“In a world filled with uncertainty, where we are all seeking answers, ironically asking the right questions is going to be the next superpower”
Talking to my dad last evening, the conversation veered towards ChatGPT and I realised it is now dinner table talk that is cutting across generations. My son introduced me to it last year and now his grandpa is also chatting about it. Is this going to be the next big thing to transform the way we live and love and work and play? Or is it going to be the shiny new toy that people will eventually get tired of? I guess if the data set keeps evolving and the adoption and usage continue to benefit us it will be here to stay. I often say if it ENTERTAINS me, EDUCATES me, or makes my life EASIER, then it’s here to stay. ChatGPT currently in its infancy delivers on all three plus it’s not the only new toy in town.
There are a whole lot of chatty AI options available. Microsoft Bing, Chatsonic, Jasper Chat, Google Bard, Character AI, YouChat, OpenAI playground, DialoGPT, Perplexity AI, and Cacktus AI to name just a few. I found an interesting article titled ‘22 best ChatGPT alternatives in 2023 (free and paid)’ which analyses the pros and cons of each, that I intend to explore.
As I try to decipher what this new toy means for me and the two professional worlds (of communication and coaching), that I live and play in, one thing is clear, ChatGPT brings with it a tidal wave of change. The choice is to wait and watch and see which shores it is going to hit or get ready to surf the wave and find ways to be part of that change.
When the gold rush happened, the old anecdote about the people who made the maximum money being those who made shovels holds here too. There will be a few who hit the mother lode from all the various companies investing huge amounts of money into developing these platforms. The ecosystem that gets created on and around the AI platform is where #PromptEngineering is going to be crucial. The shovels so to speak are the “prompters who are the most prompt” that are going to help find the gold.
AI Whisperers will rule. Those who know how to prompt the AI to do their bidding and to do it faster and better and more creatively than anyone else is going to be golden. The AI whisperers will soon be very much in demand. In a world filled with uncertainty, where we are all seeking answers, ironically asking the right questions is going to be the next superpower. As a communicator and a coach, the importance of knowing when and how to ask questions is a skill that I must hone. This is where we need to build a competitive advantage at scale.
Early movers in this direction are going to be able to surf the wave. Others are likely to get submerged by it. If you are in a position to influence change then it’s time to get everybody on board with this super-fast. If not, then at least you need to put on your swimming costume and jump into the deep end of the AI pool.
5 ways to get AI ready for me would be:
- Make it a daily habit to experiment, learn, read, and think about this topic
- Train the entire team at scale so that we are all opening our minds to the possibilities
- Create an AI usage policy (much like companies have a social media policy that offers guidelines and best practices)
- Show and Tell. Find interesting and new use cases and case studies for your industry and share them
- Play to learn. The energy of playfulness and experimentation with which I engage in this space will help me surf the wave and learn how to best ride it.
Staying curious and aligned with my intention to learn and share for the benefit of all, will be the best way to embrace this wave of change that is heading my way. I would love to exchange notes with anyone who can add to this list. Don’t wait for me to prompt you… lets chat.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
A trusted coaching and communications professional, Nikhil Dey is a certified life and leadership coach (International Coach Federation - ICF). Nurturing talent and helping clients achieve their goals is what makes him happy. He loves learning from students of communication, teaching courses and guest lecturing at various educational institutions. When he is not working you will find him on the tennis court or out for long walks with his family and four legged friends.
Previously he has held senior leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and Genesis BCW.
He can be reached on twitter @deydreaming
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