Imagine chatting with a friend who knows the answer to every question you have under the sun, can help you with the correct way to get some task done, can solve math problems, and can give you advice on how to approach a tricky situation, all rolled into one – well, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is the tech answer to this kind of a friend, whose knowledge is derived from all the training given to him through several ‘gurus’, leverages all the knowledge available online, and can also learn along the way to become even more knowledgeable. Sounds too good to be true.
Discover its workings, use cases, benefits, limitations, and its profound societal impact in this comprehensive blog.
Understanding Generative AI
By definition, Gen AI is a sort of artificial intelligence system that can generate a variety of content material, such as text, images, videos, audio, and synthetic data. The recent hype surrounding generative AI has been fueled by the ease of use of new user interfaces for quickly creating high-quality text, drawings, and movies.
How does Gen AI work?
A large language model (LLM), commonly known as an algorithm, is trained through vast amounts of data to perform specific tasks. It learns step by step, repeatedly, using diverse datasets. While generative AI systems have various industrial applications, let's focus on content creation as an example. DALL-E, developed by OpenAI, generates images from text and enlarges images. Descript converts text to audio, offering multiple voice options. Video creators can save time by quickly finding the right voice for their message. Another tool, D-ID, generates videos from images. These tools shorten content creation timelines and costs. With new tools emerging regularly, they could become the next generation of apps in app stores.
Benefits of Generative AI
1.Enhanced efficiency
Generative AI enables the automation of data analysis, customer support, and content production, freeing human workers for strategic and creative tasks. It uncovers intricate trends in massive data sets, handles round-the-clock customer service, and generates blog posts, articles, and social media content, empowering human writers to prioritize creativity.
2.Cost savings
Generative AI offers multiple cost-saving benefits for businesses. It can automate data analysis, minimizing the need for human analysts. It enables round-the-clock customer service, reducing reliance on human support staff. Additionally, it can create content, reducing the necessity for human authors.
3.Improved customer experience
Generative AI enhances customer experiences by generating personalized suggestions, and content, and delivering real-time responsive client service.
4.New product development
Generative AI transforms businesses by accelerating idea generation, prototyping, and marketing testing. Its potential to automate tasks, save costs, enhance customer experience, and drive product innovation can revolutionize operations, boosting efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.
In general, generative AI systems have the potential to revolutionize the way businesses operate. By automating activities, saving money, improving customer experience, and driving new product development, generative AI may help businesses become more efficient, productive, and competitive.
Challenges in Enabling Generative AI
Let's clarify that generative AI is distinct from artificial general intelligence (AGI), which mimics human cognitive abilities. AGI remains unsolved, but generative AI may contribute. However, concerns persist:
Jobs likely to be eliminated: Generative AI, like ChatGPT, poses a threat to various roles, including Conversational Designers and content creators. It's important to learn how to use generative AI to stay relevant in the evolving job market.
Impact on society: Misuse of generative AI can amplify false information, incite hatred, and create fraudulent activities. Fake videos using celebrity faces and realistic fake pages for phishing are potential consequences.
Need for oversight: While corporations invest heavily in generative AI, there's a need for oversight. One prominent scientist left their role to raise awareness about the technology's potential pitfalls. Efforts are underway to establish proper safeguards before proceeding.
Addressing these concerns is crucial to ensure the responsible and beneficial deployment of generative AI in our society.
Enabling Generative AI to Shape the World of Tomorrow
The emergence of generative AI has sparked a wave of excitement and endless possibilities. Beyond the realms of business, it holds great promise in multiple fields including healthcare, government, and education.
Collaboration between industry, academia, and government
Foster collaboration among tech giants, academia, governments, and media to establish ethical guidelines and leverage the societal benefits of generative AI.
Investment in research and development
Invest in R & D to explore diverse applications of LLMs, enhancing lives, combating fake information, predicting virus attacks, and addressing age-old challenges like poverty and economic disparity.
Education and training for future generations
Prioritize education and training to equip future generations with the skills needed to navigate and capitalize on the transformative potential of GenAI.
Future of Generative AI: Exploring the Boundless Potential
The transformative impact of generative AI on society is inevitable. Addressing the challenges and fears associated with it will shape the extent of positive change it brings. Collaboration among countries is crucial, establishing a uniform code of conduct moderated by a diverse and evolving team. Investment is needed to develop tools for oversight and identify code-breaking applications. While big tech companies may thrive, the creation of new jobs and necessary training will determine the economic impact. By leveraging the potential of GenAI, we can find solutions to the challenges it presents. The world will never be the same, and our actions now will shape the future of this groundbreaking technology. Let us strive for responsible implementation and maximize its benefits for the betterment of humanity as a whole. If GenAI can create a challenge, it can also be used for finding a solution!
About the Author
Sathish Kasthuri,
Group Practice Head – Trust and Safety,
Tech Mahindra Business Process Services
Sathish Kasthuri has over two decades of experience in leading business expansions across service lines, with revenues upwards of USD 90 Million. His hands-on work experience includes setting up a Center of Excellence (CoE) for varied digital competencies in the areas of Trust & Safety, Generative AI, Conversational AI, Metaverse moderation, and Revenue Operations. He has 10+ years of experience in driving digital transformation programs across multiple industry segments. With the world moving towards ‘anything as a service’ in the metaverse, ensuring user safety and building a platform that people can trust have become paramount. Bringing together an emerging technology and integrating it with current business realities to drive profitable growth is what Sathish enjoys the most.
