In my previous story, I discussed the role of AI in education. This time, our focus shifts to AI in the workplace, a development I find as significant as Google’s ascent to become the top search engine.
I predict that major players in the business world, such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, will vigorously compete in the AI market to attract corporate users. I’ve had the chance to explore Google AI Bard, and I must say, it’s on a par with ChatGPT.
Just like the classic rivalry between Ford and Holden, both products are excellent, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Through our partnership with Microsoft, we’ve had several demonstrations of what’s on the horizon, and I can confidently say it will revolutionise our work processes.
The integration of AI into office suites is nothing short of astonishing. However, I harbour concerns about storing all company documents where AI can access them, fearing potential misuse by hackers to extract sensitive company information. Microsoft and Google assure us that the data will remain localised within the business tenant.
Still, for now, I lean towards caution and refrain from placing confidential documents on these platforms until comprehensive testing and concerns have been adequately addressed. Many of us have imagined the convenience of a personal assistant to ease our daily work burdens, and now, artificial intelligence steps in to bridge that gap.
It’s ever-ready to assist; immune to fatigue and indifferent to breaks, it stands by to streamline your daily responsibilities. While it’s not yet capable of fetching your coffee or snacks — something future developments might address — it’s an indispensable part of my morning ritual. I grab my coffee, fire up my computer, boot up ChatGPT and dive into my tasks.
Beyond routine work, I’m also harnessing AI to grasp new programming languages. It’s akin to having a personal tutor adept at demystifying complex concepts, which I find quite impressive. The excitement about AI is palpable among many I’ve spoken to. With AI, we can compile documents, pictures, notes and more into folders it can access, allowing it to sift through, organise and even generate presentations from the data provided.
However, as we navigate this new digital aid, we must heed the cautionary principle: “What goes online stays online.” Therefore, it’s crucial to be judicious about the information we permit AI to access. While AI will never replace a human in terms of handling challenging tasks, it certainly frees up valuable time for more critical work.
In IT, we use it to assist with help-desk inquiries, ask questions about fixes, and have it source answers from various websites and forums, eliminating the need to spend hours scouring the internet. However, it can’t replace a human in those amusing IT calls like “My computer isn’t working”, only to discover they forgot to turn it on (An inside joke for all the MMG staff — you know who you are!).
I’m one of those individuals who struggle with spelling and grammar, making sending important emails to the editorial team a daunting task at times. Using AI to refine my emails has been a game-changer. I’m currently employing AI to learn website coding, and it’s like having an instructor right by my side.
If I encounter any difficulties or uncertainties, I can quickly ask AI a question or input code to help identify and rectify my mistakes. AI is always available to assist; it won’t complain, doesn’t require payment (although there are paid versions) and won’t talk back.
It remains a reliable resource to aid you to the best of its abilities. We’re just scratching the surface of AI’s potential, and it will be fascinating to witness how it evolves.
As always, I hope you found this story helpful, and if you have any questions or suggestions, email askatech@mmg.com.au