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By: Atsushi Yamamoto | Official Columnist
IT journalist/writer
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
The limelight of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s chatbot that fluently communicates with humans, has many people colored by the thought that the time when AI will overtake human intelligence is just around the corner.
We had the opportunity to interview Eric Benhamou, who has spent more than 40 years of his life at the forefront of the IT industry and has contributed to the development of computer networks, when he visited Japan. Mr. Benhamou shared with us his perspective on AI and the cutting-edge digital technologies that now surround it.
Eric Benhamou in the History of Computer Networks
After graduating from Stanford University, Eric Benhamou began his career as a microprocessor development engineer. He then paved the way to become an expert in computer networking, and in 1990 he became CEO of 3Com, Inc. At 3Com, along with co-founder Robert Metcalf and others, he helped pioneer technologies related to Ethernet (Ethernet) and Wi-Fi.
He also led the development of Palm’s digital terminals and operating system during this period, and is credited with laying the groundwork for the birth of the smartphone as we know it today. Steve Jobs, who was smitten with Mr. Benhamou’s achievements at the time, twice sent him a love call, but Mr. Benhamou politely declined the offer.
Mr. Benhamou also played an important role in the development of the Netscape series and laid the foundation for the popularization of web browsers. He has since served on the boards of more than 25 companies, including 11 publicly traded companies, and has left a significant mark on the development of the IT industry.
In 2004, Mr. Benhamou founded his own company, Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV), in Silicon Valley, USA.
BGV helps cross-border companies take off
BGV, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year in 2024, has been actively investing in promising IT startups from the early stage, focusing on cross-border companies and telecommunication markets that aim for business growth on a global scale.
Regarding cross-border companies, BGV has been focusing on Israel rather than Silicon Valley, which has reached maturity, but recently India and Europe have become even more vibrant.
Israel has proven to the world that it is possible to start a start-up company from a small country that will become a global category leader. Currently, cross-border companies are equally vibrant in Europe, Australia, and India. I expect to see more startups aiming for the world in Japan in the future.
BGV is also following a major trend in enterprise IT around “AI-ization”. Benhamou calls the new wave of B2B startups that combine artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, and unique data access methods to provide actionable insights for enterprise businesses “Enterprise 4.0,” and is of particular He is particularly interested in this new wave of B2B startups.
BGV is currently supporting cross-border companies that are unique in the Enterprise 4.0 space. We asked them to name a few up-and-coming startups.
Promising cross-border companies in the Enterprise 4.0 space
In many countries, such as the U.S., waste is sorted manually by specialized contractors after it has been discarded, and Everestlabs is a startup developing a RecycleOS platform that combines proprietary machine-learning algorithm-based software with image sensors and robots that take the role of human eyes and hands. Everestlabs is a startup developing the RecycleOS platform, which combines proprietary machine learning algorithm-based software with image sensors and robots that replace the human eye and hand.
Replacing the traditionally manual trash sorting line with Everest Lab’s platform is a relatively easy way to achieve AI-enabled workflows. As a result, the hands of operators who have been engaged in unsanitary and hazardous work can be diverted to machine and system maintenance. In addition, AI-based image analysis can determine not only the size and quantity of waste, but also the material it is made of, which can lead to improved quality of recycled materials.
Everest Labs’ solution is typical of Enterprise 4.0, which we are focusing on. Everest Labs’ solution is the epitome of Enterprise 4.0, which has the power to fundamentally change the way we do business. We would like to work with Everest Labs to support the digital transformation of the many factories in the U.S. that are still involved in manual waste processing,” Benhamou said.
AiDash is a startup that provides AI-based satellite image analysis technology. The company’s AI image analysis tool can accurately identify vegetation on the ground surface and play out growth forecasts.
The company’s solutions are attracting the keenest attention from telecommunications, power, and other companies that are constructing infrastructure across vast areas of land in the United States. For example, when building new radio towers or power lines, if the growth of nearby trees can be predicted, steps can be taken to prevent accidents and problems with the infrastructure. This could pave the way to drastically reduce the burden of manpower and costs associated with infrastructure maintenance, which has traditionally been based on manpower tactics.
Evinced has developed a tool that uses advanced machine learning algorithms and computer vision techniques to automatically and quickly analyze problems related to digital accessibility of websites. The AI instantly reads critical bugs hidden in program code, and in turn, can consistently check for bugs faster and more accurately than experienced programmers can do visually. In the U.S., major megabanks, Salesforce, and Indeed have been introduced as partners that use the company’s system.
ChatGPT also raises alarm bells from the perspective of AI ethics
As in Japan, the U.S. is now paying attention to the evolution of technologies for generating content such as images and music using generative AI, as well as AI chat, as typified by ChatGPT. BGV is working with a number of startups to solve social issues through the use of AI, but at the same time, we continue to sound the alarm about the ethical implications of AI for people and society.
Too much reliance on AI-driven breakthrough solutions can lead to major pitfalls, Benhamou points out.
AI can make decisions that we humans can’t make. For example, through machine learning, a generative AI that has mastered any programming language can quickly write source code for any purpose. However, if the dataset contains errors or biases, they can be amplified during the code writing process, resulting in code that contains vulnerabilities. Even if the power of AI can automate many of the solutions out there, there are still ethical issues to be addressed. In order to solve this, it is essential to form a system that allows humans to intervene in the loop and ultimately make responsible decisions,” said Benhamou.
BGV created the Ethical AI Governance Group (EAIGG), an organization to evaluate “AI ethics” in collaboration with experts from Stanford University’s AI Lab, the Stanford Humanities Center, where humanities knowledge is gathered, and IBM’s AI Lab. The EAIGG was established in order to evaluate the ethical aspects of AI. During due diligence, they will investigate in depth whether the companies they invest in have the technology and experience to control errors and biases caused by AI.
Benhamou emphasizes, “We need to figure out a way to determine the authenticity of the content and derive a level of trust for chat AI, or even AI image generation tools currently available to consumers.
For example, we may be able to develop a way to identify fakes in a photo taken with a smartphone by adding bitmap data that proves it was taken by a human hand and is ‘real. We are not only building up technologies related to AI, but also creating a mechanism for its proper use is an important motivation for us.”
Expectations for Japanese Entrepreneurs
As a representative of BGV, Benhamou said he would like to see more focus on the growth of Japanese startups in the coming years. For U.S. investors, China has been a large market in the past. In recent years, however, Benhamou feels that innovation in China is turning inward due to the increasing tension in the U.S.-China relationship. There is now an opportunity for cross-border companies from Japan and other Asian countries to step into the spotlight.
As the impact of the Corona disaster on the global economy and people’s lives has begun to subside, Benhamou is hopeful that “this year and next year will be a very fruitful time for investors,” and he is eager for BGV to be more proactive. If something doesn’t work out, we can move forward if we have the passion to learn from it. I want them to boldly take on challenges with a view to succeeding in the world,” Benhamou encouraged the Japanese entrepreneurs.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
