Latest news with #ChatGPT-4
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Award-winning analytics and AI leadership: How Gas Networks Ireland is harnessing data and GenAI to unlock business insights and drive innovation
An award-winning customer classification project utilising generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), enhanced network safety, improved financial governance, and supporting the transition to renewable gases on the network. These are just a few of the ways in which Gas Networks Ireland is harnessing the power of data and GenAI to unlock business insights and drive innovation. Last year, the organisation's data competency centre (DCC), led by head of data and analytics Alan Grainger, won the prestigious AI Project of the Year award at the 2024 Analytics and AI Awards. The project utilised GenAI to tackle a long-standing business challenge – the accurate classification of over more than 30,000 commercial gas customers across Ireland. 'A business customer's classification, eg brewery, hospital, supermarket, is set when they sign up with an energy provider,' Grainger explains. 'In many cases and over time, the customer data we received had been misclassified or not classified at all, limiting the ability to extract meaningful insights. We knew there was untapped potential in our customer data, but the lack of reliable classification made it challenging to engage effectively with specific sectors – particularly those with strong potential for renewable biomethane gas adoption. That's what made the GenAI project such a game-changer.' The challenge had persisted for many years without a cost-effective solution, he adds. 'Three years ago, we wouldn't have been having this conversation at all, but ChatGPT woke us all up. It opened our eyes to new possibilities and we decided to test the potential of GenAI and large language models [LLMs] with a real-world business problem. We worked with a trusted partner and time-boxed the project to six weeks. In reality, it took just four weeks to complete, and we now have all 30,000 business customers classified to 99+ per cent accuracy.' The project combined structured and unstructured data with a private instance of ChatGPT-4 using a series of intelligent internet searches and prompts to build a classification profile for each business. 'For example, if the system found references to Leaving Cert exams, teacher listings and subjects on the curriculum, it would classify the business as a secondary school,' he explains. 'Pre-GenAI, we would have needed a large team working over months, if not years, to classify this data.' Grainger adds. 'Buying access to a third-party industry database was another option, but it would have been far more expensive and may not have given us the same level of accuracy or control.' The project has revolutionised how Gas Networks Ireland understands and serves its customer base. 'The project proved that GenAI can solve real world business problems, even in safety critical environments like ours,' says Grainger. 'We didn't simply clean up legacy data, we unlocked new insights that enhance our approach to everything from customer engagement to strategic planning.' One of the most impactful applications of data has been in the area of operational safety. Through close collaboration with the asset operations team, the DCC team has delivered a range of data-driven tools to improve safety outcomes. The classified data is now fully integrated into Gas Networks Ireland's data warehouse and reporting systems. Customer-facing teams use it to target sustainability conversations especially around the roll-out of biomethane, a key pillar in Ireland's energy transition. It also supports regulatory reporting and strengthens alignment with national climate-action targets. 'We were delighted with the success of this ambitious project and the outcomes exceeded expectations. It's been a real turning point for how we think about data, insight and innovation. We were really proud when we won the AI Project of the Year award. It was a real milestone for the DCC team and Gas Networks Ireland as a whole. It showed what's possible when we take a bold but responsible approach to new technology, and it was a clear demonstration of innovation in practice.' Grainger established the DCC in 2022 and since then his focus has been on enabling Gas Networks Ireland to transform from a traditional engineering led utility to a digitally empowered, data-driven organisation. Data is now seen as a strategic asset central to how Gas Networks Ireland operates today, how it will grow tomorrow, and how it will prepare Ireland's gas network for a secure, decarbonised future. 'We've been on a data maturity journey since 2022 when we established the data competency centre,' he says. 'Before that, data tended to be viewed primarily as a byproduct of our business processes, rather than a strategic asset. Since then, we have moved the data maturity dial significantly and become a much more data-driven organisation.' Data now touches every part of the business, from operational performance, gas safety and customer insight to fraud prevention, cyber resilience and long-term network planning. One of the most impactful applications of data has been in the area of operational safety. Through close collaboration with the asset operations team, the DCC team has delivered a range of data-driven tools to improve safety outcomes. 'Pre-GenAI, we would have needed a large team working over months, if not years, to classify this data,' says Grainger. Photograph: Mark Henderson 'We have a 60-minute SLA for responding to emergency call-outs and we achieve this 99.7 per cent of the time,' Grainger points out. 'We have been able to use visual analytics to monitor and map emergency calls over a number of years. We use this to spot anomalies and examine why incidents are recurring in certain places. We have been able to use this to rebalance resources to where they are most needed. We can also use it for predictive analysis to prevent incidents before they occur.' Also in the area of safety, the organisation operates regular helicopter flyovers of the network to ensure it is safe and secure. 'That activity comes with a considerable carbon footprint,' he notes. 'We are now exploring the use of satellite imagery and applying data analytics to that to perform the same task.' 'Our attitude has been to build it, and they will come,' he continues. 'Now we almost can't keep up with demand for new uses for data in the organisation. For example, our asset operations team started with a single project on meter-reading analysis and has since benefited from over a dozen high-impact use cases.' Looking ahead, he points out that Gas Networks Ireland is already preparing its data architecture to support biomethane and hydrogen integration as it continues on its decarbonisation journey. 'As more entry points from biomethane producers and others feed into the network, the complexity of calorific value calculations of different types of gas will increase. We are already building the data models and systems needed to manage this.' Other advanced uses of AI and analytics being explored include the application of image recognition to gas meter photos to spot corrosion, safety risks or fraud, and the future need for modelling integrated energy system patterns and flows in collaboration with electricity operators like such as EirGrid and ESB. For Grainger, innovation isn't about adopting technology for its own sake – it's about using data intelligently to drive better decisions and outcomes. At the heart of this evolution are people: those with the insight to interpret data and the conviction to act. In a decarbonising world, the most resilient energy systems will be led by purpose and powered by intelligence.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Engineer or MBA? Narayana Murthy shares what really matters in this AI world
Live Events ChatGPT changed his workflow and might change yours too No divide between management and tech Smarter work, not harder work Productivity is the true promise (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a time when many are worrying about artificial intelligence snatching away jobs, Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy has a very different message: don't fear AI—learn to work with it. He believes AI will bring smarter work, not mass to Moneycontrol, the 78-year-old tech pioneer said, 'This whole fear that technology will take away jobs is not right. It will create a different kind of job.'He compared it to a moment in Indian history many professionals still remember. When computers first came into banks in the 1970s, unions resisted. They thought jobs would vanish. That didn't happen.'Everybody said when computers came to the banking sector, jobs would go away. But jobs have multiplied by a factor of 40 to 50,' Murthy believes AI will follow the same didn't just speak in theory. He revealed that he's a daily user of OpenAI's ChatGPT-4 and that it has transformed the way he works.'Earlier, I used to take about 25–30 hours to prepare a lecture, because I take these things very seriously. There must be a theme, a sub-theme; they must be interrelated. At the end, there must be a strong message, all of that,' he his son, Rohan Murty, suggested trying ChatGPT to speed things up. It worked.'In a matter of five hours, I could improve the draft. In other words, I improved my own productivity by as much as five times,' Murthy point wasn't that AI wrote everything for him. It was that AI helped him think and write more efficiently. That's the model he believes others can India's current education landscape, many students still debate whether it's better to study management or engineering—especially with AI reshaping dismissed that divide entirely.'I do not see any difference between a management graduate and a technology graduate because they attack the problem at different levels. One asks 'what,' while the other focuses on 'how',' he him, both are crucial in the AI age. And both must learn to think better, not just to the future, Murthy said AI will shift how people solve problems rather than take over their roles. For India's massive IT workforce, that means more sophisticated thinking will be required.'What will happen in the future is our programmers and analysts will become smarter and smarter in defining better and better requirements, more complex requirements. They will solve bigger problems, more complex problems,' he to do that, people will need to ask the right questions.'The smartness is in asking the right question,' he said. It's not just about doing more—it's about thinking core message is that AI can unlock a new level of productivity—if people treat it as a collaborator, not a competitor.'It is all about improving productivity. It is all about solving problems that are beyond human effort,' he believes the human role won't disappear. Instead, it will become more strategic. People will need to focus on defining complex problems clearly, using AI to execute the view puts the emphasis on human intelligence—not Murthy, this moment isn't about job destruction. It's about transformation. And it requires a mindset said, 'The smartness is in providing the requirement definition… The smartness is in asking the right question.'In a world filled with fast-changing tools, that kind of clarity might become the most important skill of all.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
AI agents and multimodal AI: Next leap in everyday tech
It's 2025, and AI isn't just behind the screen. It's starting to think, plan, and act for us. From managing calendars to diagnosing system errors, AI agents and multimodal AI are quickly becoming the tech world's most talked-about duo. These tools are transforming how we work, live, and interact by processing not just text, but voice, images, and video together in real time. AI agents and multimodal AI AI agents are essentially digital colleagues. They're autonomous software programs that can plan, reason, and complete tasks using different tools. No constant human input needed. They're not just following instructions; they're figuring things out. Multimodal AI gives these agents broader awareness. It allows systems to process and connect inputs from various sources. That means understanding what you type, say, show, or record in one seamless interaction. New capabilities in 2025, like larger context windows, chain-of-thought reasoning, and function calling, are pushing this even further. Transforming consumer and enterprise experiences Let's break this down. Customer service AI agents can now handle support queries without making you repeat yourself three times. They understand context and history, which means more personalized help and quicker resolutions. Virtual assistants? They're no longer just timers and weather forecasters. You can ask them, 'What's this rash on my arm?', send a photo, and get relevant suggestions. They'll even book a dermatologist appointment based on your schedule. At home, smart appliances are syncing with voice and video. They track routines, adapt automatically, and respond with less prompting than ever before. India's own is deploying smart agents across customer support, HR, and internal tools using chat, voice, and email. They don't just cut down wait times, they change how teams work entirely. Meanwhile, Google's Gemini and ChatGPT-4 are leading with unified models that integrate all input types in one engine. That means cleaner deployment, faster responses, and a more natural user experience. Why 2025 is the year of AI agents Industry momentum says it all. Nearly 99% of enterprise AI developers are building or testing AI agents right now. These systems bring autonomy, personalization, and adaptability. They're built to get better the more they're used. When combined with multimodal input, the interaction becomes almost human. You don't just type a command, you interact. You speak, point, send a file, and the AI gets it. And because they're efficient and scalable, they're rolling out fast in sectors like healthcare, finance, retail, and education. Meet your new digital colleague AI agents and multimodal models are already changing how we live and work. They're stepping in as planners, assistants, troubleshooters, and problem-solvers. As the tech improves, they'll only get more intuitive. They're not just a glimpse of the future. They're the beginning of a new kind of digital colleague.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Narayana Murthy says ChatGPT helps him write five times faster than before: 'Used to take about 25-30 hours to prepare a lecture'
Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy has given a major review of the usage of the artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT. Speaking about the AI tool, the Indian billionaire businessman recently revealed that he uses the artificial intelligence tool to quickly draft speeches that used to take him over 25 hours to write. In a conversation with Moneycontrol, the 78-year-old businessman said that he now prefers using OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, as it helps him prepare drafts for lectures and speeches for his public appearances. According to Murthy, the AI tool helps him write anything way faster than before and significantly saves his writing time. 'In a matter of five hours, I could improve the draft' Murthy explained how he used to take about 20-30 hours to prepare a lecture because he likes to take things very seriously. He always thinks there should be a central theme with a connected sub-theme, and both must be closely linked. Ultimately, it should all lead to a powerful and meaningful message. The tech titan added that his son, Rohan Murty, introduced him to ChatGPT and asked him to use it to write his drafts. 'In a matter of five hours, I could improve the draft. In other words, I improved my own productivity by as much as five times,' he said. 🚨 "I used to take about 25-30 hours to prepare a lecture. Now i take just 5 hours using ChatGPT," - Narayana Murthy. Narayana Murthy urges ethical use of AI The Infosys founder had earlier supported the use of AI, describing it as a tool that boosts skilled labour rather than replacing it. Murthy noted that generative AI can speed up tasks such as coding and minimise errors. He believes that, overall, it will improve turnaround times and increase productivity within the tech industry. He also compared the rise of AI to the use of computers in the banking sector during the 1970s. He explained that machines were originally viewed as rivals to human beings and faced resistance from unions. However, those very machines ultimately enhanced productivity and enabled employees to finish work by 5 PM, allowing them more time to spend with their families.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Narayana Murthy claims ChatGPT helps him write 5 times faster: 'Used to take 25-30 hours'
Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy has revealed that he uses the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to quickly draft speeches that used to take him over 25 hours to write. Murthy said that he now uses OpenAI's ChatGPT-4 to help him prepare drafts for lectures and speeches for his public appearances, adding that the technology has significantly cut down his writing time. 'Earlier, I used to take about 25-30 hours to prepare a lecture, because I take these things very seriously. There must be a theme, a sub-theme; they must be interrelated. At the end, there must be a strong message, all of that," he told Moneycontrol. The 78-year-old tech titan said that his son, Rohan Murty, introduced him to ChatGPT and asked him to use it to write his drafts. 'In a matter of five hours, I could improve the draft. In other words, I improved my own productivity by as much as five times,' he said. The Infosys founder has advocated for the use of AI in the past, calling it an augmentative tool rather than a replacement for skilled labour. Murthy has said that generative AI can help accelerate tasks like coding and reduce errors. Overall, he believes it will help turnaround times while boosting productivity in the tech industry. 'The smartness is in defining the requirement well. That's what my son told me, unless you ask the right question, you won't get the right output. What will happen in the future is that our programmers and analysts will become smarter and smarter in defining better and better requirements, more complex requirements. They will solve bigger problems, more complex problems,' he said. Murthy compared the rise of AI to the use of computers in the banking sector during the 1970s. He said that the machines were initially seen as competition to humans and opposed by unions. However, the same machines helped increase productivity and helped employees go home by 5 PM every day, to spend more time with their families, he said.
