August 2024

Two years ago most people hadn’t heard of generative AI, but now it’s everywhere. Shortly after its release, ChatGPT became the fastest growing app in history. Jump forward to today and Apple has just announced plans to build it into its iPhones and it’s hard to find a piece of software that doesn’t offer generative capabilities.

However, there’s undoubtedly a lot of hype, confusion, and even fear around it. This ranges from enthusiastic advocates announcing that it’s going to solve all of the world’s problems to doom-mongers predicting that it will make millions of us redundant or even spell the end of human creativity.

So, here’s my overview of what I see as the biggest misconceptions about this revolutionary but misunderstood technology. Personally, I believe that most people can find a way to use it to help them in their work or day-to-day lives, but first, they need to understand it. Hopefully, this is helpful for cutting through the hype and getting to the facts.

Generative AI Is Intelligent

Let’s start with the biggie. Generative AI, like ChatGPT, mimics certain qualities of natural intelligence, specifically the ability to process, interpret, and create language.

However, natural (human or animal) intelligence has many facets, like reasoning, abstract thought, emotional intelligence, intuition, memory, creativity, and communication.

While generative AI excels in communication and memory, it only touches on those other aspects.

When ChatGPT or another large language model (LLM) creates output, it follows probability rules derived that it learns during its training. This means its “thought processes” are far more limited and less sophisticated than ours.

Is this real intelligence? No, it’s called “artificial” intelligence for a reason. It can do amazing things, but it’s still just an algorithm – albeit a very complex one!

Generative AI Will Replace Human Creativity

If computers can write stories and draw pictures, does that mean we don’t need human authors and artists anymore? The simple answer is no. Generative AI doesn’t fulfill all the criteria for true intelligence or creativity.

It doesn’t really have new ideas in the same way that humans do. Its creativity is only informed by data rather than by feelings, emotions, original thoughts and personal experience of the world.

A common reaction of humans to AI-generated content is that it’s bland and lacking in humanity. At first glance, this may not seem like a very scientific analysis, but when you consider it in the context of the limitations of generative AI, it makes sense.

Human creatives have nothing to fear from generative AI. While it can produce a formulaic novel or a generic picture quickly, it’s far from creating art that inspires and makes us think.

Generative AI Only Creates Words And Pictures

Ask most people what generative AI is, and they will probably tell you about ChatGPT and how it generates words or Dall-E 2 and how it can create pictures. While these are the most well-known use cases, they are just the tip of the iceberg of what AI can do today.

Generative AI tools are also available to create music, voice, and even video.

But it doesn’t stop there. Did you know it has also been used to create new medicines – including a new immunotherapy treatment for cancer?

It also creates data – known as synthetic data – which can be used to train AI algorithms and carry out statistical analytics. It also creates charts and reports that help us analyze that data.

It can also create design blueprints for anything from buildings to new devices. When combined with technology such as 3D printing or automated construction robots, it can create physical objects that exist in the real world.

Generative AI Doesn’t Need Human Input

When we think of generative AI output, we might think that everything is fully automated and that humans aren’t necessary. But this is far from the truth, today at least.

For a start, generative AI often makes mistakes or just plain makes stuff up – a phenomenon known as hallucination. For any critical use case, it’s essential to involve human oversight for fact-checking and error correction.

Human input is also necessary at every step of the process to ensure that AI is being used in a way that’s fair, ethical and responsible. This is particularly important when AI is put to work in ways that can affect human lives, for example when making decisions in the fields of healthcare, finance, human resources or law enforcement.

While generative AI can be an extremely powerful and useful tool, it’s nowhere near being good enough to fully replace human judgment and expertise.

Generative AI Is New

It may seem like generative AI burst into the world with the arrival of ChatGPT in late 2022, but that was really just when it hit the mainstream. People have been using AI to create things – including text, pictures and music – for far longer.

The first experiments with AI chatbots took place in the 1960s, with programs like Eliza that tried to hold human-like conversations. Early examples of AI-generated music emerged in the 1970s, like David Cope’s Experiments in Musical Intelligence, which aimed to mimic the style of famous composers. And AI image generators first appeared in the early 1990s, such as AARON, created by artist Harold Cohen. And

What’s new is that we’ve now reached the stage where a combination of factors, including availability of processing power and computer memory, cloud computing and advances in deep learning have made generative AI available to everyone.

Rather than needing expensive computers that were only previously available to big companies and universities, we all carry smartphones that can hook up to massively powerful data centers in the cloud, where the computing takes place. This means generative AI is best seen as a convergence of many technologies that have all matured at this point in time to kickstart the revolution rather than one breakthrough invention.

Do you remember what the internet of the past looked like? Static webpages that took an age to load, blurry JPG images and lots of garishly colored text and backgrounds, those were the days!

Well, the internet of 2035 will look as different from today’s internet as today’s internet looks from that.

In the twenty-plus years that it has dominated our lives, the internet has evolved to become more immersive, accessible, user-friendly and social. Although it’s difficult for anyone to predict anything as far as ten years into the future, one thing I’m sure of is that this evolution will continue.

Ten years ago, if you’d asked someone what the internet is, they would have been pretty sure it revolved around web pages viewed on a computer screen. Today, the online experience is built around apps, devices, streaming services and virtual worlds. Thanks to advances in augmented reality (AR), we even see it encroaching into the real world.

So, gazing into my long-distance crystal ball, here are five of the trends that I believe will define what it means to be “online” as we head toward the year 2035. And – spoiler alert – yes, there will probably still be cat memes.

Reality? What’s That?

Over the next decade, we are only going to see the internet get more immersive and capable of filling more of our day-to-day needs. Whether that be working, relaxing, playing, shopping or socializing with friends. By 2035, the concept of “being offline” probably won’t mean a lot. Even if we aren’t staring at a screen (an interface that’s becoming less common), we’re interacting with virtual and online environments through data flowing to us via a myriad of devices, possibly even including chips implanted into our brains.

It’s no wonder that by this point, the distinction between the real, physical world and the digital, connected world is practically non-existent. Augmented reality interfaces will bring digital information to life in front of our eyes, overlaying computer-generated imagery no matter where we are or what we are doing. And the concept of logging or signing in to a virtual space will seem wildly outdated, as machines automatically authenticate us using biometrics without us even noticing. This will put to bed the idea that’s persisted for a few decades of humans becoming increasingly screen-bound, isolating inside darkened rooms or existing in virtual reality, Ready Player One style. The internet and the virtual world will be all around us, entwined with the real world – which is perhaps an even scarier concept!

An End To Ecosystems?

So Meta (formerly Facebook)’s attempt to annex the emerging virtual domain that we once referred to as “the metaverse” (although I never liked that term myself) seems to have stalled. In 2024, users want virtual worlds – not walled-in virtual gardens – and in 2035, that won’t be any different. Rather than be tied into any particular ecosystem – be that iPhones or Android, Xbox or Playstation – users will expect cross-platform compatibility and seamless connectivity, no matter what hardware or operating system is chugging away behind the scenes.

This means, for example, that users will be able to take their avatar from Fortnite, along with the trophies and rewards they’ve gained, and effortlessly manifest them into Roblox. For a slightly more grown-up example, think of your Slack or Zoom conversations and contacts seamlessly integrating into MS Teams – or whatever equivalent of these tools we’re all using in 10 years’ time.

This might all be facilitated by a move towards open, decentralized ecosystems – perhaps built on blockchain technology – as more of us become aware of the dangers of giving companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple ownership of our online lives and identities.

Virtual Healthcare

It is becoming increasingly common for us to go online to receive medical care or treatment. Contributing factors include the coronavirus pandemic, aging populations and the worldwide shortage of medical professionals.

All of this will mean that online healthcare will be a big part of our lives by 2035. Patients and healthcare providers will meet less frequently but be more closely connected than ever, thanks to the wealth of data that will be collected by devices we wear and even cameras in our homes (watching for declining activity levels in elderly people or falls in the home, for example.) Many more of us will experience time as patients in a virtual hospital, where we will be closely monitored and receive personalized care in the comfort of our homes.

At the same time, all of this data will be used to build increasingly sophisticated digital twins of our bodies, meaning that treatment will be personalized and targeted at our specific conditions. Questions around healthcare data and who owns the information about our condition and wellbeing will be more prescient than ever, but solutions based on blockchain and decentralized record keeping may help us retain control and stewardship.

One major benefit will be that we are no longer tied to receiving care from experts in our locality or making long and costly journeys to be treated by experts around the world. And VR or AR will mean we can be treated online for many of our pain management, mental wellness or physiotherapeutic needs.

Virtual Economies And Digital Ownership

By 2035, virtual products and goods will be just as desirable and in demand as the most limited edition sneakers or VIP Taylor Swift tickets are today. And why shouldn’t they be? To the teenagers of tomorrow, bragging rights will apply to possessions in the digital domain as much as they do in the physical.

From virtual real estate to digital certificates and collectibles, these assets will hold real-world value, creating new economies and transforming online business, gaming and socializing. This will foster the development of new business models, providing virtual goods and services as well as access to online events like virtual concerts and experiences. The creator economy that we are already seeing develop around platforms like Roblox will be a bigger part of our lives. Much of this will be thanks to the democratization of digital creativity enabled by generative AI and emerging low-code/no-code tools. This has the potential to increase access to opportunity, allowing individuals from diverse social and economic backgrounds to participate in building the future of online experience.

credit: BarnardMarr

Thanks to AI, work will look very different in the near future than it does today. According to the World Economic Forum, 85 million jobs will be impacted by AI by 2030, and millions of new jobs will be created that don’t yet exist.

In a world where the pace of change is accelerating dramatically, it will be our skills -rather than our education, work history or past achievements – that define our value.

In practical terms, employers will be less concerned about what we know or have achieved in the past and more interested in how we can apply knowledge and abilities to solving modern business challenges.

So, what will this mean in the age of AI? How do we prepare for a world where machines will carry out many of the tasks that humans have traditionally had a monopoly on? And what skills will we need to ensure we remain relevant and able to create value? Let’s take a look.

Two Core Skillsets For An AI Future

I believe the skills essential for staying relevant in the future can be divided into two groups. Broadly speaking, we can refer to these as AI skills and human soft skills.

Firstly, having AI skills doesn’t necessarily mean becoming an AI engineer or data scientist.

Instead, it involves the ability to use AI effectively, augmenting our own abilities and overseeing its output. This means becoming an effective AI collaborator, delegator, and supervisor.

As AI becomes increasingly omnipresent, the ability to identify and use the best tools will be crucial in virtually every profession.

Secondly, human soft skills represent abilities that AI either can’t do yet or can’t do as well as humans. These skills are rooted in the qualities that have made humans so successful as a species in evolutionary terms. They allow us to work together, solve complex problems using diverse data, navigate social situations, creatively solve problems, critically evaluate progress, and create emotional connections with others.

As machines become more capable, the value of these uniquely human abilities increases. These two skill subsets are complementary, and developing them in tandem is key to building future-proof skills.

Let’s explore each of these skill sets in more detail.

AI Skills

AI skills are a broad category encompassing everything that has to do with working with AI effectively.

Of course, it includes the technical data and computing skills needed to design, build and deploy AI systems. But not everyone will need to do that.

It also covers general AI literacy, which means understanding what AI can do and how to apply AI tools to achieving specific goals.

This involves understanding the AI landscape in terms of the available tools and applications, and their capabilities and limitations, as well as proficiency in using and operating these tools.

It covers skills such as prompt engineering, which involves being able to frame human and business problems in a way that AI can address.

A central concept is “augmented working” – a term that’s frequently used to describe the ability to use AI to automate routine tasks, allowing a human professional to work more efficiently.

Understanding how to use AI to aid and boost creativity is a valuable skill, too. This could involve using it to generate ideas or create multiple iterations of our own ideas to suit different audiences.

People with skills needed to supervise AI workforces and act as the critical “human-in-the-loop” required to ensure accuracy, safety and fairness will be highly valued in workforces of the future.

Crucially, so will those with an understanding of the ethical and legal implications, such as an ability to recognize when there is a danger of bias or breach of privacy or when an organization’s use of AI might be overstepping the boundaries set out by regulation and legislation.

Soft Skills

With AI taking care of much of the technical work, human soft skills – things that machines can’t yet do – will become exponentially more valuable.

Among the most important will be the ability to strategize at a high level.

For example, ask an AI delivery optimization algorithm to plot the most efficient route for a van driver to drop off parcels, and it will do it more effectively than a human.

What it probably won’t do is suggest exploring drone delivery. Or reducing the weight of packaging to make deliveries more fuel-efficient. This is because most AI applications are highly specialized and don’t have the “general” intelligence capabilities of humans.

Creative problem-solving is another vital soft skill. Humans excel at lateral thinking, connecting disparate ideas, and imagining novel solutions to complex problems. Our ability to envision and articulate a better future – whether in technology, society, or the environment – is uniquely human. This imaginative capacity, combined with the power to inspire others towards these visions, will remain crucial in an AI-driven world, allowing us to conceptualize and pursue innovations that AI alone cannot conceive.

Developing plans that encompass long-term goals and take into account a multitude of factors that aren’t necessarily going to be in the training data will be out of reach of AI for a long time.

Then there’s critical thinking, which involves objectively analyzing and evaluating every aspect of a problem, situation or opportunity in order to make a judgment. While AI can critically assess a plan of action or an idea, once again, it’s limited by its training data, which may or may not contain the specific insights required.

Teamwork, leadership and mentorship all require explicitly human skills, too, including a high level of emotional intelligence. This is our ability to recognize and respond appropriately to our fellow humans on an emotional level and is essential to collaboration and relationship-building.

Partnership building, for example, is critical in modern business. An AI’s lack of emotional intelligence means it will always be at a disadvantage when it comes to the subtleties of negotiating, building rapport, and establishing the alignment of mission and values, which are critical to effective partnering.

And human soft skills are still important for project management, where there’s a need to balance resources, budgets, time constraints and any number of unexpected factors that could emerge.

Once again, we can see that computer intelligence is still too specialized to deal with many potential scenarios that can throw a spanner in the works of even the most carefully laid plans.

Adaptability and Life-Long Learning

One skill, perhaps more than any other, that will determine whether we remain relevant in the AI era will be our ability to adapt to change and continuously learn and improve.

Technology is constantly evolving, and the AI available in ten years’ time will most likely be far beyond anything we can imagine now. No matter how carefully we prepare for it now, it will take us by surprise. So, the ability to adapt and keep our knowledge and skills up-to-date is crucial.

This isn’t just about keeping pace with technology; it’s about developing a change-oriented mindset that will allow us to continue to perform as the world becomes more complex and uncertain.

The tradition of front-loading ourselves with education in our formative years is increasingly outdated. Seeking out roles where we will continuously learn, as well as pursuing opportunities for self-directed learning, can all help us to develop this mindset.

Likewise, the human skills we’ve discussed – communication, creativity, emotional intelligence – are not innate traits that some are born with and some aren’t. They can all be cultivated through practice and diversity of experience!

By focusing our efforts on developing both human and AI skills and developing the habits of embracing change and lifelong learning, we can give ourselves the best chance of thriving in the age of AI.

source: benardmarr

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves for years, but it’s the subset of generative AI that’s really captured the public’s imagination lately. If you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the past year, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, DALL-E, or perhaps Midjourney. But what exactly is generative AI, and which model stands out as the most famous?

Let’s dive in.

The Generative AI Revolution

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of creating new content, whether it’s text, images, music, or even code. These AI models learn from vast amounts of existing data to generate something new and original. It’s like teaching a computer to be creative – and boy, have they learned fast!

The Reigning Champion: OpenAI’s GPT

When it comes to fame in the generative AI world, one name towers above the rest: GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) by OpenAI. This powerhouse of a model is the brain behind ChatGPT, which has become something of a celebrity in its own right.

But why is GPT so famous? Let’s break it down:

1. Pioneering Innovation: GPT was among the first to showcase the true potential of generative AI in a way that was accessible to the public. It turned what seemed like science fiction into reality.
2. Versatility: From writing essays, speaking and creating images to debugging code, GPT’s range of capabilities is staggering. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife of AI tools at your fingertips.
3. Mainstream Adoption: By making ChatGPT freely available, OpenAI democratized access to advanced AI. Suddenly, everyone from students to CEOs was experimenting with AI-generated content.
4. Constant Evolution: With each iteration (GPT-3, GPT-4, and beyond), the model has become more powerful and capable, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

The Contenders

While GPT might be the most famous, it’s not the only player in town. The generative AI landscape is teeming with impressive contenders:

• Google’s Gemini: A strong rival to GPT, offering multi-modal capabilities and impressive performance.
• Anthropic’s Claude: Known for its focus on ethical AI development and robust conversational abilities.
• Meta’s LLaMA: Facebook’s parent company has thrown its hat into the ring with this open-source large language model.
• Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion: A go-to for many in the image generation space.
• Microsoft’s Copilot: Integrating AI assistance across the Microsoft ecosystem.

Each of these models brings something unique to the table, but GPT’s head start and widespread adoption have cemented its place at the top of the fame ladder.

The Impact And Implications

The rise of GPT and its generative AI buddies has sparked a technological gold rush. Companies are scrambling to integrate these technologies into their processes and their products and services. We’re seeing AI-powered writing assistants, code generators, and even AI therapists hitting the market.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. The rapid advancement of generative AI has also raised important questions about copyright, job displacement, and the spread of misinformation. As these models become more sophisticated, distinguishing between AI-generated and human-created content is becoming increasingly challenging.

What’s Next For Generative AI?

The field of generative AI is evolving at breakneck speed. We’re likely to see even more powerful and specialized models emerge in the coming years. The integration of generative AI into our daily lives – from personalized education to advanced healthcare diagnostics – is just beginning.

As for GPT, its fame shows no signs of waning. With OpenAI continually pushing the envelope, we can expect future iterations to be even more capable and, dare I say, mind-blowing.

The AI-Powered Future

While GPT currently wears the crown of fame in the generative AI world, the competition is fierce and the landscape is constantly shifting. What’s clear is that generative AI is not just a flash in the pan – it’s a technological revolution that’s here to stay.

As we navigate this brave new world of AI-generated content, one thing’s for certain: the most famous generative AI of today might just be the tip of the iceberg. The real excitement lies in imagining what these technologies will be capable of tomorrow. So buckle up, the AI ride is just getting started.

credit: Berdard Marr

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, understanding which jobs remain secure is crucial. While AI’s impact on the job market is undeniable, not all roles are equally vulnerable. Most jobs will be augmented to some extent, but those involving complex human emotions, advanced decision-making, and creative thinking are generally safer from complete automation. Here are some of the most AI-resistant careers:

Skilled Tradespeople

Skilled tradespeople, such as electricians and carpenters, possess hands-on expertise and problem-solving skills that AI cannot replicate. These roles require working in varied environments, adapting to unique challenges, and applying practical knowledge in real-time. The physical dexterity, spatial awareness, and on-the-spot decision-making needed in these trades make them resilient to automation. While AI can assist with tools and planning, the nuanced skills of a tradesperson remain irreplaceable.

Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, are essential roles that AI can only partially augment. AI can assist in diagnostics, patient monitoring, and even robotic surgeries. Still, the core of healthcare revolves around human empathy, interpersonal skills, and ethical judgment—qualities that AI cannot replicate. Understanding patient needs, providing compassionate care, and making critical ethical decisions ensure that healthcare professionals remain indispensable.

Strategic Decision-Makers

Executives and entrepreneurs occupy roles requiring high-level strategic decision-making and leadership capabilities. These roles involve understanding complex, multifaceted problems, weighing risks and benefits, and making decisions that steer organizations toward success. While AI can provide data-driven insights and assist in analysis, the nuanced understanding of business dynamics, stakeholder interests, and long-term vision are uniquely human attributes safeguarding these jobs from automation.

Creative Professions

Creative professionals, such as artists, writers, and designers, bring originality and a personal touch to their work that AI struggles to match. Generative AI tools can perform simple creative tasks and even assist in the creative process, but the essence of creativity involves inspiration, cultural subtleties, and deep emotional connections. The ability to convey human experiences, emotions, and unique perspectives ensures that creative professionals remain at the forefront of their fields, with AI serving as a supportive tool rather than a replacement.

Emergency Responders

Emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and police officers, perform roles demanding quick thinking, human judgment, and physical presence. These jobs require the ability to assess unpredictable situations, make life-saving decisions, and provide immediate assistance. The complex and dynamic nature of emergencies is beyond the capabilities of current AI technologies. The physical and emotional demands placed on emergency responders highlight the irreplaceable value of human skills in these critical roles.

Embracing Uniquely Human Skills

The roles mentioned above emphasize human interaction, emotional intelligence, and creativity—qualities that AI can’t replicate yet. As AI continues to evolve, it’s essential to focus on developing and enhancing these uniquely human skills to stay ahead. By leveraging our innate abilities in empathy, strategic thinking, and creativity, we can ensure a harmonious coexistence with AI and secure our place in the future job market.

While AI will continue to augment and transform various aspects of work, the importance of human expertise, intuition, and emotional intelligence remains paramount. Embracing change, continuously learning, and adapting to new technologies will be key to thriving in an AI-enhanced world. By understanding the roles that are most resistant to automation, we can better prepare ourselves and future generations for a dynamic and ever-evolving job market.

So, what job is most safe from AI? It’s the ones that require the irreplaceable touch of human skills—those that make us uniquely human.

Credit: bernardmarr