Leaning on AI Isn’t Always the Answer

Artificial Intelligence is one of the most disruptive and innovative technologies that has come down the line in a decade. It can do things in minutes that would take people hours or days. It will only get more sophisticated from here. Unfortunately for business owners, the use of AI can mean that sometimes you lose sight of just how valuable your human employees are. This month, we take a look at why human employees can be an important part of keeping your automated tools in check. 

Why AI is Super Fast

AI can process huge amounts of information in no time. Say, in a manufacturing process, AI-fueled systems can inspect products faster than human inspectors, quickly identifying defects and ensuring that only high-quality products proceed down the production line. 

So…Why Do We Still Need Humans?

First of all, despite that efficiency you claim to gain (or do gain) there are no current AI solutions that grasp emotions or moral decisions. Humans are essential for interpreting complex situations, making ethical decisions, and ensuring that outputs align with societal values, not just prioritize efficiency and profit at all costs. 

Secondly, while AI can analyze data to identify patterns, it cannot replicate human creativity. Humans bring originality and innovative thinking to the table and can critically think through problems in a way that logic-based AI simply cannot. 

At this point in the technology’s timeline, AI can handle routine tasks and data-heavy processes, but human oversight is necessary to ensure quality, security, and adherence to standards. For example, in software development, AI tools can assist with coding, but human coders are needed to oversee quality assurance and security aspects. 

How to Find the Right Mix

AI should be integrated where it can, but if you want to get the best results, you should:

• Let AI handle rote tasks - Let AI handle boring, repetitive work so humans can focus on tasks that require critical thinking, creativity, and ethical judgment.
• Lean on humanity - Ensure that your brand's voice and values are consistently reflected in all outputs. This involves human oversight to infuse empathy, cultural relevance, and authenticity into content and customer interactions. 
• Review both ways - Have experts review what AI produces to make sure it's up to standard and improve it over time; and, have AI check human work as they are great at finding issues in code, grammar, and information.

By combining AI's strengths with human oversight, we can achieve outcomes that are not only fast and efficient but also high-quality. To learn how to effectively use technology, including AI, in your business’ processes, give us a call today at 708-781-7110.