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Introduction
Here we go again.
More backlash against artificial intelligence, this time tying it with two global evils: nation-states and, advertising companies?
The nefarious uses will probably involve more behind-the-scenes, focused efforts. For example, advertising companies and nation-states could more efficiently generate content meant to manipulate online audiences.
Yikes.
Or, maybe this is the room AI needs to succeed?
Paths forward
As noted in Repositioning AI, I believe AI should go the corporate path. Working through a support-first mechanism to help those customers and clients have a better customer experience.
And we’re starting to see some of these corporate-first discussions being had in public.
That gives AI the room to settle into a ‘box’, and any future messaging and positioning will be based off the technology’s success of handling a currently poor (customer support) experience.
The view of AI can only go up from there.
Yet, what if including AI in the same discussion with nation-states gives the technology more room to do what it wants?
I mean, clearly it isn’t as bad a nation-state or nation-state actor.
Right?
If we’re in agreement there, then AI has a lot more room to explore when it comes to messaging and positioning:
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“AI said what to Ben Thompson?!”
“Wow. Well, at least it’s not as bad as a threat actor.”
Or, maybe, “At least it’s not as bad as an advertising company.”
Poor advertising
How did advertising companies get lumped into nation-state discussions?
Much the same as AI messaging and positioning, have we now been given room to declare that advertising company operators are as bad as threat actors?
While I’m a proponent of B2B organizations moving away from advertising for performance-based efforts, I’m certainly not anywhere near suggesting they are destructively compared with threat actors.
(Another ‘Yikes’.)
I mean, advertising, like most things, is a supply and demand thing.
Most things, except maybe for AI?
A long way to go
What’s the line in technology:
Tomorrow’s technology is a lot further out than we think, and 10-years-from-now technology will be here a lot sooner than we think.
It feels like we’re in that type of bubble right now.
- Augmented reality
- Virtual reality
- Artificial intelligence
In addition, it feels like some of our technology leaders are starting to get a little long in the tooth:
- Mark Zuckerburg
- Elon Musk
- Sundar Pichai
I wonder if the two are connected.
Closing
I certainly don’t know the answer to what’s next when it comes to technology adoption or even leadership.
When I was working as an equities analyst for an investment bank in San Francisco and the markets were tanking, it was fascinating to watch two completely different mindsets:
- The sky is falling
- Been there done that
I’m guessing we’re back in this type of environment now.
Thank you
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