Thoughts from The Drinks Business Artificial Intelligence Conference

What are the latest AI developments for wine & spirits? Could AI replace roles in the industry? And how are spirits brands using AI?

Just some of the questions that were discussed at length at the Drinks Business AI Conference in June 2024 - the drinks industry’s first-ever conference designed to delve into all aspects of artificial intelligence and examine how it’s shaping the industry.

Our CEO Rob Hollands was invited to be a panelist in one of the sessions on AI software developments. And what a discussion it was. In Rob’s words, ‘there was lots of lively discussion on all the big AI themes you’d expect with a good balance on art, science and business which stimulated the debate.’

But Rob was not just there to provide some clarity of thought on the big topics everyone’s talking about, he was also there to talk about how Proof 8 is laying the foundations that will unlock the coming wave of AI opportunities for distilleries and brands. Being at the intersection of blockchain, AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), Proof 8 forges an exciting new path ahead for spirits, harnessing technology to refine craft, ensure a consistently high quality product and drive efficiency in production.

So much to cover on the topic of AI, where to start…

The Spirits Business has summed things up nicely here and included comments from Rob - 

We delve into more of the discussion from the event below.

Firstly, could AI replace roles in the drinks industry?

As Rob says, ‘it’s unrealistic to say AI is not going to change some industries, and therefore some jobs. At Proof 8, we develop solutions for distilleries using AI technology, and when it comes to these businesses, using AI will mean that their processes will be optimised to the extent that jobs will have to change’.

AI can look at multiple data points, and assess them far quicker than a human brain. This is good for spirits distilleries and wine producers looking to produce consistently high quality liquids and run efficient and profitable operations.

Rob explains, ‘In the case of a distillery, assessing data quickly is essential for replicating the exact environment which produced a high quality spirit. Distillers are able to focus on what they’re good at. It’s not a case of replacing them. AI can streamline businesses and jobs, rather than take them over.’

AI levels the playing field for startups & smaller drinks businesses

Where there’s the perception that AI is purely the hot property of the big drinks businesses, AI can undoubtedly be a leveler for the industry. Already, AI is an inevitable part of daily decision making as Rob explains, ‘technology gets woven into our daily lives without us even knowing it.’

AI can have more of a transformative impact for small distilleries. Rob says, ‘AI allows smaller companies to compete through newer technologies, so it’s not all just for big businesses. AI provides these smaller companies with a really nice window to be competitive, as long as they can stay on top of the changing AI landscape.’

Just like the early days of digital when it was fragmented across functions, and a lack of knowledge caused confusion and misunderstanding, the need for a central function to strategically guide AI initiatives in the industry is critical, said the panel. 

This was coupled with a growing demand for trust, privacy and greater transparency around AI decision-making processes.


With greater education and guided recommendations clearly needed further in the industry, this most certainly won’t be the last event or discussion we attend on AI in the coming months. The potential for AI to make the industry more accessible, transparent and efficient was clearly exciting to a lot of businesses and brands. This is where Proof 8 comes in, to 

lead digital transformation in the sector

. Lots more discussion lies ahead as further real-life examples and initiatives surface which demonstrate the possibilities new technology such as AI, blockchain and IoT can bring to distilleries, warehouses and brands. 

 to find out where our team will be speaking next. 

“AI can be used to streamline businesses and jobs, rather than take them over, freeing up distillers to be able to do what they’re good at rather than replacing them”

, says Proof 8 CEO Rob Hollands on a panel at the Drinks Business AI conference

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How is AI shaping the drinks industry?

How is AI shaping the drinks industry?

More from Proof 8

Platform

Marketplace

Connected Products Coming soon

About

Team

Careers

How is AI shaping the drinks industry?

More from Proof 8

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