How can enterprises better leverage AI to enable human-AI collaboration, boost productivity, and scale faster?

At the AI workshop co-hosted last Friday by UBS and Whale, industry leaders and innovators from across the Asia-Pacific region came together to explore this question and exchange perspectives on how AI is reshaping the way businesses operate.

We delved into the application and evolution of AI within enterprises–from its core technology to real-world industry practices, and from organizational management to transforming mindsets. Whale’s founder & CEO, Jerry Ye, shared a key insight: companies need to adopt an AI-First mindset, treating AI as an evolving copilot. Through continuous use, feedback, and iteration, organizations can gradually become truly AI-native.

The AI era is no longer coming; it’s already here. Enterprises that embrace it today will be the ones that scale faster tomorrow.

Key Insights from the Workshop

Attendees observed a common theme: while AI is powerful, it still has limitations in specialized tasks. This raises a bigger question in the AI era–it is not just about using AI, but about how you think with it, understand it, and work alongside it.

Jerry Ye framed the discussion through three lenses: mindset, technical foundation, and AI adoption approach:

1. AI-First is a mindset shift
AI transforms complex information into structured content and significantly boosts productivity. Organizations that adopt an AI-First mindset and see AI as a trusted partner rather than a threat gain a competitive edge.

2. To know AI, understand its fundamentals
AI is built on mathematics and algorithms. Using it at the application level is one thing; understanding its underlying theory and core algorithms is another.

3. AI evolves as you collaborate
AI is not perfect–it is a copilot, not a replacement. When treated as a tool and refined through continuous use, feedback, and optimization, it evolves into an efficient and reliable assistant.

AI in Action: Industry Applications

Understanding practical applications is key as AI reshapes industries. At the workshop, Jerry Ye shared examples of AI adoption in real-world industries:

1. Manufacturing: Highly standardized processes allow AI to monitor production lines through visual and audio sensing, quickly detecting anomalies to reduce losses and keep operations running smoothly. Manufacturing is among the industries where AI adoption is most straightforward.

2. Customer Service: Most complaints are emotional, so empathy is key. AI works best as a copilot supporting humans, gradually progressing toward automation as data accumulates. Success relies on balancing human empathy with AI efficiency.

As industries transform, AI is not just a tool; it is a partner in creating smarter operations and better customer experiences. Whale provides enterprise-grade AI-native solutions trusted by over 1,600 internationally renowned brands across automotive, F&B, fashion, electronics, beauty, retail, and FMCG. These solutions enable AI-driven operations, deeper customer insights, and smarter decision-making, helping businesses achieve tangible commercial success.

Streamlining AI Operations

Workshop attendees also highlighted a common challenge: vibe coding can boost efficiency but often causes management chaos, repetitive work, and difficulties scaling.

According to Jerry Ye, the key is treating vibe coding as a temporary, disposable app. Companies don’t need a full-time development team. By hiring the right engineers, providing proper training, and building a centralized platform, organizations can integrate fragmented apps, connect internal systems with external AI tools, and ensure unified full lifecycle control.

Whale Alivia provides overall management and capability support to make this seamless. Learn more about how Whale Alivia helps organizations streamline AI operations: https://www.meetwhale.ai/whale_alivia_en.html

“How can enterprises better leverage AI to enable human-AI collaboration, boost productivity, and scale faster?”

At the AI workshop co-hosted last Friday by UBS and Whale, industry leaders and innovators from across the Asia-Pacific region came together to explore this question and exchange perspectives on how AI is reshaping the way businesses operate.

We delved into the application and evolution of AI within enterprises—from its core technology to real-world industry practices, and from organizational management to transforming mindsets. Whale’s founder & CEO, Jerry Ye, shared a key insight: companies need to adopt an AI-First mindset, treating AI as an evolving copilot. Through continuous use, feedback, and iteration, organizations can gradually become truly AI-native.

“The AI era is no longer coming; it’s already here. Enterprises that embrace it today will be the ones that scale faster tomorrow.”

Key Insights from the Workshop

Attendees observed a common theme: while AI is powerful, it still has limitations in specialized tasks. This raises a bigger question in the AI era—it is not just about using AI, but about how you think with it, understand it, and work alongside it. Jerry Ye framed the discussion through three lenses: mindset, technical foundation, and AI adoption approach:

1. AI-First is a mindset shift

AI transforms complex information into structured content and significantly boosts productivity. Organizations that adopt an AI-First mindset and see AI as a trusted partner rather than a threat gain a competitive edge.

2. To know AI, understand its fundamentals

AI is built on mathematics and algorithms. Using it at the application level is one thing; understanding its underlying theory and core algorithms is another.

3. AI evolves as you collaborate

AI is not perfect—it is a copilot, not a replacement. When treated as a tool and refined through continuous use, feedback, and optimization, it evolves into an efficient and reliable assistant.

AI in Action: Industry Applications

Understanding practical applications is key as AI reshapes industries. At the workshop, Jerry Ye shared examples of AI adoption in real-world industries:

1. Manufacturing: Highly standardized processes allow AI to monitor production lines through visual and audio sensing, quickly detecting anomalies to reduce losses and keep operations running smoothly. Manufacturing is among the industries where AI adoption is most straightforward.

2. Customer Service: Most complaints are emotional, so empathy is key. AI works best as a copilot supporting humans, gradually progressing toward automation as data accumulates. Success relies on balancing human empathy with AI efficiency.

As industries transform, AI is not just a tool; it is a partner in creating smarter operations and better customer experiences. Whale provides enterprise-grade AI-native solutions trusted by over 1,600 internationally renowned brands across automotive, F&B, fashion, electronics, beauty, retail, and FMCG. These solutions enable AI-driven operations, deeper customer insights, and smarter decision-making, helping businesses achieve tangible commercial success.

Streamlining AI Operations

Workshop attendees also highlighted a common challenge: vibe coding can boost efficiency but often causes management chaos, repetitive work, and difficulties scaling.

According to Jerry Ye, the key is treating vibe coding as a temporary, disposable app. Companies don’t need a full-time development team. By hiring the right engineers, providing proper training, and building a centralized platform, organizations can integrate fragmented apps, connect internal systems with external AI tools, and ensure unified full lifecycle control.

Whale Alivia provides overall management and capability support to make this seamless. Learn more about how Whale Alivia helps organizations streamline AI operations:  https://www.meetwhale.ai/whale_alivia_en.html