The Journey of AI Achievers

Summary

Although many manufacturing organisations have made significant investments in their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, one particular industrial manufacturer stands out as an AI achiever: John Deere. The journey of our AI achievers shows that their success requires the focus on the state of the possible with AI. It is that unique perspective that will shape the business opportunities of AI and define what organisations are able to do with the technology. A data‐driven mindset is rooted in the application of data to improve the quality of human decision‐making. In the early 2000s, John Deere started its journey by investing in sensor technology and harnessing its data. Additionally, John Deere made strategic investments in GPS technology, starting in the mid‐1990s and culminating in the acquisition of NavCom, a GPS technology firm, in the late 1990s. Through the integration of data and AI, John Deere has reached a stage where their AI‐driven products actively support human decision‐making.