From curiosity to application

Amy Hanson is Director of Talent Management at Euromonitor and wrote this guest blog after attending AI Essentials in February 2024.

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to explore the world AI through a course hosted by General Purpose AI Training (no affiliation). The experience was incredibly fun and a little overwhelming, reinforcing the vast potential and intricacies of AI technologies. Now that my initial excitement has settled into more actionable insights, here are my musings:

Created by DALLE during class

Be curious:

My interest in AI began with a simple curiosity. I should know by now that I can rarely resist this, and AI is something that I believe we should all be curious about. Exploring how AI can streamline workflows and introduce a new level of interest, as well as elements of fun, into our daily lives is fascinating. AI is going to be transformative and each of us need to work out how we approach this. We need to be curious and ask, "What if?" and more practically “How?”

Be intentional:

The world of AI is vast and filled with distractions, as I learned first-hand through a delightful detour into the realm of "claymation." (See article images). While entertaining, it is this type of thing that highlights the need for intentional exploration. To truly harness the power of AI, it's crucial to start with a specific aim in mind. For instance, content curation within my team. We’ve not only saved time but also increased the breadth of information we are able to surface by using some logical prompts and critiquing techniques. The benefits of targeted AI application are within easy reach, but focus and intention are critical.

Try it:

AI isn’t just for techies; it's for everyone. Last year, I used AI to craft unique 2-minute bedtime stories for my toddler, complete with characters named by him. This highlights the accessibility and adaptability of AI, proving that its applications are only limited by our imagination. Now I understand more, whether it's for work efficiency or enhancing personal life, I can see how AI offers a multitude of opportunities for those willing to explore.

The human touch:

It's a common refrain but worth repeating: AI does not diminish the need for human intuition and ethics. While AI can process and analyse data at an unprecedented scale, it cannot grasp the nuances of human emotions or the complexities of ethical decision-making.

Start somewhere:

The course has cemented a lot of my thinking and added a depth that I didn’t know I would be capable of. The key is to start somewhere, anywhere, with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to experiment. Whether it's finding ways to automate mundane tasks or using AI to unlock creative storytelling (and win massive Mum points), the possibilities are endless.

Bizarrely, this is written without AI, although I did use it to critique and suggest improvements. I took some and left some others 🚀

Generated by DALL.E on my commute by a single prompt based on what I was wearing today. Wish I actually looked this young and awake!