Artificial intelligence is undergoing a period of rapid evolution, with businesses gradually moving beyond the initial phase of experimentation towards the meaningful integration of the technology into their core operations.
This was the key message of the presentation delivered by Marios Anastasiou, Senior Account Manager at Google, during the 5th Digital Cyprus Conference 2026, organised by CITEA and IMH.
Anastasiou examined the global acceleration in artificial intelligence adoption, noting that the market is entering a new phase in which simply using AI tools is no longer sufficient unless it is accompanied by organisational transformation.
Despite the widespread availability of the technology, true business maturity remains limited. Many organisations are still in the testing phase and have yet to embed AI at the heart of their business strategy.
A central theme of his presentation was the gap between technological adoption and tangible business performance. As he explained, the greatest obstacle is not the technology itself, but rather the shortage of specialised talent and the inability to redesign business processes.
He also highlighted the market's momentum, noting that artificial intelligence is becoming a key driver of economic growth, with investment increasing exponentially worldwide.
At the same time, he drew attention to what he described as the Cyprus paradox: while the use of AI tools among the public is exceptionally high, their integration within the business sector remains comparatively limited. According to Anastasiou, this gap represents a significant opportunity to accelerate adoption.
From the conference stage, he outlined a three-stage framework for the successful integration of artificial intelligence. The process begins with mapping organisational processes, continues with effective change management, and culminates in the adoption of autonomous systems and AI agents that support the day-to-day operations of organisations.
He also placed particular emphasis on the role of leadership, noting that CEOs, CIOs, CFOs and COOs are now required to fundamentally redefine their responsibilities in an environment where AI has become a strategic pillar of the business.
In closing, he stressed that success over the coming decade will depend not on technological superiority, but on organisations' ability to combine human judgement, process maturity and scalable artificial intelligence systems.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
