2023 Year End Wrap-Up and 2024 Predictions

Let's take a step back and a step up to get a higher-level perspective.

Yes, we live in tumultuous times when talking about Artificial Intelligence.

In one year since the release of ChatGPT, everyone with an Internet connection is either using AI in some form or another, dismissed it as a fad, or is anxious they're missing out. I think all of that is a good thing.

AI is transforming, improving, and changing our lives.

So, where are we and what is coming in 2024?

The Sam Altman (OpenAI President) stint as an employee of Microsoft for a weekend was an interesting soap opera playing out in real time. For those not AI-obsesses, he was fired by the OpenAI board of directors on Friday, immediately hired by Microsoft, and after lots of dust, was back at OpenAI by Wednesday. I think everything turned out fine and for the best.

AI helps get intellectual work done faster and with broader scope, helping you to consider aspects you may not yet have considered. We will continue to use it for that.

AI is becoming part of every human-to-software interaction, offering to help you "do" whatever it is that you do with that software. Learning how to use that as it gets better and better will serve you well in 2024.

Arguments about the negative effects of AI, and calls for limits, regulations, and restrictions on AI will continue to evolve and become more excited.

Alternates to ChatGPT have existed and in 2024 will become known beyond those who develop programs or solutions based on AI.

My Predictions for AI in 2024:

We will learn to use AI, and even build our own tools, "helpers", or AI-Agents on our own in 2024, without the need to hire someone to build this for us. This will be the equivalent of learning to write your own email, rather than having your secretary take dictation and type up a letter on paper for you to sign and mail out.

These "helpers" will perform the routine, simple tasks that, given the choice and seeing it work, you would rather not have to think about.

Custom programs that are unique to a business model will need designers to help with best practices, bullet-proof solutions, and elegant experiences for those involved. Examples of these will be the autonomous chat bot agent on websites that can answer any random question about your business offers, solutions, terms, etc. This is the equivalent of getting a lawyer to draft your own employee policy manual for a mid-size company with multiple locations. Templates and blueprints to "build your own" will exist and solve the simplest problems.

Big, multinational companies will continue to hire out for their custom requests. I choose to not deal in this area of the market.

I welcome your feedback, thoughts, and questions.

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