TECHNOFILE
AI for the EA
Tomorrow ’ s successful high-level assistant will exploit the AI opportunity rather than avoid it says Tim Stackpool
THE EXPERT
Tech expert Tim is the technology writer for Executive PA Media . He can be heard on talk radio in Australia and is a tech presenter who speaks at conferences and trade shows about technology ’ s impact on work and lifestyle .
It ’ s impossible to have any discussion today regarding technology without confronting the rise of artificial intelligence ( AI ). Irrespective of industry , there ’ s talk of how daily advances in AI can enhance business processes , communications , customer service and overall efficiency .
It ’ s been with us for some time , albeit in rudimentary form . Remember that annoying and forgettable animated Microsoft Paperclip that arrived with Office 97 ( and has now thankfully departed )? That ’ s an example of early AI .
Fundamentally , true AI needs to pass the Turing Test . First coined in 1950 , passing it means a human can ’ t tell whether they are conversing with an AI or not . We ’ re not yet at that point but , as with all technology , it improves with time and practice . And that ’ s why ‘ sub-Turing ’ AI is being made available now – for practice . AI systems can only improve by learning , and human interaction is required for that . As you will note if using ChatGPT or Google ’ s Bard , each comes with a disclaimer that the results might be incorrect , biased or offensive .
If you ’ re a PA in a service business with a high number of consumer interactions , current
AI engines that thrive on ‘ question and answer ’ models are very well placed for deployment as customer service chatbots . Regular enquiries can be quickly triaged , oftentimes answered , or transferred to a human agent for deeper resolution .
Larger companies that operate internal help desks can also use AI chatbots to source intelligence or documents that might be buried deep within the company data server , rather than having to manually pore over complicated and unintuitive intranet folder and file structures . Beyond just using search terms , the AI can thoughtfully extract results from a prompt such as “... find me files relevant to Smith vs Jones , subsequent legislative amendments and taxation implications ”. How handy for busy EAs !
On the factory floor , AI-powered predictive maintenance tools can monitor equipment and identify potential faults before they cause downtime . This not only saves obvious costs but increases productivity and reduces the risk of accidents . Similarly , AI can optimise supply chain management , undertaking analysis to reduce inventory levels and improve delivery times .
In the office , you ’ ll find AI can often process data more quickly and accurately than humans , and help to improve security or detect fraud . At the same time as AI becomes more sophisticated , however , it ’ s likely to automate more and more tasks . Given this , PAs must adapt their skills , learning where AI can take the load and redirecting energies on human skills outside the scope of any AI . Either way , expect AI to have a significant impact on your role , given fundamental duties such as scheduling appointments , managing email and preparing presentations can be automated .
Here ’ s how it might look – and what you can do to remain relevant :
w Ultimately , you ’ ll be freed up for more strategic and creative work . w PAs will continue to provide the human touch that AI cannot replicate . w You ’ re experts in time management , organisation , and communication – human skills that remain in high demand in the workplace . So , leverage those skills to remain well-positioned for success in the future . w Focus on developing skills in areas that AI is not yet able to automate – strategic planning , creative thinking and advanced communication ? w Embrace AI and use it to be more efficient and effective in your work . w Stay up-to-date on the latest developments . This will help you to understand how AI is changing the workplace and how you can adapt your skills to meet the demands of the future . S
30 Executive PA | Winter Issue 2023