What’s the deal with this “AI” thing? The Good and The Bad.
This week in tech news, we’re talking about AI. What is it? Is the increased usage of AI tools a good thing? Tsunoda Stylings is here to give you a breakdown of what you need to know about artificial intelligence and how to use it for your business.
What is AI?
AI, or artificial intelligence, is a digital computer or computer-controlled robot that can perform tasks commonly associated with intelligence, aka humans. This can include the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experiences. For example, Google’s optical character recognition (OCR) uses AI to recognize and extract text from images. As technology continues to advance, understanding how to leverage AI for your business and what AI is will become increasingly important.
A Brief History of AI
AI, just like any other kind of technology, has been in development for years. It was first conceptualized in the 1950s when Alan Turing published his paper, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence." In this paper, Turing proposed the now-famous "Turing Test,” which would help tell the difference between a human and computer-written response. Six years later, John McCarthy created the phrase “artificial intelligence” at the first AI conference. In the same year, the first-ever AI software program, the Logic Theorist, was created by Allen Newell, J.C. Shaw, and Herbert Simon. These studies laid the foundation for what we know as AI today. AI has since continued to grow and evolve, including through research and development into machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning. As of 2024, AI is used all over, from virtual assistants to self-driving cars.
Who Uses AI?
AI may sound intimidating, but anyone can use it! There are all kinds of AI that are accessible to consumers. You might have been using AI without knowing it! Here is a list of commonly used AI tools that you may have used or heard of:
Virtual Assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.)
Netflix's algorithm
ChatGPT
Grammarly/Google Docs grammar check
Self-driving cars
Email spam filters
And so much more!
Currently, the industries that use AI the most are the IT and finance sectors. However, it appears that the top two uses of AI in the near future will be for marketing automation and data analytics. In North Carolina, as of June 2024, 41% of NC businesses planning to use AI reported using it for marketing automation and 28% for data analytics. As AI continues to advance technologically, it is expected to be adopted across a wide variety of industries.
Benefits of AI in the Workplace
Since so many tools are being developed that incorporate AI, many workplaces have begun utilizing them. These tools can increase efficiency, productivity, and accuracy in tasks such as data analysis, customer service, and project management. In addition, AI can be programmed to take care of repetitive or mundane tasks like sorting through large amounts of data. This can give you or your employees more time to focus on more creative or complex areas of work instead. Some of the most helpful AI tools for your business may be: Chatbots for customer service, Virtual assistants for scheduling Google Sheets AI Meeting transcription software
Drawbacks of AI
While the possibilities for AI are great, there are some drawbacks when it comes to using AI in the workplace. One concern that you may have seen debated is overreliance on AI technologies. ChatGPT, the most used free AI tool, is owned by one company, OpenAI, which accounted for nearly 80% of the global generative AI market in 2023. If OpenAI ever shuts down ChatGPT or pursues monetization, any users who rely on the free version will suddenly be unable to work effectively. If you depend on free AI tools to keep your business running, it's important to have a backup plan in case of any sudden changes or disruptions in those tools.
Another drawback is that AI is not 100% free from mistakes. It can sometimes make errors or misinterpret data. If you use AI in your business, it is crucial that you have human oversight and quality control so that you can catch these mistakes.
Data breaches are also a concern when using AI tools. This occurs when sensitive or private information is plugged into AI systems that are not properly secured. AIs harvest information online from various different sources. Most of this is publicly available data, but there is always a risk of unintentionally accessing confidential, private, or personal data, which may be illegal or unethical for your business to use. Furthermore, the data that you plug into AI may end up in this publicly available data pool.
Lastly, many jobs may be lost to automation as tasks are assigned to AI models. Companies should consider the ethical implications of using AI tools due to the potential impact on their workforce. The occupations at the highest risk of automation currently account for about 27% of employment in OECD countries. Sudden mass layoffs as a result of AI integration would come as a shock to workforces everywhere. However, among US businesses integrating AI in 2024, 88% reported that their employment levels would remain the same.
Drawbacks of AI
Ultimately, artificial intelligence is here to stay. As AI continues to develop, it is important to stay on top of these changes and be technologically literate! Adapting to the changes brought about by AI integration will be crucial for both businesses and workers, so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates and tips on navigating the world of tech.
Not sure about how to incorporate AI tools into your website? Reach out for a free consultation with Tsunoda Stylings today!
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alan-Turing
https://www.britannica.com/technology/artificial-intelligence
https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-McCarthy
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Logic-Theorist
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Turing-test
https://cloud.google.com/use-cases/ocr
https://www.commerce.nc.gov/news/the-lead-feed/what-industries-are-using-ai
https://www.digitalocean.com/resources/article/ai-and-privacy
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/12/16/the-10-best-examples-of-how-ai-is-already-used-in-our-everyday-life/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/09/07/ai-use-at-work-is-growing-four-risks-to-discuss-with-your-team/
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https://support.google.com/docs/answer/13676332?hl=en
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