AI: Coming to an Org Chart Near You
AI is more than a novelty— its trajectory is showing signs of being an indispensable and unavoidable tool of the future. The problem? It’s speeding along faster than guardrails can be put up. Top concerns include the spreading of misinformation, mass job replacement by AI automation, and the exponential speed of AI technology without knowing the full implications of its effects on industry and the world at large.
In the words of Anthony Aguirre, Executive Director of Future of Life: "AI labs are recklessly rushing to build more and more powerful systems, with no robust solutions to make them safe.”
In March of 2023, a letter named “Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter" was released with 33,000 signatures including that of Elon Musk and the co-founder of Apple (via The Associated Press). Concerns were sparked by Google and Microsoft’s AI arms race, seeking to release technology with capabilities surpassing OpenAI’s current industry lead with its ChatGPT-4 program.
Meanwhile, business and marketing thought leaders have flooded LinkedIn with tips and tricks for taking advantage of AI’s powerful capabilities to stay ahead of the curve before the techniques become mainstream. These one-off strategies have been focused on personal workflows for the average employee. The result? A workplace culture where your coworker a desk over is likely using ChatGPT tricks and AI programs but being quiet about it. The use of AI tools is decentralized and borders on taboo. Maybe companies are hesitant to be early adopters because of stigma or maybe they just don’t have the blueprint of how to incorporate it in a methodical way.
We need an ethical AI blueprint.
While a quick fix could be mandatory employee training and a first pass at workplace AI guidelines, this is a revolution that demands more structural consideration. Structured AI workflows are needed to get the most out of the technology, unlocking capabilities that go deeper than that of the casual AI user. Enter the need for an AI Department and the rise of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. Here’s what an AI department could look like:
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO)
• Oversee the company’s relationship with AI
• Establish the mission, vision, and purpose of the company’s AI strategy
• Steer cross-department AI implementation, coordinating broad opportunities with other C-suite executives
• Work alongside AI Implementation Director to ensure full utilization of AI opportunities
• Work alongside AI Ethics and Compliance Director to ensure safety
AI Implementation Director
• Identify AI opportunities and use cases that enhance the company’s competitiveness and operational efficiency
• Establish clear goals and performance metrics for AI initiatives
• Talent development including recruiting, hiring, and building a high-performing AI team
AI Ethics and Compliance Director
• Oversee data governance practices to ensure data quality, security, and compliance with regulations
• Work closely with Machine Learning Engineers to maintain and optimize data infrastructure
• Stay informed about AI regulations and standards, ensuring company-wide compliance
• Monitor the ethical implications of AI decisions and provide guidance
Machine Learning Engineer
• Research and develop machine learning algorithms
• Implement and optimize AI models
• Collaborate with data scientists and engineers
• Ensure models are scalable and efficient
• Ensure the accessibility and availability of data for AI projects
AI Content Strategist
• Research and recommend opportunities for AI implementation
• Craft comprehensive AI strategies aligned with campaign-specific business objectives
• Maintain a competitive edge in AI industry usage
• Work alongside the Machine Learning Engineer to create data-based insights for creative teams
• Ensure AI usage produces measurable outcomes and fully utilizes available market data
AI Content Creator
• Work alongside the AI Strategist to locate campaign-specific opportunities for AI implementation
• Create AI content across multiple channels such as print, digital, social media, e-mail marketing, and activations across both copywriting and art direction needs
• Ensure AI creative aligns with visual and tonal brand guidelines
It’s time to get structured, strategic, ethical, and honest about AI usage. Failure to do so will result in missed opportunities, data and ethics issues, and a lack of usage transparency. It’s time to get serious about the opportunities and threats of AI and set a tone from the top down.
The present adoption of AI reminds me of the painter’s reactions to the invention of photography. Many thought it was lazy and delegitimized the painstaking dedication to craft; that it cut corners and traded in effort for the easy route. Now, that mindset is a distant memory. I suspect sentiments around AI will follow suit.