Artificial Intelligence Requires Emotional Intelligence
As Big Data and Data Science before it, it seems that Artificial Intelligence has become the new thing that every company has to do to survive. Where before technologies such as Big Data and Data Science only required budget, highly skilled staff, and business buy-in, artificial intelligence requires something more: emotional discernment.
Artificial intelligence stimulates fear: Fear of job loss. Loss of control.
The fear of letting go of what you know.
I tell all those who work for me directly that if they are still working for me after three years, I am going to fire them. It’s not a threat. I just want them to become my boss, create their own startup, or head up their own division or team doing something unique.
My personal goal is to make myself obsolete as quickly as possible so I can go and work on the “new” thing. This keeps you always on the cusp of cutting-edge technology.
This inspiration for my team to never be afraid of letting go of what you know is key to embracing artificial intelligence. The sooner you can give away your knowledge, teach others, or find someone or something to rise up to take on a role that is occupying your time means the sooner you can expand your horizons.
Creativity, Not Repetition
My goal is to get rid of the repetitive tasks as quickly as possible so my team and I can focus on the creative aspects of our job. The biggest complaint that consultants have for the jobs they have is not being allowed to be creative: Always. Follow. The. Rules.
Or not.
Based on a study by Harvard Business Review, the number one reason consultants quit to go independent is, quoting a former manager from McKinsey, “With independent consulting, I get the best of both worlds — solving real problems and having impact alongside the flexibility I need to pursue other ventures and interests.”
Creativity doesn’t mean just crayons and paste. It means being able to use crayons, paste, anything, and everything to solve a problem. The freedom to think outside the box.
The more rules, the more compliance, the less excitement for humans to construct something.
Alternatively, the more rules, the more compliance that a system or a solution should have should highlight the strengths of artificial intelligence. Remember, A.I.’s number one goal is to win the game it’s playing based on the rules.
So, if you want to engage with Artificial Intelligence go on a spree to change your company from being less repetitious to being more creative.
Efficient, not Ineffective
Artificial intelligence should not be implemented just to be implemented because you can.
Imagine the dozens of rungs of hierarchy within an organization. Now imagine that hierarchy being replaced with stubborn artificial intelligence. A.I. to prevent you from approvals or to do your job without certain criteria. If you thought your financial controller was tough to get approval from, a robotic soul that only knows what it knows and will only allow you to proceed if you give them every input perfectly and on time.
The goal of artificial intelligence is efficacy, not more roadblocks.
Sure, getting financial permission to purchase this, or approval to hire might seem like repetition. But it requires a human understanding of what’s at stake that is more than the bottom line.
However, use A.I. to put a spotlight on what you already have that clogs up the system. Think of contracts, legal documents, key performance indicators, and service level agreements where A.I. can make suggestions on how to “follow the rules” and improve the efficiency of your company. It could even be weaponized as an early warning system to alert you when you are getting into negative situations.
Ineffective artificial intelligence simply means trained robots that bang their virtual heads against the wall. Effective artificial intelligence simply means humans who can walk through virtual walls to get things done.
Reassure not Replace
Artificial intelligence should be used as another opinion when you are aggregating all possible solutions. A.I. is your external consultant’s point of view without them billing you per hour.
A.I. should be used to give you all the facts. Or compliment the facts you are already compiling. The most positive strength of A.I. is that it has no feelings. It simply states what it has found minus political motive. This gives a fantastic perspective.
Also, humans who believe their jobs are going to be replaced by A.I. will rig the system. Humans were born to survive. Replacement is not an option.
Artificial intelligence should never be used as the only way. Humans should always have permission to override. And humans should always be used in conjunction to oversee or to be the failsafe when A.I. has no more rules to follow.
So, realize that the A/B testing of the future will (A)rtificial Intelligence suggested ideas versus human (B)eing suggested ideas. And usually, it will require a mash-up of both to create a winning solution.
As Big Data and Data Science before it, Artificial Intelligence has become the new thing that every company has to do.
“As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.” — Amit Ray, AI Scientist
But unlike before, if Artificial Intelligence is done correctly, you as the consultant or the technologist will be able to think, be, and feel more human while doing your job than ever before.
