AI is changing the way we do business. But we have barely scratched the surface inof the potential for AI to transform how we work. In this article, we chart the progress of Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace … and where we can expect it to go next.
AI as an able and willing content assistant
Currently, a significant portion of this AI adoption focuses on content creation. From AI-powered writing assistants that generate marketing copy to automated social media post schedulers, businesses are leveraging AI to streamline content workflows and enhance their online presence. Our new AI workers are always willing to lend a hand when we get writer’s block, or we struggle to find the ideal illustration to turn words into images. We are all rapidly getting familiar with our new AI work colleagues and what they are good at (and not so good at). Love them or hate them, AI workers are always happy to work, cost very little to support and never take a break until we do.
A significant portion of current AI functionalities revolve around assisting with content creation. These AI coworkers come in various forms, each streamlining specific aspects of the content development process.
According to a McKinsey survey, 70% of companies reported that they have started using AI in some form in projects in 2023.
The big change will come when AI is our supervisor
The benefits of having AI as a co-worker are obvious. However, these AI co-workers hold immense potential that extends far beyond simply being assistants. Their ability to analyze data, identify patterns, and suggest improvements positions them to evolve into something far more powerful: a boss.
The true potential of AI in business extends far beyond simply generating content. The real progress will come when AI transitions its role as a coworker to become a supervisor and analyst. As AI capabilities mature, their ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data becomes a game-changer. Here, AI will not only create content but also analyze its effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and recommend datadriven strategies for optimization. This shift in AI’s role presents a tremendous opportunity to revolutionize how businesses operate and make decisions.
The current wave of AI co-workers is the first small step, but the next big leap we can expect to occur will happen when AI evolves into supervisory and analytical roles.
AI’s true power lies in its ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data. This data can encompass everything from website analytics and audience demographics to customer feedback and competitor performance. By analyzing these intricate datasets, AI supervisors can identify key trends and patterns that might escape the human eye.
By crunching these numbers, AI can identify trends, predict outcomes, and recommend data-driven strategies for improvement. For instance, an AI supervisor analyzing sales data might identify underperforming product lines or suggest targeted marketing campaigns based on customer demographics. In a coding environment, AI could analyze past projects to recommend best practices or identify areas for code optimization.
Data from Accenture estimates that 40% of total working hours across all industries can be replaced by AI automation.
The supervisory potential of AI extends beyond analysis. AI, equipped with the right data, could potentially dictate workflows and assign tasks to both human and AI workers. For example, it could work as an AI manager in a manufacturing plant, analyzing real-time production data and allocating tasks to human workers and robotic assistants for maximum efficiency. In the future, this supervisory role could even encompass managing teams of human and AI workers, further streamlining business operations.
Jumping the Data Accessibility Hurdle
Limitations exist and a crucial hurdle to AI stands in the way: data accessibility. AI’s analytical capabilities are currently tethered to the data it can access. Restricted access to comprehensive datasets acts as a blindfold, limiting AI’s ability to gain a complete picture of an organization’s operation.
Restricted data access can manifest in several ways. Businesses may be hesitant to share sensitive internal data, or data might be fragmented across different departments and systems, making it difficult for AI to integrate and analyze it holistically. This hinders AI’s ability to identify the intricate connections and patterns within the data, ultimately limiting the effectiveness of its recommendations.
Unless granted access to comprehensive datasets, be it private or open-source, AI tools can only provide insights based on a restricted knowledge base. However, advancements in data security and sharing protocols are paving the way for a future where AI can leverage a global network of information, leading to truly insightful analysis and informed decision making.
Final Thoughts
AI will be the boss one day, but it isn’t quite there yet. While AI co-workers currently excel in assisting with content creation and various tasks, their true power lies in becoming data-driven analysts and supervisors. However, unlocking this potential relies on overcoming data accessibility limitations.
The upcoming era of AI supervision holds immense potential for businesses, streamlining workflows, optimizing decision-making, and empowering human workers.
USTECH DIGITAL, is ready to be your partner in this transformation. By providing the infrastructure and expertise needed to manage networks of AI workers, we help organizations to embrace the future of AI-powered business management.