An online AI workshop in Oxfordshire.
On Tuesday morning, I delivered a comprehensive presentation on various aspects of artificial intelligence. It covered a broad range of topics, including the history of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, AI safety summits and the impact of AI on different professions and industries.
I also had a whole section on AI tools and practical applications useful to business leaders. This was especially well received. It was clear that there was an appetite not just for a solid understanding, but the valuable insight these tools gave them. For many people looking for a competitive advantage, they have been attracted to AI.
Attendees wanted ways to improve knowledge of their business operations, business processes and create new innovative business models. They liked the power of these tools and the ease of use through natural language processing. They were willing to attend training courses like mine because they could see the opportunity for business success. As productivity is greatly enhanced by those that use specific AI tools relevant to their business capability, opportunity knocks at the door.
Machine learning and practical skills.
The current business landscape is calling out for hands-on experience, to help with business strategy and gain a competitive edge. Business professionals want to access the knowledge that is locked into their companies SharePoint sites, cloud storage systems and tacit knowledge held by their staffs. Business managers have business challenges and are hungry for impactful insights. If effective collaboration means working with AI to make informed leadership decisions, most people are fine with this. Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in a business setting
Digital transformation.
This rush to Artificial Intelligence reminds me of the term Digital Transformation, that started in the 1950’s, gained prominence in the 70’s – 90’s, and by the 00’s was a buzz phrase used by agencies and consultants. Digital transformation involves using knowledge based technology to improve business practices and customer experiences to adapt to market changes. It promised power in the hands of the workers, productivity enhancements, innovation and training. What it lacked was actual real world applications that were affordable. Developments in machine learning tools has made DT possible for everyone; it’s the the next logical step. Prompt engineering has replaced huddles and brain storms. Enterprises are looking at the science behind the large language models. They are learning as they go, avoiding the need to code, and improving their business performance as a result.
After event analysis of the interactive workshop on AI.
Back to the AI workshop that I delivered. Post-event, I have uploaded my presentation to ChatGPT, and, using the data analysis function, I asked it to summarise the content. It did a great job, as always, at synthesising large amounts of information through machine learning; indeed, its own language model is a compressed version of a vast set of data scraped from various online resources, so one would expect no less of it.
I thought I would go further with the following question: “As this workshop was about AI—ChatGPT in particular—how does it make you feel?” For anyone who uses this tool, the response will be familiar: “As an AI developed by Open AI, I don’t experience emotions or personal feelings. However, I can provide insights or answer questions about AI, including chatbots like ChatGPT, based on the information available to me. If you have any specific questions or need further analysis or insights about the content of the workshop, especially as it relates to AI and ChatGPT, I’d be happy to assist!”
Ok, so you got me there, ChatGPT! I went on to ask the following: “On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how do you rate the accuracy and relevance of the content to businesses?”
Here is its response:
“To accurately rate the accuracy and relevance of the content of the “AI Workshop v4 – Post OxLEP” document for businesses on a scale of 1 to 10, I would need to analyse specific details and contexts. However, based on the summary I provided earlier, we can infer some aspects:
- Accuracy: The document seems to cover historical milestones in AI, investment trends, impact on jobs, real-world business applications, tools, adaptation strategies, and safety and regulation. If these topics are presented with factual accuracy and up-to-date information, the accuracy rating would be high.
- Relevance to Businesses:
- Impact on Industries and Jobs: Highly relevant as it helps businesses understand potential changes in the labour market and plan accordingly.
- Real-World Business Examples: Very relevant for businesses looking to understand how AI can be applied in various sectors.
- Investment Trends: Relevant for businesses considering investing in AI technologies.
- AI Tools and Platforms: Directly relevant, especially for businesses looking to incorporate AI into their operations.
- Adaptation Strategies: Crucial for businesses planning to navigate the changing landscape due to AI advancements.
- Safety and Regulation: Essential for ensuring responsible use and compliance with regulations.
Considering these points, if the content is current, well-researched, and comprehensive, it would likely score high on both accuracy and relevance for businesses, possibly between 8 to 10. However, this rating could vary based on the specific needs and context of different businesses. For a more precise assessment, a detailed review of the content against current industry standards and specific business needs would be necessary.”
So what has this taught me?
ChatGPT understands a lot more about AI than I do, and its verbal reasoning IQ, at roughly 150, is far better than mine; I’m satisfied with this grade on my version of the topic.
Now it’s time to polish the material in preparation for the next delivery date!
So, should I run version 2 via ChatGPT before presenting it?
Possibly, possibly not…
Feb 24, 2024 Update.
Since writing this original article, several things have happened.
Firstly, this workshop has been converted into a series of workshops. They are running every two months and are amongst the most popular online workshops that this growth hub have run. It has also been transferred to several local authorities in the England, being equally popular. As the national AI strategy coincides with private sector development in AI-driven startups, I am not short of new content for these training courses. They work well for senior management, staff with specialist roles, and anyone interested in data-driven technologies.
Secondly, Adobe has embedded AI Acrobat, their PDF reading application. It promised industry end users like me a workshop overview. So I repeated the experiment that I did with ChatGPT. I asked the Adobe AI Assistant the following:
“Based on your knowledge of AI, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the relevance of this content for small business owners seeking to understand AI and to apply is to their business?”
Its response:
“The document does not provide a specific answer to the question. However, based on the information provided in the document, we can infer that the relevance of the content for small business owners seeking to understand AI and apply it to their business would be high. Here are a few reasons to support this inference:
- Real-World Examples: The document mentions several real-world examples of businesses leveraging AI, such as DeepMind, Kiva Systems, ByteDance, Zebra Medical Vision, and Tesla. These examples demonstrate how AI can be applied in various industries and sectors, which can be valuable information for small business owners looking to understand the potential applications of AI in their own businesses.
- AI for Idea Generation and Planning: The document highlights the benefits of using AI tools for idea generation, cost efficiency, data-driven insights, enhanced customer experience, scalability, and innovation. These are all areas that small business owners can benefit from when applying AI to their business strategies.
- AI Tools and Platforms: The document provides a list of AI tools and platforms that small business owners can use to generate content, design assets, conduct research, create websites, and more. These tools can help small business owners leverage AI technology without requiring significant additional investments.
- Expert Opinions: The document includes quotes and opinions from experts in the field of AI, such as Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, Mo Gawdat, Dario and Daniela Amodei, and Yoshua Bengio. These expert opinions can provide valuable insights and perspectives on the relevance and potential impact of AI for small business owners.
Based on these points, it can be inferred that the relevance of the content for small business owners seeking to understand AI and apply it to their business would be high, possibly around 8 or 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.”
I am happy with that!