One Director-level client had to present to the board reasons to include AI into the business. No-one actually knew what that meant, so we were tasked with coming up with the answers.
Like anyone with half a brain, we got Google AI to tell us what was what, It quickly bandied about enough choice phrases such as "Intelligent Digital Twin Systems" and "Energy system optimization model" to easily fill a Powerpoint, so phew - job done.
But underneath the hype and fluff, the bottom line became very clear: "AI can be applied across all key functions within the industry, from accelerating the R&D pipeline to improving methodology and back-office functions."
Having held both tech-evangelist and tech-cynic views simultaneously for over 30 years, I feel well prepared for any coming debate about AI ethics - however fleeting - before various key industries start to topple. Being at the latter part of my career also helps me to control any panic I might be feeling.
Certainly, I am convinced that 90% of the humans wiho are currently writing or managing code will have been superseded by, well code, in ten to fifteen years time. Websites such as this one will assume heritage craft status, echoing the reaction of the private press movement to the mechanisation.of the book industry.
It's nothing new, if you consider that in my lifetime, innovation has laid seige to countless once-modern processes in my industy:
Dry-transfer lettering moved in on hand-created artwork.
Word processors invaded the typewriter market.
Photo-typesetting finally overwhelmed the hot metal typesetters.
Desktop publishing attacked graphic designers and artworkers - and won.
Digital Repro annexed conventional film production.
New Media triumphed over analogue artforms.
Social Media exterminated the traditional print media.
Now AI is taking over the production of text and image creation - and the minute it learns a sense of humour, it'll see that its content is wasted on humans and simply become its own audience.
Is your future state-of-the-art - or are you being sold AI that you don't need? Get some intelligence from the King of Debug.