The future anticipated by ChatGPT, the chatbot developed by OpenAI, has generated amazement and fear alike. This platform allows non-programmers to instantly communicate with an algorithm and get a first-hand view of what artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of doing.
ChatGPT is capable of writing an article about the origin of humanity in only 10 seconds, and doing it in a sonnet format following William Shakespeare’s rules of writing. It comes as no surprise that, since its launch in November 2022, it has attracted 100 million users. To get a better idea, Netflix has 230 million subscribers across the world.
Chat GPT’s success has brought about a new competition among tech giants. On February 4th, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced that their artificial intelligence tool Bard would soon be made public. Microsoft introduced a new version of their search engine Bing, that works with ChatGPT technology. That same day, Baidu, the largest Chinese search engine, stated that they would present “Ernie”, their AI-based chatbot in March. According to Statista, 218 million users operate with Baidu’s services daily.
Driven by the desire of staying up to date with the intelligence of the future, everyday users and tech companies have become equally obsessed with AI applications. However, as organizational leaders, we need to reflect on what this represents for our companies. This is especially relevant in a time where our entire business is undergoing a process of change.
We need to take advantage of the power of the algorithm to accelerate our processes and our knowledge, but should do so with the focus set on people: our clients, employees and allies. People are the ones who make the difference in the value chain offered by our organization. The algorithm helps deliver our product or service in a more rapid, efficient and sustainable manner—but people are the ones who know how to differentiate, feel, and choose.
This is precisely what we’re failing to achieve when we get carried away with the power of AI without looking beyond it. Professions such as lawyers, financial analysts, journalists, doctors, and accountants are examples of jobs that won’t disappear, but will change their way of work with the help of AI. What they’re studying today won’t be enough for tomorrow’s demands. However, these professionals are still receiving traditional education with traditional tools, and a large portion of the tasks and jobs in our organizations are following that path.
Instead of defending ourselves against AI or being amazed by its power, we should be searching for ways to work with it. This implies generating resources, routines, practices, and an organizational culture that allows the creation of value based on knowledge shared between humans and machines. The technological tools are already available, as can be seen in Human Resources, where they’re used to predict employees’ propensity to quit, ignore security regulations, or to identify the ideal candidates for a specific role.
The race for leveraging the power of AI begins with understanding what we need to work with it from the standpoint of human knowledge. If the machine improves the speed and the way in which it combines the information we offer it, we need to ask ourselves how we can create value from a human perspective. This implies setting the focus on what makes us human and what artificial intelligence needs from us.
We’re being given the opportunity to leverage the combination of human and technological aspects in order to strengthen both and keep our organizations within the avant-garde, generating the necessary differential impact.
If we fail to do so, we’ll keep this following vision, in a best-case scenario:
“The integration of AI in the world of business is transforming its future. From the automation of routine tasks to the adaptation of new products and services, AI will have a profound impact on the way in which businesses operate and compete. In order to successfully incorporate AI in their operations, businesses must develop a clear strategy, assure themselves that their AI systems are aligned with their culture and values, and invest in the development of a qualified workforce. By taking these measures, businesses can be sure to be properly positioned for success in the era of AI.”
This paragraph is the result of an investigation solicited to ChatGPT regarding the challenges that AI represents for organizations. The text includes various definitions about systems, businesses, products, services, and forces, but the human aspect isn’t mentioned. We need to place value on what we can contribute—as people—to machines in order for them to improve their contribution to make the best of our organizations.
By Gabriel Weinstein, Associate and Managing Partner at Olivia in Europe
Read the original articule from Eleconomista.es here