Hoàng Nguyễn, Chief Data and Technology Officer at Howatson+Company, shares his insights on the future of AI and human intelligence. Born in Vietnam, Hoàng started programming at six and has received numerous accolades, including a software patent at 14. He has led technology teams for major enterprises and is certified by top technology vendors.

The Role of Data in Creativity

Hoàng believes that data should support, not drive, creativity. In the AI era, it’s crucial to express human truths beyond data.

AI in 2024: A Creative Accelerator

AI should not replace the creative process but accelerate it, freeing creators for higher-level thinking.

AI and Creative Thinking

While AI can handle repetitive tasks, true creativity and empathy require human input.

Business Models and AI

Agencies must rethink their value proposition as AI automates processes traditionally billed by the hour.

Client Concerns and Data Utilization

Clients are increasingly aware of the need for unique data to gain competitive advantages in AI applications.

Privacy Concerns

Brands must navigate data privacy carefully, ensuring compliance and security when training AI models.

Successful Data Use: The Petwatch Project

Howatson+Company’s Petwatch project for Petbarn utilized owned data to predict parasite threats, combining weather, location, and travel data for accurate AI-driven insights.

Future Predictions

Hoàng predicts new business models for creatives, significant fines for unauthorized AI training, in-house strategy models at agencies, and data education in schools.