AI is here to stay: Are we ready?

Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction. Until recently, “AI” was a misunderstood term, only professionals in the field could grasp its meaning immediately. Today, it’s rare to find someone who hasn’t heard about “the potential of machines.” In particular, in organizations, ChatGPT has been the undisputed star.

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Regardless of the industry, professionals—especially those who view technology as a productivity driver—are working faster, achieving results that used to take days or even weeks.

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As a professional in Data and AI consulting, I’ve noticed a significant change in how organizational decision-makers view this technology. In the past, explaining models was challenging due to the abstract nature of mathematical formulas. Now, natural language simplifies understanding. The automation of processes in companies is another remarkable change. Time-consuming tasks can now be handled by machines without human intervention, leaving professionals free to focus on their creative and innovative skills without constantly breaking their focus.

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Although there are risks and much debate around machines replacing people, I believe Generative AI platforms—like ChatGPT or other text, video, and image generation tools—have the potential to bring significant benefits to society by adding extraordinary value to human actions.

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Lastly, all Generative AI technologies bring what seems to be a stronger emphasis on authenticity. More and more, people want to know what is genuine, and this debate will become increasingly relevant. In the past, it was easy to identify if content was manipulated, but nowadays it’s becoming more complex—sometimes nearly imperceptible—to differentiate between what is real and what was created by a machine. This always makes me reflect on what is truly real and what that means. It’s an interesting thought, almost philosophical, because we can ask ourselves if what a machine creates also becomes, in its own way, real.

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A recent example is the Beatles’ music that was released recently using AI. Does it stop being “real” or lose its intrinsic value? Where do we stand on this topic? We are in a gray area, and I haven’t found a definitive answer yet. Whether we like it or not, all these points and questions are part of the significant and real change brought about by the “earthquake” of Generative AI: people now know that AI has entered our lives for good and will continue to evolve. It is here to stay. How do we want to deal with it?