I offered ChatGPT an Internship (Part 3 and last)

Since I've hired ChatGPT as an Intern (Part 1 and Part 2), I've received a few concerns from "flesh and bone" Interns: as most of us, when they think AI, they think replacement.

In the past, there were prohibitions of Internet access as it may distract employees from their duties. There were concerns about how computers would make typists obsolete. There were protests of carriage drivers because cars were extinguishing their business. There were concerns about everyone could read a printed book and savants lose their privilege. There was turmoil in the caves when our ancestral brought fire inside as it may put the hay on fire and the sorcerer would become irrelevant.

Apart from the evidence of change being uncomfortable, human progress took us out of the caves and in front of Artificial Intelligence. Do we know how to deal with it? Are we sure it will be perfect? Is it going to be safe all the time? Many questions may arise and as a positivist I tend to answer with experience and reason: we did pretty well with fire, books, cars, computers and the Internet, I’m confident with AI we will too.

For every Intern that I meet these days, and it started already, there will be always a question: “if I give you a hammer, on top of nailing, would you use it in my head?” In the probable case of the answer being no, I will conclude: “please, use ChatGPT and make sure every interaction you have with me and my business is at least as thorough as ChatGPT and, preferably, you can demonstrate me in what way you’ve added value through your own analysis, insight, creativity and wisdom.”

It's scary, I know. But it’s the new normal.

And finally, back to my Intern:

Me:

What distinguishes AI from the inventions of fire, printed books, cars, computers and the Internet?

ChatGPT:

AI, or artificial intelligence, is a distinct technological advancement that differentiates itself from inventions such as fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet in several key ways:

• Intelligence and Automation: AI refers to the creation of intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. It goes beyond the basic automation provided by previous inventions. While fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet have significantly impacted society, they do not possess the ability to learn, reason, and make decisions like AI systems.
• Learning and Adaptation: AI systems can learn from data and experiences, improving their performance over time. They can adapt to new situations and environments, making them versatile in handling various tasks. This capability distinguishes AI from other inventions, as fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet do not possess inherent learning abilities.
• Complex Problem Solving: AI excels at complex problem-solving tasks that typically require human expertise. It can process and analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide insights or solutions. Fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet have revolutionized different aspects of human life, but they do not possess the same level of problem-solving capabilities as AI.
• Autonomy and Decision Making: AI systems can operate autonomously, making decisions and taking actions without constant human intervention. While humans still define the goals and parameters for AI, the system can make choices and execute tasks independently. In contrast, fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet are tools or inventions that require human control and decision-making.
• Human-like Interaction: AI has the potential to engage in human-like interactions, including natural language processing, computer vision, and speech recognition. This enables AI systems to understand and respond to human input in a more intuitive and conversational manner. Fire, printed books, cars, computers, and the Internet do not possess this level of interactive capability.

Overall, AI distinguishes itself from previous inventions by its capacity for intelligence, learning, adaptation, complex problem-solving, autonomy, decision-making, and human-like interaction. These qualities enable AI to tackle a wide range of tasks and have significant implications for various industries and aspects of human life.

Not bad for 2 seconds, right?

Sequel over. Hope you enjoyed, adapt and experiment. And thanks for the feedback.