Arafat Tehsin, Microsoft MVP, discusses AI and the Power Platform

We have become increasingly reliant on data over the years, and businesses generate more data daily. Data is being used to enhance customer service and improve decision-making through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

While all this data is inevitable, its value is intangible unless it can provide companies with meaningful insights. Data democratization can be achieved using AI and the Power Platform - allowing even non-technical users to access digital information.

To gain more insight into the potential of AI and learn about the latest technology trends, we caught up with Microsoft MVP and Solutions Architect Arafat Tehsin.

Let Us Quickly Get To Our Expert's Point Of View.

Question 1- What according to you are some of the top Microsoft technology trends to watch out for in 2023?

The large Artificial Intelligence (AI) language models are transforming how people create solutions these days. These generative models boost productivity and creativity with a true focus on what matters to humans. Keeping the responsible AI approach in mind, I see that Microsoft will have some fantastic breakthroughs in 2023, which, according to Satya Nadella, will help us achieve more with less.

As a Microsoft MVP for AI, my core interests revolve around the democratization of AI to make it more accessible for people and enable many business users to solve their problems creatively. Azure Open AI Service is not just allowing partners like us to be successful, but Microsoft is also using it within its own products. Specifically, about the business applications end, we will be able to see a lot of innovation around Microsoft Power Platform, ranging from chatbots to automated flows to powerful business apps. For example, you may see good progress around Power Apps Ideas and more AI capabilities in Power Automate. Not to forget about my favorite Power Virtual Agents, where you should definitely be witnessing some great features lined up that would allow you to create sophisticated bots without writing a single line of code (or with low code).

Broadly, there will be hundreds (if not thousands) of noticeable features this year in different product suites such as Azure AI, Microsoft 365 suite, and much more.

Question 2: What are some opportunities you would be looking at this year?

In the past few years, my focus was to enable developers to explore the Applied AI side of the world without moving away from their day-to-day technology stack. This year, along with this, I’m going to expand my focus to everyone who loves to create, regardless of their basic (or moderate) tech experience. I look forward to solving critical problems in different industry verticals, primarily in the public, retail and health sectors, with the aim of making a significant impact on how we live and work.

Question 3: How is No-code AI changing business, and how does it benefit SMBs?

According to Gartner, by 2030, AI will create a value worth $13 trillion, and the automation rate will increase more than ever. This has already started, and cloud giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are already playing a significant role in this domain. These companies allow users to create AI-based solutions without sophisticated coding knowledge or deep machine-learning expertise.

If we just notice the AI landscape of the No-Code / Low-Code platforms, we will be surprised to see that almost every common business process can have an AI embedded into it. For example, loan applications can be marked as eligible or not eligible. The number plates of the cars can be read using Computer Vision, just with Azure ML Studio or AI Builder, etc. There’s no limit where you can’t create an AI solution with minimal or no code.

The key benefits are the low cost, ease of usage, and interoperability of the frameworks; you can simply construct a model and use it in your Power Apps or any place on the internet, and it should function flawlessly.

Question 4: Would you like to share some tips on Power Platform implementation?

Since the Power Platform is evolving at a very good speed, I have noticed that it is essential for practitioners to be clear about governance and how they can handle different policies such as DLP, restricted access, and so much more.

For example, we now have Power Pipelines, when previously, we had to go through the Azure DevOps route. We should constantly be on top of this, and Microsoft teams have been really helpful in this regard.

Question 5: What is the potential for Microsoft Partners in Australia?

One word, Huge! It’s now a matter of how you want to help your customers achieve more by keeping humans at the center rather than just sales. The Australian market is expanding quickly, and businesses are embracing the positive impact of technology. If a business wants to build a presence in this market, now is the time.

Get to Know Our Influencer

What is the best event that you attended recently? What were your key takeaways?

In 2022, I spoke at the NDC Melbourne, my first in-person conference after the pandemic. I loved the vibe of getting in-person and the interactivity of not just my session’s audience but everyone overall. My key takeaways were:

• There’s no replacement for in-person events. You meet people, not the tech.
• It’s always good to be in touch with the community. You learn about them, their different approaches to solving one problem in a unique way, and much more.
• You can still learn a lot. You can ask as many questions as you want from your speakers (and hang out with them afterward).

A piece of advice that you’d like to share with our readers?

Competition is always healthy. Try to develop a clear and unique proposition. Spot on your targets and generate compelling case studies before it gets too late. No technology can make you successful, but your people invest in them.