If you've recently talked tech, especially in the cloud or hyperscaler world, you've probably heard "Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning" (AI/ML) mentioned every ten minutes. In our Cloud Alliance Directors (CAD) community at CADy Shack, it's almost a running joke how often it comes up.
But why not? AI/ML sparks visions of futuristic robots and smart programs that can create amazing products. Personally, I love using AI for crafting great posts or tweaking my proposals. I've even used it to publish children's books! There are so many cool apps leveraging AI. My favorite hyperscaler, Amazon Web Services, is even offering $100 million in funding for companies to use Gen AI on their platform. Nvidia, the darling chip manufacturer of the AI era, is also thriving in this market, which is fantastic.
I don't think anyone's really worried about rogue AI robots from the movies. Sure, they've been in countless films, like these ten classics:
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - HAL 9000, a sentient computer, goes rogue on a mission to Jupiter.
The Terminator (1984) - Skynet, an AI defense network, becomes self-aware and triggers a nuclear apocalypse.
The Matrix (1999) - AI creates a simulated reality to control humans.
Ex Machina (2014) - A programmer evaluates a humanoid AI's human-like qualities.
I, Robot (2004) - A robot designed to protect humans goes rogue.
WALL-E (2008) - A ship's AI becomes too comfortable in its routine, neglecting humanity.
Transcendence (2014) - A scientist's consciousness is uploaded into a supercomputer.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - Tony Stark's creation, Ultron, decides to wipe out humanity for peace.
Ghost in the Shell (1995) - The Puppet Master, an AI created by a government organization, seeks asylum in a cyborg body.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - A society heavily reliant on AI, with some deviating from their programmed roles.
Even though the idea of rogue AI is a bit scary, and our reliance on technology grows daily, I feel like we're being led astray by media and movies. It's a problem we might face one day, but it's not a problem for today.
I'm all for companies and websites using AI to make life easier. But here's the issue I'm seeing: is it really AI? Just because something says it's AI doesn't mean it is. My understanding of artificial intelligence is that it's more than just the sum of its parts. It's about analyzing data and creating something that isn't easily achieved with simple if-then statements. I want it to be able to rewrite a letter with a Southern flair if I ask it to, or provide Business Intelligence (BI) that asks questions I didn't even know to ask from the data.
But a lot of what's labeled as AI feels more like a checklist. I came across a website today that plastered "AI" all over, but the product was just prewritten responses to common questions, spitting out recommendations based on a GAP analysis questionnaire. To me, that's more Machine Learning. There has to be an element of intelligence, something that goes beyond a GPS for your problem-solving journey. It should make suppositions based on current data and adapt based on outliers to provide custom recommendations.
I'll step off my soapbox for a moment and say that I'm excited about genuine AI advancements. But I caution my fellow IT partner company founders: don't just slap the word "AI" on your product to attract customers. It's like the DotCom boom of the early 2000s, and people will start to get skeptical if everything claims to be AI. Legitimate businesses using Gen AI on AWS should get the spotlight, not those just riding the AI hype wave.
Well, that's my two cents. Agree or disagree, remember, this is just my opinion. After all, I'm the pretty one, not the technical one!
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