Incorporating generative AI into your personal workflow

Open: Photo by Finn Hackshaw on Unsplash

In the realm of artificial intelligence, a topic that is being fervently debated, a multitude of opinions exist regarding its virtues and vices. Some envision it as a liberating force, while others fear its potential to wreak havoc on our world. As an independent consultant, I find myself subject to the demands of commerce, navigating this landscape with caution.
It never ceases to amaze me that when I engage in conversations with consultants from different industries and mention my extensive reliance on Chat GPT, their reactions are often a mix of curiosity and perplexity, although occasionally outright derision. To provide them with a concise explanation of my perspective, I feel compelled to expound upon my position.
Generative AI truly shines when tasked with sifting through copious amounts of unstructured data, offering unique insights. Admittedly, these insights may differ from my own, but it's essential to consider the specific contexts where such capabilities prove invaluable:

• Discovery exercises that necessitate the sourcing and analysis of vast information.
• Targeting activities that require identifying indicative focal points across a wide array of data points.

A scientist friend of mine aptly described these tasks as ones that you would assign to graduate students. The objective here is not to obtain their subjective opinions, although those can certainly hold value. What we seek is a moderately informed perspective that propels our own thinking forward with agility.
As a professional, I would never attach my name to something written by another entity, virtual or otherwise. However, I would gladly leverage the work of others to construct my own case. This becomes particularly crucial when reviewing and refining the desired viewpoint.
When approached for an opinion on a given situation, I disdain any delay between the request and the solution. While my effectiveness in conducting discovery activities may result in missed opportunities for day rates, the ability to swiftly compile a competitor list or a comprehensive ranking of vendors within a market is a significant efficiency gain.
My role then transforms into that of a reviewer, editor, and overseer. I meticulously examine the output generated, identifying any gaps or caveats, and supplementing the initial insights with high-value recommendations. Often, the discovery exercise merely lays the groundwork for a more comprehensive study, which may require additional primary research conducted by yours truly.
I admit I delegate some of the legwork to Chat GPT. Moreover, owing to its speed and efficiency, I can even orchestrate a series of similarly phrased requests, capturing nuances and shades of meaning.
From a commercial standpoint, one could argue that the occasional loss of a few days, while impacting short-term turnover, enables me to deliver results to my clients more swiftly, with reduced overhead, and most importantly, enhance their time-to-value. These outcomes bode well for both me and my clients. However, I must extend my apologies to the student I won't be able to take on this year, as a consequence of these choices.

Stephen Gillespie
Copyright JumpRock 2023
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