Inbound Logistics | May 2024

GOODQUESTION Readers Weigh In

Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chain Management: What’s One Human Capability AI Can’t Match? Empathy

GENUINE COMPASSION for a potential shipper/carrier’s needs. That is extremely important in logistics. We can quote, ship, and lead all day but compassion is a big one. We are human and want to be treated as such. –Debra Smith Freight Broker, Dee Dee Logistics CRISIS MANAGEMENT. The Baltimore Bridge collapse left supply chain leaders in disarray as they had to quickly assess the situation, develop a new plan, and prioritize their mitigation needs. AI may never match the capabilities of humans in such situations. –Anna Lo Vice President, Supply Chain & Business Excellence, Cirba Solutions NUANCE. AI can never replace the nuanced communications between the front line and the broader supply chain team. This requires a human’s unique ability to build meaningful connections,

AI cannot process human emotions and make genuine connections. This makes empathy a uniquely human capability in supply chain management. It underpins

the foundation for building robust relationships, guides ethical decision- making, and helps in navigating the multifaceted challenges that are intrinsically human. –Nishith Rastogi Founder and CEO, Locus.sh Empathy plays a crucial role in building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders in supply chain management. AI may never be able to replicate the human ability to connect and understand on an emotional level. –Sreenivas Vemulapalli Vice President, Engineering, Bridgenext I vetted this with ChatGPT; here’s the response: One human capability that AI may never fully match is empathy. While AI can simulate understanding and respond to emotional cues, it lacks genuine emotions and personal experiences that underpin true empathy. –Laura Lee Holmbo Business Development Director, TradeTrans Corporation

listen with empathy to concerns, discuss new ideas, and provide constructive feedback.

LEVITY. The ability to make light of the situation to take the pressure o the team. –Tom Moore CEO and Founder, ProvisionAi SYNTHESIZING PARADOX, which is key to asking questions and setting goals in every real-life, ambiguous context. The best GPS can drive your car, armed with real-time data to get to your destination e„ciently. But you’ve got to tell it where to go. –Fabrizio Fantini PhD, VP Product Strategy, ToolsGroup

PERSPECTIVE. AI lacks the ability to accommodate complexities that require ethical and unexpected judgments. Humans can understand the entire perspective, considering external factors that are not yet modeled. –Anthony Monaghan GB Industry, Transportation Leader WTW MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ADAPTABILITY. AI cannot yet replicate humans’ mental and physical adaptability when unexpected scenarios arise. The immediate future

–Sean Nolan Founder and CEO, Blink

CREATIVITY. While AI can generate solutions based on patterns and data analysis, it lacks the ability to think outside the box and come up with truly innovative ideas. Creative problem- solving involves intuition, imagination, and contextual understanding—areas where AI falls short compared to human cognition. –Vlad Kadurin Chief Product and Operations Ocer, Ship.Cars

6 Inbound Logistics • May 2024

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