As an active leader in the knowledge industry, I am always passionate about driving its growth. My writing today will delve into a topic that has been bothering me as a serial published author and consultant.
I request that you read this piece, make your contributions and share it – so that we expand knowledge.
Before I continue my write-up, let me first of all appreciate the advancement of technology that launched Artificial Intelligence. Humans can now do a lot with AI.
Having acknowledged the advancement of technology in our world today, let me now ask these questions that are bothering me as a creative mind and the questions are:
1. How do we ensure that we maintain originality while exploring the world of Ai?
2. Is AI making people Intellectually Lazy and uncreative?
While you ponder on the questions and answers, let me tell you a true story that inspired me to write this piece. Our company recently recruited a General Manager for a multi-national and that role required high level hands-on experience and of course academic qualifications – that fit the senior management position. Through our painstaking process, we selected professionals that attended the last stage of the interview. The MD of the company and consultants were on the interview panel that selected the best candidate – from the professionals we invited.
The task for the last stage of the interview was to create a case scenario. Candidates were to proffer solutions for the case. The case scenario was taxing and fit their levels of experience.
Note once more that the people we invited were among the best in the industry. They are highly experienced and met all our requirements. But where it got interesting was the case scenario. Did you know that all the candidates used Ai to answer 100% of the case scenario presented in PowerPoint presentation format! How did we know? Of course we found out using the right techniques.
Candidates made their PowerPoint presentations and later went in for the second session of the final interview. We got what we wanted by relying more on the second phase of the final interview which carried more scores.
I don’t have a problem with professionals using an aid (ai), my worry is using AI to solve 100% of the case scenario and removing the human element! This is not the way to go. Where is originality?
From experience, I know that taking 100% ownership of a presentation you didn’t prepare yourself is usually a tall order. This is why I don’t ask ai to write for me, or use ai to prepare my training presentations. Some people may see it as old school but my reason is simple; I want to own the work 100%. I want to ensure originality in my work. I want to pour out experience and knowhow in the work. I want to tell real life stories when I teach. There are things I don’t delegate. I don’t delegate my writings. I don’t delegate the preparation of my training slides. I do them myself and this pattern gets the right results. As a published author, I understand fully the meaning of originality. The more original you are, the more exceptional you become.
I can use AI for research purposes; to research for more insights, but not to ask it to do my work. I usually rely on the four sources of knowledge I will share as you read on.
I am a professional and researcher who needs a lot of information. As explained, I go the extra mile to ensure I remain original and creative in my works.
In my new book, How To Write and Publish Books, I listed four sources of knowledge for the writer. These sources of knowledge can work in other endeavours too, not just in the art and act of writing. Any professional who explores the sources of knowledge will be reasonably original in his/her work. The professional won’t have to rely 100% on ai to develop his or her work.
I developed these sources of knowledge after writing professionally and consistently for 14 years.
I have also argued that all knowledge comes from a source. No knowledge stands without a source. This is why I believe that professionals should take time to know and deploy the right knowledge for what they want to achieve.
The sources of knowledge are:
1. *Inspiration*: I rate inspiration as the highest source of knowledge because it comes from above; it comes from a source greater than the person writing. You must be alert to catch the inspiration, otherwise you lose it! A writer who uses inspiration is always original because the source is unexplainable and can’t be questioned!
2. *Continuous Learning and Personal Development*: This is when you unlearn, relearn, and continue to learn. This type of learning never ends. You learn more when you read books, learn from a mentor or coach, attend training programmes, and so on. The writer uses the knowledge from this source in his writing.
3. *Experience:* You have heard the saying: Experience is the best teacher. Experience is what you know and what you do. Experience is doing what you know and knowing what you do. Let me explain what I mean: people call me, The Selling Champion, which means that I am a Champion in the art of selling. I have paid my dues in the industry. I have 29 years of hands-on experience in sales, marketing, and business strategy. I started my career as a salesman and later rose to the position of National Sales Manager before launching our business. I have been in Hospitality, Agro-Allied, Oil & Gas, FMCG, and Pharmaceutical Industries, before launching our business. I have a wealth of experience in these areas I mentioned and I use the experience when I am writing books or articles.
4. *Academic Knowledge:* This is the knowledge you acquire from the classroom. This is where research comes in. Academics help in writing. Knowledge is power. What you learn from the four walls of an institution of higher learning is imperative in your writing world. You deploy them when necessary. Academic Knowledge has helped me a lot in my career.
I shared these thoughts to buttress the fact that professionals who come for interviews have sources of knowledge to rely on – to prepare themselves for interviews, than depending wholly on AI.
I am not saying that the use of AI is wrong. My question is: is it proper to use AI in toto for your work? My answer is No. You can take a different position and let’s have a constructive conversation on the topic.
This topic is important because of several reasons on originality, creativity, ingenuity and so on.
I have used AI for research work and still use it, but I am intentional on when to use it and when not to touch it.
Note once more that the sources of knowledge I shared here can be utilized in other life endeavours, not only in the art of writing. This also means that professionals should go the extra mile to do the right thing by challenging their intellectual abilities; by being original.
Experience has taught me that shortcut is the longest route.
Let me ask one more time: is AI making professionals Intellectually Lazy? I await your contributions. Let’s contribute to learning.
Move from good to better, then to best.
George O. Emetuche,CES
The Selling Champion.
