We Should Really Set Higher Standards

"Use this New Technology!" they say at first...

"Use this New & Improved Technology!" they then later say...

"Use this New & Improved Technology with all these Cool Features!" they inevitably say...

The Inevitable Result

And while your tech expense keeps getting higher, you're not necessarily seeing the expected improvement in general efficiency and business results.

In fact - quite often those who are using the technology, are not using even half of what is paid for.

Either:

• because the bells & whistles don't really solve the problems they face, or
• worse - they don't really know how to actually use it, support it or improve it.
• Or - and this one is simply hilarious - despite the technology they have built their own workarounds using something else - like Excel or such...

Sound vaguely familiar?

The Wrong Solution

You have the wrong technology if either of these 2 conditions below are true:

1. You have the wrong technology. Period. It cannot do what you need it to do, it is functionally deficient and it is not practically feasible to update or enhance it. This is poor procurement. Or,
2. You have the right technology, but your team's ability to use and support the technology is limited. They don't know how to get it to do what they need it to do. This is a capability and training problem.

Problem nr 1 can be solved, but it is expensive and time consuming. And you don't have any guarantee that the mistakes that led you to invest in that tech in the first place, has been corrected.

Problem nr 2 can be solved a lot easier, but you need to implement the right training and the right support processes. It is astounding how much it can motivate a person and a team when someone suddenly exclaims - "O, is THAT how that works?"

Having the wrong technology, or not having invested in building the right capability to use and support that technology, is a very expensive problem for a business.

Not only because of the additional immediate cost, but also the lost opportunity AND the demotivating impact on the team members.

This is Equally Applicable to Generative AI

To be very honest, I have grown quite bored of the so-called experts arguing about whether this technology is really Artificial Intelligence, or not.

It might be academically interesting, but for the vast majority of us it is practically irrelevant.

The Generative AI tools we have access to, regardless of your personal favorite, can do some quite remarkable things if you know how to use them safely and effectively.

And this is - like with traditional technology - also the trap that many businesses face.

You may have the capability to deploy an AI tool or allow your people to use them, but they may lack the skill or expertise to use them well, for the benefits that they can bring. And your poor Training department may also not have yet acquired the necessary skills - so now it is a case of the blind leading the blind.

It really is critical that you ensure you invest in both your technology - and your team's capability to get the best from this technology.

Basic Mistakes

Below I share our latest Youtube video that specifically addresses 2 of the basic mistakes most people make when using Generative AI tools - and how to correct them.

And for the Douglas Adams fans out there - I link a key portion of his book - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - into the video because it explains things brilliantly.

Who thought we'd still learn something from Deep Thought all these years later?

Learning How To Use Gen-AI Effectively

I'm proud to announce that our course: AI & Me, Becoming an AI Super User - which teaches professionals and teams how to use Generative AI tools to get the best results in the least amount of time, is now ready.

The course is presented by me - either one-on-one or in group structure - over 6 sessions and then includes inclusion into the AI & Me Community that shares latest updates and Tools & Techniques so you can remain effective as these tools develop.

A short overview of the course is contained in the video below :

Best Wishes and Have a Great Week

Johan