Q&A: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI

Q&A: Insights from Industry Leaders

1. What were some of the initial ethical concerns around using AI that the panelists faced?

The panelists discussed various ethical concerns with using AI, including issues related to security, copyright, privacy, and job security. Cheryl Solis shared that her initial concerns revolved around these areas, but she found that features of tools like Storytell.ai helped address some of them, such as the ability to restrict content to internal use only. Grant Simmons emphasized the importance of ensuring AI models do not leak sensitive data, which he appreciates Storytel's ability to prevent. Manny Akintayo discussed ethical considerations around data privacy, consistency, and precision, particularly in the healthcare industry where he previously worked.

2. How did the panelists' past experiences with AI shape their current approaches?

Manny Akintayo shared that his AI journey began in 2019 when he was building a startup to help streamline insurance billing. This early experience made him realize the potential of large language models like ChatGPT to simplify and streamline complex workflows. Grant Simmons explained that his perspective on the capabilities and limitations of AI evolved through his experience with Storytell.ai, as he initially thought it would do more data analysis for him, but found its real value in time savings and clarity of thought. Cheryl Solis discussed how her work at a small startup led her to rethink her views on AI, seeing it as a tool to help small businesses overcome challenges.

3. How are the panelists utilizing AI tools like Storytell to enhance their workflows and productivity?

Cheryl Solis shared how she has been able to leverage AI tools like Storytell.ai to automate repetitive tasks, such as generating glossaries and release notes, which freed her up to focus on more complex content like tutorials and walkthroughs. Grant Simmons described how Storytell.ai has "multiplexed" his abilities as an analyst, allowing him to be more productive and efficient by organizing and structuring his unstructured data. Manny Akintayo discussed how he has used AI to streamline insurance billing workflows, such as predicting payouts, communicating with patients, and generating interactive data.

4. What advice would the panelists give to someone looking to incorporate AI into their business or workflow?

Manny Akintayo advised that when considering AI, it's important to look at your passions, your existing skills, and where the technology is currently at. He emphasized the importance of understanding the strengths and limitations of AI tools, as well as being willing to iterate and experiment to find the right fit. Cheryl Solis suggested starting by asking simple questions of the AI tool, and then gradually incorporating it into your workflows by providing clear instructions and iterating on the results. Grant Simmons recommended focusing on the time savings and clarity of thought that AI can provide, rather than expecting it to fully replace human expertise.

5. What ethical considerations did the panelists highlight regarding the use of AI and copyright/intellectual property concerns?

Cheryl Solis discussed the ethical gray area around AI's ability to synthesize information from various sources, which can raise questions about plagiarism and fair use. She emphasized the importance of updating copyright laws to better protect the rights of content creators, as well as the need for individuals to establish their own ethical boundaries when using AI. Manny Akntayo shared his experience working in the healthcare industry, where he had to be particularly mindful of ethical concerns around data privacy, consistency, and precision to ensure AI models were not making hallucinated diagnoses or recommendations. Grant Simmons appreciated Storytell's ability to provide citations and attribution for the sources of information, which helps maintain transparency and avoid potential copyright issues.

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