What leaders can learn from ChatGPT
Unless you have spent the last few weeks burrowed in a hole like the sand crabs on the beaches of the Outer Banks in the summer, you have read or heard something about ChatGPT. The first wave of news about it came in December, following its release on November 30. The chatbot garnered more than a million users in less than a week. Like the waves along North Carolina’s coast, the stories about ChatGPT have rolled in persistently since then.?
Some of the largest waves of news about ChatGPT came in earlier this week. The chatbot passed the Wharton MBA Exam, the bar exam at a Minnesota law school, and the necessary exams to receive a medical license in the US. “Dr. Bot will be in to see you in a moment.”?
Other waves of news about ChatGPT include the response of various educational authorities. New York City’s public schools have banned it from their devices and networks. Princeton University is not banning it but has given faculty members guidance to determine whether they will permit ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their courses.?
One wave that caught my eye was a story about the panic inside Google. Some in the upper ranks of the tech behemoth see ChatGPT as a threat to their business. The concern at Google is so significant, Anuj Mudaliar reports, that they are now fast-tracking the release of 20 AI-based products at their annual I/O developer event in May.?
Earlier this week, I heard a story on the radio about ChatGPT signaling a rise of AI that will take the jobs of millions, including corporate executives.?
Between these larger waves of frantic and frightening news about ChatGPT are smaller ripples that also caught my attention.?
Back in December, as Cindy and I were packing for our Christmas trip to Arizona, I was passively listening to a program on our local public radio station. I wish I could remember what program it was. I would link it for you. Unfortunately, I’ve searched for it several times this week and can’t find it.?
What I remember from it, however, was a statement about how this seemingly new technology is not new. ChatGPT is an AI tool that has been in development for years. And it is far from being the first.?
Whether or not you have been aware of it, you have likely experienced other AI tools. If you have recently utilized web-based customer support chat for your banking, mortgage, mobile phone, or internet services, you were likely “chatting” with an AI bot. When you ask Alexa about the weather or Siri for directions, you’re talking to an AI bot.?
Some five or six years ago, I heard a story of how Google was working on an AI bot for their Google Voice product that could, among other things, schedule hair salon appointments. The bot’s voice sounded natural in its interaction with callers about available days and times.?
Yet, even these AI bots that have been around for several years before ChatGPT are relatively new. ?
The groundwork for what now seems to be a sudden development goes back to Alan Turing, an English mathematician involved in German code-breaking during World War II. Following the end of the war, Turing turned his attention to computer technology. In 1950 he challenged others in the field to develop a program that would be human-like in its responses. The first functional chatbot, ELIZA, was introduced by MIT in 1966.?
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So what is the significance to leaders? Leaders always - yes, always - build on the accomplishments of others. No matter how big the headlines or personality today, every leader builds on a foundation others have laid. The wisest leaders know that and say that and remind themselves of it frequently.?
Arrogant leaders make the mistake of thinking they are the originator of all great ideas. They destroy any vestiges of what existed before they walked through the door.?
Humble leaders lean on those who have gone before them. That doesn’t mean they mimic every move or reflect every value of the previous leaders. However, they learn from and utilize what has been left to them.?
What about you? If you are an entrepreneur or church planter, you may be tempted to think you’re doing it all from scratch. Yet, it would be wise to remember who has influenced and shaped your thinking. Who helped you see the need that your business or new church is meeting? What else might you need to learn to lead that new church or business more effectively??
If you lead a business in a competitive marketplace, perhaps you need to take a fresh look at the market landscape. How can you learn from what others have done to make your business more competitive??
If you feel like you are stuck or just digging a hole in the sand, perhaps a conversation about that with a trusted friend will shed some new light on some old principles that might be helpful to you.?
Enjoy your weekend!?
The views and opinions expressed in my Thursday Thoughts on Leadership are my own. They do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina or any affiliated churches.