Five key insights from The Next Web

Discover insights from the conference where industry leaders discuss AI's transformative potential across diverse sectors.

Job van der Voort, CEO of Remote:

"The importance of AI in the coming years will be enormous. Every company, across all sectors, will integrate AI into their operations. The potential to replace a significant amount of manual work with AI-driven solutions will grant us unprecedented freedoms and fundamentally change the way our businesses function.

At Remote, we already extensively utilize AI within our organization. AI streamlines our processes, improves efficiency, and significantly reduces our workload. With AI, we can achieve much more with fewer resources, enabling us to better serve our customers. The integration of AI not only optimizes our operations but also allows our team to focus on more strategic and creative tasks, making our lives easier."

Khanna, Global Head of Sustainability - Vice President at Prosus Group:

"Digitalization presents enormous opportunities to address climate issues and social challenges. Globally, there are over a billion people without bank accounts. Traditional methods to bring them into the financial banking system involve significant logistical challenges and have a high carbon footprint due to the construction of physical branches, transportation, and other infrastructure requirements.

However, fintech offers a carbon-neutral approach through digital platforms and mobile technologies. This not only reduces environmental impact but also provides financial services more efficiently and inclusively to underserved populations. Digital financial services can promote social inclusion and improve the economic stability and resilience of individuals and communities."

Gunjan Bhardwaj, CEO and co-founder of Partex:

"The current status quo of the healthcare system is unsustainable, with rising costs. Certain countries bear disproportionate healthcare costs by purchasing drugs at premiums that others cannot afford, raising equity issues. Healthcare data is now a digital asset that should primarily benefit the healthcare system and patients, not intermediaries looking to exploit it.

AI is poised to transform our healthcare system, unlocking new therapeutic possibilities and improving patient outcomes. It significantly accelerates the identification and validation of new indications, delivering greater value for both companies and patients. Leveraging AI has enabled us to develop nearly twenty drugs that might not have otherwise been developed, with three potentially groundbreaking drugs in our pipeline."

Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau, envoy of TechLeap:

"AI is as fundamental as the rise of the internet. Any company scaling up now must evaluate which processes can be automated. Similar to the digitalization wave before it, AI now impacts every business to varying degrees. Understanding how this technology can benefit your business model requires a deep analysis of its capabilities. Whether you embrace AI or not, it will undoubtedly shape the competitive landscape—you must strategize effectively and integrate AI to improve efficiency, promote innovation, and ensure your company's long-term success in a rapidly evolving market."

Gijs Coppens, CEO & founder of OpenUp:

"The role of AI at OpenUp has been transformative. Recognizing the potential for automation in chat interactions between psychologists and clients, we aim for a high-tech, high-touch experience. Here, technology doesn't replace human interaction but complements it, enabling professionals to better serve clients. Success lies in the details.

We are committed to helping society navigate the complexity of AI with confidence and compassion. Recognizing the challenges in adapting to technology, we see significant opportunities for growth. I envision a society where high-tech tools and human empathy coexist, creating a supportive environment for professionals to thrive and excel in their work."