Why is Artificial Intelligence (AI) important for Telcos? At what stage is its implementation in these companies? What are its potential benefits? What are the associated challenges? And what are the prospects for the future? These were some of the questions that Paulo Rego, from the Product and Pre-Sales Department at Altice Portugal, reflected on during his speech at Building The Future, on February 22.
In his view, AI, in the context of Telecoms, is "something attractive that will allow for more efficiency, lower costs and a better customer experience". It is in this sense that MEO Empresas has invested in AI models to optimise resources, minimise breakdowns and ensure an intelligent balance in its network, in order to offer greater capacity to customers, without increasing its investments.
In addition, Paulo Rego made clear the importance of Prediction, Prevention and Response in relation to the security of network operations, highlighting Altice Portugal's efforts to anticipate and combat fraud through fake attacks using AI models.
Paulo Rego also addressed the challenges faced by companies in developing and implementing AI, highlighting issues such as privacy, data ownership and a shortage of specialised talent. With regard to the latter, he gave the example of a solution already implemented by the company: "retraining some high-profile technicians we already have to help us scale our AI models, mostly developed with the major intervention of our innovation arm: Altice Labs."
He also emphasized the need for an ethical and responsible approach to this commitment to AI, always respecting the privacy and rights of customers. In other words, the regulation and responsible use of data in this context.
"Reaching AI maturity in companies will take time, but we cannot ignore the GEN AI phenomenon. This is one of those times when a company that is competitive has to say 'Present', allocate resources and invest, even if it doesn't yet know the outcome of what will happen in the future and whether it will have a happy ending," he said in relation to the times to come.
And he concluded with optimism: "I hope that AI evolves favorably and helps us to do our jobs, with people always at the forefront - who are and will continue to be our main asset. The only way we can continue to be market leaders, as we are today, is through innovation and that is our goal when we talk about AI: to be market leaders, to set the pace and to lead through innovation."
Text: Meghanne Barros