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You can’t spend 30 seconds on LinkedIn these days without some all-knowing technology pundit admonishing you to use generative AI every day – or else you’ll get left behind. Or else you’ll lose your job. Or else you’ll be cast into the void of Luddites and shamed for all eternity by those who enjoy a perpetual seat at the cool kids table.
But what about that open letter written by another group of all-knowing technology pundits, urging for the immediate “pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4” -- citing multiple threats that AI (in particular generative AI) poses to society? Who’s right?
They both are right in spirit.
First off, about that letter. Folks, the train has left the station. No one is going to put AI development on pause any more than Amazon is going to close its website for six months to evaluate the future of digital. Ain’t gonna happen.
The letter has more symbolic value, though, in pointing out the risks and caveats that come with the adoption of generative AI. You don’t have to look very far to find myriad examples of generative AI plagiarizing, scraping content without permission, sharing wrong information, and producing biased information, among other sins. (And I realize the open letter went beyond generative AI.)
And there is also the elephant in the room: AI replacing people instead of helping them. I recently read a LinkedIn post by an executive who gushed about film studios making movies with AI instead of hiring actors, as if this was a positive development. I wanted to vomit. And I let him know it.
The letter writers are correct: organizations should be mindful about the development of AI. Many of my colleagues are talking about that need. Others are embedding responsible AI into their work flows and policies.
Moreover, law makers might force businesses to be more responsible if they don’t do it themselves. For example, the European Union is considering legislation on AI. The proposed Artificial Intelligence Act would classify AI systems by risk and mandate various development and use requirements.
So, what should you do if you’re a humble marketer, content creator, or anyone else for that matter who is faced with the choice of using generative AI or ignoring it?
I’m not going to tell you what to do.
But I will share my own experience. I use generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT-4) all the time. I do not use generative AI as a substitute for writing, but it helps me with tasks ranging from research to ideation.
I don’t track my usage like I do my step count. Whether I use it daily, hourly, or weekly matters not. As with any tool, I use it when I need it.
I am hyper aware of the pitfalls – for example, I cross check content I get from generative AI.
I’m not pausing my use of generative AI. In fact, I am learning how to use it more effectively. I’m not diving blindly into it, either. Your mileage may vary.
#GenerativeAI #AI #ChatGPT #ArtificialIntelligence #LITrendingTopics
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