The Hidden Challenge No One Tells You About AI

Burcin Turkkan is an inspirational leadership speaker and pioneer in AI innovation, business strategy, and global transformation. As Founder & President of USEH International Training Services, she leverages her expertise across sectors to guide organisations in integrating AI into their operations.

With over 25 years of leadership experience across six countries, Burcin has worked in HR, finance, education, innovation, operations, and strategy. Her global background gives her unique insight into how AI can be tailored to diverse industries. 

In this exclusive interview with The Female Motivational Speakers Agency, Burcin shares her advice on implementing AI, overcoming data and ethical challenges, and how organisations can build systems that stay human-centred.

Q: Many businesses are eager to adopt AI but often struggle to know where to begin. From your perspective, what strategic steps should organisations prioritise when embedding AI into their daily operations?

Burcin Turkkan: “Well, businesses looking into adopting AI need to start with a strategic vision. They need to focus on areas where AI can add the most value to their business — in customer service, operational efficiency, or market analysis. The key is to integrate AI in a way that it complements human expertise, not replace it.

“They also need to invest in training the staff to work alongside AI technologies. They need to ensure that they have robust data governance policies. That’s very important, as the quality of the AI outputs heavily depends on the quality of the data inputs.

“Starting small would be smart, with some pilot projects to increase the impact and scale up gradually. It’s the journey of continuous learning and adaptation.”

Q: As companies look to leverage AI and other emerging technologies, what do you see as the most pressing challenges they will face during integration?

Burcin Turkkan: “Well, businesses face several hurdles in adapting AI. The foremost is the challenge of integrating AI into existing legacy systems without disrupting operations — that’s the biggest challenge.

“There’s also the issue of data quality and availability. AI systems require large, diverse datasets to train on. Another significant challenge is addressing the skills gap — having the right talent to develop, manage and interpret AI systems is crucial.

“Additionally, businesses must be vigilant about ethical considerations. This is the biggest discussion nowadays with AI, like data privacy and algorithmic bias. Ensuring their data solutions are fair and transparent is most important.”

Q: The ethical implications of AI are being widely debated. How do you believe organisations can ensure they use AI responsibly and transparently?

Burcin Turkkan: “The ethical use of AI is paramount. Organisations must ensure their AI systems are transparent and explainable, especially when decisions impact customers directly.

“Regular audits for biases, adherence to data privacy laws, and ethical guidelines are essential. AI should be used to augment human decision-making, not replace it.

“Also, ensuring that empathy and ethical considerations remain at the forefront. Engaging with stakeholders, including customers and employees, in the AI development and deployment process is also crucial for ethical and responsible use of AI.”

This exclusive interview with Burcin Turkkan was conducted by Mark Matthews of The Motivational Speakers Agency.

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