Disillusionment, Danger, and Disruption

As I talk to more and more people, consult with organizations and read through LinkedIn posts and Medium articles, it's becoming apparent that the business world’s attitude to the recent boom in Generative AI is polarizing into three camps. This division not only highlights the varied acceptance and understanding of AI technologies but also underscores the pivotal moment we're facing as a business leaders in a society that is on the brink of large scale disruption.

The Disillusioned

For this camp, AI has become synonymous with hype, “It's just another blockchain” is a common refrain, or their eye’s glaze over as I’m talking to them. This group views AI through a lens of “so what”, and often misunderstands its potential; to them, AI is just another automation tool, one that will probably add some value behind the scenes, but “where are the use cases”. Their dismissal stems from a combination of technology fatigue and a failure to understand the impact of AI in our future, leading them to prematurely write off AI as just another fleeting trend or as something “for other people to use”. And all this even while trillions of dollars is being spent on AI and every major tech company is investing so heavily, can they really all have it so wrong?

The Dangerous

Perhaps more concerning is the segment that has dabbled in AI, only to be met with subpar experiences. These individuals have often encountered AI through its most basic and flawed implementations, or their instruction to AI has itself been basic and flawed (many of them have never paid for a tool, so their view on AI is the flawed, basic, free version of chatGPT), this leads them to conclude that AI's capabilities are overstated. Their experiences with rudimentary tools and platforms have painted a misleading picture of AI, one that ignores its potential for creativity and innovation. They play up AIs ability to hallucinate as a flaw, while lambasting its creative potential, often in the same post… They cling to outdated cliches “using AI is cheating” and deride AI content “if you use AI to comment I’ll ignore or block you” This group's vocal skepticism, led by misunderstandings about AI's nature and capabilities, poses a risk by spreading misconceptions and underestimating AI's transformative power. They are also feeding the narrative of the disillusioned, their posts creating fervour “YES, THIS” from many.

The Disruptors

Then we have the people who recognize AI's profound impact on productivity and innovation and are already capitalizing on it. The scary thing is that this group includes many large-scale organizations who are already recruiting Chief AI officers and have in-post AI Managers, humans who lead teams of AIs, along with AI onboarding camps, AI team meetings, and AI performance reviews. These organizations recognize that it is in their interests to adopt large scale AI tooling before the competition. This leads them to play down or keep under wraps their implementation of hundreds of AI tools across their organization… they are perfectly happy if two thirds of their competition miss this boat, as by harnessing AI's capabilities, they are achieving unprecedented efficiency and creativity, quietly setting new standards while maintaining a strategic silence on their advancements.

A Mixed Reality

Caught in the middle of these perspectives are AI consultants, AI enthusiasts and professionals within the AI field, myself included. Our relationship with AI is complex, characterized by both excitement for its possibilities and apprehension about its long-term implications. This dichotomy reflects a broader uncertainty about AI's role in our future (to be clear, we are all certain that its impact will be vast, the uncertainty is over just how vast!) a sentiment echoed by tech luminaries like Bill Gates who hint at significant societal shifts, like a global requirement for a 3 day work week to mitigate labour displacement, without fully delving into the ramifications in order to avoid scaring people too much.

A Personal Reflection

Reflecting on over three decades in technology, I've consistently embraced the future, from the earliest smartphones to the latest in virtual reality. Yet, my approach to AI is different to past technologies. The urgency I feel in advocating for AI literacy is not just about keeping up with advancements but about ensuring we're all prepared for the profound changes AI will bring. This technology is not just another tool; it's a fundamental shift that will redefine how we live, work, and interact.

The more I learn about AI, the more I embed it into my workflow, the more value I gain; the more my mantra has evolved. It's no longer just about marvelling at what's to come; it's about recognizing the urgency of understanding and adapting to AI. This technology will leave no aspect of our lives untouched.

Looking Ahead

The conversation around AI is not as focused or as clear as it should be. The true potential of AI, both its benefits and challenges, remains under-discussed. Lost in a sea of updates, innovations, and distractions. As we stand at this crossroads, it's crucial that we engage in open, informed discussions about AI's role in our future. This is not just about technology; it's about shaping a society that can thrive in an AI-driven world.

Your Turn

What's your take on AI's evolving role? In which camp do you sit and why? How do you see yourself and your organization adapting to these changes?