As artificial intelligence gets real, firms move slow and steady to win the race

Companies cautiously explore AI's potential in various industries, balancing innovation with practicality and human oversight for successful implementation.

In the wake of ChatGPT’s dramatic arrival two years ago, companies are excited about generative AI’s possibilities but heading into 2025 with careful deliberation rather than rushing to transform their operations.

The Channel Tunnel, one of the world’s most strained travel checkpoints, presents a compelling example of AI’s current limitations and practical applications.

Each day, 400 of the world’s largest locomotives cross the tunnel linking France and Britain, with nearly 11 million rail passengers and 2 million cars carried through annually.

For GetLink, the company managing the 800-metre-long trains, caution around AI implementation remains paramount.

“We are in a highly regulated business. We are not kidding around. These are very strict procedures,” explained Denis Coutrot, GetLink’s Chief Data and AI officer.

Rather than controlling train operations, their AI primarily handles more mundane tasks like searching through rules and regulations.

The legal sector, initially viewed as prime for AI disruption, tells a similar story.