Marfin Management CEO: ‘I would love to be the ambassador for smaller companies using AI’

Any discussion on AI inevitably brings up the issue of data privacy.

“First and foremost, we ensure that all algorithms run on local servers, preventing any data from being transmitted in and out,” says Mr Albertini. “Our team actively monitors the data flows from the AI core server to ensure that nothing is released that shouldn’t be. Since the core of Complexio operates on the premises, all analyses are conducted inhouse. We even invested in a custom central processing unit to establish a dedicated AI server. This on-premise AI server allows us to maintain control over all aspects of our data, ensuring it does not get lost in the cloud. Even if we had a cloud infrastructure, the same principle would apply: everything would run on a secluded server that we either rent or own, ensuring all data remains secure.”

Regardless of whether a company has a cloud or on-premise infrastructure, Mr Albertini says he is confident there is no risk of data leaking via Complexio to external servers for analysis and then returning. “Each partner within the network determines the environment they trust, and Complexio operates within those confines.”

A related question is the quality and accuracy of the data being fed into the AI models. For Mr Albertini it’s more about the quality of the output data rather than the input.

“The input consists of my unstructured data, and if I were to judge its quality, I would have to conclude that all the data I’ve been working with for the past 20 years is inadequate. The focus needs to be on asking the right questions to verify and analyse the accuracy of the results.

“Since Complexio is trained on our own company data, there are no discrepancies. In contrast, using a generative AI model like ChatGPT, which processes vast amounts of information from the internet, may yield inconsistent answers. Some argue that around 70% of online content is unreliable. If you ask ChatGPT the same question multiple times, you might receive different and contradictory responses. Because our dataset is consistent and linear, having been produced over the years, we do not encounter contradictory answers to the same question. There is no misinformation or ’fake news.’ When we pose a question, the dataset consistently produces the same answer.”

For all Complexio’s sophistication, Mr Albertini says the biggest barrier to its implementation is not technological, but psychological.

“The initial reaction of many people to this technology is fear. It is crucial to help everyone understand that this technology will not make them redundant. This is the first conversation leaders need to have with their staff, and in Marfin we have adopted this strategy.

“Truthfully, I felt the same fear when I first heard about generative AI. When I hired two developers, I worried they might be made redundant by this technology. However, I soon realised that it actually presents an opportunity. We can enhance everyone’s capabilities, stay at the forefront of this technology, and leverage our knowledge to position ourselves one to three years ahead of the competition.”

Asked whether as an operator of seven bulk carriers, he feels an obligation to help other smaller companies leverage the benefits of AI, Mr Albertini admits to a certain ambivalence. “I would love to be an ambassador for smaller companies using AI, so they can preserve their identity and uniqueness. If we allow only larger companies that can afford to purchase and integrate AI to dominate, it will create a wider gap in the industry. I do however have two concerns. First, I am not sure all have the flexibility and ability to effectively integrate and leverage this technology to meet their needs. Second, this situation could accelerate consolidation in the industry. And I am a firm believer in fragmentation. The more we consolidate, the more we risk becoming a commodity, which diminishes opportunities in this business.”

When asked about future advances in AI that could further enhance Marfin Management’s operations and how he is preparing for them, Mr Albertini reflects on his initial impressions when he was first introduced to Complexio.

“I immediately envisioned a time in five years when there would be no desks with computers in the office. Technically, there would be no need to input data or type emails. Instead, we would communicate via mobile phones or tablets. We would validate processes and interact with Complexio, which would serve as a digital assistant or employee with enhanced capabilities that augment the skills of our current workforce. I imagine the office filled with meeting rooms and screens displaying automatically generated data that responds to our conversations and understands our needs. This digital entity would create the information we require in real time. In my view, this future work environment is about returning to our human essence, moving from being ’human doings’ to ’human beings.’ It is about reconnecting with the emotions and creativity that define us, leveraging our knowledge to shape the future.”

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