As AI transforms how we work, live and do business, it has also simultaneously raised a number of challenges.
Not only are there ethical questions around how to use a rapidly evolving technology in a responsible and transparent way.
But the powerful nature of these new tools and apps have been seen in both exciting and devastating ways.
Deep fakes and AI chatbots are accelerating the spread of misinformation, even potentially influencing elections.
“There’s been examples in some elections recently of false videos pretending to deliver messages from candidates and robocalls misleading voters about how to participate in elections. The impact is hard to quantify but there hasn’t been any evidence to date that the use of AI in election communication has been the determining factor in election results,” the Australian Electoral Commission says.
Then there’s the type of products and services being created: some for good and some that cause immense harm.
AI is moving, growing and learning at a rapid pace.
And anyone with access to the internet today can help shape it by influencing what the models learn, sharing insights around the ethical questions raised and taking advantage of the powerful tools.
So where do you fit in all of this?
Well, as you’ll hear in this week’s episode of AI Unlocked, the part you play is critical.
And if you don’t know where to start, this three-part special supported by Salesforce will have some answers.
Women’s Agenda co-founder Angela Priestley is finding that many women feel they’re not tech-savvy enough to use AI.
And in some cases, there’s a sense that it’s a short-cut or a way of cheating.
But these are common myths that are holding women back from taking a lead role in this industrial revolution.
“The responsible use and development of AI is critical for building a future that enables everyone to leverage its power for the better of mankind,” she says.
“And I honestly don’t think we can achieve this, without more women at the helm.”
Tech and innovation leader Swechchha Agrawal says AI can be used and experimented with by anyone, regardless of technical skills.
And the kind of inputs fed into machine-learning algorithms and services can actually help these models become more diverse and accurate in what they put out.
“AI is kind of evolving with the kind of data we provide it,” she says.
“There are so many AI tools available even now that have user interfaces which are as simple as Facebook, as simple as any chat platform where you can give in a command or you just write a sentence and you have a lot of information available to you.
“You can have an interactive conversation. It’s not just for tech experts.”
UN Women Australia CEO Simone Clarke says some of the tools and apps are saving her invaluable time.
“I’m excited by the fact that AI, at its most basic, is an incredibly powerful tool around efficiency, around even re-engineering the way we use technology,” she says.
“You know, I open my emails and I scroll through them and I work out which, you know but with AI now – I can get fed the emails that I should be focusing on.
“It helps me be more productive. There are so many efficiency gains that I think that I’m seeing with AI and the more I’m using it, the more excited I am by, wow, how much time it can save me.”
It’s critical that women get onboard and start embracing AI in their everyday lives.
For more on how to get started and how to navigate the risks that may emerge, join Priestley and other guests in episode 2 of AI Unlocked.