AI Can’t Replace the Noticing that Comes from Experience

If it feels like everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) these days, that’s because everyone is talking about AI these days. 😅

The question I’ve been asked repeatedly: Will I be replaced by AI? If you are a chef instead of a cook, the answer is ‘no’--with some caveats.

To begin, let’s take a look at how AI works. When an AI like ChatGPT by OpenAI interacts with users, it generates responses from available data. I understood the source for this data to be a copy of the internet, saved by OpenAI in September 2021. However, when I asked ChatGPT for confirmation, it said this:

As an AI language model, I do not browse or access the internet in the same way humans do, and I do not have a "copy" of the internet. Instead, I rely on my pre-existing knowledge base, which was last updated based on data and information available up to September 2021.

In the near future, the next generation of AI will collect data in real time, combing the live web to find its answers. The implications for experts are two-fold.

AI will be using your IP:

AI will be accessing any information available on the web, including your IP, in the form of publications on your website or other platforms. This may sound terrifying, but it happens without AI right now. If someone reads your LinkedIn post and decides to write something similar about the subject, they have, in essence, used your IP. However, in both cases copyright protections are same.

As a copyright owner, you have “exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display” your works. Anyone who engages in any of these activities without your permission may be liable for copyright infringement.

To prove copyright infringement, you must demonstrate that:

1. You are the owner of the copyright in the work.

2. The alleged infringer has actually copied your work (or a substantial portion of it).

3. The copying is not protected by any applicable defenses, such as fair use.

If you can prove these elements, you may be entitled to damages and other remedies under the law.

If you are concerned about the use of your IP by another source – whether human or AI – you need to take steps to protect it by making sure you have a clear chain of title regarding ownership (remember, ownership comes before registration, not with registration) and registration. It is not in your power to stop anyone from accessing IP that is on the internet, but it is in your power to put the pieces in place to put yourself in the best position to enforce your rights if necessary.

Be mindful when using AI:

If you use AI in your work, it will be accessing other people’s IP to generate its response. If it does so without attribution, you won’t know where the information is coming from. When I asked ChatGPT what to do if I am worried that its response infringes a third party’s copyright, it said this:

As an AI language model, I provide responses based on my pre-existing knowledge and language processing capabilities. However, I am not able to review or assess specific content or material for potential copyright infringement.

In other words, user beware. If ChatGPT plagiarizes from source materials and you don’t do your due diligence, you may be liable for copyright infringement. If you plan to use AI for your work, be careful to use a plagiarism check like Grammarly and track your process carefully to demonstrate your unique input when creating the content.

Your Secret Sauce is the Key to Your Success

Back to the distinction between a cook and a chef. A cook can follow a recipe and produce edible, and maybe even delicious, food. However, a chef has the skill, experience, creativity, and talent that makes people want to pay big bucks to enjoy their culinary expertise. This is the same with your expertise. An AI solution can easily replicate the run-of-the-mill aspects of your industry by scraping the internet for available content. As with any generalist, AI doesn’t necessarily understand the nuances of a particular area of expertise, so it won’t be able to differentiate between informed thought leadership and no nothing opinions without more input from the user. AI cannot synthesize your years of experience to understand how to apply the content to the client’s specific situation. As a “chef,” you know when to use the standard ingredients for a recipe and when the meal calls for something different.

Of course, I had one more question for ChatGPT: Can AI take the place of a management consultant? Its answer:

AI can certainly provide valuable insights and analysis that can be useful for management decision-making, but it is unlikely to completely replace the role of a management consultant.

Management consultants bring a range of skills and expertise to their work. They often work closely with clients to understand their unique challenges and provide customized solutions that meet their specific needs. Management consultants also typically have strong interpersonal and communication skills, which allow them to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

While AI can provide powerful data analysis and insights, it may not be able to replicate the nuanced and contextual understanding that a skilled management consultant can provide. Additionally, AI may have limitations in its ability to understand and respond to complex human factors, such as organizational culture, individual personalities, and political dynamics.

In other words, AI can’t replace the noticing that comes from experience.

The key to working with AI is to protect your original IP through documentation and registration and to do your diligence when using AI as a resource.