The Great Automation, Again

A new podcast episode dropped this week on Burn the Box. It's a quick one (10 minutes), and it's all about how the current macroeconomic environment combined with the UX/UI enhancements of artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence will drive 2023 to be the year of The Great Automation, Again.

Listen to the Burn the Box podcast episode here.

Automation has been around for longer than you might think. We may have only recently begun to witness its widespread adoption, but the use of automated systems has been around for hundreds of years. While it was initially limited to simple mechanical processes and routines, automation is now set to be revolutionized by introducing artificial intelligence (AI).

Introducing AI into automation has enabled us to reach new heights concerning speed and efficiency. By introducing complex algorithms that can learn from data to make decisions, AI enables machines to take on tasks that humans could previously only do. The potential applications are enormous, including chatbots that can provide customer service, intelligent robots that can do factory work, and self-driving cars that can navigate without human input. While some of these technologies are more of an advanced stage than others, their promise is exciting.

At this stage, the possibilities of what we can do with automation and AI appear endless—but we must be sure not to get carried away! Many ethical issues related to these technologies need careful consideration before they become commonplace in our world—especially as they affect more aspects of our lives. They are also imperfect and often don't provide transparency on confidence or source of information, thus making it hard to trust information from these systems.

A contrarian view to the current hysteria is from Cathy O'Neil, author of books like Weapons of Math Destruction, in her latest article - ChatGPT Neither Wise Nor Threatening. There is another view that with all these "machines" taking the place of humans, could a more human experience be a differentiator. For instance, like this Dutch supermarket, Jumbo. The folks at Jumbo, a supermarket chain with over 700 stores, introduced a Kletskassa, which translates to “chat checkout,” a special lane for customers who are not in a rush and could use a little talk with the cashier.

In conclusion, while automation may not be a new concept by any means, its potential is ever-increasing due to advances in AI technology—making it an exciting time!