Digital economy is a growth enabler: Cisco SVP

There’s a lot of positivity around the future of data science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), says VC Gopalratnam, senior vice-president – IT & CIO – International, Cisco. “We don’t believe that machines or these technologies will replace all the jobs. In fact, AI and ML will create higher-value employment for people. The challenge is for people to upskill to stay competitively relevant,” he tells Sudhir Chowdhary in an interview. Excerpts:

Are customers finding it difficult to transform into data-driven businesses?

Based on their industry vertical, customers may find it challenging to transform into data-driven businesses. Generally speaking, verticals such as financial institutions, retail and FMCG, have been quite evolved in the way that they have been using data. The evolution can be due to the competitiveness of the environment or due to margins dropping over the years. But data science and data analytics is a differentiator for these verticals.