Are You Ready for the Great AI Skills-Shift?

Hi friends,

Imagine a future where AI handles the repetitive tasks, freeing you to focus on what truly matters. Sounds like a long way off, right? But this future is rapidly approaching, and with it comes a crucial question: are your skills ready to thrive alongside AI? We hope this newsletter will help you find the answer to that question, and to skill-adapt in preparation for upcoming changes.

SMORGASBORD

Anthromorphic (Claude) launches a trio of impressive new AI models. 💥 

AI Bias Exposed: Generative AI Tool Used for Resume Screening Found to Discriminate Against Women. 👩‍🦰 

Crystal Ball? LLMs can predict the future as well as—and sometimes better than—humans. Research suggests that 8 LLMs can replace 950 forecasters. 👀 

Generative AI models have far-reaching applications, including smart grid modeling for rural areas and training algorithms for energy tech startups. 🦾 

Klarna claims AI Assistant replaces 700 workers - A major company's automation story sparks debates about job displacement and the future of work. 😒 

AI@WORK:

SPOTLIGHT ON RETAIL

Beyond marketing, AI is quietly being deployed in omnichannel retail, in ways that are transforming the shopper experience, and further blending physical and virtual worlds.

• Optimized store layouts: AI analyzes customer traffic patterns in stores like Walmart and Zara to create dynamic layouts that position products for maximum sales and entice impulse buys.

• Say goodbye to cookie-cutter clothes. Thanks to AI, companies like Nike and H&M are offering AI-powered design tools that allow you to create your own custom shoes, jeans, and more. This personalization not only caters to individual tastes but also promotes sustainable practices by reducing mass production.

• Lightning-fast prototyping: J'evar, an online jewelry store, is using AI to supercharge custom jewelry design. Their AI system streamlines the prototyping process, dramatically speeding up production times and getting your one-of-a-kind piece into your hands faster.

• Your AI personal shopper: Carrefour, a major retail chain, has launched Hopla, an AI assistant that goes beyond simple recommendations. Hopla keeps track of your purchases, suggests recipes based on your pantry staples, and helps you navigate dietary restrictions.

• Dynamic pricing: AI is considering factors, including your purchase history, the item itself, and even competitor pricing, to ensure consumers get an attractive deal.

• Shoplifting? Not on AI's watch: AI systems use cameras equipped with computer vision to not only identify shoplifters but also predict shoplifting based on past data. This allows stores to take preventive measures and deter theft before it happens.

Why Does It Matter? (WDIM): Awareness of how AI is utilized in different sectors boosts your knowledge base and “AI-fluency” and may also spark new ideas and applications.

AI MADE EASY

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ prompting protocol, but there are some basic approaches that are helpful. From these foundations, you can:

1. Add more detail for more precise outcomes

2. Tailor the prompt for different requirements

3. Adapt it for different LLM models.

Assistance is also readily available with apps such as PromptHero which features hundreds of visual images and associated prompts, and of course you can ask any LLM to write an effective prompt for you.

AI SKILLS-SHIFT

Jobs will be lost to automation and new jobs will emerge. But in our opinion, the most important dynamic for the majority of us is ‘job churn’. This refers to the jobs that will be most disrupted by AI and will be reinvented around its functionality It’s vital to prepare for these ‘skills shifts’ to ensure continued relevance and competitiveness in an AI-led workplace. Click here to read the report.

AI-FLUENT?

Are you comfortable talking-the-AI-talk? Boost your understanding and vocabulary with this quick test.

Imagine Generative AI as an uber-remix DJ, not just copying but reimagining existing music, drawing inspiration from its vast knowledge of different styles and techniques. It analyzes songs, samples interesting parts, learns the patterns, and styles, and combines them in new ways, adding its own creative touch.

Generative AI can of course ‘remix’ more than music including words, data, code, images, and more. It uses special models called "generative models" that are trained on massive datasets. These models can be fine-tuned for specific tasks, like creating different styles of art or writing different kinds of creative content.

THROUGH A-EYES

Not all AI models see the world the same way. Or at least they don’t respond to prompts the same way, each having been trained differently. It’s worth taking time to test some of the most popular platforms to uncover their different ‘approaches’ In this case, I gave three different apps the same simple prompt: “Generate a black and white illustration of a bumblebee on a flower”. I think I made this one a little too easy 🙂 Any favourites?

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

CURIOUS CAT

Meet Jackson Barn Cat a.k.a. JBC, office manager, resident AI-whisperer, and all-around curious cat. Each week he’ll nose bop a new challenge 😺

We’d love to hear about your personal experiences with AI@Work. If you have a story to share, or a question to ask, drop us a line at: [email protected]

If you know friends or colleagues who might enjoy our content, this teeny-tiny-team would be grateful if you could share this newsletter with them, and help us grow our audience :)