In case you missed it, generative AI is all the rage these days. The debut of the first “lifelike” large language models in late 2022 set off an “AI arms race” that is already transforming the American economy.
Despite growing concerns that near-term progress isn’t living up to the hype, generative AI experts like Nygina Mills believe it’s a matter of if, not when, the technology begins to make a meaningful impact on how organizations operate. Many believe that the impact of generative AI will ultimately exceed that of the telephone, the personal computer, and the Internet — maybe all three combined.
That’s why it’s vital to prepare your organization for what’s coming. If you wait until the utility of generative AI is obvious, it’ll most likely be too late for your company to maintain its competitive edge. So here’s what you should do in the short term to plan and execute your first deployments.
Understand the Immediate Use Cases for Gen AI Deployment
These days, it can be difficult to remember that we live in the present, not the future. When it comes to deploying generative AI for use in your business, it’s best to focus on immediate use cases rather than more speculative future opportunities. After all, those opportunities might not pan out, and the effort and resources expended on them could be for naught.
Focusing on immediate use cases does not mean ignoring the imperative to plan for future use cases. As we’ll see, that’s every bit as important.
Adopt a Top-Down AI Posture
Effective, value-maximizing generative AI utilization demands buy-in at every level of the organization, especially the very top. You and other executives should lead by example on this, championing AI as a solution to specific problems faced by the enterprise. For maximum effect, go beyond words and adopt AI in your day-to-day activities, such as by using generative AI to assist in preparing memoranda or developing presentations.
Get Buy-in From Middle Management
An effective AI strategy requires leadership from the lower and middle ranks of management as well. In a larger organization, these leaders have significant influence over lower-ranking employees and are often their primary points of contact with decision-makers. If they are skeptical of your generative AI strategy or aren’t sure how to implement it, you may have difficulty reaching your goals.
Test First, But Don’t Dally
When it comes to generative AI deployment, every day counts. The competitive landscape is changing even faster than the state of the art, necessitating focused action.
With that in mind, utilize time-efficient Gen AI testing strategies that quickly identify fruitful use cases (and tactics to maximize their value) while ruling out those that don’t meet your standards. Once you’ve identified an opportunity, double-click on it — don’t waste any more time with pilot programs or other half measures.
Understand the Limits of the Technology (At Present)
One can be enthusiastic about the transformative possibilities of generative AI while acknowledging its current limitations. We know that these limitations will change (and, most likely, fade) over time, but for now, it’s important to keep them top of mind.
It’s also important to understand how the limitations of a particular version of generative AI conflict with its intended use case. If you determine that a model or application isn’t ready for prime time, don’t force the issue.
Keep Riding the Generative AI Wave
Like any novel technology, generative AI has already had its share of ups and downs. This will continue for the foreseeable future, with the industry alternating between periods of euphoria (like in 2023) and despair (as in the “AI winter” of the late 2010s, and perhaps again in the near term).
However, experts like Nygina Mills believe that the direction of travel is clear. The genie is not going back in the bottle, and organizations that fail to prepare for a future in which generative AI is pervasive are likely to be left behind.
In fact, it’s not too early to begin preparing for the next possible source of disruption: artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which some believe is the logical (and more powerful) successor to gen AI. Whatever your personal feelings on the matter, one thing is clear: There’s no time to waste.
