It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer reserved for just the tech heads. People from all industries are joining the engineers and developers to revolutionise the way we work using AI capabilities. We are all familiar with ChatGPT, Siri, and Alexa, but in the comms sphere, we’re seeing the new transformative competences of productivity tools like Microsoft Viva, video generators like Synthesia, and even technologies for mental health support.

 

The possibilities really do seem to be endless, and this void of uncertainty is bound to trigger strong responses, both positive and negative. While some are self-identifying as evangelists, many are expressing valid concerns. We all can remember when social media swept the nation in the early 2000s, and the culture permanently shifted: for the first time in history, privacy could be considered a luxury. AI was officially founded as a discipline in 1956, but took off after 2012 with the development of deep learning. Both large-scale innovative shifts can be argued to have advanced a global trust crisis. We are facing the most complex ethical challenges of our time due to misunderstandings, misinformation, and more often than we’d like, legitimate breaches of trust.

 

So, it may come as a surprise that we are taking an optimistic stance on the adaptation of AI into the communications landscape. After all, trust is at the foundation of everything we do.

 

And yet, we remain confident that the cure to the pandemic of mistrust lies at the source: to be better, we need to commit to learning, to understanding, to reconsidering our prejudgments, and, paradoxically, to trusting in the future.

 

A healthy level of scepticism when it comes to new technology is wise – but let’s not get stuck in a closed-minded state. As we close out 2023 and start to consider the possibilities that are in store for us in the new year (and beyond), let’s lead with curiosity.

 

Led by people, supported by AI

Consider all of the menial tasks that take up time in our day that could be delegated to an AI tool. Microsoft Viva and Copilot is the tech superpower’s latest innovation and, in one word, simplifies the employee experience. Not only does it facilitate communication and focus, but with Copilot, employee productivity becomes supported with AI capabilities to create drafts, summarise discussion points in meetings, automate repetitive tasks, and more. Let’s reflect on how much more time and space we can create for true innovation, creativity, and leadership, through implementing these types of tools. Let’s recognise our agency as individuals and our leadership capabilities that a machine cannot replicate.

 

A culture of consistency  

As communicators, we can agree that the notion and sentiment of trust is crucial in cultivating organisational cultures that support employees. There are currently few AI-specific policies in place for organisations, which contributes to the lack of clarity and sense of overall fear regarding new technology. Clear and consistent guidelines need to be prioritised alongside integrating new technologies into practices – with boundaries in place, people will feel safer to experiment and self-educate.

 

The irreplaceable power of people

For those who hold the valid concern of having their roles usurped by machines, something very important needs to be understood. People are irreplaceable. Technology does not create culture – human beings do. Community and networking can never be replaced, nor can the power of storytelling. AI capabilities grow through experience and learning, but so do we, as people and as workers. If we give into stagnation and mistrust, how are we to grow?

 

If you are interested in learning more about AI and its role in communications, do reach out to Rebecca@106comms.com to find out about our brand new AI newsletter, as well as our AI-powered initiatives going into 2024.