Beyond the Model: The Secret of Competitive Advantage in the AI Era

In the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there is a growing trend to overvalue access to the most advanced language models as a key determinant of business success. However, a deeper analysis reveals that the real competitive edge does not lie merely in the computational power of the models, but rather in the way and the knowledge with which these models are trained.

In my previous article, “Discoveries of a Pioneer: The 3 Keys to Understanding Artificial Intelligence”, I highlighted the importance of AI as the advocate of the single truth. In this article, we will explore this concept more deeply and how it relates to the competitive advantage of companies.

Current large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4, Claude 3, and Gemini Ultra already possess capabilities that exceed the average of what is done by humans in many everyday activities. In the near future, it is likely that even more powerful models will be accessible to all organizations and individuals. In this scenario, the differentiator will not only be the reasoning power and knowledge of the models, but primarily the way and the knowledge with which these models were trained.

Companies that manage to train LLM models with the specific knowledge of their businesses ahead of others will have a significant competitive advantage. By becoming the source of truth about knowledge in their fields of expertise, these companies will be well-positioned to dominate their markets, provided they maintain a strategy focused on structuring knowledge for the models.

A notable example is the application of AI in pharmaceutical companies. Major companies in the industry are using generative AI and machine learning techniques to improve productivity, speed, and compliance in their processes, from drug development to data analysis in clinical trials¹. This approach allows for the rapid processing of regulatory documents and the discovery of relevant information for specific drugs.

Furthermore, companies are beginning to realize the potential of generative AI to drive growth and productivity in various areas. Generative AI tools are being used to modernize legacy codes or accelerate research and discovery time in the sciences². Although this application is still in its early stages, a significant increase in its adoption is expected.

It is in this context that AI Connect plays a crucial role. Through Sarah AI, our virtual assistant solution, we help companies identify the essential knowledge for specialized services and implement it in our AI model. Additionally, we assist companies in creating a process for the continuous evolution and validation of this knowledge, integrating it with the company's existing tools and the people who possess the knowledge, the "Knowledge owners."

However, it's important to emphasize that, despite the rapid expansion of generative AI tool usage, data from a survey indicate that these new tools are not yet significantly driving the overall adoption of AI in organizations. About 55% of respondents report that their organizations have adopted AI, a number that remains relatively stable, indicating there is still much room to capture value in ways that directly improve the efficiency or productivity of organizations ².

In conclusion, the true competitive advantage in the AI era lies not only in access to the most advanced models, but in the ability of companies to become the source of truth for knowledge in their areas of operation. By training LLM models with specialized knowledge and maintaining a continuous process of evolution and validation, companies will be well positioned to dominate their markets. AI Connect is at the forefront of this trend, helping companies achieve this competitive advantage through Sarah AI and our expertise in knowledge structuring.