Like everyone else, we're getting pretty curious about all things AI. My March Tea & Toast webinar was about Artificial Intelligence. We've been reading, watching and attending anything we can about artificial intelligence as we, like most others, dip our toes into this technology explosion.
Here are 10 fast facts to note about AI. (in no particular order).
1. The first recorded case of AI was in 1770.
A bit shocked to read that? I was!
Here’s the story: In 1770, The Mechanical Turk, also known as the Automaton Chess Player, was constructed. For 84 years, it was exhibited as an autonomous machine. I mean, it wasn’t. It was a fraud. But still!
It struck me that this happened in 1770! For context, the Americans were in the process of fighting for independence using muskets and swords. And people in Vienna were faking AI.
2. You're likely already using AI everyday.
I like this definition of intelligence: being able to do the right thing in the situation. Which means artificial intelligence is when something has been programmes to 'do the right thing' in the situation.
The most basic examples? Central AC / Heating. If the temperature gets to xx, then turn on [heating / cooling].
We don't think of it as artificial intelligence, we just think it's what different tools do. We're already seeing AI in everyday life. Used any of the following this week?
Google Maps?
Siri? Alexa?
Text suggestions / predictive text?
Uber? Uber eats?
Telsa driver? or passenger?
Then you've used AI.
It's already embedded into our tools. So now is a chance to be more purposeful about how we can use AI to help us.
✨✨ Something to look for, it seems you'll see something that looks like ✨ when there's AI support. ✨✨
3. Not all AI is created equal. Development: ANI ➡️ AGI ➡️ ASI
Artificial narrow intelligence: super good at specific tasks. Example: AI in imaging software.
Artificial general intelligence: AI that can perform any task that a human can without being specifically necessarily trained or developed for that task. This is the stage that AI researchers are working towards. Some argue we're close to this now.
Artificial super intelligence: AI that is more intelligent than humans, understandings complex concept and can improve on its own.
Some researchers estimate we'll be at ASI by the end of this decade. 🤯🤯
4. AI is almost moving from language to actions.
Many of the most used AI tools are large language models (LLMs). These are rapidly moving towards large action models (LAMs). This is one area where there will be huge leaps in productivity, but also where we might see some job replacement/supplements.
Here's an example.
Right now you could tell a number of tools: Write 6 LinkedIn posts for this week about [xyz] in [this tone] using emojis.
And AI will do this for you in seconds. But what you can't say then is 'Thanks for that. Now post these to my LinkedIn account and cross-post it to The Training Practice's LinkedIn.'
Yet. This is the shift we'll see. From language only to completing actions.
Some timings I've recently heard:
Next six months (April - Sept 2024): basic tasks
Next 12 months (April 2024 - April 2025): intermediate tasks
Next 2 years (by April 2026): act as a project manager and action advanced tasks.
5. The versatility of AI: Multi-modal interactions
Depending on the programme: you can text it, talk to it, and upload files/videos/photos.
And it can respond via text, speech, or creating videos/files.
You can talk to ChatGPT. And it will talk back. In a crystal clear American accent.
You can ask tools to explain things to different people:
Can you give me, a doctorate student studying Middle Eastern conflict, a history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?
Can you give me, a 12-year-old, a history of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict?
Met someone the other day who has had a 45-minute with their GPT and felt like it was a deeply enriching conversation. Facts and knowledge wise, not connection wise of course.
6. Digital 'avatar': your virtual twin
This one really blew my mind. It's wild - and to me - scary. And exciting.
Using a tool like HeyGen, you can now create a digital 'avatar' that will learn your voice, cadence, accent, volume, mannerisms, etc. and will create videos of you from text-prompts.
You write the script, it makes the video. Of you. Weird.
Great to use if you make a ton of video content - induction and on-boarding videos for example.
Oh - and want to communicate in a new language?
Forget Duolingo. You don't have to learn the language, just hit a button and it will seamlessly change your English-text-prompts to [insert language here].
7. ChatGPT: The Gateway to AI for everyone!
At the very least you should be using ChatGPT to help you brainstorm ideas, collate data and information, draft content and spellcheck. Be wary though, it's not a golden solution - it's a supplement to human thinking and creativity. The free version gives a lot. But it still can sound clunky and very unhuman. So it's a start, but you need to proofread.
8. If you pay for ChatGPT you can use thousands of custom GPT's.
Paying for ChatGPT, around $40NZD/month, gives you access to thousands of customer GPTs - like an app store for AIs. These are tailored to specific subject matters.
You can also create your own! Here are some on there:
Quillbot - paraphrasing tool. Basically what every kid will be using to do all their writing assignments from here on out. Sorry was that too negative?
Canva - presentation maker
Claude 3 - content creation, data analysis & forecasting, code generation!
Screenshot to Code - like something you see on someone's website? Take a screenshot and this AI provides you the backend code so you can recreate this.
Logo Creater - like it sounds.
InvideoAI - makes videos
9. If you think AI isn't creative, think again.
AI is picking up skills all over the place. And once it's learned, it's remembered forever. AI has been used to create new flavours of beer, new music and even write novels. Time will tell how good these are though.
And it learns these skills way quicker than us. Just look at the difference one year can make in it's capabilities:
AI tools like Sora will be able to create FULL LENGTH MOVIES by the end of 2025. 📽️🎞️🎬
Who needs actors? Or writers?
Tyler Perry paused an $800 million studio expansion, after seeing videos created by Sora.
This is big people!
Want another video?
Check this out: Sora AI: Will Change the Global Economy FOREVER.
10. AI is already moving from software to hardware.
AI powered glasses (with cameras, speakers, microphones) are already available. Here's an example of how someone used it the other day: Driving to work and noticed a new restaurant going in. Used his glasses to take a picture of the building & coming-soon sign. Then verbally asked his glasses what was happening there. The AI responded and let him know what the new restaurant was and types of food it served.
AI already has eyes and ears; soon, commercially available, it'll have arms and legs as well.
Elon Musk estimates there will be 1 billion humanoid robots by 2040. If you have a baby now, that means when they are in high school - these robots will be everywhere.
So now what?
AI isn't going anywhere, it's embedding more than ever. Now is the time to practice all the agility we've been preaching over the years and understand more about how we can use AI to help ourselves, our teams and our work.
Interested in hearing more about what this means for work and leadership?