Artificial Inteligence
The current situation with Artificial Intelligence (AI) reminds me of the early 1990s. Personal computers started appearing on our desks at work. There were multiple companies with different solutions for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and graphics. Then there was buzz around something called the “worldwide web”. At times, it felt overwhelming.
You can’t open a computer browser today without seeing something about AI. News stories about AI companies and data centers, social media posts promoting the latest AI slop generator, and countless emails from “experts” who will help integrate AI into your company.
In the midst of this barrage, what’s an effective way to stay informed on AI in business? How do we avoid the hype and find the help? How do we discover the signal amidst the noise?
Here are 5 ideas to staying up to date on AI.
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Reserve time on your calendar for your AI education. Schedule a 30-minute block (60 minutes would be better) on your weekly calendar for researching and reading about AI and your industry. Prioritize keeping that meeting.
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Subscribe to industry periodicals, newsletters, and blogs. Every publication, large and small, has articles on AI. Pay special attention to articles written by peers with similar challenges.
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Follow executives and practitioners, not influencers. Seek out people who have a record of accomplishment and success in business. Generally, their posts will be balanced and thought-provoking. They will often share information from their trusted resources, further expanding your reach.
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Sign up for webinars from established software and hardware companies. These are free opportunities to learn how vendors are implementing AI in their product line. Often the webinars will include clients who have successfully used the solution in their company.
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Experiment – responsibly. Check with your IT and Legal departments to find out what tools and sites have been reviewed and approved. Talk to existing vendors about AI programs that can be used on a trial basis. Try using an AI engine to analyze data, generate a first draft, or conduct research. Learn how to effectively use prompts to get the best results.
Education – in any field – is an endless journey. We begin by dedicating time on our calendars, seeking out trusted resources, following experts, listening to innovative ideas, and trying new methods.
See you next week!
Amazing Astronomical Fact: The furthest human-made object from Earth is the space probe Voyager 1, which is over 15.9 billion miles (25.7 billion km) away. That is more than 170 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. It takes almost 24 hours to send a radio signal to the probe, a 2-day round trip!
Bonus fact: Voyage 1 was launched 16 days AFTER its twin, Voyager 2.
