An AI Inflection Point for Rebels at Work

Have you played with the Generative Artificial Intelligence engine ChatGPT? I have and was immediately reminded of my seminal Rebel at Work experience almost exactly 30 years ago. The internet was just emerging in 1993; I remember my mom buying a personal computer that year—she was always on the cutting edge. And soon there I was walking the corridors of Langley—the Cassandra of the CIA—intoning darkly that the internet would soon change the work of all knowledge organizations. The internet was our generation’s Wooden Horse.

And now I’ve become convicted that Artificial Intelligence will have a similar impact on knowledge workers. A few weeks ago I asked ChatGPT to provide some advice for Rebels at Work:

If you're a rebel at work, here are some pieces of advice that might help:

1.?????? Understand your motivation: Understand what motivates you to rebel, whether it's a desire for change or a sense of frustration with the status quo. Knowing this can help you channel your energy in a more constructive way.

2.?????? Pick your battles: Not every battle is worth fighting, so choose your battles carefully. Consider the potential consequences of speaking out and assess whether it's worth the risk.

3.?????? Build a support network: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can support you and provide you with advice and guidance. This can help you feel less isolated and give you the courage to keep pushing for change.

4.?????? Be strategic: Use your rebel tendencies to your advantage by being strategic in your approach. Think carefully about the best way to get your message across and consider alternative approaches if your initial strategy doesn't work.

5.?????? Stay professional: It's important to maintain a professional demeanor, even if you feel frustrated or angry. This can help you maintain credibility and ensure that your message is taken seriously.

6.?????? Be open to compromise: While it's important to stand up for what you believe in, it's also important to be open to compromise. Look for opportunities to find common ground and work collaboratively with others to achieve your goals.

Remember that being a rebel at work can be challenging, but it can also be an opportunity to effect positive change. With the right approach, you can make a difference while also advancing your career.

Sure, it’s boilerplate, but it’s accurate. It’s one thing to summarize content created by others (humans). It’s quite another to originate new ideas and approaches. So I asked ChatGPT to come up with a slogan for a new pickle-flavored soda.

Pucker Up for the Ultimate Pickle Pop

I had to concede I couldn’t have done any better.

If the projections about AI are correct, I will experience firsthand in my lifetime two seismic changes in the workplace. Except perhaps the internet, the first one, may end up not being so seismic after all. The browser search engine, the essential tool that made the internet accessible for the non-computer savvy, may soon be replaced by AI engines that will provide probably more useful but quite different experiences. New consequences will follow, most unanticipated.

Eric Schmidt, a former Google CEO, just published a Substack outlining the implications of AI, specifically Large Language Models, for humanity. He speculated that Large Language Models

…currently under development will soon have both rapid training abilities as well as memory, which they currently lack – they can generate an answer but then they forget that answer. Once true memory is invented, the system should be able to choose alternative futures for itself by imagining a different future from the past. At that point, these systems will begin to approximate artificial general intelligence…

I suspect there are already many Rebels at Work around the world who are trying to persuade their colleagues and managers that Artificial Intelligence will soon transform the work of their organizations and companies. And I bet they are encountering resistance stemming from ignorance, fear, and/or the failure of imagination. But this transformational moment will be much harder than the digital revolution that began 30 years ago. If Artificial Intelligence even gets close to meeting the potential Eric Schmidt and others anticipate, the manning table of organizations will change, the roles and responsibilities of workers will transform, and the struggle so many have with the meaning of work may intensify. Most of your work colleagues will not want to hear that message and will not look kindly upon those who are delivering it.

Rebels will need to think not just about how AI is transforming the workplace, but also about how AI will transform what it means to be human. If work is no longer the primary purpose of human existence, how will humans obtain meaning? The optimist in me hopes that we will find more meaning in caring for each other and in compassion. Can Rebels at Work help lead this conversation? I hope so.

The transformative power of Artificial Intelligence will affect knowledge work first and hardest. The billions of people who engage in work involving more manual labor and/or person-to-person contact will? be affected less quickly. As has been the case during COVID, their work will not change, at least not in the near term. But eventually, when robotics and AI are deployed together, their livelihoods will also be threatened. I suspect that ensuring their well-being will be a historic challenge for human society.

My other learning from the rapid arrival of AI is that sometimes (perhaps often?) Rebels at Work will advocate for what appears to be transformational change, such as the internet, only to learn a short while later that the so-called “revolution” was actually just a waystation, a rest stop on the highway of exponential change. This is likely to be the norm for many decades to follow. As the consequences of AI manifest, organizations and governments will need to rapidly adapt, and their ability to do so will depend in large part on how welcoming they are to the new and crazy ideas of their Rebels at Work.

?

Addendum: I asked ChatGPT-4, the more advanced AI model, the same question about advising Rebels at Work. I think you’ll agree it’s a more nuanced answer.

Rebels at work, or individuals who challenge the status quo and push for positive change within an organization, can be valuable assets when they navigate the process effectively. Here are some tips for rebels at work to maximize their impact:

1. Choose your battles wisely: Not every issue is worth challenging. Focus on the most important matters that can make a real difference for the organization and its stakeholders.
2. Be informed: Do your research and gather all relevant information to understand the issue at hand. This will help you present a well-informed argument for your cause.
3. Develop a clear vision: Articulate your ideas in a coherent and compelling manner. Clearly explain the benefits of your proposed changes and how they align with the organization's goals.
4. Build alliances: Seek out like-minded individuals within the organization who share your views and can support your cause. This will create a stronger voice for change.
5. Practice empathy: Understand the perspectives and concerns of your colleagues and superiors. This will help you address potential objections and find common ground.
6. Communicate effectively: Present your ideas in a persuasive and professional manner. Be open to feedback and be prepared to address questions and concerns.
7. Demonstrate resilience: Change can be difficult, and you may face resistance or setbacks. Stay committed to your cause, be adaptable, and learn from your experiences.
8. Be patient: Real change takes time, and it may not happen overnight. Stay focused on your long-term goals and continue to work towards them, even if progress is slow.
9. Model the behavior you want to see: Be a positive example in your workplace by embodying the values and practices you advocate for.
10. Celebrate small victories: Recognize and celebrate the incremental progress you and your allies make along the way. This will help maintain motivation and momentum for change.