Daniel Ljungstig is CEO of Next Layer and an innovative business development consultant and tech entrepreneur since 1995. Pivoting from IT and digital/additive manufacturing, he now champions the advancement of artificial intelligence. In this time he has also chaired or advised on several boards and additive manufacturing interest organizations. Educated at the Royal Institute of Technology, Daniel is known for his ability to clarify complex tech and spark innovative solutions. A connector at heart, he leverages his extensive network to transform tech potentials into real-world value. He attended the “AI and ML: Leading Business Growth” program by MIT Professional Education in 2023 and has shared his experience of the program.
What is your primary takeaway from the program?
This experience has enriched my understanding of the strategic applications of AI and ML in business, providing tools to develop a vision and plan focused on AI products and services. It also provided a reflection of this year’s intense use of generative AI all over the world and the implications it has on AI and business development.
- Crafting the end-to-end AI architecture at the system engineering level, which is crucial for developing robust AI system capabilities.
- Acquiring frameworks to analyze and monitor AI and ML implementations within an organization, and understanding the opportunities, capabilities, and scope of these technologies.
- Learning to articulate the value proposition of AI and ML to stakeholders effectively, to align with and drive organizational goals.
- How to think about using generative AI to accelerate supervised learning and traditional AI techniques
How was your overall experience of the program?
This program blended insightful business strategies with a practical exploration into AI and ML, a combination that resonated well with my background in additive manufacturing and IT. Over the 6-month span, I also forged lasting friendships during our weekly classes, projects, and brainstorming sessions. It was an enriching experience to collaborate with a diverse group of business leaders from around the world, all united by the goal of leveraging AI and ML for business growth. The camaraderie built amidst late-night project discussions and ‘aha’ moments of problem-solving is something I deeply cherish.
It has been a rewarding experience and I am keen on integrating these learnings to explore new avenues for business growth and innovation.