Be an AI realist

You’ve heard the binary, change-the-world debate over generative AI: It’ll either destroy us — or transform us into a happier, more hyper-creative and productive species, Jim VandeHei writes.

• Why it matters: After spending a month talking confidentially to a dozen or so experts behind the technology, I’m convinced we should choose a third way. Be a deeply curious — and clear-eyed critical — AI realist.

Here’s the blunt reality:

1. There’s a simple lawof business and technology: If it can be built, it will be built. The idea that countries, companies or individuals will simply pause their work seems silly. They won’t.
2. There’s a simple ruleof modern governance: Technology always outruns regulation. The idea of a divided government locking arms to smartly regulate this AI seems silly. No chance.

So be a realist: This technology is coming at a velocity almost no one outside AI companies fully realizes. We’re talking months — not years — before impact.

• And it will rock your world.At first, gradually. Then, suddenly.

 First to get hit: Basically any job that involves writing or coding; creativity; information synthesis; or sifting through large sets of data or info (lawyers, researchers, etc.).

• Soon, the AI machines will do a lot of this better than 99% of humans — because they ate the totality of human information on the internet to predict your next thought, word or move.

So take the time to understand the technology through a realist’s lens:

1. Don’t be blindsided. Rarely do you get a quick heads-up your world will soon be upended. There’s terrific coverage of this on Axios, onpodcasts and in specialty newsletters like Casey Newton’s Platformer.
2. Try it.Rarely do tech-impaired dopes like me get to play with a new technology before it’s fully formed. Hop on here … or here … or here … and give it a try.
3. Think bigger. Don’t get tricked into believing that today’s limitations and glitches will last long. When Google and Microsoft each throw tens — and ultimately hundreds — of billions of dollars at something, it gets a lot better, fast. Focus on what it can be, not what it is.
4. Don’t buy the utopian view. Read and listen to optimists like Reid Hoffmanand Sam Altman. But realize they’re very purposely trying to combat the dystopian critiques and show people sunnier possibilities. They understand the dangers — but want to focus your mind on healthy and happy uses.
5. Don’t buy the dystopian view, either. These machines will undoubtedly spread more misinformation, more mindless distraction, and more job-killing. Sorry, this is what mass-distribution tech unleashes. But doom-thinking blinds us to seeing more clearly how to use AI for good.
6. Appreciate America’s edge over China. We have a big lead in what many consider the most important advancement since the internet — a chip shortage has put China as many as two years behind us. Would you rather be at the mercy of autocrats hellbent on displacing America as the dominant superpower?
7. Be curious and critical.This more powerful AI will spawn thousands of new companies and products — and will have some not-zero possibility of doing catastrophic harm.

• Ponder the debate, try the tools, make up your mind.

The bottom line: We’re on the doorstep of a new age — don’t be a bystander.

 
-Muck Rack joins the AI rush

Muck Rack, the public relations tech company, is joining the artificial intelligence race.

Driving the news: Its new tool, PressPal — which was exclusively shared with Axios ahead of launch — uses AI to help draft a press release when prompted, scan for keywords and then recommend specific media targets based on the content.

• PressPal’s pitch recommendations are pulled from Muck Rack’s database, but the platform will not disclose how many active journalists are in the database.

What they’re saying: Muck Rack encourages users to review AI-generated content for accuracy and relevance before sending pitches to a targeted list of journalists.

• “We believe generative AI is a powerful tool that should be part of any PR professional’s toolkit, but it’s only one element of an effective communications plan,” said Gregory Galant, co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack. “We encourage our users to continue to be responsible when using AI in their releases and be thoughtful when pitching journalists.”

The big picture: Communication professionals are eager for more sophisticated services — and 70% of chief communication officers are willing to invest in new tools, Edelman found.

• PR platforms like PRophet, Press Hook and Pressfriendly have embraced AI offerings, as have traditional PR firms.

 
Πηγή: axios.com