Need to start a fire - lets burn the rulebook

The burning of rulebooks is nothing new.?It is not always a scheduled or planned event, but when it happens, that fire typically burns so brightly that it can be seen all over the world.?So what am I on about - technological advancements.

Throughout history, technological advancements have always played a pivotal role in shaping human society.?Every technological innovation has profoundly impacted how people live, from the invention of the wheel to the discovery of electricity.?Technology has constantly changed the rules that govern society.?The current era of Artificial Intelligence ("AI") is no exception, and the speed at which it is changing is astonishing yet frightening at the same time.?

The concept of AI and its developments have been around for some time, but not a day goes by currently when you don't see something new that got launched.?Now I will not list or discuss any of those items here.?For me, the critical part of everything happening is how to go about it - especially if you look at your current job and role in an organisation.

As I mentioned in a previous letter, I enjoy listening to podcasts, especially during the commute to work - and thanks to our electricity issues in South Africa, I tend to have a few additional minutes, most mornings in the car :-).?So two distinctive quotes have stuck with me relating to AI.?It was during two separate episodes and from two different interviewees.?

The first one relates to how you should identify opportunities for the deployment of AI, and it is a simple yet exceptionally powerful one: "Turn stress into research".?Take some time and write down the things that usually happen throughout the year that either take a lot of time from you or create the most stress.?There is a very high chance that you may find some opportunities and solutions with the AI tools available - and there are a lot of them with more being released every week.?

The second one, and very topical, is about whether AI will replace humans.?This is a tricky one as there will undoubtedly be items or functions where you could deploy AI to run independently - consider the impact it already had on call centres, for example.?Most of the time, your initial engagement is with an AI-trained chatbot.?But we are not there yet when it comes to replacing humans altogether.?The second interviewee made a compelling statement - and do take this one to heart when thinking about your job:" AI won't replace people; it is people who embrace and utilise AI that will replace those that don't".?Refrain from thinking that this AI revolution will only hit its peak in years to come.?The time to adapt and change is right now, and make sure you continue to do so if you are to remain relevant for a long time.

There has never been a more significant time to learn and develop new skills - so although a bit scary, it is also super exciting at the same time.?The speed of change in AI is like nothing we have ever seen, so make sure you don't get left behind.?Identify where the gaps or opportunities are and make that a priority!?

I leave you with the following from Winston Churchill: "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."