Artificial intelligence (AI) has been stealing the spotlight for quite some time now. From students using ChatGPT to calls for new AI regulatory legislation, the profound impact of this technology on our professional and personal lives is undeniable.
However, it’s not surprising that many conversations about AI are often tinged with worry. There’s a common concern that AI tools might replace human jobs, and as AI improves, there is a worry that human intellect might become redundant. A study by Microsoft shows that almost half of the employees surveyed are apprehensive about losing their jobs to AI. Considering the swift development of increasingly intelligent tools, these concerns are not entirely unwarranted.
So, where is AI’s future heading? While AI has the potential to revolutionise how we work, it does come with its own set of limitations. The best leaders are those who can discern when to use AI and when to retain the indispensable human touch.
More output, less admin, happier employees
Most AI systems are predictive in nature. They process vast amounts of data to give the most likely correct answer to a question. This feature makes AI tools handy for tasks where repetitiveness is the norm, and new inputs are limited.
A fairly new but enormously helpful AI application for my team involves preparing for new business pitches. Thanks to AI, we can perform thorough research on potential clients, understanding their modus operandi, challenges, and how we could potentially help them meet their objectives. We’ve also designed a new dashboard within monday.com, providing a comprehensive briefing for meetings. By entering a company’s name, it syncs up with Open AI’s ChatGPT and retrieves all the necessary data.
The power of AI shines through in these scenarios. Our process hasn’t changed—we still identify leads, follow up, and conduct pitches ourselves. But by offloading the time-consuming research to AI, we’ve been able to come better prepared for meetings and have more meaningful conversations, boosting our overall productivity.
Moreover, AI can expedite administrative tasks. Excessive admin work can be a substantial pain point for employees – and automating it can alleviate this issue for teams across the organisation.
Delegating admin tasks to AI liberates you from mundane and tiresome aspects of work, creating more time for truly enjoyable tasks. Increased productivity and a sense of accomplishment not only lead to better results but also lift team spirits. This is the beauty of using AI intelligently.
AI’s limitations
But what about AI’s weaknesses? One thing to remember is that current AI systems’ generative nature limits their creativity. Today’s systems make good use of already existing information but don’t make new connections that spark fresh ideas.
Likewise, AI systems are rational and output-driven, which means they do not possess the same moral compass the human brain does.
Applying these limitations to our work environment, it’s clear that there are many human qualities that a computer doesn’t replicate. Still, AI can make our jobs easier and boost productivity if we use it correctly.
Think of driving a car compared to walking. Suddenly, you are able to get faster from point A to B and also carry a larger load. For sales teams, this would drive more revenue per person with less back-office support.
But if you’re after the out-of-the-box creative thinking and the nuanced ethical considerations, you’d still want to book a good old in-person brainstorming session with your team. But perhaps your AI assistant could find the best slot for it in everyone’s busy calendar?
So, my advice to leaders is not to fret over being replaced by AI. Instead, make it a priority to understand how to effectively harness its potential. Experiment and find areas that will make an impact, helping you uncover new and exciting opportunities in the market.
