The hottest topic of the moment, artificial intelligence (AI), hasn’t only garnered such notoriety due to its newness but also brings fresh capabilities to the table. AI was already being explored starting in 1964-1966, marking the period when ELIZA, a computer app designed to interact with humans, was developed. Since then, IBM has continuously explored and introduced AI tools and systems, such as Deep Blue or Watson.
Fast forward, and some of the most daring and dreadful scenarios alike have been turning into reality bit by bit. Tech specialists deliberately stretch the boundaries of introducing intelligent programs. Yet, technology progresses way faster than humans evolve, which is why many may be shocked to hear that in Europe only, over 1 in 3 businesses are using AI and half of the firms in question are predicted to have jumped on the bandwagon by the end of the decade. What’s more interesting is how the rest of the reticent or unprepared businesses feel about the new emerging technology.
Why are they fearing, disregarding, avoiding, postponing, or holding back? To date, enterprises have assumed that taking advantage of avant-garde technology would generally help them advance. For instance, this is why you see increasing numbers of enterprises introducing crypto payments for clients who have a habit of checking the Bitcoin or Ethereum price USD, even if such offerings aren’t mandatory. Why are they wary of AI and why do they feel like it could spell trouble for them?
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The law system remains a maze of uncertainty
Looking at how quickly AI has gained traction and already transformed industries, generative AI tools in the law courts become a matter of “when” instead of “if”. We’ve seen AI grow as fast as lighting. With it, the law systems around the world have obligatorily suffered changes to mitigate risks, solve inevitable problems, maintain users’ security, and keep justice unharmed.
Law firms are more and more familiar with algorithms that craft contracts or litigation-oriented skeleton arguments. Furthermore, artificial intelligence also helps expedite e-discovery exercises and due diligence, among other areas. AI has already been introduced in courts at various levels of judicial processes, such as the pre-trial stage. There, the emerging technology is expected to offer some level of mentorship to participants in their claim submissions, as legal experts do. Similarly, modern AI-based tools in the law system can perform other, often mundane tasks, like sending judges assignments.
As long as the maze in the law system on the back of this technology trend that’s yet to be wholly grasped is not solved, many precautious businesses are understandably going to resist the adoption wave in the wait for clearance around small-to-large legal matters.
Training the public is no easy feat, not even among Zoomers
Many people assume that AI could benefit a population or progressing workforce if people are taught the necessary skills to fill the gaps in the system and meet the rising demand. Such a theory is generally acceptable in any area or domain you may look at, so what’s making many individuals hold back or negate this concept?
The truth is that it’s easier to say that education is of utmost importance than to actually take steps toward realizing such a colossal goal. Machine learning (ML) researchers, programmers, analysts, robotics engineers, data engineers, and more careers are flexible enough but necessitate a profound skilling or upskilling, often involving more effort than it may look on the surface. The US educational system, for instance, has a hard time meeting the demands that the advancement of technology triggered today, contributing significantly to the economic divide invading the nation. Educating the new generations isn’t as tricky as skilling the old ones, but it’s still a complex matter yet to have been faced to this extent.
In the UK, on the other hand, emerging generative AI tools are changing the educational system the way we know today and bring difficulties and challenges for teachers and students alike. Research from the worldwide think tank Capgemini Research Institute shows that students born between 2006 and 2008 are insecure about their digital skills and how prepared they are to meet the rising demand compared to teachers, especially when it comes to data literacy and digital communication.
The audience is seen as sensitive enough to spell trouble for companies
Not long ago, companies adopting the latest technologies to facilitate workers’ operations and tasks were hailed and regarded as positive examples. However, businesses today face more challenging times, wondering how they can explore the new AI adoption waves without upsetting, incommoding or pushing prospective and existing customers away. The fewer concerns a company has regarding AI and any emerging trend, the more susceptible they are to remain in the dark and irrelevant to the ever-changing audience. Plus, a lack of involvement in such matters can only leave a poor impression on the audience since customers today want companies who step in, act as the voice for those who aren’t heard, align with people’s objectives and aspirations, care about the same exact causes, and show an overall level of involvement that’s directly proportional with their prestige and image.
Levi Strauss serves as a good example for insights. When the giant company expressed they’d give a spin to AI to create visual content of more body-inclusive models, the bigwig faced criticism, being called out as the opposite of support of inclusivity. Businesses, evidently, take notes and learn from their competitors’ lesson-filled experiences.
Everyone needs fresh skills to be prepared for an AI-driven future
An AI-based business landscape is anything but evitable, and the fact that most of the public needs to learn a thing or two of newness is non-negotiable. The growing prevalence of AI can ultimately lead to a disruption in the workforce where only the future-ready individuals able to respond to emerging needs will thrive.
Regardless of how one may feel about AI, every employee and business owner will, at some point, face AI, so the more willing they are to harness its power, the better prospects they stand.
