As a communications professional, I've always believed my greatest skill was the ability to listen and ask questions.
It has served me well in my career. In the age of artificial intelligence, I predict the ability to ask good questions will become the most important skill crossing nearly every profession.
In case you haven't experimented with ChatGPT or any of the AI programs yet, the way it works is you ask a question, and the program uses machine learning to generate information. Just like any program, the quality of the output is 100% determined by the quality of the input. The more detailed, descriptive and targeted the prompt, the more accurate and helpful the result.
The possibilities are endless, just like the number of results you can receive. I know colleagues who now keep detailed spreadsheets of prompts to ask ChatGPT and similar programs. Here is an example of career-based prompts from Chris Donnolly for job hunting, expanding your network or updating your resume, a good one to keep handy since many of us could be out of work soon thanks to AI.
The key is to be as detailed and specific as you can. OpenAI recently unveiled its new video AI generator called Sora. At the launch, CEO Sam Altman asked people to send in prompts for Sora to demonstrate their ability to create videos in seconds. Here is a Twitter/X post with one of the videos based on the prompt:
"Beautiful, snowy Tokyo city is bustling. The camera moves through the bustling city street, following several people enjoying the beautiful snowy weather and shopping at nearby stalls. Gorgeous sakura petals are flying through the wind along with snowflakes."
Scary isn't it? And just like buyer beware, prompter beware. You can never completely trust the information you receive.
A lawyer in BC recently used ChatGPT to prepare legal briefs in a family law case. The brief cited cases that never existed. She was ordered to pay special costs in the case to opposing counsel and is under investigation by the law society for her actions.
Just like every new technology, we will need to navigate the ethics of AI and find the right balance and place for it in our lives. As I've been grappling with how to use it professionally and personally, I've decided not to use it for any creative projects unless it is to do research so my own thoughts, words and voice are represented in my work.
This blog is called the #HappyAct for goodness sake, so I thought I would end this week's post on a positive note. I asked Bing Copilot, "I'm a communications specialist working in a small rural municipality. How much time before my job becomes obsolete due to AI?" I've shared the response it gave below.
The final line was "Remember, the future isn't about humans vs. AI; it's about humans collaborating with AI to achieve better outcomes. 🤝
Wait a minute. It didn't answer my question. I guess machines are more like humans after all (time to brush up my resume...)
Bing Copilot response
"As a communications specialist working in a small rural municipality in Ontario, your role involves critical human skills that are not easily replicated by artificial intelligence. Let's explore this further:
- Contextual Understanding: Your job requires understanding the unique context of your municipality, its people, and their needs. AI can process data, but it lacks the empathetic understanding that comes from human experience.
- Effective Communication: Your ability to convey information clearly, tailor messages to different audiences, and build relationships is invaluable. While AI can generate text, it often lacks nuance and emotional intelligence.
- Creativity and Adaptability: As a communications specialist, you adapt to changing situations, create engaging content, and find innovative ways to connect with residents. AI can't match human creativity and adaptability
- Community Engagement: Building trust and engaging with the community is a core part of your role. AI can't attend town hall meetings, listen to concerns, or build personal connections.
- Ethical Decision-Making: You navigate ethical dilemmas, handle sensitive information, and make judgment calls. AI lacks moral reasoning and can't weigh complex ethical considerations.
- Local Knowledge: Your understanding of local history, culture, and politics is irreplaceable. AI lacks this context.
Predicting obsolescence is challenging, but here's the optimistic view: AI can enhance your work by automating repetitive tasks, analyzing data, and suggesting content. However, your uniquely human skills will remain essential. As technology evolves, consider upskilling to stay relevant. 🌟
Remember, the future isn't about humans vs. AI; it's about humans collaborating with AI to achieve better outcomes. 🤝
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