Good morning. Welcome to 2023. If I’ve not already said it to you: a very happy and healthy new year.
The first Friday 13th of the year – and never did the words ‘Brave New World’ seem so apt. Or so frightening…
Following on from the final post of last year, I had intended to start the year by writing about digital currencies.
Ten minutes of idly playing on my laptop changed all that.
I’d heard stories about ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) programme that could do… well, pretty much anything.
‘Fair enough,’ I thought when we were finally – and very regretfully – back from South Africa, ‘Let’s see…’
I created an account, logged in and typed my question into the dialogue box.
Please can you write me a 200-word article on the importance of key performance indicators in business, with special reference to high energy prices in 2023?
That, I thought, was a reasonable question. The response from the AI was at the same time one of the most remarkable – and one of the most depressing – things I’ve ever seen.
In less than 15 seconds I had a reply. I’ve reproduced it in full here, simply so you can see why I was so astonished.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential tools for businesses to measure and track the progress of their operations. They help businesses to identify areas of strength and weakness and to set goals and targets for improvement. In the context of high energy prices, KPIs can be particularly important for helping businesses to manage their energy costs and reduce their impact on the environment.
There are many different KPIs that businesses can use to measure their performance, including financial metrics like revenue and profit as well as operational metrics like customer satisfaction and employee retention. One key KPI for businesses facing high energy prices is energy efficiency. By tracking and analysing energy usage data, businesses can identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and lower their energy bills. This could include implementing energy-saving technologies, such as LED lighting or energy-efficient appliances, or simply changing business practices to reduce energy waste.
In addition to energy efficiency, businesses may also want to track their greenhouse gas emissions as a KPI. High energy prices can be a catalyst for businesses to adopt more sustainable practices, such as using renewable energy sources or implementing carbon offset programmes. By tracking and reducing their carbon footprint, businesses can not only save money on energy costs but also demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
Overall, the use of KPIs is an important part of any business strategy, and in the context of high energy prices, they can be particularly valuable for helping businesses to manage their energy costs and reduce their environmental impact. By regularly reviewing and analysing their KPIs, businesses can identify opportunities for improvement and make data-driven decisions to drive long-term success
OK, it’s 277 words, not the 200 I asked for. It was originally written in US English, but that was my fault for not specifying UK English.
Very clearly it’s not written in my normal ‘voice’ or anything close to it. But is the AI reply a perfectly acceptable article? Is there any inkling that it’s written by AI and not by a person? Yes to the first one: no, in my opinion, to the second question.
So far, so impressive. Especially the speed: I repeat, 15 seconds.
Fifteen seconds for 270 words. The average length of a blog post is around 850 words. So maybe a minute. Hmmm…
My next question was much more relevant to TAB:
I’m thinking of expanding my business. It will make me more money but take up a lot of time. How do I make sure I balance my work and my family life?
Once again, the answer was back in 15 seconds. Again, I’ve reproduced it in full.
It's important to find a balance between work and family life, as both can be important sources of fulfilment and happiness. Here are a few tips that may help you maintain a healthy balance:
- Set boundaries: Clearly define your working hours and stick to them. This can help you separate your work and personal life and ensure that you have time for other activities, such as spending time with your family.
- Prioritise your tasks: Make a list of your tasks and prioritise them based on their importance and deadlines. This can help you focus on the most important tasks first and allow you to allocate your time more effectively.
- Take breaks: Make sure you take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. This can help you stay focused and avoid burnout.
- Communicate with your family: Keep your family informed about your work schedule and priorities. This can help them understand and support your work commitments.
- Seek support: Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're feeling overwhelmed. This could be from your family, friends or colleagues.
By following these tips, you may be able to find a balance between your work and family life and enjoy the benefits of both
Again, well up to business magazine standard – which is presumably where the machine learning underpinning the answers came from.
City AM published an article between Christmas and New Year on tech trends to watch in 2023. One of them was on AI and the article contained a simple sentence. ‘AI will not make you redundant in 2023.’
I beg to differ: based on my ten-minute experiment with ChatGPT if you’re a low-level copywriter – or a young journalist – AI could very well make you redundant. And it’s not just articles: if logo design is a key part of your creative business, watch out…
So is Ed Reid still needed? For now, the answer is – hopefully – yes. But I cannot tell you how impressed I was with that ten-minute play on my laptop. The implications of AI programmes like ChatGPT are immense – and not just for the copyright lawyers.
The need to keep up to date with changing technology has been a theme that has run through this blog from day one. Suddenly the tech seems to have taken another giant leap forward: ‘make sure I keep up’ needs to be on everyone’s to-do list as we go into the New Year…
