In March, Downtown Van partnered with Microsoft Vancouver to host a workshop called “AI: The Art of the Possible.”
This workshop aimed to give Downtown Van member businesses a clearer picture of what AI can do today, where it’s headed, and how they can start using it in practical ways.
This workshop featured two main presentations. The first being AI: The Art of the Possible with David Seymour, Vice President AI Strategy and General Manager at Microsoft Vancouver. Kiah McGeer, Communications Manager at Microsoft then did a hands-on demonstration of Microsoft Copilot as an innovative tool, showcasing effective AI prompting techniques and the potential for AI to assist in idea generation and problem solving.
Key Highlights
AI: The Art of the Possible with David Seymour
The workshop kicked off with a keynote from David Seymour, who gave an insightful overview of AI, from what’s happening now to what we can expect in the next few years. Here are the presentation highlights:
AI as a Disruptor
AI is doing more than just automating tasks, it’s automating reasoning. That means machines can now make complex decisions with different possible outcomes, which represents a major shift in how we work and think. It’s a transformation on the same scale as the internet revolution.
AI Predictions for 2025-2026
- The rise of micro-companies powered entirely by AI agents
- A potential new class divide based on AI proficiency
- Growth of AI-native retail brands
- A shift where startup ideas become less valuable with distribution and timing mattering more
Data & AI Strategy
- A company’s unique data is its most valuable asset and organizing it is essential for training AI models
- Businesses should start integrating AI tools like Microsoft Copilot into daily operations
- A long-term goal should be to create a digital twin of the business for optimization and simulation
Types of AI Agents
- Closed-problem agents handle fixed, repeatable tasks
- Open-ended agents support flexible, knowledge-based work
- The goal of these agents is to reduce digital labor and free up time for strategic thinking
Preparing for the Future
With quantum computing on the horizon, businesses need to:
- Organize their data now
- Experiment with AI integration
- Explore digital simulations
- Prepare for quantum computing
Hands on with Microsoft CoPilot
Next, Kiah McGreer led an interactive session showcasing how Microsoft Copilot can be a powerful tool for businesses. Using the Garage Growth Framework, Kiah demonstrated real-time prompting techniques and showed how to “prime” Copilot effectively for business innovation.
Kiah emphasized that Copilot isn’t meant to replace human creativity, it’s a collaborative tool that expands the boundaries of traditional brainstorming and supports better, faster innovation.
Key Takeaways: What Businesses Should Do Now
This workshop emphasized that AI is not just a tool, it’s a strategic advantage. Here’s how your business can move forward:
- Start now: early adopters will have the edge.
- Organize your data: It’s your biggest asset in training AI models.
- Equip your employees. Tools like Microsoft Copilot enhance productivity and spark innovation.
- Secure your data. Always know where your data is going (free tools may come at the cost of privacy).
- Optimize your prompts: Get better results from AI by being intentional and structured in how you engage with it.
A big thank you to everyone who attended the workshop, asked questions, and contributed to a really thoughtful discussion. We’re excited to see how Downtown Van businesses continue to explore what’s possible with AI.
Downtown Van Members get exclusive invitations to events and workshops like this one! Become a member today.