Talent Talk: The Fascinating, Frightening Potential of AI

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” – H. L. Mencken

I recently received my first proposal from a company that has developed an AI-based service that would write recruiting blogs for me.

That one is specifically designed for recruiters. I get six to eight pitches per week, offering to write business development emails to my potential client base on my behalf. This software can be trained to mimic your writing style. If you haven’t seen a demonstration of this in action, it is fascinating and frightening at the same time. The software is very good.

I have resisted this personally, and plan to do so indefinitely. I believe the benefits of AI in areas like factory efficiency, medical technology, and data analytics will improve our way of life, but I do not think we should pursue the replacement of human connection and human relationships.

So, is AI bad or good? Stephen Hawking said, “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.” Elon Musk added: “…with artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon.”

Would you be shocked if I told you everything up to this point was written by AI software? It was not, but would you have been surprised? You shouldn’t be because it absolutely could have been. But if you discovered that, would you ever read another Talent Talk, or anything else from me?

AI is a complex issue, maybe the most complex mankind has ever faced. Fei-Fei Li, Director of Stanford’s AI Lab, believes that “AI is fundamentally an applied technology that’s going to serve our society.” If we can find a way to ensure that is the case, we will be fine. But it is not writing my blog.

About the author

Paul Sturgeon is CEO of KLA Industries, a national search firm specializing in plastics, packaging, and polymer technology. If you have a topic you would like to see discussed, a company that is growing, or other ideas for this blog, e-mail Sturgeon at [email protected].