Companies need to understand how to use this properly, or they will pay lots of fines. The Biden Administration’s executive order, issued in October or November, talked about both the rewards and risks of AI. The reward is that generative AI allows people to do things that would be too cumbersome for individuals to do alone, like synthesizing data from multiple sources and aggregating it into meaningful output without taking years.

Generative AI has the potential to disrupt many industries, including law, where paralegals do enormous amounts of research and synthesis. These tools can take away tedious work, allowing humans to focus on more creative tasks. Automation should handle dirty, dangerous, difficult, or dull jobs, while humans do more interesting work.

I’m working with a company called Nex Collabs, looking at workflows and processes to automate tasks employees dislike. For instance, what tasks do you not enjoy doing in your job? How can you automate those tasks so you can focus on what you love?

Doug Hohulin: There are various companies looking at automating different tasks. As AI gets more sophisticated, it’s crucial to use these tools properly. For example, the American Bar Association has a task force on using AI properly. Chief Justice Roberts’s recent 133-page document is all about AI and its use in the court. Some lawyers use AI inappropriately, getting fined and cited. AI is a great tool if used properly, but it’s garbage in, garbage out.

If lawyers use these tools improperly, they could lose their licenses. For instance, practicing law without a license is a serious issue. AI should be used responsibly, understanding its limitations. I worked four years on automated and connected vehicles, rolling out connected and automated vehicle technology with the 5G Automobile Association. Tesla’s technology keeps improving, but using it inappropriately increases the risk of accidents. Understanding the limitations of any tool and using it responsibly is key.

Zach Gardner: For sure. I recall a Boston Consulting Group survey showing improvements in quality and speed when using AI. Have you read that survey?

Doug Hohulin: Yes, very much so. The Boston Consulting Group divided consultants into three groups: one using normal processes, one using ChatGPT without training, and one using ChatGPT with limited training. They found quality improved by 40% and speed by 25% with these tools. However, the best employees didn’t see much improvement, while average employees improved significantly. This concept, which I call “regression to the expert,” boosts average employees to the level of the best performers. AI can help boost productivity and creativity, and I’m excited about the next five years.

I’ve worked in the cell industry and internet technology for the last 33 years, and I believe AI coupled with internet tools will change our society more in the next five years than the last 25 years. Riding the wave of innovation can do amazing things, but not understanding these tools can lead to failure.

Zach Gardner: I’m curious about what excites you most about generative AI in relation to spatial computing. It’s an area I need to learn more about.

Doug Hohulin: Absolutely. I’m the president of the VR Association in Kansas City and on the generative AI committee chair. We’re looking at how to roll out this technology, moving from 2D to 3D web, or spatial web. This immersive technology can revolutionize healthcare and education. When I started with Motorola, cell phones weighed three pounds and cost $3,000. Now, we have five billion smartphone users.

I predict that by 2027, plus or minus two years, there will be a billion people using VR technology for at least an hour a day. Apple’s recent sale of their Vision Pro devices is a step in that direction. This technology, when it becomes lightweight and affordable, will be as common as smartphones. The potential for education is particularly exciting. Imagine using smart glasses to receive step-by-step instructions for tasks, optimizing processes in real time.

While current devices like the Quest 2 and 3 weigh around a pound, we need them to be lighter. Smart glasses today weigh about 100 grams, and as they get lighter and more functional, they’ll become indispensable tools. For instance, using smart glasses to assemble Ikea furniture or complete jigsaw puzzles with AI assistance.

Zach Gardner: Your prediction might come true in about three years. Maybe we’ll do a podcast about that then.

Doug Hohulin: Absolutely. The VR Association in Kansas City is planning an event on February 20th, where we hope to demo the Vision Pro. Organizations like Children’s Mercy are already investing in VR training. The key is optimizing processes with this technology. For example, using smart glasses to follow AI instructions for assembling furniture or completing puzzles. This technology can significantly enhance productivity and creativity.

Zach Gardner: This was fun, Doug. We should do this again. If people want to learn more about your work and the organizations you’re involved in, where should they go?

Doug Hohulin: I’m very active on LinkedIn

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