300 Words On… AI As Your Colleague, Coach and Clerk
In the early 19th century, Luddites famously resisted textile machinery, fearing it would make their skills obsolete. Fast forward to today, and similar concerns arise with AI. But just as machinery revolutionised working practices, as opposed to axing jobs, AI is poised to transform our work, enhancing our roles rather than replacing them.
Think of AI as a supportive colleague, an insightful coach, and a diligent clerk.
Renowned MIT research scientist Andrew McAfee provides a useful framework for this perspective. He encourages us to view AI in three roles:
Colleague: Imagine a colleague who’s available 24/7, with a vast reservoir of knowledge across diverse subjects. They can help test ideas, give feedback, and streamline workflows. AI is an extra set of “hands” to collaborate with, always ready to help refine your work and push your projects further.
Coach: AI also functions as a personal mentor, teaching users to work more efficiently and creatively doing away with countless hours of online research. Need to improve presentation skills? AI tools can offer tailored feedback on tone, pacing, and structure. Want to master data analysis? AI can provide step-by-step guidance and practical examples, accelerating your learning in real time. AI coaching helps build complex skills faster, adapted to your needs and offering insights you might not have found alone.
Clerk: AI takes on routine, time-consuming tasks that can otherwise bog down a workday. Whether it’s transcribing meetings, sorting and tagging files, or responding to frequently asked questions, AI keeps operations running smoothly in the background. By performing these administrative duties, it frees up team members to dedicate their time and energy to more strategic and creative projects.
Saying you don’t use AI will very soon be like saying you don’t use a computer.
By embracing AI as a colleague, coach, and clerk, agencies can supercharge growth, empowering teams to focus on what truly matters.