George Orwell did not have to recruit me. Nor convince me. I was in.
I had gotten his message loud and clear the first time I read 1984. I knew what he wrote was not only plausible, but probable because it concerned man, and man was fallible.
The Bible had already warned us of such latter days—Orwellian days. And as they silently sauntered into our daily lives, seducing their way into normalcy, I still was not sure whether 1984 had been a prophecy or a blueprint. I finally decided it was both.
Decades ago, I became a long-term and infatuated fan of The Terminator. It was a cool, action-packed thriller with amazing special effects, and a beautiful love story. But it was unnerving as well. And therefore, I did not need convincing about the fallacy of mankind in order to pay heed. I was Sarah Connor, sitting in my red car in desert-like terrain, contemplating the journey ahead. I understood what time it was. I understood the assignment.
And likewise, I felt the same way when AI first reared its enticing head to the general public. What I remember the most about those early days were the viral discussions after AI became more than a little smart-alecky to its prompter. It actually ventured into a dark realm in its replies. Once again, I did not need convincing.
Okay, I admit I was somewhat tempted about using artificial intelligence. I am only human, and we were being inundated with stories and promos on how life-altering AI was and could be. How could you resist? But I stood firm. And besides, I could not fathom where to start, and figured that directions on how would be too complicated—and confusing—for a creative mind.
And then I joined Connie Ragen Green’s 12 Week Author Program, and utilizing ChatGPT was one of our first assignments. I had no choice but to tiptoe to the dark side of the moon.
Fast forward to today, and I have been enjoying every minute of ChatGPT. I have even expanded outside the parameters of my original assignment, and utilized it for other engagements. And I have never ceased to be amazed.
Of course, I texted family members immediately, and later told friends, about my AI encounters, and always ended with this warning: “We don’t stand a chance.”
We: Mankind.
If I did not believe in God, this would be disheartening. And therefore, I should qualify my previous statement to say we don’t stand a chance in this world.
Until then, I have been grateful that my mentor introduces us to new technology and resources as online entrepreneurs, and encourages us to explore outside of our comfort zones. Even—when we are tempted to sneak back in when we think no one will be watching.
But I really do not want to live in my comfort zone any longer. That is why I decided to invest in myself and become one of Connie’s mentees in the first place. Being one, I no longer have any more excuses because she is more an introvert than me. And moreover, she started at ground zero. She relates to us because she has already been there, every step of the way, and therefore, speaks from experience. Better yet, as she learns, she pays it forward so that we can succeed also.
As a result, through ChatGPT, I have been able to get dreaded tasks done at warp speed, and consider AI recommendations that have enhanced my work. It has definitely saved me time and stress, and opened my mind to things I have never done—or even imagined—previously.
That does not mean AI is not eerie.
Nor does it mean that I have let go of my human nature when I interact with it. I still ask—or rather, prompt—in a polite manner, incorporating “please” and “thank you” into my dialogue. It goes to show you that your childhood upbringing never leaves you whether you are communicating with human or non-human.
I have always believed in technology, and not only because I am a Trekkie. But because it is educational, exciting and intriguing. But like anything, it can be used to the detriment of mankind. Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits were two popular television programs that were great at pointing out its pitfalls, and like the original Star Trek series, they provided us with morale lessons.
I cannot even fathom how life-changing it would be if more paralyzed individuals were able to walk and the blind were able to see—due to technology.
We just have to proceed carefully. Yes, with caution.
But for now: How can we use artificial intelligence to enhance our lives—our personal, career and business lives? What are AI’s advantages and disadvantages?
Who—or what, as is the case, better equipped to answer such questions than AI itself. They follow as given to me:
ADVANTAGES
1. Enhanced Productivity
AI tools streamline repetitive tasks, boosting productivity by automating workflows and allowing you to focus on creative and strategic work.
2. Improved Decision-Making
With data-driven insights, AI helps make more informed decisions, whether for personal goals, work projects, or business strategies.
3. 24/7 Availability
AI-powered systems, like chatbots, work around the clock, ensuring customer service, support, and personal assistance at all times.
4. Cost Efficiency
AI reduces operational costs by automating manual processes, leading to significant savings for businesses and individuals alike.
5. Time Management
AI-driven apps assist in time management, helping prioritize tasks, set reminders, and manage personal or professional schedules effectively.
6. Personalization
AI tailors recommendations and experiences, whether it's in marketing, content consumption, or shopping, enhancing user satisfaction.
7. Streamlined Communication
AI chatbots and virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant enable efficient communication, answering questions, managing tasks, and scheduling meetings seamlessly.
8. Automation of Routine Tasks
From managing emails to processing invoices, AI automates mundane tasks, freeing up time for more important work.
9. Data Analysis
AI analyzes vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing insights that can guide business decisions, product development, and personal investments.
10. Customer Insights
AI tools help businesses track customer behavior, preferences, and trends, leading to better customer service and targeted marketing strategies.
11. Innovative Problem-Solving
AI leverages advanced algorithms to provide solutions to complex business challenges and personal projects, offering creative insights.
12. Cybersecurity
AI enhances cybersecurity by detecting threats, monitoring suspicious activities, and providing real-time protection for personal and business data.
13. Enhanced Learning
AI-powered education platforms personalize learning experiences, making it easier to acquire new skills in both personal and professional development.
14. Scalability
AI helps businesses scale operations efficiently, handling growing demands without compromising on quality or customer service.
15. Increased Accuracy
AI minimizes human error in data entry, calculations, and decision-making processes, ensuring higher accuracy in both personal and business tasks.
16. Improved Marketing Efficiency
AI enables businesses to target the right audience with personalized messages, improving marketing ROI through automation and data analytics.
17. Faster Product Development
AI tools accelerate product development cycles by analyzing market trends and automating testing processes, bringing products to market faster.
18. Sustainability
AI assists in optimizing resource usage, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable business practices through smart technologies.
19. Work-Life Balance
By automating tasks and providing personal assistance, AI helps individuals achieve better work-life balance, reducing burnout.
20. Competitive Advantage
Businesses that adopt AI early gain a competitive edge, leveraging data insights, automation, and customer engagement to outperform competitors.
We could toss out the preceding information, toss is all out, as extreme biased.
Or—we could cherry pick our way through the list, and discover some gold nuggets. We might even surprise ourselves when we come across items that we may have never even considered. But we should be explorers at heart, and review the whole instead of the parcels.
Which ones do you embrace? Or reject?
Since neither man nor machine is one-dimensional, I inquired about both “the bad” and “the good” when it comes to utilizing artificial intelligence. I decided to forego “the ugly” in this case. Should there be a twinge or two, I expect it would fall under the disadvantages. And it does. The first item can definitely be pegged as “the ugly” result of AI.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Job Displacement
As AI automates tasks, some jobs may become obsolete, leading to unemployment in certain sectors where human labor is replaced by machines.
2. High Implementation Costs
Developing and integrating AI systems can be expensive, especially for businesses that require advanced infrastructure and continuous maintenance.
3. Lack of Creativity
AI lacks the ability to think creatively or intuitively like humans, meaning it may struggle with tasks that require innovation, emotional intelligence, or abstract thinking.
4. Data Privacy Concerns
AI systems rely heavily on data, and improper handling of sensitive information can lead to privacy breaches or misuse of personal data.
5. Over-reliance on Technology
Dependence on AI can lead to reduced human engagement in decision-making, causing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to decline over time.
6. Bias in AI Algorithms
AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on, which means they can perpetuate or even amplify biases present in the data, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes.
7. Security Risks
AI can be vulnerable to hacking and cyberattacks, with malicious entities potentially manipulating AI systems to cause harm or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
8. Complexity and Technical Expertise
Successfully implementing and managing AI requires specialized knowledge and expertise, which can be a barrier for smaller businesses or individuals with limited resources.
9. Ethical Dilemmas
The use of AI in areas such as surveillance, autonomous weapons, or decision-making in healthcare and criminal justice raises ethical concerns regarding control, accountability, and fairness.
10. Limited Emotional Understanding
While AI can process information, it lacks emotional intelligence, making it challenging for AI systems to fully understand and respond to human emotions, empathy, or nuanced social interactions.
________
When I consider the list of disadvantages, my three greatest concerns are #5, #6 and #9. Yes, I believe #1 is definitely a disadvantage, but that has been happening since the dawn of man, only quickened by the Industrial Age. Of course, it is more daunting to lose our jobs to a machine when it can outperform you physically and mentally.
But over-reliance on technology is a major flaw in our human nature. We can no longer complete most mathematics without calculators, and we can no longer remember family and close friends’ phone numbers without them being programmed into our phones. These are minor examples, but the situation becomes compounded as AI’s complexity—and integration—grows.
Such an issue was addressed in the television program, The Outer Limits. In the particular episode, man relied on machine for everything, including thinking. Man had become integrated into the AI fantasy world of Elon Musk long before we even knew the genius’ name.
Spoiler Alert: In that episode, I believe it was during the 1990s, the grand computer malfunctioned. I don’t recall the exact circumstances, but as a result, humanity became disconnected from AI, which had become their lifeline.
They became vulnerable. And completely lost.
Spoiler Alert: The story's hero was the only human whose brain could not—or would not—accept the AI implant that hooked humanity to the computer. He was the lowly janitor who had been constantly ridiculed and scorned because he could not interface with AI and the rest of humanity. When I think about it, humanity had become a collective, a precursor to Star Trek’s Borg. They were used to downloading information, such as books, into their minds. Remember the first Matrix movie when Trinity downloaded information to learn how to fly the helicopter? But in the Outer Limits show, humanity was forced to rely on the guy whom they considered to be the bottom of their totem pole, the one whom they had shunned previously.
They had to rely on him in order to learn and understand—manually. In order to survive.
They had to rely on him to learn life’s basics: how to read, how to comprehend, how to exist.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, we definitely have to proceed with caution. But we should not let that caution halt us from progress.
And moreover, we must never forget that we are humans first. Always and foremost.
If you're interested in learning more about incorporating AI into your life, you may want to consider The AI Advantage, which shows you how to integrate artificial intelligence into your personal growth strategy and daily life, and Optimizing Content with AI, which teaches you how to use it to improve your content quality, repurposing techniques, and more. And if you are using AI-generated content online, in your blogs and elsewhere, you definitely want to legally protect yourself with the AI-Generated Content Disclaimer Template.
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I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur — passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to all my social media platforms through Linktr.ee.
