ChatGPT and AI: You need to be an Early Adopter

AI and tools like ChatGPT have come a long way recently…especially recently.?With advancements in AI-powered tools people can now access a range of these tools that if used properly will significantly boost their productivity. In this article, I want to share (and probably one or two more articles coming up) my thoughts on how AI and tools like ChatGPT can empower employees and revolutionize the way work gets done with less job disruption than is currently feared.

Let's start with the concept of a "10x employee". I expected to see SUCCESSORY style posters with pithy 10X employee sayings more than I have, but AI can really give you a boost if you use it correctly. With tools like ChatGPT, you can tap into vast amounts of information instantly and, automate repetitive tasks; you just do things better, faster, and stronger. You can get back some of time you woudl take to compile information to focus on higher-value activities where you can use your unique skills and expertise to give the right prompts.?GPT prompts are somewhat of a dark art and is a “Garbage in – Garbage Out” situation; if you ask poorly defined questions with poorly defined context, you get unfocused junk for answers.

Think about the impact technologies and initial fear caused by the advent of email, texting, phone apps, and cloud computing when they burst onto the scene. These advances revolutionized communication, collaboration, and even the basics of how we build our applications and data centers.?These disruptive changes drove improvements that made us more efficient and effective.?Tools like ChatGPT will build on those advances and even accelerate them.

What exactly is ChatGPT for those not on the bleeding edge? It's an AI-powered tool, somewhat like Google in many ways (yes, I’m really oversimplifying it here).?You ask ChatGPT “natural language” questions (called prompts) in an almost conversational dialogue or chat.?ChatGPT and similar services provide quick and generally accurate information. ChatGPT can speed-up your research and decision-making processes whether it's answering queries, assisting with research, or automating routine tasks.??ChatGPT will become – and already is - an indispensable tool in the modern workplace.

It's crucial to recognize the importance of embracing AI tools like ChatGPT sooner rather than later. Just like email, text messaging, and phone apps, AI is not a passing trend or the next blockchain – it is not mostly hype but little “there-there”. It is a tool that will shape the future of work. For good or bad, delaying adoption will result in falling behind competitors who harness AI's capabilities, thus giving away a significant edge.

I find one of the primary benefits of AI tools like ChatGPT is improved efficiency and speed…and most times accuracy. By automating lower-level tasks, people can dedicate more time to complex problem-solving, creativity, and innovation. With ChatGPT's assistance, workers can generate ideas, draft reports, and analyze data at an unprecedented pace, enabling faster decision-making and more timely responses to market demands.?

I recently used ChatGPT to compile and summarize information on which states have laws that pre-empt HOA restrictions on installation of EV chargers and also how EV Chargers impact the resale value of homes.?I had solid and detailed answers to both questions with accurate and solid support in seconds, saving me literally hours of research and likely getting better detail than I may have found.?

ChatGPT and other tools are not infallible.?I was asking ChatGPT some silly questions relating Star Trek and it answered that Spock had a sister Sybok (Sybok is actually Spock’s half-brother for non-fans) and the responses also had a few other basic misses.?For serious inquiries, I usually ask the same thing multiple different ways and maybe also ask Google’s Bard the same prompts and then compare the answers.?I may spend mere additional minutes doing this extra work but I still save hours and end up with better results.

Some people rightly worry about job displacement due to AIs and AI adoption. While it's true that certain job functions can be automated, It will be difficult and not practical to replace people entirely in the near term and history has shown that most often technological revolutions result in net increases in jobs as new products and industries evolve. As employees delegate repetitive tasks to AI, they are freed up to explore new opportunities, embrace creativity, and innovate in areas that require human ingenuity; something that humans still do better. This shift paves the way for the emergence of new roles and industries, creating a wealth of new employment possibilities and opportunities for new wealth.

AI, with tools like ChatGPT leading the way, has the potential to transform employee productivity and many industries. By automating tasks, providing instant access to information, and enabling continuous learning, AI empowers people to do more, do it better, and do it faster. Embracing and effectively using AI now is crucial to staying ahead of the curve and even just remaining relevant in the future.

There are many places to learn the basics of using ChatGPT; YouTube, Udemy, Coursera, Pluralsight and others. Start today.