Generative AI Skills 🚀

☕️ Greetings! It's Monday, October 23rd. Welcome back to my daily dive into the AI landscape.

♨️ The demand for generative AI skills in job postings has spiked by 1,848% in 2023, according to Lightcast labor market analysis. This surge impacts roles like data scientists and machine learning engineers, who are spearheading new AI applications. Interestingly, curriculum writers are also in demand as educational sectors aim to incorporate AI knowledge. The uptick in specific AI skills indicates a shift from experimental to strategic commitment by companies. Leading organizations in this space span various sectors, from Fud and Chegg to Meta and Amazon. While generative AI is rising, machine learning still dominates the job market, highlighting the need for a blend of traditional and emerging skills in AI careers.

Reference: (Generative AI Demand Soars 1,800% for US Employers)

🗞️ Today’s Highlights:

• LATEST NEWS & TRENDS — Generative AI will be “game-changing” for businesses and individuals, says Microsoft’s Satya Nadella

• INDUSTRY | FUNCTION — Inside Walmart’s generative AI journey

• RESOURCES — A deep dive into the world's smartest email AI

• WORK — Planning for AI in the workplace? 8 things to think about

• AI TOOLS — Compose AI saves the day whether you're struggling with composing emails or swamped with other responsibilities, this tool is your solution. It's equipped to craft emails for a wide range of purposes.

🗞️ LATEST NEWS & TRENDS

1️⃣ In a recent dialogue at Microsoft Envision, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella illuminated the transformative potential of generative AI for businesses and individuals alike. According to Nadella, this new breed of AI is a "reasoning engine" capable of deciphering complex patterns across large data sets. He drew parallels to the transformative impact of Windows on computing, suggesting generative AI will be similarly groundbreaking. Nadella also shared insights on the UK's strong position for AI leadership, attributing it to high cloud penetration and data readiness. He envisions a future where AI serves as a personalized tutor, doctor, and management consultant, thereby empowering individuals to navigate new domains more confidently.

Reference: (Generative AI will be “game-changing” for businesses and individuals, says Microsoft’s Satya Nadella)

2️⃣ The evolving relationship between humans and machines, particularly with generative AI, is poised to revolutionize enterprise functions and decision-making. This transformation necessitates that AI be viewed not merely as an IT endeavor but as an enterprise-wide initiative. Analysts from Gartner predict significant growth in AI funding and adoption, highlighting the year 2024 as a tipping point for democratizing generative AI. They emphasize two types of enterprise AI: "everyday AI," which enhances productivity, and "game-changing AI," which disrupts business models. The firm also predicts a rise in "custobots," machines that can autonomously act as customers. As AI becomes ingrained in enterprises, the focus is shifting from AI capabilities to establishing AI-ready security, ethics, and data practices.

Reference: (Gartner: Generative AI will be everywhere, so strategize now)

3️⃣ Deep generative models like ChatGPT are celebrated for their ability to emulate human-like creations, from text to visual art. However, MIT researchers caution that these models fall short in the domain of engineering design. The issue lies in the models' primary objective to reproduce statistical similarity, which hinders genuine innovation. In a case study on bicycle frame design, traditional deep generative models generated frames that mimicked existing ones but lacked in performance. When these models were re-engineered to prioritize design-specific criteria, they produced frames that were not only innovative but also superior in performance. The study underscores the need to adapt AI models for task-specific objectives in engineering.

Reference: MIT News (To excel at engineering design, generative AI must learn to innovate, study finds)

4️⃣ As the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II passes, parallels are drawn between the nuclear era and today's Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape. Both technologies have presented opportunities and risks on a global scale, with the U.S. playing a pivotal role in shaping international norms. The article argues that just as the Cold War years witnessed arms control and mutual deterrence in the nuclear context, the AI era demands immediate, informed action to prevent catastrophic outcomes. The urgency is heightened by the speed of AI development and its diffusion beyond state control, into the private sector. A summit between the only two AI superpowers, the United States and China, is recommended to collaboratively establish guidelines that avert the risks of AI while harnessing its benefits.

Reference: (The Path to AI Arms ControlAmerica and China Must Work Together to Avert Catastrophe)

5️⃣ Interesting paper. Be careful what you ask your chatbot! Current privacy research in large language models (LLMs) zeroes in on data memorization issues, yet as models advance in inference capabilities, privacy concerns amplify. This study pioneers an exploration into LLMs' ability to deduce personal attributes from user-input text, using a dataset derived from real Reddit profiles. The findings reveal LLMs can discern various personal attributes with notable accuracy and efficiency, outpacing human efforts. With rising interactions between individuals and LLM-driven chatbots, the threat of privacy invasion grows. The study underscores that existing countermeasures fall short in guarding user privacy against LLM inference, pushing for a more expansive dialogue on LLM privacy concerns beyond mere data memorization, aiming for robust privacy safeguards.

Reference: (Violating Privacy Via Inference with Large Language Models)

🗞️ INDUSTRY | FUNCTION

Walmart, a "people-led, tech-powered" retail giant, is pioneering the use of generative AI to enhance employee productivity. The company recently launched My Assistant, an AI tool aimed at benefiting its 50,000 U.S.-based corporate workers. Developed in just 60 days, My Assistant is part of Walmart's broader digital strategy led by Ben Peterson, head of Walmart's People Product organization. By merging people's skills with AI capabilities, Walmart aspires to create a more intuitive and creative workspace. The company's leadership remains unified in its vision for AI, focusing on augmentation rather than automation. The tool is expected to expand globally and evolve to aid in various corporate functions.

Reference: (Inside Walmart’s generative AI journey)

🗞️ RESOURCES

The article provides an intricate look at Shortwave's development of a state-of-the-art AI email assistant, making use of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Large Language Models like GPT-4. The assistant is conceptualized as a smart 'executive assistant in your inbox,' capable of summarizing, drafting emails, and answering intricate queries. The architecture is divided into four primary steps: tool selection, data retrieval, question answering, and post-processing. Shortwave employs a mix of traditional and AI-based search methods to provide answers, including the innovative use of 'Tools' that manage various data types like calendar info or email history. The system can answer most questions within 3-5 seconds, despite its computational complexity.

Reference/Source: Shortwave (A deep dive into the world's smartest email AI)

🗞️ WORK

As artificial intelligence (AI) integrates into the workforce, it brings both opportunities and legal uncertainties. Governments are piecing together regulatory measures, with some U.S. states taking the lead in AI legislation affecting employment. These laws often mandate bias audits and candidate consent for AI use in hiring. Meanwhile, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is prioritizing AI-related discrimination cases. AI is also being deployed for candidate screening, predicting employee misconduct, and retention strategies, but these methods raise concerns over data privacy and fairness. Companies are advised to be proactive, assembling cross-disciplinary teams to draft AI usage policies, focusing on legal compliance and ethical considerations.

Reference/Source: HR Executive (Planning for AI in the workplace? 8 things to think about)

1. Emerging Legislation: U.S. states like New York, Connecticut, and Illinois are spearheading laws that regulate employers' use of AI in hiring processes.

2. Bias and Consent: Employers must obtain applicant consent and perform bias audits before deploying AI tools in recruitment.

3. EEOC Prioritization: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is focusing on AI-related employment discrimination, marking it as a risk area.

4. AI for Recruitment: AI is being increasingly used to sift through resumes and predict candidate suitability, although the ethical implications are still under scrutiny.

5. Predicting Misconduct: AI tools claim to identify potential workplace issues by analyzing data, but their accuracy and ethical considerations are in question.

6. Retention Strategies: Companies are employing AI for predictive analytics to determine employee retention, though the reliability of these tools is not fully established.

7. Data Privacy: As AI integrates more deeply into HR processes, concerns regarding data privacy and employee rights are escalating.

8. Proactive Measures: HR professionals need to stay updated on regulations, assemble interdisciplinary teams, and implement comprehensive AI policies to mitigate risks.

🗞️ AI TOOLS

⚙️ Compose AI saves the day whether you're struggling with composing emails or swamped with other responsibilities, this tool is your solution. It's equipped to craft emails for a wide range of purposes.

⚙️ H2O.AI is a powerful tool enabling data-driven decisions through advanced machine learning and AI algorithms. It extracts actionable insights from complex data, facilitating predictive analytics and visualization for informed decision-making. From optimizing operations to enhancing customer experiences, H2O.AI empowers organizations with data-driven empowerment.

⚙️ Zeda.io transforms business approaches by revolutionizing customer feedback utilization. Through AI-driven centralization and segmentation, it empowers teams to extract valuable insights, address customer issues, and enhance product strategies. The platform's AI capabilities further provide actionable insights, illuminating customer preferences and needs with precision.

⚙️ GrowthBar is a complete tool for gathering information, creating content, and improving SEO. It is highly useful for someone who belongs to blogging, writing, and SEO domains. This tool can help your page get ranked on Google.

⚙️ Eesel: ChatGPT over your company knowledge. Connect your knowledge with ChatGPT and build an oracle that can instantly answer any question. Add it to your internal Slack, Microsoft Teams, or as a website widget.

Disclaimer: 1) The tool descriptions are from the company behind each tool/app. 2) Please read the site details thoroughly before using and/or acquiring any of the tools listed above. We have not tested these tools and we will not be liable for anything.

Join my community by subscribing to my newsletter below:

 🔴 Please reply to the confirmation email sent to you, after submitting your email address to start receiving the newsletter.

My Community

Join my professional communities on LinkedIn

_{I'm not a newsletter expert so you might find my approach a tad different. In my daily dives into the world of AI, I handpick the latest gems, initially to support the AI projects that I’m working on. Realizing that these snippets might resonate with others, I thought, "Why not share this with my community and fellow AI enthusiasts?" I truly want this newsletter to be valuable to you so if there's anything on your mind—praises, critiques, or just a hello—please drop me a note. You can hit reply or shoot me a message directly at my email address: [email protected].}