According to Fred

The musings of a marketer and tech geek.

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You’re Responsible for Your AI Literacy

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, understanding AI and its implications is more crucial than ever. During a recent vacation, a simple conversation about AI highlighted the urgent need for AI literacy.

The Importance of AI Literacy

I was recently on vacation down in the Turks and Caicos with my wife for some much-needed R&R. It was our 20th wedding anniversary trip, and the plan was to disconnect and just relax. During our time at our resort, we got into conversations with others who were there. One couple we met had kids roughly the same age as ours, and they lived in a city that I used to frequent with a past employer, so we had things to discuss. We ended up having lunch together one day, and the conversation led to AI and GenAI. My wife promptly rolled her eyes at me as our new acquaintances, who were in the banking industry, had some awareness of GenAI and ChatGPT, but had never really used it. After getting a look from my wife, I promised to show one thing and be done. So I whipped out my phone and opened ChatGPT to show him just what one of the sample prompts could do. It was a simple “Give me tips to overcome procrastination.” I clicked the prompt, the app started to write the response in real-time, and our new acquaintance had his mind blown.

This showed me, actually reminded me, that while I try hard to stay in tune with the latest and greatest in AI, not everyone is. AI literacy is a big deal and potentially a big problem if you do not take it into your own hands. Especially if workplaces and schools ban it.

Taking Control of Your AI Education

When something as big as Generative AI, and the advancement of AI in general, comes around, most people, companies, and those in positions of responsibility will take a “sit back and wait” approach. And for many valid reasons, it is a valid approach. It’s complicated. It has a lot of implications on how organizations and businesses work. For the education field, it has broader implications on how students learn, do homework, what is considered “cheating” and more.

But this isn’t the first time we’ve had a big technological change in our lives. Many of the same arguments being made today for the use of AI/GenAI were the same ones used when Google was introduced.

AI Will Become the New Normal

I wish I could tell you that all the good things that AI and Generative AI will provide us didn’t come with a dark side. The reality is that GenAI is introducing a whole slew of challenges from personal and corporate ethics to deep fakes and misinformation to hacking and cybersecurity to legal issues. While AI has been around for decades, that lonely day in September 2022 when Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and the OpenAI team launched ChatGPT for free and introduced a new way for the average human to interact with AI, Pandora’s box was opened and will never be shut again.

Since that day we now have a new way of working. A new way of learning. A new way of creating. A new way to engage with technology. For better or worse.

While GenAI will go through its own evolution from hype to questioning the value of it and the investments around continuing to develop GenAI it will become mainstream. In fact, Google, Apple and Meta are going to be the biggest players who will do it. And they are doing it now.

AI in Everyday Life – It is Here Thanks to Google, Apple and Meta

While I want you to better understand AI and GenAI specifically, companies like Google, Apple, and Meta are bringing it to you now. Today. To me, this is why you need to take your AI literacy seriously. You need to understand how each company is approaching GenAI and integrating it into your every day lives.

Apple is launching its new AI, called Apple Intelligence, with their next iPhone release in the fall of 2024. While Apple has been using AI in their phones for years, through features such as personalization, photo editing, video enhancements and more.

Google has been integrating AI into their platforms for years as well. Their latest foray is with an upgraded AI chatbot experience with the release of Gemini on Google phones. Gemini is also now featured in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides if you pay for their upgraded plans.

Google is also bringing GenAI to search results. While there has been some gaffes already in the outputs created, this will only improve over time and will change the way we engage with search and search results.

Meta is adding their own AI engines into Facebook, Instagram, Threads and What’s App. You will start to see “Ask Meta AI or Search” appear in the search bars of these apps.

The point is, these technology companies are bringing AI to you, today, and doing it in very consumer-friendly ways.

Resources to Get Started on Your AI Literacy Journey

Getting started to learn more about AI and GenAI is not challenging. There are lots of articles published daily on the topic. Here are some of my favorite resources to help you get started.

  • GenAI Tools – Here are some you can get started for free, or paid versions. Thre are many more than I list here, but these are good starting places.
    • ChatGPT – the one that started it all. I highly recommend trying the paid version for at least a month to see the difference. Can generate text, images, code and more.
    • Perplexity.ai – uses the Google API and pulls in more real-time content from the Internet in the response, with citations. With the paid version you can also access other models such as Claude.
    • Claude – a ChatGPT competitor, but more private in that it doesn’t have access to the Internet for anything after it has been trained. Claude maker, Cohere, prides itself on its take on security.
    • Adobe Firefly – generate images in a variety of formats and styles. Adobe claims it has trained Firefly on its own content, and thus, its images are commercially ready for use.
  • Podcasts – a list of my favorite AI podcasts
  • Free Education Resources – Check out some of these free resources from top companies and institutions
  • People to Follow – if you use social media, here are a few people to follow and even turn notifications on

Every journey begins with a step. Just one step. Take yours today so you can be better informed about the changes that are coming your way with GenAI.

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The AI Revolution: Why Every Company Will Be an AI Company by 2026

The whispers of “generative AI” and “ChatGPT” might have seemed like science fiction a few years ago.  Today, those whispers have turned into a groundswell, and businesses are rapidly waking up to a fact: Artificial intelligence isn’t just a passing trend – it’s the single most transformative force shaping the future of work.

If you’re still on the fence about AI’s significance, buckle up. I believe with absolute conviction that within the next three years, every successful company will become an AI company in one capacity or another. Don’t believe me? Let’s explore the driving forces behind this unstoppable wave.

2023: The Year of Discovery

Last year was a watershed moment for generative AI. The public launch of game-changing tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Claude, Llama, and Perplexity sparked a collective “a-ha moment” for businesses globally. It wasn’t the technology itself that was revolutionary – AI has been developing for decades – but the sheer accessibility and user-friendliness of these new tools.  

Suddenly, AI was not confined to the tech giants with teams of data scientists and PhDs. Its power became accessible through a simple text-chat window, prompting businesses to ponder its potential applications. This now raised the question: How can we put this tool to work for us?

So companies started to educate themselves and maybe put a small team together to define problem statements and define use cases.  The response varied: while some companies adopted a wait-and-see approach, others, including Coca-Cola, Walmart, EY, Accenture, McKinsey, dived in headfirst to gain a first-mover advantage.  

2024: Experimentation and Internal Revolution

2024 marks a year of bold exploration. Forward-thinking companies don’t just see AI as a shiny toy; they view it as a catalyst for reshaping their internal operations. This stage isn’t about launching AI-powered customer products just yet. Instead, businesses will focus on:

  • Streamlining tasks: Departments across the board, from marketing to HR, will experiment with automating repetitive, time-consuming work. The goal? Free up employees to focus on strategy, creativity, and human connection. 
  • Enhancing decision-making: AI’s capacity to analyze vast datasets will play a vital role in smarter decision-making. Expect real-time insights drawn from customer data, market research, and operational trends.
  • Upscaling employees: A focus on upscaling will take center stage. Businesses understand that AI isn’t about replacing workers; it’s about equipping them with an incredibly powerful co-pilot.

Each of these comes with the understanding that there are teams internally who are becoming comfortable with AI and GenAI.  These organizations probably have established an AI Centers of Excellence or task forces focused on the liability of using these tools.  However, the risks of putting out public facing GenAI solutions at this point has proven to be risky.  Sorry Alaska Airlines. 

If we think about this year, 2024, early adopters will begin to really see the benefits and understanding how to deploy GenAI solutions at scale.  Other organizations will start to wake up to the fact that they need to start taking GenAI seriously.  If nothing else, the tools that companies use every day will start to publish GenAI features into their products that address these three areas, thus forcing companies to address GenAI in some way.  

2025: Realizing Value and the Competitor Gap Widens

By 2025, early adopters won’t just be fiddling with AI: they’ll be reaping the rewards. This is where the competitive playing field takes a drastic turn. The proof points pile up:

  • Efficiency gains: Companies using AI to optimize workflows consistently outperform those that don’t. Reduced costs and faster turnarounds will be the hallmarks of success.
  • Data-driven innovation: AI will help identify potential areas for new products and services, based on a deep understanding of markets and customer pain points.
  • Competitive Pressure: Early AI adopters will set a new standard, forcing businesses in every sector to catch up or risk obsolescence.

New Large Language Models (LLMs) will have emerged, some being industry specific. Some companies may even build their own LLMs specifically to use with their own data. Additionally, every company will have tools in their technology stack that has AI features and functionality at the fingertips of their employees, and the value realization will start to become inevitable and evident.  Our risk tolerance will start to wane as AI literacy plateaus.  

2026: AI as the New Normal

In a stunningly short time, by 2026, we reach the tipping point where AI isn’t just an advantage—it’s table stakes:

  • Software eats AI: Popular business software from CRMs to design tools will have generative AI features baked in. Using them without AI capabilities will feel archaic.
  • The new AI workforce: AI-generated content, whether it’s draft emails, initial market reports, or social media copy, will be woven into workflows by a skilled human workforce trained to optimize the tool.
  • Ethics and the Human Touch: Ethical concerns and AI regulation will come to the forefront as businesses grapple with the balance between efficiency and the irreplaceable value of human judgment and empathy.

The playing field flattens and AI and GenAI will be second nature.  We will have moved into a state of normalcy and everything from your smart home device to your enterprise applications will be using GenAI in ways we can’t live without. 

It’s Not Just Hype

These predictions aren’t mere speculation. Studies support the accelerated pace of AI adoption:

Embracing the Inevitable

This AI-powered future can be intimidating. But for those willing to embrace change, it offers incredible opportunities. Companies that take AI seriously are the ones that will stay in the race. The next three years are going to be critical for every company as they address AI both internally for efficiencies, but also as they consider building products and services. Are you ready to make your company an AI company?

Disclaimer: Generative AI was used in the creation of this content.

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Top 4 AI and Marketing Podcasts to Follow in 2024: A Curated Guide for Professionals

If you are looking for a way to keep up with all the latest news, insights, and analysis in the world of AI/GenAI, I’ve put together a list of my favorite podcasts that I listen to to stay informed. These range from weekly to daily shows. I particularly focus on podcasts that specify in business and marketing, but also the overall landscape of AI today.

The Marketing AI Show

Official Description

The Marketing AI Show makes artificial intelligence actionable and approachable for marketers. Brought to you by the creators of the Marketing AI Institute and the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON), join us for weekly conversations where we break down the top AI news stories and discuss what it means for marketers, leaders, and businesses so we can better use AI to transform businesses and careers. Enjoy The Marketing Artificial Intelligence Show for the latest in AI.

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Channel

Why I like the Podcast

Paul Roetzer and his co-host Mike Kaput publish some of the most thoughtful podcast episodes on the topic of AI. Ex-agency founder and founder of the Marketing for AI Institute, Paul, made the shift to focus on AI after he sold his PR agency years ago. I think his past background helps him bring a journalistic POV to his podcast today. His focus on “following the founders” is what I think sets him apart from other podcasts. Paul has all the history on how the big LLM founders all came from the same labs, broke out for various reasons, and here we are with a network of AI founders that are driving our future of AI/GenAI. Paul’s level-headed analysis of the week in AI news is a masterclass on taking in fact, understanding what is speculation, and being clear on what he thinks is going to happen based on what information he has, which is usually just the same information we all have access to, news reports, articles, and public information. To me, this is a must listen every week they put out a show.

The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions

Official Description

A daily news analysis show on all things artificial intelligence. NLW looks at AI from multiple angles, from the explosion of creativity brought on by new tools like Midjourney, ChatGPT and AutoGPT to the potential disruptions to work and industries as we know them to the great philosophical, ethical and practical questions of advanced general intelligence, alignment and x-risk.

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Channel

Why I like the Podcast

Nathaniel Whittemore is the author of The AI Breakdown, a daily podcast/video of the latest in AI news. Like Paul and Mike, Nathaniel breaks down the daily AI News. He does a bit of a quick round of the latest news in about five minutes, then takes a deep dive into one topic. The overall episodes are quick and can consumable and I like the singular focus of the quick topics of the day. AI has a lot to cover, so having a quick breakdown and then a deeper dive with his opinions sprinkled in is a nice set up. Topics are relevant. There is a lot to keep up with in AI news and The AI Breakdown covers the wide variety of topics nicely.

The Everyday AI Podcast

Office Description

The Everyday AI podcast is a daily livestream, podcast and free newsletter where we help everyday people grow their careers with AI. The Everyday AI podcast is hosted by Jordan Wilson, a former journalist who’s now the owner of a boutique digital strategy company with 20 years of martech experience.  Our main focus is to help you keep up with AI trends to make your job easier. Get your work done faster. Increase your output.

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Channel

Why I like the podcast

We are all looking for practical ways to use AI in our daily lives. Jordan breaks down ways to apply the world of AI/GenAI to your work life. From understanding how to use ChatGPT better with prompting to understanding the other LLMs and tools out there, Jordan gives practical advice you can use tomorrow.

Gartner ThinkCast

Official Description

Gartner ThinkCast puts you at the intersection of business and technology with insights from the top experts on how to build a more successful organization, team and career in the Digital Era. Join us every other Tuesday to get your competitive advantage.

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Channel

Why I like the podcast

While the Gartner ThinkCast isn’t only about AI/GenAI, it has been a topic over the last year. Gartner’s analysis and insights from its customers and analysts are well thought through and provide expert guidance as to the state of GenAI, how businesses can adapt to using it, and the risks/rewards.

While there are plenty of podcasts you could listen to, or even specific episodes, these are just a few of the ones I find valuable. Each provides a different level of insight, from practitioner-focused use cases to expert analysis. The world of GenAI is changing so fast. The insights from these shows give me a quick understanding of the week in AI, and I can listen to them as needed on the topics I find most interesting.

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Growth & entrepreneurship, a conversation with Sonita Reese

Sonita Reese is the Chief Encouragement Officer at First by Five, a consultancy helping entrepreneurs grow their business.  On this ‘Live’ episode we get into affects of COVID-19, work/life balance, and celebrating wins on teams to keep employee engagement up. 

Full transcript coming soon.

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Navigating Digital Policies, a Discussion with Kristina Podnar

Digital policies, or policies in general, are often seen as a necessity to an organization. Yet, employees more often than not see them as an annoyance than what they are, a set of behaviors and rules that make organizations run. In my discussion with Kristina Podnar, consultant, podcaster, and author of Power of Digital Policy, we talk about many topics around digital policies and how organizations can effectively implement them so employees feel empowered by them, not burdened.

(Transcript coming soon)