AI Revolution – Part 1: What is Generative AI?

Every now and again a technology arrives which literally changes everything. This just happened with Artificial Intelligence. ChatGPT has is the start of a new revolution. It’s a bellwether moment we’ll look back on and wonder what life was like before Generative AI. Just like we did with the internet, and then the smart phone.

So, we’ve asked Futurist, AI expert and ICMI exclusive Keynote Speaker Steve Sammartino, to break down the AI revolution in language we can all understand.

In this blog mini-series, Steve will uncover what it is, how it works, how it will change every organisation for the better, but only for those who embrace it. So, get yourselves a stiff espresso and prepare to be wowed by the wonders of AI.

AI Revolution – Part 1: What is Generative AI?

 

Chat GPT and Large Language Models.

The impact of ChatGPT cannot be understated. It is in fact, the most quickly adopted consumer product in history. It had a million users in 5 days, over 100 million users in its first 2 months, and now has over 2 billion users a month.

Those numbers along should tell you we are in the midst of a massive revolution. If you haven’t played around with it yet – then I strongly suggest you give it a whirl.

There’s been much said about industries and jobs ChatGPT might disrupt. Here’s a much simpler way to look at it – If your job or industry uses ‘words’ – it will be impacted. It’s that simple. It will impact everything. Like the internet that came before it, ChatGPT brings huge opportunities for those who embrace it.

 

What is Generative AI?

While AI has been around a very long time, it really is the first time a Generative AI has been available to the wider populace. We call it a generative AI, because it is capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts. Prompts, as in things we ask it, like we would a person. Generative AI models learn the patterns and structure of their input training data, and then generate new data that has similar characteristics.

ChatGPT in particular has basically been trained on the internet. And the way it works, in short is by guessing what word should come next in a string of words. Which is why it is known as a Large Language Model. Sounds crazy but it works, and while it is imperfect, and is absolutely amazing most of the time.

 

How does this change the internet?

The internet is currently a Giant Filing Cabinet. Everything we see on the internet is made by someone, somewhere. Words, pictures and video, all of it. Our experience on the internet is basically asking services to find and serve up what someone else has already created. Like this blog post. Even when it is live, it’s still us peering in the window of what someone else is making or doing. This is why search and social are so powerful. That’s about to change.

We are about to go from Search Engines to Creation Engines.

(Read the above sentence again, it’s that important)

Let me explain. Starting now – we will shift from asking the internet to find what we want to asking it to create what we want.

We’ll be expecting it to answer exact questions to queries, summarise things, write for us, create images, pictures, stories, animations, rap songs and even write software code for. Now anyone can do or make anything, we all now have a PhD in every subject. It’s a wonderful time to be alive.

The time to get across AI is now! So, be sure to get me (Steve Sammartino) to delivery my AI keynote at your next event or conference. The audience will leave empowered, inspired and ready to invent the next chapter for your organisation.

Next post we’ll explore working with Generative AI.

Keep Thinking,
Steve.

Call 1800 334 625 to book Steve for your next event.

Find out more about Steve Sammartino Contact ICMI for Info