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• The potential for AI to empower the future of enterprise architecture was the topic of our recent webinar with BCG. Let's recap everything that was discussed in the session.

• Enterprise architecture (EA) is one of the many fields set to be revolutionized by generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. EA, however, will also be key for helping organizations get the most from AI across their entire organization.

• We recently hosted a webinar with William El Kaim, IT Architecture Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), on how enterprise architecture will be revolutionized by AI, and in turn, help AI to enhance a variety of other fields. Watch a recording of the entire session below

•  Let's consider some of the topics discussed in the session and look more closely at what the advent of generative AI means for the future of enterprise architecture. 

Introducing our webinar on how generative artificial intelligence (AI) will impact enterprise architecture, William from BCG began by explaining how AI has evolved over the years:

1956: Artificial Intelligence - the pursuit of machines that can replicate or exceed human intelligence

1997: Machine Learning - allowing AI to process existing data to derive insights and make accurate decisions and predictions

2017: Deep Learning - advanced machine learning using neural networks

2021: Generative AI - using deep learning to create text, visuals, and audio from existing data

2022: ChatGPT - a generative AI with a chat interface, allowing users to type questions and receive answers

One thing that's clear from the above is how quickly things are progressing. Not just generative AI, but the potential applications of it, are developing at pace.

Generative AI systems like ChatGPT ingest huge amounts of data from various sources, primarily the internet, in order to learn how language and imagery work. You can then enter a prompt, such as a question or description, and the AI will generate an original, unique response that is similar to other human responses to those prompts.

In other words, you can ask ChatGPT to explain quantum mechanics to you in a very simple way, or draw a tree, or create a recipe for cookies. The AI can then immediately generate the answers, images, or information that you need.

William explained that the greatest change in our thinking that generative AI will bring about is the need to manage an evolving system. Generative AI continues to learn from new information and the successful content it generates, meaning it will continue to evolve in ways we can't predict.

Rather than discovering a challenge for your organization and building a solution to that problem, generative AI is a self-actualized tool that will adapt itself to support your business needs, perhaps faster than you can understand them.

Leveraging ChatGPT is less like driving a car where you want it to go, and more like breaking in a horse. While we must adapt to a loss in complete control, a horse may see and avoid hazards in the road that we ourselves would have missed.

Of course, while there is an advantage to the pro-active capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI), there is also risk. Generative AI can only predict the most likely response to a prompt, it cannot confirm the validity of the answer.

Occasionally, generative AI platforms have been known to 'hallucinate', creating answers to questions that simply sound plausible, but are not, in fact, correct. To avoid this, we must build in guardrails and monitoring systems to protect users from misinformation.

To do this, as well as to leverage generative AI in general, enterprise architects need to rapidly adapt their way of thinking and working. From new programming languages developed for AI, to completely AI-driven architecture models, there's no doubt that enterprise architects will have to learn new skills to survive.

Here, William referenced the new LeanIX Meta Model, which acts as a template for our customers to use to create an optimal enterprise architecture. Our latest Meta Model includes a map of where AI can fit into your IT landscape.

Enterprise architecture is one of the industries that will benefit the most from the support of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. William cited five key areas where AI can support enterprise architects:

1. Minimize the time spent on low-value tasks and increase presence and collaboration between the business and IT
2. Reduce time and effort needed to govern architecture and technology at the enterprise level
3. Improve quality of analysis using up-to-date IT landscape data
4. Ensure best compliant architecture using guided design and automated model generation
5. Accelerate the transfer of knowledge, training efforts, and bridging skill gaps

The key here is time. With AI as your co-pilot, you can delegate simple tasks, communication, and quality checks, and concentrate on the tasks that create real value for your organization. Yet, this is just one of the potential uses for AI.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) can act as a co-pilot for enterprise architects in taking on simple tasks, but there are two other capabilities that enterprise architecture can leverage, according to William. It can ease ingestion and become a polyglot.

AI can automate information crowdsourcing, both internally and externally. In addition, AI can then validate that information, improve data quality, and help to collate it for you.

So, what will the enterprise architecture of the future be like? To William, enterprise architecture will become an IT control tower, providing a coherent, up-to-date, unified view of the current state of the business and IT, and then evolving both using a scenario-based approach.

These future enterprise architects will be empowered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), which will perform key tasks under the architect's direction. AI will ease ingestion, act as a polyglot, and assist as a co-pilot, but the architect will always remain in control.

Governing the IT landscape, enterprise architects will also look at application modernization and leveraging innovation. As such, they will be the ones driving the AI transformation of other business capabilities.

The enterprise architecture function should, therefore, be the first department in your organization to embrace AI innovation, and become a champion for AI use across your business. From there, enterprise architects will become more important than ever as the people bringing AI innovation to your IT landscape.

 AI and Enterprise Architecture: Building the Blueprint of Tomorrow 

The marriage of AI and Enterprise Architecture opens a vista of potential yet to be fully exploited. As we stand on the cusp of this integration, it’s worth exploring how AI will shape the future of enterprise architecture.

Artificial intelligence can enhance EA in myriad ways, making it more efficient, effective, and adaptable. Here are some compelling prospects for the future of EA, fueled by AI.

Enterprise architecture is inherently data-intensive. Architects must grapple with complex and varied data to guide strategic decisions. With their ability to analyze vast datasets, AI algorithms can unveil hidden patterns, correlations, and insights that would be unfeasible for humans to detect, enhancing strategic decision-making.

Predictive AI models can forecast future trends based on historical data. In the EA context, AI could anticipate technological disruptions, infrastructure needs, and business process modifications. Such foresight can help architects design proactive and future-ready architectures.

Compliance with EA standards and principles is a significant concern. AI can automate governance, continuously monitoring systems for compliance with architectural standards and instantly flagging violations. This ensures adherence to EA principles and frees architects to focus on more strategic tasks.

AI can augment architects’ decision-making capabilities. By intelligently analyzing architectural models, stakeholder inputs, and business context, AI could recommend architectural decisions that align with strategic goals and constraints.

EA models could become dynamic entities, continually updated based on real-time enterprise data. AI can automate this update process, ensuring that EA models reflect the current state of the enterprise and making EA more responsive and agile.

AI could enhance collaboration in EA teams. Intelligent systems can facilitate knowledge sharing, conflict resolution, and consensus-building, promoting a more effective and harmonious EA practice.

As tantalizing as these prospects of AI and enterprise architecture are, realizing them will require careful navigation of several challenges. AI implementations demand robust data infrastructure, skilled personnel, and significant investment. Also, privacy and security concerns around AI must be addressed.

Moreover, while AI can automate many tasks, the human touch remains vital in EA. Architects’ experience, intuition, and understanding of organizational culture are elements that AI cannot replicate. The goal should be to leverage AI as a tool that augments, not replaces, the human architect.

However, these challenges are surmountable, and the potential benefits make the endeavor worthwhile. AI has the potential to transform EA from a static, manual, and often reactive discipline to a dynamic, automated, and proactive practice.

As AI permeates the EA landscape, the role of the enterprise architect will likely evolve. Architects must develop new skills like AI literacy, data science fundamentals, and change management. They must learn to work alongside AI, leveraging its capabilities while providing uniquely human insights and perspectives that machines cannot offer.

The future of EA will likely be a symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, where each complements the other’s strengths. In this scenario, AI is a powerful tool that amplifies architects’ capabilities, enabling them to build better architectures and contribute more effectively to their organization’s strategic objectives.

In essence, as AI becomes a cornerstone in the enterprise landscape, its role in the realm of enterprise architecture will be indispensable. The future of EA, supported by AI, promises to be more dynamic, precise, and responsive to the ever-evolving demands of business and technology landscapes. AI and EA will continue to build the blueprint of tomorrow’s enterprise. Contact us to learn more