Artificial Intelligence has gotten off to a fast, wild-and-wooly start, much like many flashy new fads do. The only thing is, AI is not a fad. We’re just treating it that way so far – in a giddy, mostly unthoughtful way.
I’m not referring to major corporations whose very existence depends on it. I’m talking anout us as individuals, playing around with it in silly and inconsequential ways. If AI will change not just the world in general but the life of every single person in it, why are we rushing into it without more consideration than we are? This is no game; it’s the new world order.
With that, the single most important question we can ask ourselves – after, of course, what are our ethical responsibilities – is: What skills will we need in order to use AI effectively? And what does “effectively” mean? Creatively, productively, resourcefully, and advantageously.
Knowing that no one has all the answers, I consulted with a few friends and colleagues – six, in fact – to see if there might be some sort of consensus. There was, and here, for the time being, is “our” answer. (For the fun of it, I also asked AI. Not surprisingly, AI agreed with us for the most part, but missed a couple slam dunks. We’ll get to that later.)
Of note, we’re concerned here with the skills that AI users will need, not those that AI builders (techies) will need. That’s another kitty of fish altogether.
1. Digital Literacy
This is foundational: basic computer skills, navigating the internet, comfort using new software for AI as it develops.
2. Data Literacy
Understanding how data is used by AI systems and how we use (and misuse) data. This includes data collection techniques, data privacy, and the potential for data bias.
3. Linguistic Literacy
This means how language works and how its components – vocabulary, grammar, syntax , semantics, and phonetics – work together. The better you are at this, the better AI will be.
4. Critical Thinking.
The ability to assess the information and knowledge presented by AI. Remember, AI’s outputs are based on patterns of data, and how that data is gathered by AI and presented to you can vary wildly. Which brings up …
5. Common Sense
While you’re being awed by how much data AI can get its hands on in a nanosecond and present to you the way you want, keep in mind that – according to industry experts – as much as 70% of its output could be wrong, suspicious, or irrelevant.
6. Voice-Text Interaction.
Effective use of voice assistants It was science fiction 50 years ago. Today? Ask Alexa how important it is.
7. Personalization
AI doesn’t have to be an off-the-rack suit; it can just the same be a custom-made suit of clothes. Learn the settings.
8. AI-Enhanced Creativity
Creativity and its offspring, innovation, are the result of a simulation of creative dissatisfaction with the status quo. We are all born with a sense of creativeness – that’s how babies explore their new world – but we lose it over time by seeking comfort in the status quo. Be in touch with your creativeness and ask AI for help.
9. Ethics
AI has the capacity to do more good or more harm than any other invention in history. Go back and take that Ethics course you should have taken in school.
10. Collaboration
Like most other endeavors, teams go further than individuals. Sharpen your team building skills.
11. The AI Here-Now
Stay up to date on AI’s comings and goings. The nature, pace, and scope of change in AI will certainly make our heads spin, but we have no choice. AI is rapidly transforming from a strategic advantage to an operational advantage.
This list will surely change in both detail and scope. In fact it probably has during the time you took to read this column. That ought to tell you how on your game yo need to be to use AI effectively.
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