Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can help you be a better employee and manager. But these tools can’t be used in a vacuum without human intuition and creativity. AI software, websites and applications can help you optimize your workday and improve your outreach to employees and co-workers. But you need to keep some principles in mind as you deploy these tools.
1.) AI Tools Aren’t Perfect
Even the best AI technology may not be as intuitive and miss things such as industry jargon or figures of speech. So, you should inspect the work done by an AI-tool and use it as an assistant, not a substitute for your own eyes.
2.) AI Is Only As Good As the Data Behind It
Most AI-tools use the Internet and publicly available databases and content resources to come up with answers, develop outlines and proposals, etc. So, if the information behind the work is faulty, you may not get very good work. Consider augmenting public data sources; if possible, just make sure that by doing so, you don’t violate any company policies or submit critical information to a resource that will now become public domain.
3.) Not All AI Is Created Equal
Consider trying different tools and seeing what works for you. Some tools may be faster than others, while others may be more accurate or more creative. Ask co-workers what they are using. Experiment with some of these tools on your own. You can even consider asking your teenager what tools they have used. Chances are, they have more experience with these tools than you realize.
4.) Use AI to Automate Processes
So many tasks we do every day don’t need to be done by us. When you can come up with automated scripts and responses to communicate with prospects, co-workers, or others, use them. Just test to ensure that you are getting the desired result. AI tools are great sidekicks; just be aware of the outcome and always provide a way for those you are communicating with to get more information. Otherwise, you may send the wrong message, frustrate them or cause problems by using these tools. AI tools are great for proofreading or summarizing content as well as changing one content form into another. Many AI tools can take a few ideas and make them into comprehensive documentation. Some AI tools can enter data into an Excel spreadsheet.
5.) Ask Current Vendors How AI Tools Can Be Integrated into Software
If you have key software used for sales, enterprise management or other functions, see what AI tools may be built into those products. Also, ask how popular tools may be able to be integrated or connected to automate some functions. Chances are, your supplier is already thinking about this possibility and may be open to your suggestions.
6.) AI Is Neither Artificial Nor Intelligent
The Guardian last year carried an editorial by technology author Evgeny Morozov that claimed, “While ChatGPT is good at pattern-matching, the human mind does so much more.” He suggests that this technology isn’t truly creative like humans and shouldn’t be confused with truly unique creative ability or thought. AI may be better than us at patterns and solving many problems. But it still can’t fully replace humans in many functions. Back in 2021, Wired magazine interviewed technology expert Kate Crawford. She stated, “AI is neither artificial nor intelligent…AI is made from vast amounts of natural resources, fuel, and human labor. And it’s not intelligent in any kind of human intelligence way. It’s not able to discern things without extensive human training, and it has a completely different statistical logic for how meaning is made. Since the very beginning of AI back in 1956, we’ve made this terrible error, a sort of original sin of the field, to believe that minds are like computers and vice versa. We assume these things are an analog to human intelligence, and nothing could be further from the truth.”
7.) AI Can Enhance On-Job Training and Decision Making
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other generative AI tools have brought just-in-time learning to the workplace. You can learn a job while on the job. The speed of interaction with these tools has become a great enabler. You can ask questions and seek guidance quickly in ways that were not possible in the past.
Many people make decisions based on an overall hunch. This gut feeling drives their decisions, even though data might prove them wrong. Smart companies are deploying data-powered decision tools to make more informed decisions. The difficulty can be making these decisions based on faulty or incomplete data. So, it’s important to ask, “What is the data behind the tool?”
AI is not a universal cure. But it can be useful. You just have to start playing around with it and see what works for your company. At the very least, someone should be tasked with looking at how AI can help you improve your processes.
