The future is AI, the future is now

The buzz around AI is deafening. Many, be it individuals or companies, perceive AI as either a fleeting trend or a looming threat. They might dismiss it out of fear, ignorance, or a blinkered viewpoint, despite recognising its potential.

Like all emerging technologies, the adoption of AI can be categorised into five user types:

1. Innovators (2.5%)
2. Early Adopters (13.5%)
3. Early Majority (34%)
4. Late Majority (34%)
5. Laggards (16%)

Currently, I believe we're in the "Early Majority" phase. We've seen these patterns with other transformative technologies, with the internet being a relatable example for many of us. Consider the skeptics in the 90s who questioned the need for email when they had fax machines, or a live stream of a sporting event only to be rebuffed by users who said they had radios or televisions.

In a few years, people will likely reflect on their stance towards AI, either commending their foresight or lamenting missed opportunities.

As an advocate for this technology, I am obviously bias in my view of what it can do and how it can help us all improve the way we work. For most companies these will be opt in or out additions to your every day applications. Google Workspace has Duet, Microsoft Office has Copilot and there will be, and probably are already, many applications you are familiar with that incorporate AI.

As a workplace technology company, LeftBrain has the unique opportunity to harness our own technology to enhance various aspects of our business. Top of the list is improving customer support and communication. By integrating voice-to-text and text-to-voice technologies, we can employ APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to bridge our phone system, calendar booking system, and internal knowledge base. This would enable clients to call in and instantly receive answers to their inquiries. Alternatively, they could choose to book an available slot with an engineer. Furthermore, that engineer would be provided with a transcript of the client's call in advance, ensuring prompt and efficient resolutions.

This is just one small example of how AI could enhance the lives of our team and our clients. Enabling people to connect with our helpdesk in any language, and be responded to in a kind, incredibly helpful, non-robotic-sounding virtual LeftBrain guide.  

You may have noticed that our website and branding has undergone a change. While this update greatly benefits both our existing and prospective clients by offering deeper insights into our processes and services, I'd like to draw your attention specifically to the illustrations. We've engaged professionals to develop a distinct visual strategy, defining how it should appear and how certain shapes convey specific meanings.

However when creating content like this blog post, for instance, how do you decide on the imagery? Do you, as someone who might not be a graphic designer, commission a specific image, or do you search online for a stock image that sort of fits? Admittedly I would often settle for an image that was simply "good enough."

But times have changed. With AI tools like Midjourney or ChatGPT's Dall-E, you can now generate any image you envision. While these tools may not yet match the precision of a professional design agency, they offer a freedom to craft visuals that you might previously have deemed out of reach.

Don’t get me wrong, despite advocating for the adoption of AI technologies, there will always be a place for human support, creativity and strategic thinking here at LeftBrain. We're continuously exploring automation and no-code/low-code tools to eliminate repetitive tasks, allowing us to concentrate on what really matters.

With the introduction of AI, even more opportunities become possible. Our team are eager to offer ideas and even tailor-made solutions for our clients, whether that be for automation or an integration with an AI tool.

What will you use AI for? Drop me a line and I'd be more than happy to help.