Making the most of AI.

I've been seeing a lot of comments recently suggesting that AI is bad, out of control, will take our jobs and in the worst case destroy the world. While I agree that there are concerns, around motivations, regulation and the environmental impact and energy use of new data centres, I also sense that there is a general negativity that is common to all new technology, linked to fear of the unknown and resistance to change.

 My personal experience with AI tools, primarily ChatGPT, has been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve found it an incredibly useful tool to help refine my ideas and move faster. You need to pay attention, as the output isn't perfect or always 100% accurate, but it's still an invaluable resource. I doubt many people nowadays would refuse to spell-check a document or search the internet for information: AI is the latest tool to aid your productivity.  

 As with all new tools, it's not the inherent technology but what people do with it that matters. And for sure not everything that technology has enabled is positive.  The negative side to social media such as trolls and below the line doom scrolling are clear. However, increased connectivity and access to new ideas and information leads to new opportunities. These reshape our definition of “work” and create new ways of generating an income. Who would have thought that being a social media influencer would become a career?

If boring, repetitive work can be automated this will ultimately be a good thing, as it helps us to focus on higher value activities. For sure it will impact some roles but imagine the productivity gains of a team who are moving faster and doing more because they are using AI effectively. AI capability will become a key transferable skill. Where AI helps new businesses scale faster, it will help generate new jobs.

Change is constant, and to be successful, there is no choice but to adopt and adapt. Otherwise, you're likely to be left behind, missing out on completely new opportunities.

Let me know what you think, and if you’d like to discuss more about how to utilise AI in your business.  I’m fascinated by the opportunities.

Chris Goodsall

Canopy R&D