The Consumer vs The Creator - an Ai musing

Are you, like me, watching AI run off into the sunset promising to take everyone's jobs, make us all redundant and forced to claim Universal Credit? 

It's worrying, when you combine Global Insecurity, Highest Unemployment rates in years (at the time of writing), a cost of living crisis that's clearly demonstrating that "crisis" is a long sliding scale that just keeps on going up, the uncertainty of "will I still have a job" in an economy that is probably in recession, we're just too scared to say it out loud, but certainly feels like it, is a recipe for panic, I'm certainly panicking every time I do a weekly shop.

Ok, get to the point Rich, you're waffling ..... as per usual.

It's not quite the "Rise of the Machines" just yet, more like the rise of really smart calculators. And for us here in the UK, especially with Public First crunching the numbers, we're looking at generative AI alone potentially adding a cool £400 billion a year to our economy by 2030. That's a lot of tea and biscuits, isn't it? Even our beloved public sector, bless its cotton socks, could see up to a third of its daily chores augmented by this clever tech. Imagine, less paperwork, more actual work. Even organisations that feel a bit like they're still running on floppy disks can get a leg up.

My first question is; How will this add £400Bn if it's predicted to make masses of people unemployed?

But hold your horses, because "AI" isn't one giant, all-knowing HAL 9000, although look how that ended!. It's a bit more nuanced than that. At its heart, AI is essentially getting machines to think (or at least, pretend to think) like us humans. Within that grand vision, you've got your "Reactive Machines" – the sort that play chess, a bit like a highly focused, silent Jedi Master. Then there's "Limited Memory AI," which is a bit more like a self-driving car that remembers the last few traffic lights, but isn't going to tell you about its childhood. The truly mind-bending stuff, "Theory of Mind" and "Self-Aware AI," are still largely in the realm of science fiction, thankfully, so we're safe from any SkyNet scenarios for now.

My second question; AI Jedi's are saying their businesses already do up to 50% of the daily work (Salesforce most recently), from mundane automations to coding and engineering, which means we may already be in a state of AI takeover, we just don't realise it yet, do we?

Now, the real buzz, the talk of the town, the light-speed jump everyone's making, is all about Generative AI. This is the clever clogs that doesn't just process information; it creates it. Think of it as the artistic sibling of the AI family, capable of whipping up everything from a blog post that sounds like you wrote it (but you didn't) to images that would make even a seasoned photographer scratch their head. It's like having a little personal Thundercat, ready to roar out new content on demand.

I see the value of Gen AI, I really do, but I'm not seeing how front line services in Policing, Health, Local Housing or our SME's are going to leverage this to the extent the scaremongers are predicting without compromising those services?  I suppose that's where I spend my days, trying to work out how problems can be solved without high risk or complex, expensive change (shameless plug).

So, when it comes to businesses jumping on the AI bandwagon, I see two distinct flavours, two paths if you will: "The Consumer" and "The Creator."

The Consumer: Ghostbusting Those Mundane Tasks

"The Consumer" businesses are the ones who look at AI tools and think, "Right, how can this make my life easier without me needing a PhD in robotics?" They're not building the AI; they're using it, often with minimal fuss. Think of them as the everyday folks who just want their appliances to work, not necessarily design them. They might be a bit low on the "data maturity" scale, perhaps still relying on a spreadsheet or two, but they’re savvy enough to spot a good shortcut.

For these brave souls, AI is a bit of a lifesaver. It’s all about boosting productivity, trimming the fat off costs, and putting a bigger smile on customers’ faces. Here’s where they’re wielding their AI proton packs:

• Automating those drudgery tasks: Imagine AI handling the mind-numbingly boring stuff – transcribing calls, organising your diary, even sorting through your emails. It’s like having a tiny, efficient intern who never complains.

• Supercharging customer chats: AI chatbots are becoming the first line of defence, answering those repetitive queries so your human team can focus on the trickier stuff. It's like having a customer service rep who can literally be everywhere at once.

• Content creation made easy: Need a blog post drafted? An email campaign whipped up? Generative AI can churn out content faster than you can say "By the power of Grayskull!"

But, and it’s a big "but," with great power comes great… well, you know the drill. For The Consumer, this ease of adoption means they’ve got to be super vigilant. We’re talking ethics, responsibility, and security. You wouldn’t just let a random ghost wander into your premises, would you?

• Ethical Slip-ups: AI can, surprisingly, be a bit biased. If the data it's trained on is wonky, the results will be wonky. So, you need to know where your AI’s "brain" came from.

• Responsible Handling: Sometimes, AI "hallucinates" – it just makes stuff up. So, anything it produces needs a good old-fashioned human review. Don't just blindly trust it, or you might end up with marketing copy that's more fiction than fact.

• Security Shenanigans: Plugging in external AI solutions can open up new doors for cyber villains. Data privacy is key here. You need to know who's handling your data and whether they're more like a trustworthy bank or a dodgy intergalactic scrap dealer. The EU's new AI Act is already laying down some serious ground rules, so pay attention!

The Creator: Forging the Lightsabers of Tomorrow

Now, "The Creator" businesses are the Jedi Masters of the AI world. These are the organisations that aren't just using AI; they're building it, shaping it, bending it to their will. They've got the data infrastructure, the brainy tech teams, and a strategic vision that sees AI as a fundamental part of their very existence. They’re not just watching the Force; they’re using it.

For The Creator, AI isn't just a tool; it's the very fabric of their innovation, allowing them to truly make a difference that would make even the most hardened bounty hunter impressed:

• Unearthing Hidden Treasures: These guys use AI to dig deep into mountains of data, finding patterns and predictions that would take humans centuries to figure out. It’s like having a super-powered detective on staff, always sniffing out the next big thing.

• Crafting Ground-breaking Stuff: Think of companies like OpenAI or Google – they’re not just users; they are the AI. They're churning out the cutting-edge models that power everyone else. Start-ups are popping up that are AI from the ground up, like Olto, which is using AI to whip up personalised sales demos. That's some serious wizardry right there.

• Streamlining Everything: From sorting out supply chains to predicting when a machine might conk out, Creators are using AI to make their operations slicker, more efficient, and often, safer.

• Gaining the Edge: By being truly AI-driven, these businesses gain a competitive advantage that’s almost unfair. They’re faster, smarter, and often, just plain better.

Your Guide Through the AI Galaxy

So, while "The Creator" is off building the next Death Star (hopefully for good, not evil), "The Consumer" is absolutely vital for bringing AI's benefits to the rest of us. If you're in that "Consumer" camp, feeling a bit like Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, wondering which way is up in this vast AI galaxy, don't fret.

Maven Cymru Ltd is here to be your Obi-Wan. We get it. We understand that not everyone has a supercomputer tucked away in their back office. We can guide you through this technological maze.

Here's how we can help you navigate the hyperspace of AI:

• Picking Your Battles: We’ll help you figure out where AI can genuinely make a difference for your business, starting with some quick wins that'll show immediate value.

• Finding Your Droids: We’ll help you choose the right external AI solutions, making sure they’re ethical, secure, and won't suddenly turn evil on you.

• Setting Up Defences: We'll help you put safeguards in place to ensure you're using AI responsibly, ethically, and securely. No unwanted visitors, thank you very much.

• Training Your Crew: We'll get your team up to speed on what AI can do (and what it can't), so they're not just staring at the screen like it's a mystical ancient artefact.

• Establishing the Jedi Code: We'll help you create internal rules and guidelines so your AI use is transparent and above board.

By teaming up with Maven Cymru Ltd, "The Consumer" can confidently embrace AI's power, transforming operations, making customers happier than a kid on Christmas morning, and getting ahead of the pack. All whilst ensuring you’re doing it properly. Don’t get lost in the AI asteroid field – let us guide you home. What's the first problem you're looking to zap with a bit of AI magic?