There is no point in being reluctant: anyone who does not understand the benefits that artificial intelligence can bring to our daily lives, whether professional or personal, will deal with the loss of being swallowed up by those who are one (or several) steps ahead. And Sandy Carter, an expert on the subject, made this even clearer and clearer in her presentation at SXSW 2024, raising 7 future trends in what it calls “a post-AI world of work”.
Operation leader at Unstoppable, Carter is a former VP at Amazon and spent 13 years at IBM, always linked to innovation processes and effective use of different technologies. And in her list, even trying to minimize the apocalyptic tone adopted by other “gurus”, she shows how much functions and businesses will be swallowed up if they do not evolve along with new tools and opportunities.
“You need to stop resisting and start learning”, he emphasized, remembering that almost all businesses will be transformed by some type of AI tool. Among the examples, she cited how people who had access to Uber's autonomous cars are more likely to buy such a vehicle after the third ride, or how manufacturers of dental molds are becoming obsolete with systems that generate more perfect and detailed digital reproductions. of the patient's arch.
Below, I list the 7 trends raised by Sandy Carter, along with some of the thoughts raised by the expert. Many of them are not far from what is already happening and, if you look closely, at least one can certainly impact – positively or negatively – what you do today.
1. Exponential, baby!
80% of companies will increase their use of generative AI in the coming years, according to Carter. Especially because it has been showing a really accelerated and significant increase in productivity. Therefore, it doesn't matter if you are a leader, an employee or just an ordinary person in your daily life: it will be essential for you to have a good knowledge of at least some of these tools – and, preferably, know how to manage the necessary demands based on from them.
2. Multi-modal learning models are finally here
If until the other day AIs learned only through text, today they already drink from the most diverse sources, such as static images, videos and sounds – all at the same time. With this, they are able to read and understand practically everything that exists, starting to learn exactly as we humans learn. Today it is possible to take a photo of a product and ask for a description or interpretation on tools like ChatGPT, for example. With this, a new opportunity (and also a concern) arises for those who work with brands: what is AI prepared to say about your product?
3. The Era of Experience has begun... and that of virtual beings too!
Carter highlighted that today, with an Apple Vision Pro, it is possible to be physically in your living room and, virtually, in Alicia Kiss's rehearsal studio, walking around her piano, with the feeling of actually being there. Other immersive experiences are also happening without the need to use equipment, such as rooms with mapped, interactive projections, which are changing the way we consume art, for example. This is accompanied by what the executive calls the “Internet of sensations”, where it will increasingly be possible, through new technologies, to feel smells, flavors and textures digitally.
4. Everything will have its digital twin
The “Digital Twin” is a virtual version of what we have in the real world. And the examples are many: from digitizing your dental arch for treatment, as we mentioned before, to reproductions of cities, cars and other machines for virtual tests instead of real ones – like the famous “crash tests” of automobiles or optimization of traffic lights, in the face of specific traffic simulations. This, of course, also encompasses our avatars for digital presence.
5. “Tokenization” of everything
The use of blockchain will be amplified to generate control certificates, which can be used both to know who owns physical items – in addition to what happened with NFTs, for example – and who is responsible for different products and services. It will also greatly assist in certificates of authenticity, to guarantee the origin and originality of products. If everything is tokenized, you can not only know if a Nike sneaker is original, but where its leather, fabrics… everything comes from! Soon, Carter also predicts that we will have a virtual wallet where we can control and monitor everything, from property purchase contracts to our collectible products or event tickets. For brands, it's worth thinking: what can they tokenize?
6. Technological convergence has finally arrived
Carter recalled that we always pay more attention to what makes the most noise, like artificial intelligence now. But we need to look, mainly, at the general convergence of technologies. Most of the time, according to her, we will not only use AI, but it together with other elements, such as GPS, sensors, data, etc. The power lies in the union of technologies and how they can optimize our tasks. She cited as an example an education system that maps your reactions to understand whether you are learning or not and, if not, test new ways of teaching.
7. AI also brings us new problems
Not everything is positive or will only be resolved with the evolution of artificial intelligence, of course. In fact, on the contrary: lack of trust, process errors, lack of data and conclusions based on prejudice can happen. Therefore, it is our responsibility to act to minimize all of this. Among the necessary actions are double checking all information and helping to take as much information as possible to feed the AI. After all, if we don’t give enough data, how will machines learn “right”?
There are many lessons. But, despite the speech that practically forces us to be increasingly connected and updated about artificial intelligence, Sandy Carter herself takes the opportunity to end her presentation by reinforcing that everything needs to have a purpose.
“I can't tell you how many times people call me and say they need to do something with AI. This is growing exponentially, but you need to stay focused on what you’re trying to do, what you’re trying to solve, and what your goals are, not just use AI for the sake of it.”
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