Our Intentions for AI Technologies
These days, AI is everywhere. It’s on your phone, in your golf clubs and in your refrigerator..
As a professional services firm empowering organizations to implement artificial intelligence technologies into their businesses, we keep an eye on what others are doing / aren’t doing and how to best apply these tools.
We agree with the idea that there will be two types of companies in the future: those who utilize AI well and everyone else. Those companies waiting to have a perfectly crafted plan will likely be obsolete when complete, given the rapid rate of change with this new technology.
Our AI Principles
We’re Just Getting Started: Our motto. As we dive into what AI has to offer, we have identified some common themes. These themes have quickly become our pillars for success in using AI.
1. Innovate & Learn
We recognize the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements and will actively seek opportunities to push the boundaries of innovation. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and exploration, we aim to become a leading voice in the AI industry.
2. Client-First Focus
AI is helpful as a creativity, productivity and on its best day as a workplace assistant. AI features cannot replace advice provided by a qualified professional and do not form any such relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship).
n a professional services firm, where our work products are our professional opinions and recommendations, we will use our professional judgement. We will evaluate any AI-generated outputs we accept and use.
3. Transparency
We will provide clear and accessible information about the functioning and use of our AI systems, enabling users to make informed decisions and challenge outputs. In addition to our focus on security, our approach includes incorporating privacy design principles, designing architectures with privacy safeguards, and providing appropriate transparency and control over the use of data. When bringing new offerings to the market, we incorporate these principles throughout the product lifecycle and design architectures with comprehensive privacy safeguards such as data encryption and the ability to turn relevant features on or off.
4. Human-AI Synergy
C9 Digital thrives on the dynamic interplay between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. We’re like a superhero team, blending Gemini’s data-crunching superpowers with our human creativity and intuition. This awesome combo lets us conquer complex problems, dream up innovative solutions, and level up your digital experience. And we’re not stopping there! We’re weaving AI magic into MyPlate and Lens, making them even more powerful and user-friendly.
5. Trust but Verify
We will ensure that our AI systems are reliable and robust, delivering consistent and accurate outputs, even under challenging conditions. We won’t become complicit in AI Hallucinations. We know that our clients hire us for our insights from years of experience and this element cannot be overstated.
We believe in showing our work, not just the answers. While Gemini is here to spark your imagination and provide information, we know trust comes from understanding. So, we’re pulling back the curtain on the magic – giving you a peek into the training data, the best way to prompt Gemini, and occasional quirks that shape Gemini’s responses. It’s like a behind-the-scenes tour of the AI world, so you can appreciate the show and how it’s made.
Drawing AI Inspiration from Leaders in Technology, Sports, and Coaching
What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.
Mark Zuckerberg said it best: “Ideas don’t come out fully formed. They only become clear as you work on them. You just have to get started.” This philosophy resonates deeply with Cloud9 Advisory’s approach to artificial intelligence. We believe in the power of iteration and experimentation, diving into the world of AI with a willingness to learn and evolve along the way. This company-wide mentality led us to our first AI principle: Innovation and Learning.
How did we do this? We dove in headfirst as a team. We formed a C9 AI Task Force, installed Gemini, and began working. We created AI Tips of the Week for our firm and applied AI to our internal apps.
In this age of AI, upscaling and continuous learning are keys to employee retention. At Cloud9, we have made AI learning a priority, incorporating it into our workdays through the use of Google Gemini. Additionally, we have company trainings and meetings to bring information back to the broader team.
As we started our AI journey, we sought inspiration from industry leaders, examining how they seamlessly integrated AI into their operations and long-term strategies. This in-depth analysis informed our own strategic approach, ultimately leading us to identify the most promising area for AI implementation within our business: productivity in Workspace, an area we consider ourselves to be experts on.
We see you Caitlin. We’re just getting started too.
She has already changed the game, but to continue adding to her legacy, she has to keep putting in the work. Highest average PPG, all-time 3-point leader, all-time leading scorer, 2024 WNBA #1 draft pick. And all of that was just the warm-up… Caitlin is just getting started.
Drawing from Caitlin’s example, C9 will keep putting in the work. C9 has made strides in our three houses: CFOaaS, Tax, and Digital. However, to ensure our clients always receive the best possible value, we are full steam ahead on integrating AI into our three C9 houses. Our clients are our everything. We are keen on AI and the possibilities of how AI will assist our clients with their own daily challenges in their specific industries. With that, we will remain client-focused when using AI in our business solutions. The only way C9 envisions success in integrating AI into our clients’ daily operations is through transparency. We will be clear about what is happening: when we are using AI, how we are using AI, and why we are using AI. This will be essential so users can make informed decisions.
With our team equipped with this cutting-edge technology, it’s time to unleash its full potential. Cloud9 is actively exploring the functionality of Google Gemini, ensuring it becomes an integral part of our operations. We’ve launched an internal pilot program involving a dedicated team from each of our three core areas to thoroughly explore and optimize the productivity-enhancing capabilities of AI.
Inspired by Caitlin, our game plan breaks down into the following:
Two pointers: Using AI internally to help us do our jobs better: Google Meet, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Gmail, etc
Three-pointers: Embed AI into our suite of C9 Digital Products: C9 Lens, MyPlate, and CoI Calendar
As Bill explains, we have a long way to go.
Bill Belichick said, “We will get started on fundamentals, and that will be a lengthy process. We have a long way to go and a lot to do, but we are making progress slowly but surely.” He coached the best of the best in football, and even still, NFL players spend time perfecting their fundamentals. At Cloud9, in regard to AI, we view fundamentals as human knowledge. We will never lose sight of our own intelligence and expertise. We recognize that AI must work hand in hand with the basic fundamentals, which is human knowledge. These two things—AI and humans—must collaborate and work in a way that allows the utmost potential and synergies for the best possible output. The potential for AI integration into our suite of products, as well as into our internal applications, must be met with a keen sense of awareness. What does this mean? The C9 team understands that AI systems require verification in some situations, and accurate outputs are necessary for continued success and improvement. This will be one pillar that remains at the forefront of our minds when using AI.
Looking Ahead
C9 understands the importance and sheer gravity of the potential AI brings to the table. The adoption of AI comes with responsibility from our company and we take that seriously. We are experimenting, innovating, and learning every day to deeper understand the power of AI, specifically, Google Gemini. In short, C9 is just getting started.
