Threats of artificial intelligence (AI) tools replacing humans in the workplace have increased once again thanks to the sudden popularity of ChatGPT, igniting a debate between those embracing the tools and those shunning them. But as we examine in this blog post, the human mind isn’t so easily replaced.

 “Should we trust the robots?”

This sounds like a question better suited to an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Yet it’s a sentiment we’ve seen the world over in recent headlines thanks to the instant popularity of a tool named ChatGPT.

Real estate agents are relying on the technology to write listings and handle their marketing, executives are using it to conduct market research, and lawyers are putting it to the test by having it write the bar exam (it passed).

If you haven’t yet heard of ChatGPT (or if you’ve been ignoring the hype out of principle) here’s a little background:

Created by Microsoft-backed tech company OpenAI, ChatGPT is an AI chatbot capable of generating human-like text based on the prompts it’s given.

Although chatbots have been around for decades, one of the features that sets ChatGPT apart from its predecessors is its ability to understand and generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and topics.

ChatGPT gathers its intelligence by crawling the internet and learning from news articles, books and online forums, allowing it to understand the context of a conversation.

It can even adapt its conversation style to a particular user, raising concerns that it could replace human customer service agents or marketing teams.

Since its release in late 2022, it has fooled scientists into believing a fake research paper, written sci-fi novels and even passed the Turing test by convincing a panel of judges it was a human.

Naturally, this has led to increasing threats that ChatGPT and its inevitable successors will replace humans in the workplace.

This is where we need a dose of humility.

Remember, there was a time not too long ago when futurists predicted that the rise of the internet and services like Amazon would replace the need for humans to design and sell products.

Sure, the internet has revolutionized the way in which products are distributed globally. And you could argue that Amazon has negatively impacted sales from local, small businesses, especially during the pandemic.

But, if anything, the internet created immense opportunities for many companies, inventors and entrepreneurs.

Websites like Kickstarter allowed inventors to crowdsource funding for their projects from all over the world, while small business owners were able to turn to digital marketing to increase their sales and offer a level of service that can only come from human interactions.

At Howbridge, we look at tools like ChatGPT in the same way.

When harnessed properly, technology can be a useful enhancement to any business model.

But it’s not a replacement for human intellect (there’s a reason why it’s called “artificial” intelligence, after all).

An AI chatbot can help you conduct market research or write an Instagram caption, sure. But it can’t mimic the perseverance, drive and creativity required for leadership.

And we haven’t even touched on the many flaws that exist within the technology.

Much of ChatGPT’s knowledge is still limited data from 2021, which means there is potential for the chatbot to provide inaccurate or misinformed answers. It also has difficulty understanding context, especially sarcasm and humor (which wouldn’t go over well in the Howbridge office).

Even if you are in a position to outsource a role to an AI bot, it’s not going to revolutionize your business if you’re not on solid ground.

And in order to get there, you get better guidance faster, and a human team to execute alongside you.

That’s where we come in.

Howbridge is an integrated team of entrepreneurs, founders, and builders experienced in corporate strategy, sales engagement, product positioning, digital marketing, brand strategy, and culture building.

Our experts collaborate across disciplines to help you prioritize initiatives that maximize ROI and true value on your path to success.

That’s the kind of individualized, strategic support that can’t be mimicked by a machine.

So, if you’re looking for new and innovative ways to increase your profit and value, book a discovery call with our team. We promise a real person will be there to answer your call.