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Collab potential
The world is so scared about artificial intelligence’s potential to wipe out jobs that it has overlooked the great opportunities for human-bot collaboration.
The results of a recent Microsoft study examining the potential of a human-bot alliance have been misinterpreted as the professions at risk of being replaced by AI.
The study stated that it “analyzed Bing Copilot conversations to see what work activities users are seeking AI assistance with, what activities the AI performs, and what this means about occupations.” In other words, the study aimed to investigate how people utilize AI in their professions. It examined the potential of an alliance, not how bots could replace humans.
This is why interpreters and translators, as well as historians, ranked first and second, respectively, in the top 40 occupations with the highest AI applicability score. Bing Copilot is installed on most computers and is being used in professional and personal settings. Searching translations or looking up a random historical fact for work or personal curiosity is something we all do.
Historians don’t just compile dates and names in a book. They collect primary sources in various forms, including interviews, official documents, diaries, artifacts, and others. They analyze and interpret their findings, aiming to gain a deeper and nuanced understanding of the past. AI can assist in the data gathering process, but it requires a human mind to closely scrutinize and present this information effectively.
Incessant fear-mongering has conditioned us to be cynical of AI. It also might have robbed us of our common sense.
The truth
AI is the future, and it’s understandable to be cautious. However, it also helps to be more optimistic about its increasing role in business and our lives. While bots will take over several occupations, they will also streamline a range of business processes. It is through looking at both sides of the coin that we can firmly grasp the potential of this new age technology.
Overhyping, misinterpretation, and misinformation are the arch enemies of progress. Some AI startups have been caught inflating their revenues just to attract private equity firms to invest in their product. Legitimate and ethical entrepreneurship has been set aside in favor of capitalizing on the hype surrounding AI. Other institutions intentionally overhype AI to drastically boost its stock, amid its failures and obvious defects. These are all recipes for a disaster.
Rather than overselling AI’s capabilities, it may be wiser to continually learn about these powerful machines and their specific use cases. We must remember that AI is a tool, not the solution itself. As such, human staff must continue to hone their skills in relation to AI. We must prepare for the future of work, where humans and AI work together.
The question for your business
How are your employees working with AI?
