Beware the AI snake oil...

Almost overnight, references to AI (and associated 'experts') are everywhere you look. You would be forgiven for thinking that if you have not already made your entire workforce redundant and replaced them with a team of AI powered agents then you are well behind the curve. Posts appear daily on all social media platforms asking you to drop a 'yes please' in in the comments to be sent the keys to AI Narnia... all for free. And, comment the lemmings do! Bumping up the visibility of the seller (sorry - expert offering free services) which is the sole intention of these posts. You may well be sent 3000 Chat GPT prompts but I can pretty much guarantee you won't use them. To access anything remotely useful there will, at some point, be a requirement for a cash transaction or monthly subscription for 'pro' level access to further information or training. I may even have participated in this game myself ( but only in the name of research of course), and I can confirm that you will kick yourself for being taken in!

 Now, I'm not knocking anyone for being entrepreneurial and there is no doubt that AI has the potential to change the way we live and work. However - if something looks too good to be true it usually is and this is really no exception. At the moment AI is starting to feel like a dizzy mix of hysteria and panic as the rush towards.... what exactly?... takes hold.

Let's pause, take a breath and look at the reality of the current situation. No-one, not Sam Altman, Mustafa Suleman or any other leaders of the AI revolution can predict where AI is going. They have admitted this in interviews, books and podcasts. What they have provided is a capability that will continue to be developed in ways they believe will be of use to individuals and businesses. There is no doubt that all this is moving at a very fast pace, but exactly how it will look five years from now (for better or worse) remains unknown territory.

To really get ahead with AI (or any technology enabled change) you need to clearly establish how it will help your specific business. What processes can it support or replace and how can you better utilise the resources freed up? AI will offer a different set of opportunities in every industry and each of the functional business areas within them. Taking the time to understand how large language models, generative AI, automation and robotics work individually and collectively is essential. AI Automations may work in some areas better than others (starting in the back office, away from customer facing activity is always a good bet). What are the potential benefits from a financial and quality perspective? What are the costs of implementation and associated risks?

Only when you have undertaken a full AI 'audit' of your business can you start to plan for implementation. Ensuring colleagues are educated in the fundamentals of AI, how to work with it and the positives it can bring will be essential to creating a culture for success. Understanding security and data protection are equally important. In short, putting AI into businesses is a change programme. It will require effective management of people, process and tools, solid sponsorship and robust governance. Who knew? Done well.... the results will be transformational - just beware of the snake oil!