by Martin Brossman, with input from
Dr. Justin B. Rose, CWDP
,? Dana Gower, and Kevin Welsh
The dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) marks a pivotal moment in human history, akin to the Industrial Revolution that transformed economies, societies, and daily life. As we stand on the precipice of this new era, it’s essential to understand its impact, both the positives as well as the potential negatives.
The AI Revolution Unfolds
The Historical Context
The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain during the 18th century then the U.S. and elsewhere, reshaped the world by transitioning from agrarian and handicraft-based economies to industrialized ones. Innovations like the steam engine, Spinning Jenny? ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_jenny ), Cotton Gin, and factory systems revolutionized production, transportation, and communication. Now, we find ourselves at the cusp of another transformative period—the “AI Revolution.”
Technological revolutions don’t happen overnight, they are typically a slow transition as the new general purpose technology finds its way into more and more aspects of daily life. During that transition period, 3 types of solutions emerge.?
- Point Solutions: At the start, we have specific tools that solve particular problems. The value of these tools is easily calculated by measuring cost savings. In the transition from steam to electricity, factories began to replace coal burning stoves with electric powered boilers. In the AI revolution, financial institutions look to AI to make predictions about whether or not a transaction is fraudulent. Most companies can reduce costs today with an AI point solution.
- Application Solutions: As things progress, the new tools become more versatile and find their way into various industries. Usually, entirely new industries are created as well. Electric motors opened the door to the creation of new devices, and many new jobs were created to build and repair these motors. In the medical field, AI based diagnostics are already beginning to replace humans.
- System Solutions: Finally, the technology becomes woven into the fabric of society, reshaping entire industries and our daily lives. Once electricity was available in our homes, society was transformed. Lighting, cooking, heating and many other activities were drastically changed by the systemic adoption of electricity. AI is likely to completely overhaul the transportation system by providing us with on-demand self-driving vehicles to move people and goods.
AI’s Transformative Power
AI encompasses technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). It is already automating more tasks, enhancing decision-making, and revolutionizing industries. Just as the Spinning Jenny increased textile production, AI is poised to boost efficiency across sectors. Understand that many people during technological revolutions did not experience them all as positively.?
The Good and the Bad of AI
The Duality of Innovation
As with any technological leap, AI brings both promise and peril. Let’s explore:
- Efficiency and Productivity: AI is streamlining processes, reduces manual labor, and accelerates production. For instance, predictive maintenance using AI algorithms optimizes machinery performance, reducing downtime and increasing output.
- Healthcare Advancements: AI is aiding in disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans. Imagine more time with doctors, thanks to AI-assisted diagnostics, leading to faster and more accurate treatments.
- Environmental Impact: AI can optimize energy consumption and reduce waste. Smart grids, precision agriculture, and emissions monitoring are just the beginning of AI’s potential to create a more sustainable future.
- Business Efficiency: AI is giving established businesses and entrepreneurs alike tools to be more efficient and effective with fewer people and overhead expenses. This allows small businesses to compete with larger corporations by leveraging AI-driven tools for automation, customer service, and data analysis.
- Having the equivalent of an AI agent who acts like a very smart assistant may give us useful feedback. I believe a useful AI agent will be able to provide feedback if they see we are not on track with our own goals and values.
- Job Disruption: Just as the Industrial Revolution displaced traditional jobs, AI automation is rendering certain roles obsolete and modifying how other jobs are performed. We must prepare for this shift by retraining and upskilling the workforce. The best way to protect your career is through continuous education and adaptability.
- Ethical Dilemmas: AI decisions can perpetuate biases and invade privacy. Striking the right balance between innovation and ethics is crucial to ensure fair and transparent AI applications.
- Distorted Truth: AI-generated content can distort reality, affecting public perception. We must safeguard against misinformation and “deepfakes” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepfake) , especially with upcoming elections where AI-driven misinformation could have significant impacts.
Lessons from History
Navigating Uncharted Waters
The Printing Press Analogy:
When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century, it revolutionized information dissemination. However, it also disrupted scribes and their livelihoods. The transition was uncomfortable, but it paved the way for widespread literacy and knowledge sharing.
Early Automobiles and Bank Robberies:
Similarly, when cars became viable, they weren’t solely used for good. Early adopters included bank robbers who exploited this new technology. Yet, society adapted, and cars transformed transportation and urban planning.
“The earliest recorded use of a getaway car was in 1904 in Spain, when robbers escaped in a "fast motor car" after stealing a church plate. In 1909, the Rich Hill Tribune reported that two robbers used a hired car to escape after robbing a bank in Santa Clara.” - Google Generative AI
Areas of focus in preparing for this AI Revolution
- Awareness of AI development and capabilities. Moving you from naive or ignorant to respectful. It is important to have an accurate picture of AI's real capabilities vs. just hype and fear-mongering.
- Using tools to do real work and getting real-world experience. Look for a way to experiment with the tools in non-critical situations. For example, my project of taking the Google I/O 3 hr. conference transcribing it into a summary.? https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/google-io-2024-chatgpt-4o-unedited-martin-brossman-nwzze/?
- We must support open AI models. If everything is closed, we will have less high-quality education available. We will have a greater chance of only a few large companies dominating the market share, serving the companies and not the greater good. We must also ensure that we don’t allow our fears to drive legislation that ultimately hurts innovation.?
- Enhance our own creativity: We should encourage our own creative power and stretch outside our comfort zone, like learning an instrument, etc. Learning forms diverse perspectives, especially those we disagree with or like. This builds our creative muscle and ability to see things from different perspectives.?
Empowering Small and Micro Businesses
As small business owners, you have the agility and creativity to leverage AI’s transformative power to your advantage. Here are practical steps to get started:
- Identify Opportunities: Look for areas in your business where AI can streamline operations or improve customer experiences. This could be anything from automating routine tasks to using AI for market analysis. Just using ChatGPT for content and marketing ideas.
- Invest in Training: Equip yourself and your team with the necessary skills to understand and implement AI technologies. Continuous learning is crucial in this rapidly evolving field. Let the tools teach you. Ask ChatGPT how do I use ChatGPT to…
- Leverage AI Tools: Utilize AI-powered tools designed for small businesses. Understanding the different free ones and which are best for what purpose. These tools can help with everything from social media management to personalized marketing, giving you a competitive edge.
- Understand the legal and ethical ways to use AI Tools. Never publish content without making sure it aligns with your values, voice, mission, and accuracy.?
What is a person to do? The AI Revolution is upon us, echoing the past upheavals of the Industrial Revolution. Let’s embrace change, empower others, and steer humanity toward a future where AI serves us well. Remember, just as the printing press transformed society, AI holds immense promise if we navigate its waters wisely.
With all the new technologies coming out, we need to prioritize which ones to learn more about. Understand that frustration and sometimes even anger can arise in us during this time of massive change. It is more useful to focus that energy on how we can adapt to be successful during the AI Revolution.? My intention with the idea of watching for the "Pokémon Go Effect" may be useful to you. Link to the article: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/watch-pok%2525C3%2525A9mon-go-effect-indicator-technology-adoption-martin-brossman-h37ye/?trackingId=HXY9su%2FPWo4kVptQ8FpXEw%3D%3D?
Special thanks to Kevin Welsh (The Standard Process), Dr. Justin Rose,? Dana Gower & Emery Carr for input on this article.?
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What are your views on this?
Great article Martin Brossman, thank you for sharing your knowledge and thoughs on this sensitive subject. I feel that the new AI revolution with Gen AI and AI Agents will be dramatically different from previous technological revolutions for three reasons: * There is no need for new specialized hardware or software to adopt these products; everything is on the cloud and easy to learn (English is the new programming language). The barriers to adoption are very low. * Major corporations like Google, Microsoft, ChatGPT, Facebook, and Amazon have shifted an incredible amount of resources to developing and commercializing these products. The cycle of innovation has dramatically shrunk. * Finally, I am not convinced that Gen AI and AI Agents will only supplement employees and provide them tools to be more productive. Like the printing press, some professions will be entirely replaced, but unlike printing, this will happen in months or years, not decades. I don't think the current society is ready for this.