Russell Goodenough has a background in engineering and digitisation and over 30 years of experience delivering complex technology solutions to public and private sector clients across industries including central and local government, transportation, healthcare, and defence.
Russell provides his insights on AI and how to apply AI to real-world challenges below:
The conversation around AI has shifted significantly in recent months. I've noticed that many people are growing tired of the media's tendency to either glorify or demonise the future implications of artificial intelligence. Instead, there’s a refreshing focus on the here and now—on the tangible, practical ways AI is starting to make a difference.
At CGI, we’re not just talking about AI; we’re applying it to become more productive, creative, and inclusive. Across our engineering and consulting teams, and throughout our support functions, we're discovering ways to improve every day using a range of new AI tools. It's truly astonishing to see the early value we're extracting from generative AI. However, I believe we’re only scratching the surface. The real magic happens when we integrate generative AI with existing AI solutions like expert systems, predictive models, and deep learning.
Take healthcare, for example. The impact of AI here is genuinely life-changing. A standout project is the Helsinki Head AI, where CGI partnered with Helsinki University Hospital and a top manufacturer of digital imaging devices. Together, we developed an AI solution to assist radiologists in interpreting brain CT scans, helping detect the most common types of non-traumatic brain haemorrhages. AI in this context isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifesaver, helping to prioritise urgent cases, provide decision support, and automate routine tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care.
Ultimately, the integration of AI across all sectors is about achieving efficiencies that drive performance and create value, whether that’s measured in lives saved, time reduced, or profits increased. As AI continues to evolve, its impact will only deepen, driving innovation and progress in every field it touches.
We’re already witnessing substantial benefits from AI tools integrated into our daily technology. Tools like M365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and ChatGPT are enhancing our ability to work more efficiently, without replacing the human touch. If we keep in mind that AI is here to assist us, there’s no reason to fear it. By putting this technology in the hands of our teams, we’re not only unlocking new value and use cases but also demystifying the technology itself.
Navigating this apprehension can be challenging for senior leaders. For some, it feels like AI is poised to transform everything—from how we work with employees and clients to how we deliver business outcomes. But if we keep our focus on the benefits AI can bring, we can guide our organisations forward with confidence. AI is going to be woven into every aspect of our lives—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Embracing this transformation will drive innovation and efficiencies, ultimately reshaping how we live and work.
READ MORE: CGI's Cyber Escape Experience comes to Belfast, aiding NI public in outsmarting cyber threats
Of course, as we integrate AI into our lives, it’s essential to establish guardrails that foster confidence in the technology and encourage its safe and effective use. At CGI, we’re committed to setting clear parameters for the responsible use of AI. This involves not only developing reliable and transparent solutions but also ensuring that they are secure and private. It's also crucial to remember that, even with AI, people must use their own judgement to determine the most accurate and appropriate answers. With the right guardrails in place, we can focus on using AI for good.
If your business is just starting its AI journey, or if you’re taking the first steps, partnering with a technology provider who understands your business is key. This means understanding your existing services, work patterns, and how your business interacts with other organisations, citizens, and companies. At CGI, we’re already leveraging AI’s vast potential to deliver trusted outcomes for everyone.
Developing an AI strategy for your organisation might feel overwhelming right now. But there are some quick and effective ways to narrow down the options. Like any other digital transformation, it’s important to start with a well-defined business problem and keep a clear view of the expected return on investment. You need to be clear about your ambitions—whether that’s accelerating time to market for top-line growth, achieving specific efficiency gains for bottom-line growth, improving customer satisfaction, or providing a cleaner, greener service.
The opportunities presented by AI are vast, but it’s crucial to approach AI projects with a broader perspective. Compliance, security, ethics, and potential biases must all be considered, along with guidelines to help employees understand how to use these tools safely.
READ MORE: Belfast-based CGI awarded £85 million contract with NI Courts and Tribunals Service
As an organisation, it’s important to know your limits and understand how ready you are to start using AI. Budget, technical expertise, and data availability all play a role, and one size does not fit all. Get input from different departments—IT, marketing, finance, and operations—who will be using or impacted by the AI tool. Consider their needs, concerns, and technical expertise to ensure buy-in and successful implementation.
Investing in AI training and education is crucial, and it will take time for new tools to become second nature. Encourage collaboration across teams and disciplines to share best practices as we all explore the possibilities for becoming more agile and effective.
Whether you’re looking to use AI to innovate business models or optimise operations, we offer four AI imperatives for action, moving from envisioning to exploration, engineering, and expansion. We help clients set their AI strategy, explore ROI-led use cases, build future-ready foundations, and scale to accelerate value and trusted outcomes.
Rather than using AI as just another digital patch over old legacy systems, we need to be smarter about how we use these new tools to make a real difference. Let’s seize the opportunity to be mindfully innovative. By combining AI with better access to data, new sources of data, and different ways to interact with customers, we can fundamentally rethink the way we provide products and services.
Stay up to date with news and updates from CGI, including job opportunities, by visiting: syncni.com/company/CGI.
Read Sync NI's free online autumn magazine Celebrating a Decade of Big Data Belfast here.
Subscribe to the Sync NI newsletter for all the latest technology news, jobs and upcoming events in Northern Ireland.
