What is AI, truly?
And why does it matter more than ever in the business world?
In this week's post, let's demystify some common questions about AI with some bite-sized answers. From the fundamentals through to getting started, we'll tackle your AI queries head-on in a quick Q&A.
What actually is AI?
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is software that's programmed to do things that typically require human intelligence, like recognising speech or driving a car autonomously.
You can think of AI like a digital brain, making decisions and solving problems based on the information it's given. AI can learn from experience, improving its tasks over time without being explicitly programmed for every scenario. The more data it gathers and the more problems it solves, the smarter it gets.
“Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years.”
- Andrew Ng, Founder DeepLearning.AI
Wait, are robots taking over?!
While AI may sound very smart, it's still us humans who are behind the scenes, programming the computers. So no, robots aren't staging a world takeover. In reality, the focus is on creating AI that works with us, not against us. There are ongoing ethical discussions and new regulations that are helping to ensure AI develops in ways that are safe and beneficial for everyone.
Why is AI important for business?
AI helps you do things faster and smarter. It can crunch numbers, sort through data, and handle repetitive tasks that take up too much of your time. It can also help improve business insight and enhance customer experiences. Let's take a look at some quick examples:
Personal Productivity & Creativity: Sure, ChatGPT can add some humour to your emails with a pirate twist (try it out! Arrr, me hearty, AI is a treasure trove to plunder yer everyday life!), but AI's true value shines in helping you streamline daily tasks. From drafting professional documents, checking for flawless grammar, or helping brainstorm for your next big work project - you can use AI to offer alternative suggestions and fresh ideas. It's like having a collaborative partner on call, 24/7.
Enhancing Customer Experiences: AI is also key to crafting exceptional customer experiences. AI can analyse customer behaviour and preference data, extracting insights into who your customers are and what makes them tick. It can use that data to provide personalised and relevant emails or offers, designed with each customer in mind. When you treat your customers like the unique individuals they are, you'll be sure to keep them coming back.
“It’s not about creating artificial intelligence, but amplifying human intelligence.”
- Amber Case, American cyborg anthropologist
Will AI take my job?
AI is changing the way we work, which means the nature of some jobs will change. But for most of us, our jobs will simply evolve to include AI-focused skills and tools, enabling us to work more easily, more creatively, and reduce the burden of tedious work. Think about the transformation since the internet boom of the early 2000s, we can't imagine a world without connected devices like our smartphones and tablets - when was the last time you opened a physical copy of the phone book to find a phone number? Or called the movie theatre to book some tickets?
We forget how integrated these technologies are in our everyday lives, and AI will be the same. While things will change, we'll be able to use AI to make our lives easier, and to help us to do our jobs.
Why should I embrace AI?
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve and keep your business competitive, then AI is absolutely your friend. AI offers a strategic advantage by enhancing operational efficiency, offering personalised customer experiences, and creating opportunities for new products and services.
“AI will be part of every industry, enhancing our abilities in ways we can’t even imagine yet.”
- Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
How should I get started?
Start small. Look for the easy wins. In your job, you could try integrating generative AI such as ChatGPT into your daily workflow - it can help with writing emails, drafting documents, or researching an idea - the more you use it the better you'll understand how it might work for you.
Across a business, getting started with AI might look like building AI literacy with your team, automating repetitive daily tasks, or leveraging AI to extract strategic insights. Successfully adopting AI isn't about an overnight transformation; it’s about taking small, smart steps towards improving how things are done.
Curious about using AI in your business? We're here to help. Anadyne IQ is a dedicated AI consultancy based in New Zealand. We specialise in making AI understandable and accessible, supporting our clients to use the latest AI tools with confidence. Not sure where to start? Our team is here to guide you through, step by step.
