AI in a Tangle? Straightening Out my thoughts on AI

Hello all (do I call you subscribers/readers HAIRies? not sure, answers and suggestions in comments).

So, this last week has been about one thing and one thing only - GPTs.

For those who have been living in a cave, well away from any AI-related news, GPTs are the latest launch from OpenAI .

These are custom versions of ChatGPT that you can create for a specific purpose - called GPTs. GPTs are a new way for anyone to create a tailored version of ChatGPT to be more helpful in their daily life, at specific tasks, at work, or at home - and then share that creation with others.

And boy oh boy, are people jumping on this in their droves. Especially in my Recruitment and HR network. I am seeing handfuls being released daily. And here's my issue:

I'm already bored of seeing GPTs being created using the IP and knowledge of other people. Most GPTs I am seeing, created for recruiters, are instructions such as "use the attached documents to provide best working practice for [inser here]". And the attached documents are other peoples' work - businesses and individuals.

So what does this mean? Maybe transparency is the key here? Should we be clear within the GPT that the creator has used IP that isn't theirs? Should we just say goodbye to IP? Are we going to see less incentive to publish content when others will just turn it into a GPT? Shall we also create a GPT and add content to it as a channel to market? When OpenAI start allowing creators to commercialise their GPT through their GPT Store (rolling out later in November, apparently), will they be having to share their revenue with the owners of the underlying IP?

So much to consider as we start seeing the outcome of allowing ANYBODY to create GPTs.

Jumping on the GPT bandwagon

However, I wanted to play around with this myself. So, I've created something fun. No, it's not another tool for a recruiter to create outreach messages.

Actually, I've created a conversation that will help you make decisions in your career. It's based on the concept of the Multiverse (h/t the last episode of Loki) and allows the user to take a journey into the multiverse to discover the outcome of their decisions. Take it for a spin and let me know what you think.

The Short-Term Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Employment: Evidence from an Online Labor Market

This study explores the impact of generative AI, such as large language models like ChatGPT, on the employment and earnings of freelancers. The primary data set comes from Upwork, a large online platform that connects freelancers with short-term projects.

Key findings include:

1. Impact on Freelancers: Freelancers in occupations highly affected by generative AI experienced a decrease in both employment and earnings. This includes a 2% drop in the number of monthly jobs and a 5.2% decrease in monthly earnings after the introduction of generative AI models like ChatGPT.
2. Effects Across Occupations: The study specifically examined the impact on writing-related services, as these were deemed the most affected by generative AI capabilities. The adverse effects were not limited to these occupations, as similar impacts were observed with the release of image-based generative AI models.
3. Quality of Freelancers: The study found no evidence that high-quality service, as measured by past performance and employment history, mitigates the negative effects of AI on employment. In fact, top freelancers appeared to be disproportionately affected.
4. General Implications: These findings suggest that in the short term, generative AI reduces the overall demand for knowledge workers of all types. The technology acts as a substitute for human workers, reducing their employment and earnings, and potentially narrowing productivity gaps between low-quality and high-quality workers.
5. Policy and Business Implications: The results indicate significant economic and societal ramifications of AI technology. Policymakers and business leaders are advised to scrutinize the pervasive effects of AI on various industries. The study cautions that high performance and quality service may not shield workers from the disruptive impact of AI.
6. Long-Term Effects: While the paper provides evidence on the short-term effects, the long-term implications of generative AI on the labour market remain unclear. It's suggested that the negative impacts might be exacerbated as AI becomes more prevalent, or alternatively, AI might become more integrated and start complementing human labour more effectively in the future.

In conclusion, the study reveals a significant, immediate impact of generative AI technologies on the employment and earnings of freelancers. Key sectors, especially those related to writing and creative tasks, have experienced a notable decline in demand and income. This trend suggests that even high-quality, experienced freelancers are not immune to the disruptive power of AI. For HR and recruitment professionals, these findings underscore the urgency of adapting workforce strategies and considering the broader economic and societal implications of rapidly advancing AI technologies. The future landscape of employment in the AI era will likely require a delicate balance between leveraging AI's capabilities and safeguarding job opportunities for human workers.

AI is (obviously) word of the year

Collins Dictionary has selected "AI" (Artificial Intelligence) as its Word of the Year for 2023, marking a significant recognition of AI's impact in our current era. This decision reflects the growing influence and presence of AI in various aspects of life and society.

H.A.I.R Book Club

This week's recommendation is Age of Invisible Machines by Robb W.

I was lucky enough to get a preview of this book when it was first authored and was immediately hooked (in fact, I have two hard-backed copies). Robb Wilson delivers an eye-opening blueprint for leveraging conversational AI in order to make your company hyperautomated - interconnected automations accelerating all aspects of your business.

AI Training

I don't normally take the opportunity to self-advertise in this newsletter, but I wanted to share the latest feedback that I received from a recent Generative AI training session that I ran for a Global TA Team. Headlines are 800%-1700% ROI immediately seen after going through the training.

Contact me directly if you want to book in a session for your team. Dates for the remainder of 2023 are going fast.

Sponsor H.A.I.R - Putting the AI in HR

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I'm Martyn Redstone - founder of PPLBOTS, AI training and consulting for Recruitment and HR Leaders, and founder of Bot Jobs, the leading job board for Conversational AI roles globally.

I'm always here to chat about all things HR, AI, and the future of recruitment. If you have questions, insights to share, or just want to connect, drop me a line. Let's continue this conversation!

Martyn