My First Year with Generative AI: Embracing Creativity and Innovation

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, Generative AI was something I approached with curiosity and a bit of skepticism. Fast forward to today, and it has become an indispensable tool in my life, both personally and professionally. Over the past year, I’ve learned to not only embrace this technology but to dive deep into its capabilities, allowing it to fuel my creativity and enhance my daily tasks.

The Journey: Learning to Embrace Generative AI

My journey with Generative AI began with a simple desire to understand how it could fit into my world. I took courses, watched countless videos and the learnings we are being taught at work and I have observed how others were leveraging AI. But what truly made a difference was when I started experimenting with it myself—crafting prompts, exploring different models, and seeing firsthand how AI could be a powerful ally.

This hands-on experience sparked a newfound creativity in me. I started to see possibilities everywhere—from personal projects to professional endeavors. The more I explored, the more I realized that Generative AI was not just a tool; it was a catalyst for creativity and innovation.

Three Ways I’ve Leveraged Generative AI

1. Planning My Grandfather’s 80th Birthday

One of the most personal and rewarding projects I undertook with the help of Generative AI was planning my grandfather’s 80th birthday celebration. The AI helped me brainstorm a theme that truly captured his essence and legacy. From there, it guided me in creating a memorable experience—designing custom images and stickers that added a personal touch to the event. This project was a beautiful blend of tradition and technology, and it showed me how AI could enhance even the most sentimental of occasions.

2. Organizing Campaigns and Projects

In my professional life, Generative AI has become a key player in organizing complex projects. I’ve used it to create briefing documents that distill main points for campaigns and projects, serving as guiding tools for my team. These documents have been invaluable for keeping the overview of the project and campaign in one place but also as someone new onboarded onto the project I have been able to share to get them caught up. Additionally, I’ve leveraged AI for summarizing thoughts, notes, and recaps of important meetings and events. This has streamlined my workflow and ensured that nothing falls through the cracks.

3. Building Custom GPTs for Personal and Professional Assistance

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of my journey has been creating custom GPTs tailored to my specific needs. I’ve developed a GPT focused on healthy hair tips and best practices, another one that acts as an assistant in my role as a caregiver, providing updates on local laws and regulations, events and programs for my brother and yet another that helps me craft content in my tone and voice. These AI assistants have not only made my life easier but have also allowed me to be more proactive and informed in both personal and professional settings.

The Future of Work is Here

As I reflect on my first year with Generative AI, I’m struck by how much this technology has already changed the way we work. Years ago, we talked about “new ways of work” as a future concept, but today, it’s our reality. Generative AI is no longer a distant possibility; it’s a present-day necessity, enabling us to work smarter.

Research supports this shift. According to a study by PwC, it predicts that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. These numbers are not just impressive; they are indicative of the massive transformation AI is driving across industries.

As I continue to explore and leverage Generative AI, I’m excited about what the future holds. This technology has unlocked new levels of creativity and efficiency for me and the journey is just beginning.

References and Further Reading:

1. PwC: AI to Drive Global Economic Growth https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/data-and-analytics/publications/artificial-intelligence-study.html
2. Harvard Business Review: The Impact of AI on the Future of Work https://hbr.org/2023/02/the-impact-of-ai-on-the-future-of-work